Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 28

99-Cents Sale on A PATH LESS TRAVELED

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that A PATH LESS TRAVELED, the second stand-alone book in the Miller’s Creek novels, will be on sale for the new few days at 99-cents.

Those Who Haven’t Read A PATH LESS TRAVELED

For those of you who haven’t read the book, it’s a Christian romance that delves into the topic of regaining faith in the midst of tragic circumstances and ultimately stepping out in faith to take A PATH LESS TRAVELED.

Ever been there?

You’ve experienced some of the worst life has to offer. It leaves you reeling and questioning God. Then to top it all off, you sense Him leading you down a path that doesn’t make a lick of sense.

It’s difficult to trust Him after all you’ve been through. You question your sanity and do all you can to tighten your grip on what’s left of your ‘normal’ everyday life. But God seems just as determined to pry your fingers away from ‘normal’ and guide you in an unexpected and unwanted direction.

When we look to the Bible we see lots of examples of folks who experienced the same thing.

Take Moses, for example. After killing an Egyptian and being confronted by a fellow Hebrew, he flees to the wilderness. A few years later, God gets his attention through a burning bush and tells him to go back to where he’s wanted for murder. Not only that, but he’s to confront the most powerful man in the world and tell him to release the Hebrew slaves. And he has to convince the Hebrews that he’s there at God’s command to deliver them. Sounds impossible!

But after many signs and wonders, Pharaoh finally lets the Hebrew people go. However, rather than lead them in the most direct route to the land of promise, God instead takes them where they’re caught between the Red Sea and the quickly-approaching Egyptian army. To make matters worse, they’re on foot while the army has horses and chariots. Yikes!

The point is this: God often leads down A PATH LESS TRAVELED to reveal Himself to us through His miraculous and supernatural power. In those instances, He is glorified and we grow in our experience and knowledge of who He is. In other words, we learn to trust Him more.

Here’s the book blurb to give you a taste of the storyline:

Grief paints a celebration with shades of gray . . .

Trish James is tired of being rescued. When a spooked horse claims her husband’s life, she’s determined to blaze a path for herself and her traumatized son without outside help. But will that mean leaving the place etched on her heart? Or can she regain her faith to take a path less traveled?

Currently rated at 4.5 stars with 139 reviews

Those Who Have Read A PATH LESS TRAVELED

First off, I hope you enjoyed this particular trip to Miller’s Creek, the love story of Trish and Andy and Little Bo, as well as the message behind the book.

For those of you who have given your honest review of the story at places like Amazon and GoodReads, THANK YOU! Those reviews are helpful to both authors and readers alike.

If you have the time and inclination, would you mind sharing this sale with your friends? All the Miller’s Creek books will be on sale at some point during the time between now and Christmas to make it easier for folks to enjoy the books in the money crunch of the holidays. You can tweet the following, and/or use the share buttons at the end of this post to share on social media sites.

99c #sale A PATH LESS TRAVELED #ChristianRomance 4.5* http://amzn.to/1m2HBRs
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Also, at these bargain prices, it’s an inexpensive and enjoyable gift to share with your friends.

Did you know you can gift a book to those who have a Kindle or Kindle app? It’s soooo easy! All you have to do is click the ‘give as a gift’ button on the book’s Amazon page. The only thing you’ll need is the recipient’s e-mail address. So simple. You can even determine when you want the gift sent.

For Everyone

Here are the dates of the upcoming sales, but I’ll also try to remember to post about them as they occur:

TEXAS ROADS (Book 1) – currently on sale at 99-cents (Christian romance with the theme of finding true home in Christ; rated at 4.5 stars on Amazon)

THE WAY OF GRACE (Book 3) – on sale for 99-cents November 20-22 (Christian romantic suspense with the theme of experiencing God’s grace and bestowing grace on our enemies; rated at 4.7 stars on Amazon)

PILGRIMAGE OF PROMISE (Book 4) – on sale for 99-cents November 24-26 (Christian Women’s Fiction/Love Story with the theme of God’s unfailing promises; rated at 4.9 stars on Amazon)

A BRIDGE UNBROKEN (Book 5) – on sale for $2.99 December 11-13 (Christian romantic suspense with the theme of forgiveness; rated at 4.7 stars on Amazon)

THE FRAGRANCE OF CRUSHED VIOLETS: FORGIVING THE INEXCUSABLE (companion Bible Study for A BRIDGE UNBROKEN) – on sale for $1.99 December 11-13 (Topic of forgiveness; rated at 4.8 stars on Amazon)

MILLER’S CREEK COLLECTION 1 (Books 1-3) – a great bargain at $4.99 for three books (rated at 5 stars on Amazon)

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas!

