Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 49

Beginnings Bible Study - Genesis 1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ~Genesis 1:1 (NIV)



"God " – Elohim (plural, denoting the Trinity at work in Creation). This name for God denotes His majesty, sovereignty, and authority.



Digging Deeper: Psalm 102:25-27a; Isaiah 40:28-29



"Created" – means to make out of nothing; in the Bible this word is used exclusively for God. In contrast, when humans create something, we have tools and supplies. We are incapable of creating something from nothing.



Digging Deeper: Hebrews 11:3; Isaiah 45:18



"Heavens" – space; infinite universe.



Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. ~Genesis 1:2 (NIV)



What is being described here is chaos. The earth was formless, without shape, unorganized, empty, and dark.


"Spirit of God" – Here we see a second member of the Trinity at work in Creation in the Holy Spirit. Remember that Elohim, the name of God used in this passage is plural, indicating the work of the Trinity.



"Hovering" – I love the picture painted here--one of a mother protecting her baby. Though God is our Father, He is sometimes described with motherly attributes as in this verse.


Digging Deeper – Deuteronomy 32:11, Matthew 23:27, Psalm 91:4






And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ~Genesis 1:3 (NIV)



Day 1: The creation of Light - God started the creation process by bringing light. At a cursory glance, this may not seem like much of a way to create a universe, but when we stop to truly consider what light is and what it does, this is HUGE! Without light, life cannot exist. Without light, their is no vision, no seeing. Light can overcome darkness, but darkness cannot extinguish the light. (If you don't believe this, go into a dark room without any light and light a candle!)






In addition, in the Digging Deeper verses below, we learn that Jesus is light. By creating light, God is giving of Himself!



"And God said…and there was" – Here is the third member of the Trinity at work in Creation, the pre-incarnate Christ, the Word (John 1:1-5). Notice how effortless the process of Creation is for Almighty God. He spoke and it was. A writer friend of mine on Facebook recently posted the sweetest story about her young son, who summed up creation perfectly: “First there was nothing. Then there was everything.”


Digging Deeper – John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:15




God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. ~Genesis 1:4-5 (NIV)



"Good" – God was creating Paradise. From the first day of Creation, He was providing everything man would need to live.


"Called"   - As God assigned names to His Creation, he was in effect indicating His Lordship and Ownership.


Digging Deeper – Genesis 2:19; 1 Kings 23:34


Food For Thought: How does God’s initial delight in what He created affect your thoughts about the world, others, and yourself?




And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. ~Genesis 1:6-8 (NIV)



Day 2   - Creation of the sky


"Expanse" – firmament; literally means “to beat out or spread.”



Part of God's work on the second day of creation was to separate water in the sky from water on the earth. Many Bible scholars believe that the earth's atmosphere at this time was different than what we have now, forever altered when God flooded the earth in response to the wickedness of mankind.


"Sky" – God’s name for the expanse was sky, again revealing His Lordship and Ownership of His Creation.


"Day" – There seem to be two different trains of thought about what constituted these "days." Some scholars say the word literally means “days” and may use 2 Peter 3:8 to back up their belief that a "day" could have been several thousands of years. Others say that everywhere the word "day" is used in the Pentateuch it refers to a solar day, now calibrated at 24 hours. In my humble opinion, this is probably one of those areas that is supposition and not worth being divided over. The first opinion could be man's way of trying to bend the Bible to fit science, which is backwards to my way of thinking. It also seems to limit God's power. There is no doubt in my mind that our Almighty God is more than capable of creating the universe in six literal days!



And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. ~Genesis 1:9-13 (NIV)



Day 3 – Land and vegetation are created and God once more names the various aspects of His Creation.


"Good" – As on the first two days, God takes the time to enjoy His Creation, and is delighted.


"According to their various kinds" – Biology 101: you can’t get a turnip from a tomato seed. =) Slowly but surely, God is taking the chaos and organizing it down to each itty bitty detail.



