Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 46

All That Glitters Isn't Gold

Yesterday's post on how to make godly decisions just happened to coincide with my Bible reading on Abram and Lot. It dawned on me how easy it is to opt for what looks good to us rather than taking time to seek God.

The old saying, "All that glitters is not gold" is so true, yet we human beings seem geared to follow what attracts our eye. That tendency got Eve in oodles of trouble, and it does the same for us.

Consider the following Bible passage:

So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord. ~Genesis 13:1-13 (NASB)

As the oldest of the two, and Lot's uncle, Abram had the right to choose first and tell Lot to take what was left, but Abram was a man of faith. In allowing Lot to choose first, he basically allowed God to choose for him.

Lot, so human like the rest of us, couldn't help but notice the fertile plains of the Jordan River valley. He quickly headed toward the cities of the plain, enticed by the glittering sparkles of city life and seeming prosperity. This proved to be a costly mistake. Verse thirteen tells why. If we read on to chapter 19 of Genesis we see Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed because of their sin.

My prayer for all of us for the New Year is that we'll remember that not everything that looks good and profitable IS good and profitable. In fact, if it glitters with golden possibility we should take a step back and seek God and His wisdom.

Lord God, thank You for the wisdom You provide. Teach us to be careful in making decisions based on appearances. Guide us to seek You and Your will in each and every decision we make. Amen.

How To Make Godly Decisions

Credits: svile001 at sxc.huWith the New Year we are faced with numerous decisions as we focus our thoughts on how best to live in 2014. Many times these decisions leave us feeling lost in a maze, unsure of which direction to take. How can we be certain we're making not just a good choice, but the best choice? What can we do to make sure that our decisions are godly?

It doesn't help that our hearts are deceitful and wicked and not to be trusted, but thankfully, our Lord gives us much guidance in His Word concerning decision-making.

CALL ON HIM
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. ~Jeremiah 33:3

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  ~James 1:5

What a relief! How comforting it is to know that God and His perfect wisdom are only a prayer away. If we seek Him earnestly, He won't leave us to stumble around in the dark. But being in right relationship to Him is key. As Sovereign and omnipotent Lord, He knows our hearts. (If you're unsure about your relationship with Him, please click on the "LIFE" button in the WordVessel sidebar.)

FOR GOD'S GLORY
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ~1 Corinthians 10:31 

In our decision making, we need to ask: Will this decision glorify God? We are made for His glory, and our decisions should reflect that. If it doesn't bring glory to Him, don't do it.

HELP OR HINDER
"Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. ~1 Corinthians 6:12

As children of God freed from slavery by the blood of Christ, everything is permissible. But with this permission comes great responsibility because our decisions have the power to bring is into slavery again. When we make decisions, we need to ask: Will this bring me closer to God, or will it hinder my relationship with Him?

The goal in this Christ-following life is to become more like Jesus. While we can count on God to do His part in transforming us into the image of Christ, we too must make choices that conform to God and not the world.

Another point to consider is whether or not the decision and its results are beneficial. If it's not helpful in every sense of the word, we should avoid it.

THE EFFECT ON OTHERS
So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live--for I don't want to cause another believer to stumble. ~1 Corinthians 8:13
None of us live in a vacuum. Like ripples on the water, our choices touch others. As we make decisions it is important to consider how those decisions will affect others. If the choice is detrimental to our brothers and sisters in Christ and those who don't yet know Jesus as Savior and Lord, it is to be avoided at all costs.

APPLICATION
All throughout the Bible, God reveals His will for us. If our decisions contradict God's revealed will we are operating in opposition to Him, plain and simple. Our enemy loves to spread doubt and confusion and to throw us off track in our decision-making. Seek God, glorify Him in all you do, and consider if the decision is helpful or hindering in your relationship to God and others.

When we make God-honoring decisions, life won't necessarily be easier, but it will be blessed because there are blessings in obedience.

Lord God, we thank You for being our Lord and Savior. Thank You that help in making decisions is ours for the asking. Thank You for Your Word which reveals You and the right way to live. May all we do bring You glory and lead us and others closer to You. Amen.



 

PILGRIMAGE OF PROMISE On Sale For Kindle

Just wanted to let everyone that the Kindle version of PILGRIMAGE OF PROMISE (Book 4 in the Miller's Creek Novels and rated at 4.9 stars) is on sale through New Year's Day.