P. S. WRITING UPDATE: In case any of you are wondering, at the time of this post, I’ve finished roughly a third of the rough draft for CROSSROADS (the next Miller’s Creek novel) and one chapter of BELIEVE (the corresponding Bible Study from the gospel of John). Please continue to pray for God’s guidance as I write.

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B2B: Made to Worship, But…

…let’s extend our definition a bit.

Most of us understand that we were made for God’s glory, but tend to relegate worship to the music portion of a church service. We might even extend our definition to include singing praises to God individually throughout the week. But worship is so much more.

Worship is Worth-ship

Worship is honoring God as the only One worthy of our praise. We usually get this right in the sense that we honor Him. But we need to always remember that it’s possible to honor Him with our lips while our hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:8; Isaiah 29:13). Heaven forbid!

In the two scripture references given above, God’s Word goes on to say that these people worship in vain because they are merely following traditions of men. In other words, worship is more than just singing (or saying) praises to God. It has to do with following Him with our entire being and with our whole heart.

Worship is Work

I know I’ve mentioned this before in previous devotional posts, but worship is work. It’s love in action. It’s service.

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” -Romans 12:1 (NASB)

As stated above, true worship involves more than singing songs to and about God, though that is certainly a way in which we worship. Worship is working for God, not in order to earn our salvation (which we can’t), but as evidence of His Presence within us and the new creature we’ve become (2 Corinthians 5:17). By presenting our bodies as living and holy sacrifices we are worshiping/serving God.

Worship – Called and Equipped

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” -Hebrews 13:20-21 (NASB)

Worship is fulfilling what Christ has called and equipped us to do. I, for one, am so grateful that I don’t have to attempt things for which He has not called and equipped me. I’m also grateful for the abilities He’s given me that can only be explained as coming from Him. Yes, I’ve tried to improve upon those gifts/abilities. I’ve studied and practiced. I’m certain that you could say the same.

(If by chance you are one who thinks you have no spiritual gifts, according to scripture, you are wrong. I would highly encourage you to Google spiritual gifts inventories and take one or more of them. But even more importantly, pray for God to reveal through His Spirit what your gifts and abilities are. Be careful of assuming that we can only worship/serve Him in big ways.)

The gifts and abilities God has given us are our means of worshiping Him through service.

Worship – Conclusion

Our worship–through proclaiming the Lord’s worth-ship, our work, and doing what God has called and equipped us to do–is all to be done for God’s glory. Our heart’s desire is to know Him and make Him known. When we act on that desire–even in something as simple as taking out the trash or washing dishes–we are glorifying God and honoring Him with our worship. Worship is an attitude of our hearts.

Father God, we are so blessed to be Your children and servants. Teach us how to best worship You, not as something we manufacture, not as traditions of men, but as a heartfelt response of our entire lives in recognition of who You are, all for the purpose of making known Your glory. Amen.

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B2B: Go and Tell

Today’s post in the Back to Basics (B2B) blog series deals with the command of Christ to His followers to go and tell. Is there any stronger command of what Christians are to do, other than perhaps the call to love each other?

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:19-20

Before we get into the meat of this topic, let me first be very clear. We do not go and tell in order to earn our salvation. If that were the case, would it really be good news? No! The good news is that through the atoning work of Christ on the cross and our acceptance of His gift of grace and forgiveness through faith, we can have eternal life without any attempt on our part to make it happen.

Go and Tell: We Have the Cure

Let me ask you this: If you found a cure for cancer, would you keep the knowledge to yourself?