It's also worth noting that there is instantaneous dry ground on a planet formerly covered with water. And now the earth is instantly teeming with seed-bearing vegetation, including fruit trees.




And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. ~Genesis 1:14-19 (NIV)



Day 4 – God set lights in the sky--the sun, moon, and stars.

Food for Thought: What were the purposes of the lights in the sky? (See verses 14 and 17.) Think about what our world would be like without these lights. Do you see organization in God’s work?


Digging Deeper: Revelation 21:23; 22:5; Isaiah 24:23



And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. ~Genesis 1:20-23 (NIV)



Day 5 – The creation of water and sky creatures


"Great creatures of the sea" – leviathans


"According to their kinds" - Again we see God organizing the chaos into highly organized creation. (Reminds me of organizing a really messy pantry, but on a much grander scale!)


"Blessed" - Here we see God blessing for the first time. Through reproduction, God enabled His creation to join Him in the creation process, at the same time enabling the earth to recreate itself. I live in an area where annual forest fires are usually experienced. Once the fire is out, the devastation is mind-numbing. But a beautiful thing happens within a few years. That forest begins to re-grow. Thank You, Lord, for blessing Your world with the ability to reproduce!






And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.~Genesis 1:24-25 (NIV)



Day 6 – Animal life and mankind are created, each according to its kind.


Food For Thought: How is animal life further delineated in verse 25?






Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” ~Genesis 1:26-28 (NIV)



"Let us…our image" – Notice that God doesn't say "me" and "my," but "us" and "our." This is a consultation of the Trinity, planning out the creation of man. Though our society would like us to believe otherwise, God's Word states that we are more like God than animals. Man was the apex and crowning event of Creation.


"Rule over" – Flawless creation entrusted to man; God giving man both dominion and stewardship over creation. This in no way lessens God’s Lordship of His Creation, nor does He become a distant God who made everything then moved off to let us fend for ourselves. Everything mankind needed for survival was created before man took his first breath, but man was made accountable to God for its stewardship.


"God…said to them" – On the other days that God speaks, He simply speaks. Here He is communicating directly with man (cf. vs. 22).


Digging Deeper – Genesis 5:3; 9:6; James 3:9; Psalms 8:4-5


Food For Thought – What does it mean to be created in the image of God? How did sin affect that image? How does an awareness of bearing God’s image shape how we live our lives and treat others?




Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. ~Genesis 1:29-31 (NIV)



Food For Thought: What does God give animals and man to eat?


Digging Deeper: Genesis 9:1-3


"And it was so" – Throughout chapter one of Genesis we've seen these words time and time again. They continue to reveal the sovereignty and power of God.


"Very good" – In viewing the completion of His work, God proclaims that it is very good. Paradise completed.




Holy God, Spirit, and Son--Elohim--we stand in awe of You and Your work of creation. You took nothing and made everything. You took chaos and brought about a highly organized system. You hung the sun, moon and stars in their ordained places. You blessed us with the ability to reproduce and join You in the work of creation. And if that weren't enough, You made us a little lower than the angels and handed over Your flawless Paradise into our control. Oh, Lord, we stand convicted by all that You are and all that we are not. Thank You, that even before the world began, Your plan of redemption was already in place. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen. 

Free Christian Kindle Books for September 10, 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!





Be Still 

by Cherie Hill



Nonfiction: When the storms of life threaten to overcome us, we find ourselves crying out to the heavens, "Lord, don't You care?"

As
our soul is capsized with heavy silence and we continue to pray for a
miracle, God's answer comes in the form of a question, "Where is your
faith?"

"Be Still" uncovers the profound life-applicable meaning
of the miracle, "Jesus Calms the Storm." Through this powerful message,
your spirit will be submerged with hope, peace, and comfort, as you find
your way to the back of the boat...resting with Jesus. Just like the
Disciples, many times you find yourself so overwhelmed by your storm
that you look right past the only One who can save you and who is always
beside you-Jesus. As you gain a deeper understanding of this great
miracle, you will find that when God allows a storm in your life...it
comes with great purpose; if you miss the purpose, you may miss God's
will for your life. So, let go of your fear by grabbing hold of your
faith...let the storms come, and let the waters rise-God is taking you
deeper.



