You are never alone

The scripture for today, December 7 (12/7), is Luke 12:7 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Inside-COVER-lg thumbnail“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Jesus had just said that God knows every sparrow individually. Amazing! This God of yours, this Creator of yours, this soul-lover of yours knows everything that is going on in his world, and knows everyone in his world, regardless of where you are in the world.

There are some two trillion galaxies out there. Within each galaxy, there are one hundred thousand million stars. And God is larger than all of it.  He permeates his world ~  from atoms to a universe of galaxies.

Not only does He know everyone, but He knows your name, your likes, your dislikes, your struggles, your joys, if you bump into a door, how much you paid for groceries this week ~ everything. He is with you where ever you go. There is no place you can go that he is not there. You are never alone.

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Inside-COVER-lg thumbnailINSIDE THE HEARTS OF BIBLE WOMEN  covers twelve women’s lives in their normal, getting into a tragedy,. and their efforts to pull out of their problem.  Great for personal reading or book club.  Endnote markings indicate a discussion question.  Available in book or audio form.  A leader’s and advertising guide is also available.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/HeartsBibleWomen 

 

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He’s still out there, still beautiful, still suave, and still lying.

The scripture for today, November 30 (11/30), is Proverbs 11:30 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-MEDIUM“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”

Remember back in the Garden of Eden? Going by the age of their three sons, Adam and Eve were in the Garden close to one hundred years.  Instead of centering on what they did wrong, look at what they did right.  They were sinless for nearly a century! Hardly any of us can accomplish that in 100 minutes.

Just think. Walking through a garden lush with the beauty of holiness.  Walking through a garden with the water of life to drink. Walking through a garden with God (materialized) himself.

How many times did that snake Satan, raise himself up like a king’s scepter and perhaps with a crown of gold and ruby on his head, make his way gracefully through the garden, laughing and enjoying the company of newly made humans? How many times did he coil up his tail like a maelstrom spiraling through the heavens full of light and beauty as he watched the couple enjoy the fruit of the garden? How many times did this magnificent creature sway back and forth, back and forth as cobras do as he spoke hypnotic words to make them feel like gods?

“Oh, look at the fruit on that tree over there? God told you never to touch it, but God is wrong.  Go ahead. Touch it. That’s right. Did anything bad happen to you? Of course not, because God is wrong.  How about touching it with your lips? That’s right. You’re not really eating it. You’re just touching it. Smell it too. Have you ever smelled anything so wonderful? God doesn’t want you to have it. He knows you will learn what evil is and then be as smart as him. God is jealous of you. Go ahead. Take a tiny bite. It won’t hurt you.  See there? Are you dead like he said you would be? No. You are still alive. God is a liar. I am the only one who tells you the truth. I am on your side. God hates you. Sure, go ahead and take another bite, and Adam might like some too.  It’s harmless. Do not believe anything God says. He hates you. I am the only one who loves you.”

How many thousands of times did Adam and Eve chase him off, only to have him back in their lives a few hours later? How many thousands of times did they try to resume what they were doing and try to put him out of their minds? How many times did they do it right? One stumble was all the enemy needed.

That was a long time ago. Now the Tree of Life, which God withheld from Adam and Eve, is in heaven waiting for them. Waiting for you.

And as you wait, win souls.  Snatch them out of the beautiful flower-strewn web of mankind’s enemy number one. He is still out there, still beautiful, still suave, and still lying.

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Road to Heaven-COVER-KINDLE-THUMBNAILTHE ROAD TO HEAVEN  takes readers step by step through the millenniums from the long road from the Garden of Eden to Heaven.  Hundreds of foot notes to help you study this deep subject.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/Road-To-Heaven

 

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But when, Lord?

The scripture for today, November 29 (11/29), is Matthew 11:29f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Applied Christianity“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Ah, Lord Jesus. I am so weary worn.  It seems everything that could ever go wrong in my life is happening right now. Just when I think I have one problem at least partly under control, another raises its ugly head. Or should I say Satan raises his ugly head?  Satan, why are you doing this to me? It is you who is causing all the diseases and problems at work, and the car wreck and progressive blindness.  Was it you who set me up in that posh job which you knew was never popular in the company and would only cause me grief? Was this new house I bought with my pay raise worth it after all?

I am so tired. Help me, God.  I don’t know which way is up anymore. God?  I’m calling for you. God? Don’t you even care?

“Let’s trade, my child. I’ll take your burdens, and you take mine.”

But, Lord, I do not understand. What could your burdens possibly be? You’re all comfortable in heaven.

