Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 30

PROOF: Not Just Good…Transformed

A fat, fuzzy caterpillar attaches himself to a solid surface and suspends his body between heaven and earth. A short while later the dangling caterpillar splits open, and a shiny green chrysalis appears. Finally, a new creature emerges from the chrysalis, a butterfly no longer bound to inching its way from place to place, but now able to soar. [image error]

I can think of no better analogy for what happens to us when we give our lives to Christ.

In the PROOF blog series, written in my research for the upcoming Miller’s Creek Novel, Crossroads, I’ve attempted to lay out proof for fellow Christians to use in reaching those who have arguments against God and the Christian faith. These posts include evidence that there is indeed a God who desires a personal relationship with each of us, the Bible is true and accurate, Jesus is who He claimed to be, that heaven, hell, and a force of evil truly exist, and that in the end, it all comes down to faith.

One of the most common arguments for non-believers is this: “I’m a good person. In fact, I’m a better person than most of the people that call themselves a Christian.”

While the statement holds some merit and truth, the argument doesn’t hold even a drop of water.

Why?

Because God doesn’t want good people. He wants transformed people.

You see, the very best human effort to be righteous or good doesn’t even come close to hitting God’s standard. In fact, God considers human attempts at righteousness “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6), a term in the original language that goes beyond mere dirt to the disgusting.

None of us are righteous (Romans 3:10). We’re all like sheep with the very pronounced tendency to stray (Isaiah 53:6).  All of us are sinners, all falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). In our fallen and unrighteous state, there is absolutely nothing we can do to bridge the gap between us and Holy God.

But it’s okay. Really it is.

You see, what we’re incapable of doing on our own, God–through Jesus and because of His great love–has done for us. He bridged the gap, not just so we can be good people, but transformed.

Still don’t buy it? These verses will help (emphasis mine).

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. -2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. -Romans 12:2 (NASB)

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

 -2 Corinthians 2:18 (NASB)

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren -Romans 8:29 (NASB)

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. -2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. -Romans 6:3-4 (ESV)

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” -Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. -Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV)

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. -Ezekiel 11:19-20 (ESV)

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. -Isaiah 65:17 (ESV)

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, -Titus 3:5 (ESV)

For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. -Galatians 6:15 (ESV)

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. -2 Peter 3:13 (ESV)

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” -John 3:3 (NASB)

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. -Ephesians 4:22-24 (NASB)

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” -Revelation 21:5 (NASB)

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A Message to Trust

“Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble, a place for planting vineyards.” ~Micah 1:6

Messages bombard us from every direction, many of them contradictory.

So how do we know which messages are trustworthy?

In this age of instantaneous information, it often feels like we’re the only ones in history to experience this problem of knowing which message to trust. But we’re not.

A Message To Trust: Does It Come True?

Even as far back as the years of wilderness wanderings by the young nation of Israel, we see Moses speaking these words to them: You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD dos not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)

A Message to Trust: A Variety of Messengers

Sometimes our ability to trust a message might be thrown off by the messenger God chooses to use. Could we trust a message from a modern-day version of Elijah or John the Baptist? Would we be put off by their goatskin clothing and diet of locusts and honey? What about that raggedy homeless man on the corner who says nothing, but holds up a piece of dirty cardboard with a one-word message: Repent?

It’s important to remember that historically and Biblically, God has used a variety of messengers from different walks of life. He used the adopted son of a pharaoh, educated in the finest schools of the day. He also used simple and uneducated fishermen. In addition, He spoke through farmers, shepherds, priests, husbands of prostitutes, noblemen, cup-bearers. wealthy men accustomed to rubbing elbows with kings,  and many more.

It is so important that we listen in spite of the messenger, and then hold that message up to the light of God’s Word. Our God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). If the message we hear contradicts God and His Word, we can rest assured it is not from Him.

A Message To Trust: Watch Out For “Tickle-Your-Ear” Teaching

We must constantly guard against our own desire to hear the message we want to hear rather than the message God wants us to hear. Though this problem seems especially rampant today with those who tout a gospel of health and wealth or peace and prosperity, the problem has actually been around a long time, say…um, since the beginning of time.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” ~Genesis 3:1

Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions”; And to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.” ~Isaiah 30:10

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. ~2 Timothy 4:3-4

Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold now, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” ~1 Kings 22:13

“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace. ~Jeremiah 6:14

“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say. “Do not prophesy about these things; disgrace will not overtake us.” ~Micah 2:6

A Message To Trust: God’s Word

The very first point I listed above was about answering this question: “Does (or did) the message come true?”