Of course not!

Especially if you had cancer, and the cure saved you.

Every person in the world is infected with something deadlier than cancer. Those of us who have already believed in Christ and live by faith have the cure. It’s a treasure beyond treasures (2 Corinthians 4:7), a blessing  beyond all blessings, the best news ever! We MUST share the good news.

And have you noticed? The nations have come to us! Since America is such a land of opportunity, it has become a global mecca. People from many nations live in our midst. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we reached these so they could, in turn, reach those in their native countries?

Go and Tell: As You Go

According to commentators, this command to go is better translated “as you go.”

So where are you going today? School? Tell the good news there. The workplace? Yep, you can share there, too. At home? That’s okay. Never has the opportunity to share Christ been more available to us through the channels of social media. Running errands? Share God’s love with that store clerk, the person standing beside you in the checkout line, the bank teller. Don’t waste those divine encounters the Lord has for you today.

Go and Tell: Make Disciples and Teach

This is an area where I personally feel we get it wrong most of the time.

When Jesus began His public ministry and called the Twelve, He didn’t just tell them the good news and then leave them to fend for themselves. Instead He invested His life in them and showed them through personal example and testimony how to live a God-pleasing live of faith.

Sometimes it feels to me that we’ve adopted a “dunk ‘em and chunk ‘em” mentality when it comes to winning the lost. We feel that if we get people to make a profession of faith and follow through with believer’s baptism that we’ve fulfilled the Great Commission.

Not so!

The Great Commission is every bit as much about making disciples and teaching them everything God has commanded as it is about winning lost souls. That’s why neighborhood Bible studies, Sunday School, discipleship training, are all so important. It’s mentorship on steroids! And these disciple-making ventures aren’t to be social cliques that are exclusive in nature. God’s Kingdom is inclusive! It’s for everyone, not just a select few!

And when did church become all about numbers? Instead of only being concerned about how many we’re winning to the Lord, we should also be concerned about the efforts being made to disciple others.

Go and Tell: All Nations

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ~Acts 1:8

Many of us will never venture far from where we currently live, so how can we be a part of delivering the good news around the world?

Pray. When we pray for others, including missionary efforts around the world, we unleash the very power of God into the lives of millions. After reading the book, Radical by David Platt, I was convicted to begin praying for the world. A wonderful online resource can be found at: http://www.operationworld.org/. You can sign up for their e-mail list, and a different country (with specific prayer requests) will be delivered to your inbox each day. (The In Touch ministry also has a monthly prayer document. Here’s the link for November’s list.) We’re also commanded to pray for “laborers for the harvest” (Matthew 9:38).
Give. Nowhere in God’s Word do I see permission or commands to focus our monetary giving on just our local churches. The command to go is locally and regionally, but also for ‘all nations.’ We MUST give to missions work, not just in our hometown, not just in our home state, not just in North America, but around the world. If your church doesn’t have a specific offering for all sorts of mission efforts, you might know someone who has given up the comforts of home to serve overseas. You can personally lend your financial support to them. Look for specific ministries that not only meet temporal needs, but spiritual needs as well. Some of my favorite means of sharing the gospel financially (other than through special offerings at church) are through the In Touch Messenger Ministry (begun by Dr. Charles Stanley), Gideon’s International, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Samaritan’s Purse (Franklin Graham). There are also many faith-based children’s homes which daily disciple ‘the least of these’ and could use your support.
Go. If you ever have the opportunity to take part in missions work, I highly encourage you to do so. Your eyes will be open to beautiful people whom God loves and the overwhelming need for these people to know Christ. You will realize just how blessed Americans are in relation to the rest of the world. And don’t just go to meet physical needs (though that is very important), but especially go to tell the good news. It’s not easy, but it is simple. God will empower you with His Spirit and give you the words to say.