“My child, my burden is to reach out to everyone and tell them how much I love them. My burden is to take their burdens on my shoulders. You can do it too. You can write encouraging messages to my children every day. You can open up the newspaper and pray for everyone in it by name. You can call someone who is depressed like you and sing them a sweet song.”

But when, Lord? When would I find time?

“Use your brooding time, your crying time, your anger time. Let loose of them so I can brood, cry, and be angry for you. Remember, it’s a trade.”

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Those little churches

The scripture for today, November 21 (11/21), is Acts 11:21 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Medium-The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

What had just happened? Some Christians in Phoenecia (today’s Lebanon), Cyprus (the Mediterranean Island), and Cyrene (in today’s North Africa) went to Antioch, a major city in Northern Syria near the southern border of today’s Turkey. There they established a congregation.

This little congregation ended up being the home congregation of Paul and Barnabas for many years. It started small; we don’t know the size it grew to. Regardless of the size, it had foresight and Eventually, did great things.

Perhaps you live in a town full of churches, but you’ve compared them with the New Testament, and none of them follows the original pattern. Perhaps you have even given up going to church because of this problem. What is stopping you from beginning a little congregation after the New Testament pattern in your home?

New Testament churches were simple ~ not elaborate like those mega-churches out there. And those simple churches have always been dynamic in their simplicity. Who knows but that your new little congregation will someday produce a Paul or a Barnabas….

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This is my assignment?

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-Ah, my Lord God. I try to comprehend what you did for me, but I cannot. You saved me from hell! I was headed straight for it along with all of mankind. I could not pay the ransom. The ghastly trinity ~ Sin, Satan, and Death wanted the death of God. So, you gave them what they wanted. But it backfired on them.  It took you only three days to conquer them all  ~ Sin, Satan, and Death.  You are strong with the power of the ages. In your right hand is Truth, in your left is Life. You ride on the wind, you leap between stars. You do whatever is necessary to protect us. For me, God? For me?

Father, I have been complaining a lot lately. Complaining about food I got at the grocery store that I didn’t realize was spoiled until I got home. Complaining about the weather. Complaining about the way a relative spoke to me. Complaining about the traffic and gasoline prices. Lord, it was actually you I was complaining about. This is where you want me to be. Complaining is akin to accusing. Satan is THE accuser. Lord, make Satan get away from me so I’ll stop complaining. And can you forgive me?

My God, you have been my comfort through so many things and over so many years. Must I praise you for all the horrible things I’ve lived through? You say I must and so I do. I am reminded that you have given everyone their assignments, and these have been mine. At each stage of my life you have given me different assignments. I agonized under some of them. I cried and screamed, and yet you would not release me.  I thank you for them all, Lord.  Truly, I do.  They made me stronger, didn’t they? I made Satan a little weaker, didn’t I? Together we did it.  Together forever.

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00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE was just that. This historical novel follows him from his early years at the Temple school to enjoying Jesus’ crucifixion, to torturing Christians, then his own self-torture alone in a black room for three days comprehending the horrid things he had done.  After that, he can never do enough to make it up to his Lord. Go with him as he endures highway thieves, harrowing wrecks at sea, snow storms, starvation. Feel his beatings and whip lashings break through his skin.  Hear him as each time, he cries out, “Jesus!  This is for you!”  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  http://bit.ly/PaulUnstoppable   

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Today, it is hard to thank you.

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.medium-newYou, Almighty God, are all powerful. You hold the world in your hands.  You lead mankind forward and people follow you kicking and screaming because Satan convinces so many that you hate us and do not want us to have fun. You do not let Satan’s accusations discourage you and stop you. You are more powerful than him. You never forsake us. For thousands of years you have worked out your master Plan to permanently disarm Satan. Even now you limit what he can do to us. You send your angels to stand between Satan and us in battles in other realms, other worlds, we are not even aware of.  You are the Lord of all the lords Satan controls. You are King over all the kings Satan manipulates. Your divine majesty resonates around your throne, encircles the world, and comes to rest in my soul.

Lord, it is hard to thank you for things today. Yes, I have a decent place to live, nice things, my health, the weather is still warm. But what is it all for if I cannot help save the lost and help them stay saved? Sometimes I can hardly stand it thinking about friends and even strangers who are bored with you or resent you or even hate you and do not realize what Satan has in mind for them. How can I see them self-destruct like that?  Today I am struggling. I need to thank you for…what shall I thank you for? The sun is shining, the corn is harvested, a bird is singing to me outside my window. Over there is a butterfly and in that direction is a squirrel scavenging for things to store over the coming winter.  Songs. I thank you for songs. I shall now sing you a song and will feel better. Yes, thank you for songs. And that butterfly.