Because of its ability to answer this question with an emphatic “Yes!”, God’s Word has been and will always be a message to trust.

Here’s just one example: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be Ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times. ~Micah 5:2

This prophecy, made 750 years beforehand, came true with the birth of Christ (Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-7).

And the first verse I posted above from Micah 1:6? Look at this picture of grapevines (among ancient rubble) of Samaria, and check this prophecy off as yet another one that “came to pass.”

God’s Word is trustworthy.

The post A Message to Trust appeared first on Cathy Bryant.

PROOF? It All Comes Down to Faith

Over the past several blog posts, I’ve attempted to share my research and study of apologetic topics in preparation for writing the next Miller’s Creek Novel, CROSSROADS. Simply put, apologetics is  defending our faith in God and His Son Jesus as the only way to truly live. That’s why I wrote these previous posts:

Proof of a Higher Being
How Do We Know the Bible is True?
Why the World Is So Evil
Who Is This Jesus?
A Personal God
After This, Then What?

But in the end, what you and I choose to believe all comes down to a matter of faith. I touched on this briefly in the post about the truth of the Bible. Everything we believe comes down to our faith in the authorities–or in this case, the Authority–behind these ideas.

All people–whether moralists, hedonists, philosophers or whatever–believe what they believe through faith. Moralists believe in their goodness and self-righteousness. Hedonists believe that it’s best to “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we may die.” Philosophers, scientific minds, intellectuals–whatever you want to call them–seek proof and truth for even things that can’t be scene with the human eye.

Of this latter group, let’s consider evolutionists, who believe that human life originated in primordial ooze and has improved upon itself. But in their theory, where did that first spark of life come from? Their belief system is one of faith as well, just faith in the wrong thing. Evolution has not been proved scientifically, but it is taught in classrooms across America.

Let’s move to those who believe life originated from the Big Bang theory. Again, it’s just a belief. It can’t be proved.

In truth, the more advances we make in science, the more it proves the existence of God. The more we unravel secrets of the atom and genetic DNA, the more we realize the intricacy and grand design of human life and the world we live in. And if such tiny specks of life are so intricate and mind-boggling, how much more so the One who created them?

Any supposed truth we believe, is accepted on faith and faith alone. Does it not therefore make sense to place our belief in the God of the Bible–the book more scrutinized than any other, with the most prophecies coming true in physical form, substantiated by millions upon millions of changed lives, indeed a book that powerful men have tried to eradicate, but failed? To believe in the Master Designer behind mankind and our solar system?

One thing I failed to mention in the post about the truth of God’s Word is that just because men disagree about interpretation doesn’t mean that it’s inaccurate or false. It simply means we are incapable of fully understanding it apart from God’s Spirit within us. The same is true of God. We can’t fully explain or agree on Him because His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).

Each human being has to make a choice in faith–to believe something that can’t be seen or proved through faulty and finite human logic and reasoning. But it should be noted that the Bible never condones a theology of compromise where we accept all theories as equal. There is not middle ground or neutrality when it comes to God. As stated in the post on the evil world in which we dwell, we’re either on His side or we’re not.

In conclusion, I must admit that I will never be smart enough or eloquent enough to reason folks into a relationship with the Lord. That doesn’t mean that I won’t do my best to lay out the case and cause of Christ. If we truly follow Him as our Lord and Savior, then we need to be about His business of seeking out the lost and making disciples. But at some point in trying to convince our fellow man about the Truth, we reach a place where we step back, knowing we’ve done our part, trusting God to do His part, and praying that the seed we’ve planted falls on good soil.

One more thing. If others who place their faith in the theories of men are right, things will turn out just as well for me in the end as it does for others. But if my faith in Creator God, the sacrifice of His Son on my behalf, and His indwelling Spirit prove true, it will mean the difference between an eternal life in a greater bliss than we can fathom or an eternal death in the miseries of hell.

“Earth leads directly into Heaven or directly into Hell, affording a choice between the two. The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of Heaven; the worst of life is a glimpse of Hell. For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.” -Randy Alcorn, HEAVEN

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PROOF: After This, Then What?