Lord Jesus, forgive me for not seeing each and every day You have given me on this earth as an opportunity to go and tell. Oh God, how can I hoard such wonderful news? How can I keep You to myself when so many are dying without You? Open our mouths and our pocketbooks, Lord. Help us share You in our own backyards and around the globe. Help us to be about the business of making disciples. Help us to not just invest our money, but our very lives. In the name and authority of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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B2B: Believe and Follow

Though the topic for an earlier post in the Back to Basics (B2B) blog series was faith, I felt like the topic deserved a bit more scrutiny, and yesterday’s morning Bible reading in John 1-3 affirmed my thoughts.

Believe

I hope I’m wrong, but I feel like a lot of folks who profess faith in Christ only go to a certain point and no further. That current definition of belief can be just thinking something exists, rather than a deeper commitment to truly live out that faith in following the example of and in the steps of Jesus.

I think God’s Word confirms my thinking: You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. ~James 2:19 (NASB)

That kind of belief isn’t enough. And really, according to this verse, the demons have one-upped those who possess a surface belief. The demons shudder in fear!

The first three chapters of the gospel of John help clarify true belief. Concerning Jesus and belief, it says in John 1:9-13:

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Notice these things about the passage:

Jesus is Light and Creator. In spite of this, the world and people He created did not know Him and did not receive Him.
For those who did receive Him and believe in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God (who is the Sovereign influence over all).

Let’s talk for a moment about what it means to “believe in His name.” During Biblical times, a person’s name was more than just a moniker. It denoted their character, their reputation, their will, their entire being. In sharp contrast, our understanding of a person’s name doesn’t extend beyond the alphabet we use to spell it out.

Because of this differentiation, belief in Jesus is more that just a head knowledge or shallow statement. It extends to living one’s life (to the best of our ability and dependent upon the power of God’s Spirit) submitted to the whole person of Jesus–who He is, His will, and His Lordship over us as God Himself (John 1:1). Anything less isn’t true faith in my humble estimation.

Follow

As the forerunner who prepared the way for Jesus, John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36). Because of John’s profession, two of John’s followers followed Jesus instead (John 1:37).

When I think of the times that I’ve agreed to follow someone, it’s always been with the understanding that I’m submitting my way to the way of the person I’m following. I might question that person’s direction. I might wonder if they really know what they’re doing. I might even have a serious conversation with them about the best way to get where we’re going.

But in the end, I place my trust in them enough to go their way instead of my own.

The same is true with Jesus. That’s why I so strongly assert that believing and following go hand in hand. We only follow those we trust enough to relinquish personal control. So to say that we believe in Jesus, and that we’ll follow Him, is only proved through actually giving our lives completely over to Him, doing the best we can to live according to His will and example.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life….He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God….He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. ~John 3:16, 18, 36 (NASB)

Lord God, thank You so much for Your faithful love, which was demonstrated so vividly by Jesus coming to earth to die on the cross as our Substitute. Help us believe in the name of Jesus and to follow Him with all our being. Help us receive Him as our Guide, Lord, Savior, and Master. Help us live out what we profess. In the perfect and precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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B2B: A Word We Don’t Like

In our Back to Basics (B2B) blog series, it’s important to discuss a topic we probably don’t like. We’ve all seen it held up in our faces, usually from a pulpit or from a sidewalk prophet. And we chafe each time. You may have already guessed the word we don’t like.

Repent.

What are your thoughts on the word 'repent?' Like it or no? Why or why not?
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In spite of our resistance to repentance, it is a very basic and necessary component of the Christian life.

About the Word We Don’t Like

In all actuality, I think repentance gets a bad rap. The word repent, as it concerns the actions and attitudes of mankind, simply means to turn away from sin/evil and by doing so, turn toward God.

Repentance is absolutely necessary to our coming to God for salvation. The story of the prodigal son is a beautiful picture of this (Luke 15:11-32). Sometimes repentance gets confused with confession and forgiveness. Although they’re co-related, they’re not the same, a topic I address in the Bible study, The Fragrance of Crushed Violets. (Confession is agreeing with God about our sin. Forgiveness is what Christ offers us through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, and what we are commanded to extend to others.)

Repentance is also something we do regularly, when in spite of the new life we’ve been given in Christ, we sin.