Click HERE to download.





The Way of Grace 

by Cathy Bryant



Fiction: 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 download.





 Fearless 

by Suzanne D. Williams



Nonfiction: What does it mean to be fearless? And how do I get there? Where is the
way out from hopelessness and despair? Crippled by fear, Suzanne
Williams found herself unable to leave home. In her testimonial book,
Fearless, she shares her personal walk out of the darkness and bondage
of fear into the health, peace, freedom and hope promised in God's Word.



Click HERE to download.

Life or Death Decision: No Middle Ground

As people created in the image of and under the authority of Almighty God, we have a life or death decision to make.



God set this choice before His chosen people before they entered the Promised Land, and it is a choice still available to people today as the ultimate Promised Land of heaven draws closer.



You should know in advance: there is no middle ground, no neutrality. A non-decision is a death decision.



I know this seems like a hard line to take, but it's not my line. It's the line God laid out thousands of years ago. Choose Him and His ways and live, or actively rebel (or passively try to take the middle ground) and die. Each day draws us closer to the moment when the opportunity to choose is gone.



Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ~Deuteronomy 30:11-20 (NIV)



If you're reading this post and want to know more about how to make a choice for life, please click the "LIFE" button in the sidebar or CLICK THIS LINK. Furthermore, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at catbry (the number 1) at yahoo dot com.



Father God, thank You for Your great love for us and for Your awesome plan to redeem us through Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and that as long as it is "today" everyone still has time to choose You. But LORD God, make us aware of the urgency of the decision. These are troubled days, and time is running out. Teach us to number our days that we might gain a heart of wisdom. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Christian Kindle Freebies for September 9, 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 Way of Grace

by Cathy Bryant



Fiction: 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 download.





Be Committed 

by Warren Wiersbe



Nonfiction: For both Ruth and Esther, God used
stressful circumstances to bring about His eternal purposes. Ruth's
committment to the God of Naomi affected every generation to come, as
she became an ancestor of King David and more importantly, Jesus Christ.
Esther's obedience led to the preservation of her people at a moment in
history when all seemed lost.






The stories of Ruth and Esther will make you contemplate: Would I trust God enough to do what they did? Go
chapter by chapter through the books of Ruth and Esther to see how the
lives of these two remarkable women epitomize the type of faith that
glorifies God.




Click HERE to download.





A Devotional Journey Through Judges 

by Laura Krokos



Nonfiction: Practical, insightful and relatable 250 page in depth devotional study
with great personal stories. Each day is short enough to be able to read
and have time to process the personal application questions. It can be
used in conjunction with the discussion guide (at
www.TheBookofJudges.com) or as a stand alone devotional.



Click HERE to download.





The Sacrifice 

by Rev. Allen Smith



Nonfiction: The Sacrifice will take you all the
way back to the creation of the earth. You will not only see how sin
entered the earth, but you will also see how the One True God reacted to
it. You will see how man separated himself from God, and how God put a
plan into action to bring man back to Him.


You will be taken step
by step through the plan God set into action. You will see how it all
unfolds before your eyes, and you will realize what God did just for
you.

Click HERE to download.





Hearts Adrift 

by Daisy Fields



Fiction: Winter has come to Elkhart County, Indiana, and it hasn't treated Amish
farmer Abram Schrock well at all. His roof collapsed, his trusted mare
Goody died, and his fiancée Mary has run away to Indianapolis. Abram is
content to maintain his home and watch the endless snow, but when the
community pools its money to buy Abram a new horse, what seems like a
simple gift creates a tangled mess as Abram discovers an abandoned boy
nearly frozen to death in his barn.