Very few of us would set out on any kind of journey without considering what might possibly lie ahead of us. We think through such questions as: What will the weather be like? How long will I be gone? How will I be traveling? What will I need for my journey?

Then we take actions to make sure that we have what we need for the trip.

Isn’t it therefore odd that many folks journey through this earthly life without considering what comes next?

After This: Keep the End in Mind

In order to live a truly effective life, we should all keep the end in mind. None of us want to reach our final days only to realize the ladder we’ve been climbing is leaning against the wrong wall.

It would behoove everyone to give serious thought and study to the question: After this, then what?

After This: Other Proof Posts and Common Beliefs

Hopefully by now in the PROOF blog post series (in preparation for writing the next Miller’s Creek novel, CROSSROADS) you can understand why the post on the validity of the Bible was one of the first I wrote. Each person must determine to believe it in order the accurately discern other important questions, including the one I just asked and the one of utmost importance: Who is Jesus?

We can prove there is indeed a Divine Being/God who is above and beyond us, who created a moral code embedded deep within human beings in spite of differences in culture, upbringing, and socioeconomic status, and who spoke into being this complex and diverse universe in which we live. And we need no further proof to identify the reality of the evil around us and in us. There’s no place we can visibly see, including the mirror, that doesn’t point to man’s depravity. Humans are capable of the most heinous of crimes, and only the goodness of God keeps us from it.

So back to the question of what comes after this earthly life. Some believe this life is all there is; that once we reach the time of death we cease to be. Some believe that once we die we are reincarnated into another type of being until we reach perfection.

After This: What God’s Word Says

But God’s Word gives an entirely different picture. It paints vivid word paintings of the reality of an evil influence, also known as Satan, the serpent, the devil. Because God in His divine justice cannot abide evil, He will one day put an end to it all. His only reason for not already stopping it is to give more men the chance to place their trust and faith in Him. His compassion, love, and patience–His desire that none should perish–is all that stays His hand (2 Peter 3:9).

The Bible vividly portrays two very distinct pictures of life after this current world is destroyed. One is a place of inexpressible beauty and all that is good–a place where those who trusted God to transform them and accepted His gift of salvation and forgiveness will spend eternity. The opposite end of the spectrum is a place of continual decay and torment reserved for the devil, the demons, and those who reject Christ and His atoning sacrifice.

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. (Romans 2:6-9)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’….Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels…'” (Matthew 25:34, 41)

I never want to be guilty of playing upon people’s fears. I hope to always be a messenger of God’s light, love, goodness, and grace. But I also want everyone to consider the two possible outcomes awaiting us at the end of this life. I want everyone to make the right choice now while it is still today.

For my fellow believers, I hope we will all have the courage to accept and proclaim a literal source and influence of evil in the person of the devil, as well as a literal hell and a literal heaven. In our current culture, it’s not popular or politically correct to espouse such ideas. But may we never be guilty of leaving out this part of God’s story simply for our comfort and convenience.

Heavenly Father and Maker, Thank You for Your Word, which gives so many answers to hard questions. Help us to share it with a world seeking answers. Give us courage and boldness to proclaim its Truth. In the holy and precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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Don’t Miss This!

Just wanted to let you all know about a fabulous multiple book giveaway (all Christian authors) over at Clash of the Titles in celebration of their birthday.

The birthday bash will last all week, with multi-book giveaways each day.

Earlier this year, I was blessed to have A BRIDGE UNBROKEN win one of their monthly Clash of the Titles, and it’s one of the giveaway books for today.

So please hurry on over to Clash of the Titles and enter the giveaway. Also please share this info with your family and friends via e-mail and social media (and don’t forget to bookmark the site on your computer so you can enter the other giveaways each day this week)!

Also, there are three book giveaways going on over at my other site, Christian Kindle eBooks (look under the author interview tab or scroll down through the blog posts under the freebies and bargains tab)–Song of Springhill by Cheryl McKay, Bridle My Heart by Susan Rohrer, and Texas Roads by me.

Don’t forget that you can subscribe to Christian Kindle eBooks HERE to get author interviews, book giveaways, new releases, and daily deals of freebies and bargains delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

One more reminder, then I’ll sign off: Please don’t forget to share the month-long 99-cent sale of TEXAS ROADS with those you know who might be interested. The book is highly-rated with over 100 5-star ratings and tells the story of a hurting seeker who discovers the meaning of true home in the back-roads Texas town of Miller’s Creek. It is the first stand-alone book in the Miller’s Creek novels.