Why We Don’t Like Repentance

Why do our noses wrinkle, our shoulders tighten, and our lips clench when we hear this word? Because many times we see repentance as something worse-people-than-us need to do. In other words, it grates against our human pride, often bringing about the issue of the beam in our own eye and the splinter in the eye of someone else.

We MUST guard against this. Remember the story Jesus told about the tax collector and Pharisee? If not, here it is, reminding us of the need for humility, a requirement for true repentance:

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” ~Luke 18:9-14 (NASB)

Lord God, help us to be humble so we can readily see our sinful condition and repent. In order to stay close to You, our Holy God, repentance is called for. In addition, You’ve promised in Your Word to bring about healing for our land when we humbly pray in repentance and confession. Our land desperately needs healing. Help us to lay aside our prideful hearts so we might always be people of repentance. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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Exciting News! (and Giveaway…)

I’m taking a one-day break from our Back to Basics (B2B) blog series to announce some exciting news!

Miller's Creek Collection 1 (first 3 books of the series) available for $4.99 #ChristianFiction
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Exciting News – A Miller’s Creek Collection

I’m delighted to announce that the first three books in the Miller’s Creek novels have been combined into a collection priced at just $4.99! (The regular price for these books is $3.99 each, so this is quite a bargain!)

For any of you that aren’t familiar with the books, they are Christian romance and romantic suspense, all rated at 4.5 or higher and are set in the fictional town of Miller’s Creek, Texas.

Here’s the blurb from Amazon:

This collection of the first three faith-based stories in the Miller’s Creek novels by Christian author Cathy Bryant shares the messages of finding true home, walking by faith, and the gift of God’s grace.

Texas Roads – One secret kept, another uncovered… Dani Davis just wants a place to call home. With quirky residents, quaint country charm, and loads of business potential, Miller’s Creek, Texas seems like the perfect place to start over…except for the cowboy who gives her a ride into town. Dani secretly finances renovations to downtown Miller’s Creek, but malicious rumors force her to choose between keeping her involvement a secret and the home for which she’s always longed. Then a devastating discovery propels her down a road she never expected to travel. Steve Miller is determined to rescue his dying hometown. When vandals jeopardize the renovation, he can’t help but suspect Dani, whose strange behavior has become fodder for local gossips. Can Steve and Dani call a truce for a higher cause, and in the process help Dani recognize the true meaning of home?

“…one of those stories that sticks in your heart.” -Amazon Reviewer

A Path Less Traveled – A widow, her traumatized son, and the man who loves them both… Trish James is tired of being rescued. When a spooked horse claims her husband’s life, she’s determined to blaze a path for herself and her traumatized son without outside help. But will that mean leaving the place etched on her heart? Andy Tyler has had to struggle for everything, and starting a new law practice in Miller’s Creek, Texas is no different. Though prepared for business challenges, he’s not prepared for falling in love–especially with yet another woman who will probably abandon him for her career. Will Andy and Trish be able to see past their limited human understanding to take a path of faith–a path less traveled?

“…a story of faith, healing, and love.” -Amazon Reviewer

The Way of Grace – In pursuit of justice, in need of grace… A justice-seeking perfectionist pursues her dream of a perfect life in her hometown of Miller’s Creek, Texas. Then a disheveled free spirit turns Grace Soldano’s perfectly ordered world upside down, challenging the concept of personal goodness. A fall from perfection leaves her teetering between vengeance and grace, caught in a deadly crossfire that leaves her dreams in a heap of ashes. Can she learn to joyfully accept the life God has given her–far from perfect–but completely immersed in His grace?

“…much more than just a story.” -Amazon Reviewer

( Also Includes a Sneak-Peek Chapter From PILGRIMAGE OF PROMISE, the fourth book in the Miller’s Creek novels)

Exciting News – A Favor To Ask

Since this is a new collection, it only has a couple of reviews at this point. If you’ve read these three books and can honestly recommend them, would you do me a favor and leave your honest review on Amazon? Here’s the LINK for the collection. I would greatly appreciate it!

And if you know of someone who might enjoy the books, please pass along this information either by sharing via e-mail or on your social media outlets. That will help me spread the word about the release of the collection. Thanks so much!