Right now the book is just 99 cents, but will jump to $1.99 on December 29, $2.99 on December 31, and back to its regular price on January 1, 2014.

Please feel free to share the info with anyone you know who might be interested.

PILGRIMAGE OF PROMISE is my personal favorite of all the Miller's Creek Novels because it tells Mama Beth's story. Here's the book blurb:

Broken promises, enduring love...

A dusty stack of unopened love letters forces Bo and Mona Beth Miller to revisit a part of their past they’d rather leave buried–especially in the face of death. Only as they retrace history will they learn the truth about the shattered promise that threatens to come between them. But can their relationship endure the deception and sabotage they unearth, or will the experience compel them to trust more fully in the promises that never fail?

  Click HERE to go the book's Amazon page.

The Way of Grace Free December 19-23, 2013

Just wanted to let you know that The Way of Grace will be free for Kindle December 19-23--just in time for Christmas!

Though the book is the third book in the Miller's Creek novels, it is a standalone novel, so it's not necessary to read the books in sequence.

Please pass the info along to anyone you think might be interested.

Here's the book description from the Amazon page:

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. Sidetracked by a desire to be a prosecuting attorney, Grace Soldano launches into uncharted waters, making herself over to please her boss and mentor.

Then a disheveled free spirit turns her perfectly ordered world upside down, challenging the concept of personal goodness. A fall from perfection leaves Grace 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?
Click HERE to go directly to The Way of Grace at Amazon.

BOOK REVIEW: The Life Ready Woman by Shaunti Feldhaun & Robert Lewis

I can only speak for myself, but ever so often I feel the need to re-examine my life--my priorities, how I use my time, etc.--to make sure I'm not only following Christ, but doing so in the most effective way.

When The Life Ready Woman by Shaunti Feldhaun and Robert Lewis popped up in the Kindle free category I snatched it up and began reading, and I'm so glad I did.

Almost every woman I know could benefit from reading this book because it gives a scriptural basis for our varied roles and callings. It helps us discern what needs to stay and what needs to go in our lives so that we are best fulfilling Christ's call on our lives.

I highly recommend this excellent book for every woman, regardless of life circumstances and age. A great book to read to prepare for the quickly coming new year!

Here's the book description:

Whether a stay-at-home mom or an airplane-hopping executive, a student or a senior adult, most women need a contemporary, encouraging vision for what it means to be a godly, biblically guided female in the twenty-first century. A biblical woman takes God’s Word seriously not just at church but also in the everyday walk of life.

But can a significant and satisfying twenty-first-century womanhood really be defined from Scripture? One that can apply to all women and yet not be guilty of cookie-cutter sameness, pressing everyone into a common mold? One that will stay fresh even as a woman grows older? One that can guide her to the best in life? The answer is yes, and the result is a femininity without excesses and regrets that mark those who just go with the flow of the world.

In The Life Ready Woman, best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn helps readers take five faith steps drawn from the Bible that will help to define the best life possible. Each one is easy to understand, but requires bold faith to activate. The reward is being ready for the deeper life that God has planned.

 And here's the Amazon link (not an affiliate link): http://www.amazon.com/Life-Ready-Woman-Do---All-ebook/dp/B004GUSHPA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385680553&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Life+Ready+Woman

There IS Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~Romans 15:13 (NIV)

When surveying our circumstances and the condition of the world around us, it is all too easy to give in to feelings of hopelessness. But when we lift our eyes to a higher level, hope is available to each and every one of us.

God is a God of hope. And Biblical hope is not pie-in-the-sky thinking, as in 'I hope I get this or that for Christmas.' Instead it is an assurance and a knowing deep within us that He is there and He is good.

As we trust in this awesome God of hope, we are filled with joy and peace that goes beyond our current circumstances and the bleak outlook the world offers.

God's powerful Holy Spirit then works within us and causes us to overflow with hope.

Application: The next time we are tempted to give in to hopelessness, let us lift our heads to see the God of hope and put our trust in Him. Then all joy, peace, and hope is ours through the power of His Holy Spirit.