Wishing you all a blessed week with happy reading time!

 

 

 

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Book Review: Lessons in Faith–Learned the Hard Way

Maybe it’s because I’m often pulled in many different directions, but rarely do I find a book that holds my attention long enough for me to finish. Lessons in Faith–Learned the Hard Way by C. Aaron Russell not only held my attention, but made me think about my own walk of faith.

[image error] Lessons in Faith – Book Description

Tired of the trendy unbalanced Christian teaching more focused on self-help and positive thinking, or overactive good works doctrine? Get the book that separates itself from the pack and brings a refreshing perspective that gets to the heart of the Gospel.

Lessons In Faith—Learned the Hard Way weaves lessons from biblical stories and modern illustrations, detailing the many ways that man has always been determined to ‘help God out’ through our own perceived wisdom and strength. In essence, we are the creation trying to help the Creator. This book chronicles our follies, such as pride, impatience, and temptation—all leading to mistakes, sometimes big ones. But the book is also about redemption, designed to give us a better understanding of what it is to be changed from a being made of flesh, led by desire, into a new creation formed from Spirit and led by faith.

Lessons In Faith breaks away from the current popular, overactive versions of discipleship teaching circulating among Christian readers. If the modern popular teachings are a bit overzealous and unrealistic, emphasizing an (unscriptural) attitude of, “God helps those who help themselves,” this book will outline a model that will help readers gain a more mature understanding that, “God helps those who patiently seek, trust and obey Him.” Lessons In Faith—Learned the Hard Way provokes both thought and spirit and paints a more complete picture of what it takes to grow substantial faith.

Lessons in Faith – About the Author, C. Aaron Russell

[image error]C. Aaron Russell lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He and his wife Brenda are parents to four wonderful, feisty children.

Aaron has a B.S. in Communication from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. His writing is published and regularly featured at the Christian Post, Examiner.com, and the Dallas Morning News, as well as showcased at his blog, Men of Mind.

Aaron is a missionary, web administrator, and speaker with Echos of Calvary Missions of Eastern Mexico. Aaron is also a member of Gideons International.

Lessons in Faith – My Thoughts

First and foremost, I commend Mr. Russell for so courageously voicing his thoughts about controversial subjects on both sides of the aisle. He’s not afraid to tackle tough issues like homosexuality and the cavalier approach the entertainment industry has toward God and Jesus. On the other hand, he’s also not afraid to call down those who position themselves as Christian leaders but focus their teaching on isolated scripture verses taken out of context.

In short, this is a book about living a life of faith in trying times, despite those who would have us believe the Christian life is more about works. I believe Mr. Russell is on to something. Yes, we’re to serve God, our faith lived out by our actions, but too many times we jump into action without waiting patiently for God to direct us.

I think that’s why this book resonated with me. I’m a doer, a list-maker, a take-the-bull-by-the-horns kinda gal. I want results and I want them now (if not yesterday). But I must remember to place all things before God and consider His thoughts on the matter.

Although I felt like the book tended to wander a bit from topic to topic without the cohesion needed to the overall subject matter, I still appreciate Lessons in Faith–Learned the Hard Way and the author’s courage in writing it. I would highly recommend it to those of you who are bedraggled, weary, and battle-scarred. This book will help you take the time to reflect. Most importantly, it will lead you to God’s presence as you re-evaluate your own walk of faith.

Disclaimer: I downloaded this book when it was marked as free from my own decision to do so. The opinions expressed are mine, and I received no remuneration for my review.
 

The post Book Review: Lessons in Faith–Learned the Hard Way appeared first on Cathy Bryant.

Will You Do Me a Favor? (and Book Giveaway)

Hi friends,

Maybe it’s because I spent several years as a public school teacher, but fall weather always has me looking ahead, setting goals, and making plans. One way that I do this is through checking with my blog readers/subscribers to find out how I can best meet their needs.

You see, the last thing I want is for my blog or blog posts to be about me. I want every person that drops my online front porch to find something useful and helpful. The same goes for my books.

So will you do me a favor? If you don’t mind and have a few minutes, please fill out the following short survey. It’s completely anonymous, so you can be as honest as you’d like! Thank you so much for your time. Your answers will help me improve upon my website, blog post content, and books–invaluable input and insight for this writer!