Much love to you all!

Giveaway! New Miller's Creek digital collection #ChristianFiction 3-in-1
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P. S. Oops! I almost forgot the most important part! I’m giving away one of these collections to one lucky reader. If you’ve already read the books, you can pass on the books to anyone you choose if you are the winner. You can enter below using the Rafflecopter or via my Facebook author page under the giveaways tab. The giveaway ends November 30. Winner will be contacted via e-mail. This giveaway is open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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B2B: How to NOT Please God

As another post in the Back to Basics (B2B) blog series, nothing is more basic to our Christian walk than today’s topic. Though we’ve already covered love as our motivation to serve God and others, appropriating God’s Word as an offensive weapon and guidebook for life, developing a consistent habit of prayer as communication with our Commander-in-chief, overcoming evil–including the evil within us, outside of us, and the evil one–, and getting past our tendency to complain and criticize, today’s post will reveal the only way to truly please God.

In my Bible reading yesterday morning I read the parable Jesus told about the talents (Luke 19:11-27) and noticed this quote I had written in the margins. So good!

“The man with the one talent was immobilized by fear and feelings of inadequacy…His life was a frozen asset–frozen by fear of rejection by the master, fear of failure, fear of comparison to the other two who were making their investments, fear of taking a risk. He did what a lot of people with low self-esteem do–nothing, and that’s exactly what Satan wants for you as a Christian…” Healing for Damaged Emotions by David Seamands

I can’t help but wonder how many of us have the grasshopper faith of ten of the twelve spies that scoped out the new homeland God had promised them. They decided the giants were too big and powerful them (Numbers 13:1-33). Or do we have the faith of David, the shepherd-who-would-be-king, who single-handedly took on Goliath with this reply, a slingshot, and a handful of stones:

“You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” ~1 Samuel 17:45-47 (NASB)

Truth: There is a way in which we can NEVER please God.

Please God – Live By Faith

“Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.” ~Habbakuk 2:4 (NASB) (See also Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38.)

I think many of us relegate faith to a one-time decision to trust in God for our salvation. While trusting His grace for salvation is important, the Bible makes it clear that we are to “walk by faith” and “live by faith,” which implies a continuing action. It’s living out our profession of faith in our day-to-day actions.

This means always trusting God in each and every situation or circumstance, regardless of how bleak things may appear. It often means stepping out into the unknown, with just enough light for one more step. It means allowing God to handle things we have no control over. It means trusting Him with every aspect of our life on a second-by-second basis.

On the other hand, it also means not putting our trust in our own resources, mental capacity, and physical strength (which smacks of human pride, something God hates and wars against). This applies to us both as individuals and as members of the family of faith. Apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ~ Zechariah 4:6 (NASB)

Please God – There’s No Other Way

Now for the real clincher. There is absolutely no way we can please the Lord unless we’re living and walking by faith as described above. But don’t take my word for it; take His.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. ~Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

Father God, open our eyes to see the truth about walking and living by faith. Lord, our desire is to please You. Help us to trust You completely in each and every circumstance, no matter how daunting the task. And keep us–oh, Lord God, please keep us–from depending on ourselves and the things of this world rather than You. In the precious and all-powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

The post B2B: How to NOT Please God appeared first on Cathy Bryant.

B2B: Deal With Complaint and Criticism

Poor Moses.

How did he endure the criticism and complaint of the roughly two million people he led from slavery with God’s miraculous delivery? Had I been in his sandals, my response would have undoubtedly been, “Lord, just shoot me now and put me out of my misery.”

Unfortunately, God’s people still haven’t fully learned how divisive and harmful complaints and criticisms can be. We’re still all-too-quick to find fault, place blame, whine, and complain. Because it’s so detrimental to our spiritual life, the church, and to those watching, we simply must get past this un-Christian behavior.

The ‘Ministry’ of Complaint and Criticism

And just so you know, I ended up completely re-writing this post after spending a hour writing it the first time. Why? Because it turned into one huge complaint (which proves we ALL struggle with this from time to time). That’s why today’s post in the Back to Basics blog series will take a deeper look into what we can do to move past the ‘ministry’ of complaint and criticism. I sarcastically call it a ministry because when we get into this mindset, we often see it as our duty to complain and criticize.