Free For Kindle November 8-12, 2013 - A Path Less Traveled

Just a head's up that A PATH LESS TRAVELED is free for Kindle November 8-12, 2013. (BTW, you don't have to have a Kindle to take advantage of this offer--check out this WordVessel post to find out how to take advantage of Kindle freebies.) Please share the info about the freebie days with those you think might be interested. (This helps them and me!) The book is the second book in the Miller's Creek novels, but is a stand-alone, meaning you don't have to read the books in any certain order. Here's the book's info:




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?



(Book 2 in the Miller’s Creek novels–Click HERE to be taken to the book’s Amazon page where you can download the book for free November 8-12, 2013!)

The Inclusive Good News

When Jesus made His advent to this earth as a helpless baby, His first
appearances were to the lesser-thans of society: shepherds and even his
own family. As He grew to adulthood and started His ministry, He reached
out to the oddest people in the oddest places--all for the purpose of
showing that the Good News was for everyone. This story of His
conversation with the Samaritan woman demonstrates the barriers His
gospel destroys.



The Gender Barrier

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples. So He left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now He had to go through Samaria. So He came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as He was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)~John 4:1-8 (NIV)



I love the words "Now He had to go through Samaria." Yes, going through Samaria while traveling from Judea to Galilee was the shortest route, but most Jews bypassed Samaria. I believe Jesus was on a divine mission. His agenda for the day included a meeting with a very unlikely woman.



The fact that the woman came alone to the well in the middle of the day revealed her status as an outcast. Most women came first thing in the morning to get their water for the day.



It was against the normal custom for men to speak to women, especially in a one-on-one situation. But Jesus proved by speaking to her that the message He came to bear surpassed the gender barrier.



The Racial Barrier

The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” ~John 4:9-10 (NIV)



Notice that she points out His social faux pas by reminding Him that she is a woman. But she also points out that He is a Jew and she is a Samaritan. Jews of that day had no dealings with Samaritans as evidenced by the fact that they normally went out of their way to avoid walking through Samaria. The Jews looked down on the Samaritans as a mixed race of people.



The parable of the good Samaritan takes on new meaning in light of this. Many people--including a Jewish priest--passed by the man who had been beaten and robbed. Only an outcast in Jewish society took the time to openly and honestly care for the hurt man.



Jesus quickly overcame the racial barrier by a cryptic reference to Himself as living water, peaking the woman's interest and effectively including her in the invitation of the Good News.



The Morality Barrier

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” ~John 4:11-18 (NIV)



Jesus--as Holy God dwelling among men--doesn't overlook sin. He pretty much lays it on the line in regard to the sin in the Samaritan woman's life. But also notice that He doesn't condemn her. Much like the story of the adulterous woman, He recognizes the wrong in her life, but offers forgiveness in place of condemnation.



How differently we humans react. We take the moral high ground--a place of pride and superiority--when it comes to the sin in other people's lives. And Jesus had plenty to say about that type of attitude, particularly "Don't do it!" Thank God that He doesn't erect a moral barrier between sinners and the gospel, but invites us to come as we are.



The Religion Barrier

“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “Believe Me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the One speaking to you—I am He.” ~John 4:19-26 (NIV)



The Jewish people viewed the religious practices of the Samaritans as suspect and incomplete, although the woman's comments reveal a knowledge of the things of God and the long-awaited Messiah. The woman is quick to point out disparities in the religions of the Jews and Samaritans, and Jesus just as quickly reveals the truth about worshiping God in spirit and in truth. How quickly Jesus cut to the heart of the matter, revealing Himself as the Christ.



In Conclusion

The Samaritan woman became a missionary and ran to town to tell everyone what (and Whom!) she had experienced. The people must surely have noticed a difference in her after her encounter with Jesus, for they quickly invited Him to stay with them, and because of His words many believed (4:39-42).



One seemingly innocuous conversation about water led to many believing in Jesus as the Messiah. That is indeed Good News.



There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ~Galatians 3:28 (NIV)



Father God, how grateful we are that the Good News is for all of us. In spite of the barriers we humans tend to erect, Jesus quickly tears them down with the Truth of His Word. May we be quick to do the same. In His precious and perfect name we pray, Amen.

A Sinner Looks At Psalm 51

I take great comfort in the fact that King David--a man described in the Bible as a "man after God's own heart"--was a sinner like me.



And please don't misunderstand. I don't believe our sin is to be taken lightly. God takes sin seriously. He proved that at the cross.