Live loved!

P.S. Before I forget, I’m giving away 3 digital copies of THE FRAGRANCE OF CRUSHED VIOLETS (Bible study booklet on forgiveness) at LibraryThing. (NOTE: You will have to scroll down to get to the book since it’s on a page with other author giveaways.)

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Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

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PROOF: A Personal God

So far in my research, study, and this blog post series (PROOF) for background work for the upcoming Miller’s Creek Novel, Crossroads, we’ve discussed evidence for the existence of God, how we know the Bible is true, the problem of evil around us and in us, and who Jesus really is.

Today I want to take a few steps back and discuss God as a personal God, probably something I should have addressed sooner than now. One of the biggest beliefs some people have about God is that He isn’t involved with His Creation on a personal level. In other words, they realize that there is a Higher Being, they just don’t believe He’s interested in us.

Since we’ve determined that God’s Word is indeed true and the revelation of God to His people, I want to give evidence of the fact that God is a personal God, He does care about His Creation, He desires a personal relationship with each of us, and one day He will put an end to evil through the triumphant return of His Son Jesus.

Personal God – In The Garden

During our study of how evil entered the world, we saw from the very first chapters of the Bible (Genesis 1-3) how God lovingly and precisely spoke our universe into being. The crowning event of Creation–the day He called “very good”–was creating man in His image and breathing life into Him.

To me, the big “Uh oh” in the story of creation is when God places man in this perfect Paradise and hands over the keys. He warns Adam and Eve not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they will die.

And we all know what happens next. They fail. What God said would happen, happens. But I want us to focus in on what comes next. Adam and Eve are hiding when God comes calling as he usually does. What? Yes, God came down to visit His Creation and walk with them in the cool of the day. He was involved in their lives. He had a relationship with them.

He already knew they’d messed up, but still He called out, “Where are you?” It was God who initiated the reconciliation.

God is a personal God.

Personal God – Other Old Testament Examples

Obviously one blog post isn’t enough room to list all the examples in the Old Testament of God desiring a personal relationship with mankind, but I want us to consider just a few. Fast forward to Genesis 5:21-23 where it says that “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Here we have an example of someone who had such a personal relationship with God that the boundaries between this world and the next were blurred.

In Exodus 3-4 we find the adopted son of Pharoah–now in hiding for killing an Egyptian–in a life-changing encounter with God, initiated by God, for the purpose of rescuing His people from slavery (a beautiful picture of what Christ did for us on the cross). Later we see God talking to this same man, Moses, face to face as a man talks to his friend (Exodus 33:11). More evidence of a personal God.

In Psalm 63:1 we see another man on the run–this one a king awaiting his throne–King David on the run from the very jealous and zealous King Saul. Notice his words: “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (emphasis mine) On the run in a dry and barren wilderness, what David longed for more than water to drink was time with his God. God was personal to David.

Though I won’t address it here for the sake of time, I highly encourage you to read Isaiah 40:21-31. In this passage we see God as ruler of His creation. One tiny verse in the middle of the passage reveals that the people of Israel felt the way we sometimes feel. “Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God?'” Read the rest of the passage to see how God answers this big lie with further proof that He is a personal God.

Personal God – Jesus and the Holy Spirit

When the angel announced the coming birth of the Messiah, He was given two names: 1) Jesus, which means “God saves,” and 2) Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Why would God’s Son, accustomed to the splendor of heaven, give all that up to come to this evil earth as a helpless babe, born into poverty, sought by wicked men for execution from the time of his birth? Only one reason that I can think of: He loves us and wants a personal relationship with us. Again, God was taking the initiative in bringing back mankind unto Himself.

In John 1:10-14, we see an overview of what Jesus did by coming to earth. The key point is in verse 14: “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” This word “dwelling” goes all the way back to the early books of the Bible when God moved with His people through the wilderness, when He set up camp and pitched His tent with the young nation of Israel. In this passage from the book of John, we see Jesus doing the same thing–He pitched His tent and dwelt in our midst.

Fast forward to John 15. Jesus is spending the night before His arrest and crucifixion talking with His disciples. He talks a lot about abiding (dwelling) in Him, just like branches find nourishment, sustenance, and fruitfulness by remaining connected to the vine. He then tells them that they are His friends–more proof of this oh-so-personal God.