Isn’t it sad that adults can act more childish than say, well, a child? If things don’t go our way, we’re quick to pick up our toys and go home. And before we leave, we usually say a few choice words to the pastor, the Sunday school teacher, the person beside us on the pew, and anyone else who will listen. And even if we’re not ‘in your face’ with our complaint and criticism, we are certainly willing to discuss it with our friends in hushed, under-our-breath tones.

The results are disastrous. There is usually at least one who picks up our criticism/complaint and adds it to their list of grievances. This deadly attitude and disease of the tongue spreads quicker than a Texas wildfire.

Why We Complain and Criticize

Why do we complain and criticize? Simple. We want someone to blame. And we usually look for someone to blame so we don’t have to shoulder the responsibility for our part in the matter.

Jesus’ words about this type of behavior are straight to the point.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Luke 6:37-42)

Moving Past Criticism and Complaint – Action Points

So how do we move past the pervasive problem of criticism and complaint? The Scripture passage above gives us lots of clues.

First of all, when we our dander gets up, and we feel like it’s our duty to complain and criticize, we need to STOP! There’s usually much than what we know about any given situation.
Remember: we get what we give. If we dole out judgment and condemnation, that’s what we’ll receive. On the other hand, if we’re generous with forgiving and giving, we’ll receive those things in return.
Be careful who you follow. We have the tendency to become like those we hang out with. So the best solution? Follow Jesus and try to emulate Him!
We all need to take a good long look in the mirror before we play the blame game. Attempts to assign blame for anything is usually because we’re trying to shirk our own responsibility in the matter. Always ask yourself this question: Is there something I could do that would have brought about a better outcome in the situation I’m getting ready to blame someone else for? Nine times out of ten the answer will be yes. We need to get rid of the beam in our eye before we try to extract someone’s splinter. And once that’s done, remember the Bible’s admonition to be kind and speak the truth in love.

Lord God, forgive our tendency to complain and criticize and pass the blame on to others. Teach us to prayerfully look inward to see our own culpability in each and every situation. Lord, if a situation arises that must be confronted, help us to do it according to Your Word, in the right spirit, and with a heart of love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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B2B: Overcome Evil

We live in enemy-occupied territory. And it’s easy to grow so battle-fatigued that we’re tempted to retreat. But instead of giving up and giving in, as soldiers of Christ, we simply must overcome evil.

Any student of warfare will tell you the importance of recognizing the enemy and his tactics. In light of that, the topic I want to address in this Back to Basics (B2B) blog series post is how to live in enemy territory without completely succumbing  to evil.

But it’s way too easy to assume that evil is somewhere outside us. That’s not the case. It’s important for us to understand how evil manifests itself, and we have the capacity to be our own worst enemy.

Evil Within

It’s common knowledge among believers that we are sinful creatures. Since Adam’s fall, evil has become a part of our genetic makeup. Apart from Christ, there would be no good in us at all.

To make matters worse, we’re easily swayed and blinded. The Pharisees considered themselves good and godly people. Jesus warned His disciples that those who persecuted them would think they were doing God a favor. Even some of our God-believing forefathers were blinded enough to think that human slavery was okay.

My point is that we have to keep a careful check on ourselves and not allow ourselves to be blinded by the evil within. This next verse sums up the evil within each and every one of us: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Evil Without

In addition to the evil within us, there is evil without us as well. The world is an evil place. Don’t believe me? Watch just a few minutes of your local or national news, or for that matter, a few minutes of prime-time TV.

Things haven’t changed or progressed as much as we’d like to think. Even as far back as the book of Genesis, we see the plight of this world in which we live.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)

The Evil One

At the root of all evil is the evil one, the devil, who is known as a murderer, liar, destroyer, and thief. His motto? “Steal, kill, and destroy!” (John 10:10) His plan has always been to defeat God and take His place. Now he knows his days are numbered because of the victory of Christ over sin and death at the cross. So what does he do with his limited amount of time? He wages war against believers in an attempt to make them stumble and turn away from God.