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Teasing and Tantalizing

10-Daniel-KindleMediumI praise and laud you, my God, for you perform great things for me, greater than I realize. You are always doing something to help me that I do not know about. You are concerned about me in ways beyond my comprehension. You say the war is not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers in spiritual places ~ Satan’s angels, Satan’s demons, Satan himself. What have you defended me against? What have you sent your angels to intercede for me over? I may never know, but this I do know: You will always protect me from forces too strong for me and will never make me face anything I cannot handle. My mind staggers to comprehend it all, and so I worship you.

Thank you, Jesus, that you gave me eyes that can see.  I have a friend who has never been able to see.  I cannot describe color to that person because they have no idea what I am talking about. I long to share the delight of color, but it is not possible. That is what you go through in trying to describe our life in your world, heaven, isn’t it? I shall try but realize you have wonderful surprises awaiting me when I arrive.  Thank you for teasing and  tantalizing me with promises of delights I cannot begin to imagine.

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How can it be, my Lord?

0-Mefiboset-KINDLE MediumHow can it be, oh Lord, that you love me, a mere worm crawling through the dust of sin? Won’t what your eyes behold take away your holiness? Won’t what you hear take away your purity?  My Lord, how can it be? Before your eyes behold my sin, you take it away. Before your ears hear my sin, you take it away. You never change. Sin cannot touch you. Sin does not exist where you are.  Your throne glistens white with sinlessness. You are crowned with virtue and you hold the scepter of goodness.

Thank you that I can freely breathe. There are some people whose lungs are bad and they struggle for their every breath. And thank you that I have two strong legs to stand on. There are some people wheel-chair bound and have to look up at everyone. And thank you that I can hear and speak. There are some people out there who can do neither. Lord, may I take a deep breath, walk to someone’s door and knock on it, and use the voice you gave me to tell them how much you love them. My every breath, my every step, my every word are gifts from you. May I ever use those gifts to glorify you and bring more souls to the safety of your heaven.

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He just hung on

The scripture for today, July 13 (7/13), is in Job 7:13ff in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail“When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine. I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.”

Job was extremely depressed. It happens to everyone sometimes. His depression was certainly valid ~ he had lost all his income and all his children in a recent storm. Now he had what the Bible translated as “boils” but the symptoms indicate he had a form of leprosy called Elephantiasis.

This particular form leads to nightmares in addition to the physical problems. Job had every right to be depressed. So depressed was he, that he no longer wanted to live, for his life no longer had meaning.

But, as miserable as Job was, he hung on. Patiently he hung on during the bad times. Sometimes during your bad times, the greatest thing you can do is “hang on” ~ be patient.

Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good to those who love the Lord. Job loved the Lord. Even in his misery and desire to die,  he continued to love God and trust Him.

And, although at such times you may believe your misery will never end and you will never even smile again, it will happen. The misery comes to an end. It did for Job. He got his health and wealth back and more children to comfort him. God will see you through too.

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Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail375 PEARLS OF WISDOM: GOD’S SOUL TO YOURS is book 2 in the TOUCHING GOD SERIES.  Each day has one proverb and a passage from Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, or Song of Songs.  Cover is original art by famed watercolorist and Christian, Betsy Kemp Thompson.  Interior is dramatic papyrus font.  Beautiful gift book.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/3epvDgU

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My heart opens like a flower in sunshine

0-BK 2-DreamMaker-cover-kindle-medium-newI come to you on bended knees as your subject and your child. I come to you with limited words, limited thoughts, limited wisdom. Take what I have, Lord God, and use it. Take my hands to work for you. Take my feet to walk for you. Take my lips to speak for you. Take my songs, my prayers, my life. You are majestic sweetness that leans low and embraces me. You keep me working, and walking and speaking. You keep me singing, praying and living for you, as you live for me. You are the lover of my soul. You are all glory, all wonder, all holy. Praised be your very name, the self-existent one, the I AM.

It is summer. The flowers are blooming, the birds are teaching their young ones to fly, the early crops are beginning to come in. The rains are gentle, the sun is lazy, the breeze floats easily through my hair. The snows on the mountain are melted for a while, the deer and bears are roaming the forests for berries, the waters are slowing to let the fishes play. Your world is so beautiful. And you made it all for us as our garden. My heart opens up like a flower in sunshine and blesses you with my thanksgiving.

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0-BK 2-DreamMaker-cover-kindle-new-thumbnailDREAM MAKER is biblical historical novel #2 in the THEY MET JESUS series.  He overcomes Satan in the wilderness, begins teaching, and along the way chooses his 12 emissaries who will some day give their life for him.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/30P7jSi

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