What Jesus mentions next in John 16–what comes to fruition in Acts 2–is the promise of God’s very Spirit indwelling the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit, the Counselor (paraclete), the one called alongside us to give us guidance and direction, is still here in our midst. God is a heartbeat and whisper away, not some distant monarch who wants nothing to do with us.

He loves us still. He is a very personal God.

A Personal God – Conclusion

I want to end with yet another quote from C. S. Lewis and his wonderful book, Mere Christianity:

“An ordinary simple Christian kneels down to say his prayers. He is trying to get into touch with God. But if he is a Christian he knows that what is prompting him to pray is also God: God, so to speak, inside him. But he also knows that all his real knowledge of God comes through Christ, the Man who was God–that Christ is standing beside him, helping him to pray, praying for him….God is the thing to which he is praying–the goal he is trying to reach. God is also the thing inside him which is pushing him on–the motive power. God is also the road or bridge along which he is being pushed to that goal. So that the whole threefold life of the three-personal Being is actually going on in that ordinary little bedroom where an ordinary man is saying his prayers.”

God before us. God beside us. God within us. It doesn’t get more personal than that. (Click HERE to tweet this.)

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TEXAS ROADS Giveaway

Wow! I can’t believe the first week of September has already slipped by. I really intended to get a giveaway together last week, but between not feeling well and other stuff that had to be done, I never got around to it.

Oh well, I guess “better late, than never!”

TEXAS ROADS #giveaway 4.5 stars #ChristianFiction by @Cathy_Bryant
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TEXAS ROADS Giveaway

This month’s giveaway is a Kindle copy of PDF copy of TEXAS ROADS, the first book in the Miller’s Creek Novels. The book was 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers’ Genesis contest finalist and is rated at 4.5 stars on Amazon (and currently on sale at 99-cents). It tells the story of a business-minded city gal looking for home in the back-roads country town of Miller’s Creek, Texas. The only problem is a bull-headed cowboy-turned-mayor with a heart for his hometown and a devastating discovery that propels our heroine down a road she never intended to travel.

Hope you’ll take a minute to enter the giveaway (via Rafflecopter below), and please send your friends that enjoy Christian fiction this way as well. You can also enter the giveaway via my Facebook author page or at Christian Kindle eBooks.

Here’s the giveaway scoop:

one Kindle or PDF copy of TEXAS ROADS (Book 1 in the Miller’s Creek Novels)
open internationally
contest ends October 1, 2014
winner will be contacted via e-mail

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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PROOF: Who Is This Jesus?

So far in this blog post series I’ve lamely and inadequately called ‘PROOF,’ we’ve discussed the existence of a Higher Being (God) with His moral code and Creation as proof, the evidence for the support of the Bible as God’s revelation of Himself to mankind, and addressed the problem of an evil world.

Today I want to add a question to the great debate. And not just any question, but the most critical and important question in dealing with divine truth. The most crucial question each human being must ask and answer for themselves is the question of who Jesus really is.

Throughout His fully-God-yet-fully-human life on earth, the people Jesus came in contact with had the same questions. Each one had a determination to make. They had to decide for themselves who He was.

The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:27)

And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” (Matthew 14:33)

So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:31)

They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” (Mark 1:27)

They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” (Mark 7:37)

Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)

Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”  Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”  Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” (John 1:45-49

Once a truth has been presented–and in the case of Christ, presented so adequately and so vividly–we also must make a determination and answer the question “Who is this Jesus?”

There is proof that a historical figure by the name of Jesus lived on the earth, was crucified and buried, but rose from the grave. I don’t find it coincidental that time itself hinges on this man–born to lowly peasants and who lived life on the move with his band of disciples, followed by large thronging crowds in search of answers, food, and miraculous healing, and ostracized by the power-hungry religious leaders of His day.

Nor do I find it circumstantial that this Son of Man and Son of God fulfilled with exact precision the prophecies regarding His birth and the Law given to Moses by God.

I classify all of it as further proof that Jesus was exactly who He claimed to be.

Some say that He was a great moral teacher, who exemplified the message He proclaimed. Others say He was just a good man, though a little misled. Still others say He was a prophet, simply on the earth to spread God’s message. But never in God’s Word, does Jesus ever claim to be any of those things.

In conclusion, I’ll end with a C.S. Lewis quote that sums up all I’m trying to say in a few descriptive and very succinct words: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg–or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come away with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

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