The Danger of Evil for the Church

Because of the prevalence of evil, believers need to be aware of the affect it can have on us as the body of Christ. When the disciples asked Jesus about the end times, He said this:

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:9-13)

It’s not a pretty picture, but I’m grateful Jesus gave us these words so we know what to guard against. Brothers and sisters, don’t turn away from the faith. Be careful of betraying your faith family. Don’t allow hatred a place in your heart. Evil will increase, as mentioned in this passage, but don’t let your love for Christ and His church grow cold. Stand firm!

Think of Jesus and His church as a fire blazing brightly with the gospel message. Think of evil/wickedness as a big bucket of water. Think of yourself as one coal among many. If you move away from the flame, you can know for a fact that the enemy will see to it that your heart grows cold. Fight back!

Overcoming Evil – Action Points

The Bible gives much instruction on how to overcome evil–the evil within, the evil without, and the evil one:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  (Ephesians 6:11)
They triumphed over him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)


You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, (Ephesians 4:22)
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14)
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

(James 4:7)

Lord God, thank You that You do not leave us to fend for ourselves against the evil within, the evil without, and the evil one. Instead You’ve given us Your Power-packed Spirit and Your Word. Because of the work of Christ on the cross, death and sin are defeated, and we have everything we need to live godly lives. As Jesus prayed in the model prayer, “Deliver us from evil.” Open our eyes to see it and defeat it. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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B2B: What We’ve Got Here is Failure to Communicate

For those of you familiar with the old Paul Newman movie, Cool Hand Luke, this title will make sense. For the rest of you spring chickens, maybe not so much, but I thought it especially appropriate for the next post in our Back to Basics (B2B) blog series.

Communicate With Our Commander-In-Chief

You see, as Christ-followers, we have the rare privilege in this spiritual battle we live in to have instant access with our Commander-In-Chief at any time. He is ever ready to hear our questions or cries for help. Yet many times we go to war without taking the time to consult Him first.

Let’s take a step back and think about this for a second. Would it be prudent for a soldier in the United States military to wage war without first consulting his commanding officer? Of course not!

But every time we step into our day or any given situation without first spending time in prayer to God, we are guilty of doing just that.

No wonder we say and do the wrong things! No wonder we often end up in seemingly impossible situations! No wonder our lives are more difficult than they really have to be!

Communicate Through Prayer

While the Christian life is not specifically about us and what we can get out of it, consider the benefits of prayer when we take the time to humbly (yet boldly) enter God’s throne room of grace:

Strength – Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. (1 Chronicles 16:11)
Relief, Mercy – Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1)
God’s Nearness – The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)
Good Gifts – If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11)
God’s Grace – Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Forgiveness and Healing – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Answers – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7)

And the list goes on and on–deliverance, salvation, peace, and so much more! Why would we NOT spend time with God in prayer?

Communicate – Action Points

Make it a priority to communicate constantly with the Lord. We desperately need His input in our lives! May we not suffer from failure to communicate with our Creator, Lord, and Savior.
Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s a matter of adjusting our will to His, letting Him know what’s on our hearts (He already knows, but we need to express it), and asking for His help in faith.
I hesitate to say this because I don’t want to complicate prayer, but if it helps you be more consistent with your prayer time, keep a journal–not so you can make a Santa Claus list, but so you have a visual representation of God’s faithfulness.
Pray constantly. Throughout each day, lift up concerns to God. Imagine that He is right beside you (He is!) and talk to Him.
Don’t forget to say thank you. Express your gratitude for who He is, His attributes, what He’s done, for what He’s doing, for what He will do. It’s His will that we are thankful people (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Lord Jesus, throughout Your earthly ministry, we see Your faithful example of prayerfulness. Oh that we might follow in Your steps and pray! Help us realize our need, the needs of those around us, and constantly bombard heaven’s door in response. Help us humble ourselves and pray so we might live lives pleasing to You as faithful soldiers of the Kingdom. Amen.

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