But in light of my own sin tendencies, I'm comforted by the knowledge that even God's chosen and highly beloved choice as King of Israel missed the mark.



What comforts me even more is knowing that through confession (agreeing with God about our sin) and repentance (turning away from our sin and back to Him), our relationship to God can be restored--not because of us, but because of who He is--because of His mercy and grace.



As I continue my in-depth study on the topic of forgiveness to prepare for writing A Bridge Unbroken, Psalm 51 speaks to me as a sinner in need of God's forgiveness.



The Backdrop For Psalm 51

This psalm was written by David after what is unarguably his greatest moral failure. 2 Samuel 11 and 12 tell the story of how he saw Bathsheba from his rooftop and brought her into his palace where he committed adultery with her. Then, when he found out she was pregnant, he eventually had her husband Uriah murdered.



Nathan the prophet exposed his sin, bringing David to his knees. The writing of this psalm followed shortly thereafter.



Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!
For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful]. Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt and iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness and death, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness (Your rightness and Your justice). O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt offering. My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then will You delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, justice, and right, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then bullocks will be offered upon Your altar. 



Have Mercy 

It's sometimes difficult to go to God after we've sinned because sin separates us from Him and we experience shame and guilt. Sin puts up a barrier between us and our Holy God. Adam and Eve experienced this in the garden of Eden after the fall. They hid from Him because of their sin. In this psalm, David went exactly where he needed to go, as we'll soon find out.



Blot Out   

This choice of words carries with it the idea of erasing or removing from the record. In Isaiah 43:25, God tells us: "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." As Almighty God and Creator, only He has the power to erase our wrongdoing.



My Transgressions  

The word "transgressions" literally means actions in defiance of what is is right--in other words, deliberate rebellion against God and His ways. Our job is to acknowledge our rebellion before God.



Wash Me  

Is there any better expression of what we need to remove the stain of sin from our lives? David mentions hyssop, which was a plant used in cleansing ceremonies and as a cleansing agent. It was with hyssop that Moses told the Hebrew slaves to mark their doors with blood so the death angel would pass over them. Thankfully, as believers, we've been thoroughly washed with the precious blood of Christ. With John the Baptist we can proclaim to the world: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) (Notice also that David's words ask for a continued washing. Christ settled that once and for all!)



My Iniquity and Guilt 

Iniquity is a powerful word which means perverse or crooked. It perfectly describes our condition apart from God as fallen humans. It's a genetic problem passed down to us from Adam and Eve. From the moment of conception we all possess a sinful nature. Because of this sin nature we are all guilty of sin. If we say we're not sinners, James 1:8 tells us we're deceiving ourselves. While it would be nice to believe we're not sinners, if we search our hearts for Truth, we won't be able to deny it.



Cleanse and Make Me Wholly Pure 

Only God can remove the moral filth from our lives and make us pure. Sin leaves us with a bad record, a debt we can't atone for or pay. It also contaminates our lives, leaving us dirty and stained. God's divine forgiveness corrects our condition. The idea of purification is a purging or "un"-sinning. When God forgives us, it is as though we had never sinned from His point of view. This is justification: just as if we'd never sinned.



My Sin 

Sin means to miss the mark. Like arrows pointed toward a target, when we sin we go off course from what God has planned for us (which is good and gives us a future and a hope. [Jeremiah 29:11]). Though our missing the mark hurts us and others, all sin is ultimately against God and separates us from Him. What we deserve because of our sin is death (Romans 6:23), but thank God for His priceless gift, Christ and His salvation, who provided a way back to God for us.



What God Can Do 

In spite of his sin, David petitioned God for His help. I believe with all my heart that David's petitions were granted. In addition to forgiveness of his sin, blotting out our sin, cleansing us and purifying us, David asks God for these things:


 Based on God's desire for us to be whole and experience truth in our inmost being, David requests wisdom. James 1:5 tells us: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. I, for one, am so grateful God's wisdom is ours for the asking.
Have you ever noticed that joy and gladness seem to elude us when we have unconfessed sin in our lives? I truly believe that as believers we cannot enjoy sin because of the separation it brings from the Father. Like David, when I humbly come to the Father in acknowledgement and repentance, it is only then that my joy is restored. 
Only through God's forgiveness of our sin can we expect a clean and pure heart and a right, persevering, willing, and steadfast spirit. The word "create" is exactly the same word used in the creation account in Genesis. As Creator, God is the only one who can take something dirty and sinful and create it anew as clean and pure.
Is there anything worse than separation from God? To me, it's the scariest and darkest and most alone place in the whole world. Like David, we should cry out, "Oh, Lord, don't remove Your presence and Your Spirit from me!" 
David also requests deliverance from the guilt of the blood he had shed. Blood was sacred because it represented life, something only God could give. David must have been keenly aware of the blood guilt on his head. You and I may never literally take someone's physical life like David did, but there are other ways in which we murder. Through gossip and slander, we murder the reputation of others. Through hurtful words and curses, we murder people emotionally. We too need to be delivered from blood guilt. With it (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. ~James 3:9-10 
I find it very interesting that David essentially prays for God's will to be done. Jesus prayed the same thing when He struggled with the temptation to walk away from the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane. And as the Lord's Prayer teaches us, one purpose of communication with the Father is to align our will with His. 
David also prays for his lips to be opened to declare God's praise. Worship is the proper response of a grateful heart. 

What We Can Do 

The joy and gratitude David felt prompted him to worship (which Romans 12:1-2 defines as service). Our hearts should overflow with constant gratitude for what God has done for us through Christ, and from there we should be motivated to action as a fruit of our salvation. Like David, we can:


Teach others who have deliberately rebelled against God about Him and His ways, resulting in conversions and repentance. 
With joyous hearts, sing praises to Him for His righteousness. 
But the most important thing we can do when we rebel and miss the mark, is come to God with a broken and contrite heart. He won't despise that kind of heartfelt and sincere repentance. 

Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your forgiveness, purchased for us with the precious blood of Christ. May we always be quick to come back to You with broken and contrite hearts. Amen.

Christian Kindle Freebies for October 27, 2013

Want a way to read all these great Christian Kindle freebies without purchasing a Kindle? Check out this post that tells you how. All the books listed
here are free at the time of posting, but these free e-books change to
pay status very quickly. Always check to make sure the books are
free before you click to buy. Just so you know, I have not read
all
these books, so I can't testify to their content or scriptural accuracy
(though I try to be discerning about which books I share on WordVessel).
Happy reading!





The Jesus Life

by Stephen W. Smith



Nonfiction:




Lost? Explore the way to life!

We've
lost the way that leads to life. With competing priorities and rival
demands, we're more confused than ever in how to live the life Jesus
offers. Is it the church way, the American way, or the busy way? With so
many ways facing us, we're more paralyzed than alive; more perplexed
than sure; more bewildered than confident. The Jesus Life offers eight compelling ways to help us rediscover what it really means to follow Jesus in the 21st ccentury.




Click HERE to download. 





Coldwater Revival 

by Nancy Jo Jenkins



Fiction:




One of Emma Grace Falin's six-year-old
twin brothers died while in her care, sending her on a journey that will
take her through the dark valley of guilt, sorrow, depression, and
anger.

Although she rejects Him, God continues to offer restoration and healing into her troubled life.

Nancy
Jo Jenkins has woven an unforgettable tale of shattering loss,
desperate grief and despair, and one family's amazing journey to
restoration and forgiveness. A masterful debut, Coldwater Revival will forever be etched in your memories and upon your heart.




Click HERE to download.





Caught Off Guard 

by William P. Smith



Nonfiction:


In his book author William P. Smith bridges the chasm between the
heart and the head. Where is the reality of God in the middle of careers
and groceries? Why are so many believers frustrated with the enormous
gap between what they know about God and how they actually live?

In Caught Off Guard,
author William P. Smith graciously addresses these seekers who have
become dissatisfied with merely "talking theology" and instead yearn to
taste and experience the "real thing", a God who longs for relationship
with them. With real stories from today and biblical times, Smith
demonstrates surprising and often unnoticed attributes of a loving and
purposeful God by proving:

How God draws near to the radically undeserving
How God responds to people who have feeble faith or even active doubt
How God will help you as you seek to live a righteous life
How God changes the people around you by radically transforming your heart, mind and soul

In Caught Off Guard,
Smith draws an irresistible picture of the heart of God that shatters
conventional wisdom, remains true to biblical principles and invites
people to reconsider a deeper trust in our uncontrollable, loving God.

Click HERE to download.