Knowing it's his Christian
duty to offer charity, Abram rescues the boy, Owen. Unfortunately, while
he wants to return to nursing his broken heart, Abram is forced to work
together with the opinionated teacher, Katherine, to care for Owen.
Will Abram find his path back to God and life, or will he break down for
good? Find out in this tense tale of Amish fiction.



Click HERE to download.





Becalmed 

by Normandie Fischer



Fiction: With her days chock full - designing jewelry for the shop she co-owns
with her best friend, sailing her sharpie, and hanging out with
girlfriends - Tadie Longworth barely notices she's morphing into the
town's maiden aunt. When Will, a widower with a perky daughter named
Jilly, limps into town in a sailboat badly in need of engine repairs,
Tadie welcomes the chance to help. Her shop becomes Jilly's haven while
Will hunts boat parts, and Tadie even takes the two of them sailing.
It's the kind of thing she lives for, and it's a welcome distraction
from the fact that her ex-boyfriend Alex, aka The Jerk of Jerks, is back
in town. With his northern bride. Oh, and he's hitting on Tadie, too.

Those
entanglements are more than enough, thank you very much, so it's almost
a relief when a hurricane blows into town: at least the weather can
match Tadie's mood. When Will and Jilly take shelter in her home,
though, Tadie finds herself battling her attraction to Will. Even worse,
the feeling is mutual, tempting them all with what-ifs that petrify
Will, who has sworn never to fall in love again. Mired in
misunderstanding, he takes advantage of the clear skies and hauls Jilly
out of there and back to his broken boat so fast, Tadie's head spins.

With
the man she might have loved gone, and the man she wishes gone showing
up on her doorstep, Tadie finds herself like a sailboat with no wind;
becalmed, she has to fight her way back against the currents to the
shores of the life, and the man, she wants to have.



Click HERE to download.

Eyes Off The Waves! (And On the Storm Stiller)

Though scary events like the Cuban missile crisis, Vietnam War, and the JFK assassination occurred in my lifetime, I was just a child. My memories of these events are fuzzy at best.



So the current state of our nation and world is by far the most terrifying events I've encountered in my lifetime. With news of potential economic collapse, war with Syria, and a society hellbent on self-destruction, it is increasingly easy to give way to fear, anxiety and worry.



Brothers and sisters, keeping our eyes on Jesus is the only way to live in the peace and joy He gives. If we allow ourselves to be distracted by the stormy waves of current world events, we are allowing our number one enemy--the first and foremost terrorist--to have his way with us.



I know it's tempting to sneak a peek at the monstrous waves, but we are called to something better.



Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” ~Matthew 14:29-33 (NIV)



Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ~Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)



You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. ~Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) 



Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ~Philippians 4:6 (NASB)



Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ~1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)



Lord Jesus, thank You that even though we live in troubled times we don't have to be troubled. You have promised to watch over us and take care of us. You still storms with words. Through You we can overcome anything. Help us to keep our focus on You, not the waves. Amen.

The Way of Grace Free September 9-13, 2013 for Kindle

It's another monthly Miller's Creek novel freebie week! During September 9-13, 2013, The Way of Grace is free for Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/Grace-Millers-Creek-Novels-ebook/dp/B009H7TIFU/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1378738012



(Don't forget that you don't have to have a Kindle to get the Kindle freebies. This post will show you how to add a Kindle app to your PC, phone, iPad, etc.)



Here's the back cover copy for The Way of Grace for your information:



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?



Please pass along this information to anyone you know who might be interested. I greatly appreciate it!



Much love,

God is Greater Than Our Doubts

If we're honest, each of us can probably point to some time in our life when we entertained doubts about God and His Son Jesus. Yes, there are verses in the Bible that point to the negative aspects of doubt (James 1:6 comes to mind), but there are also many, many examples of God proving His power over even human doubt. Let's look at a few of the great doubters of the Bible and how God reached through the darkness of doubt to shed His light on the situation.



Sarah

I have to admit that my reaction would be the same as Sarah's. Here is a woman who had passed the age of normal child-bearing. God shows up at the door and tells Abraham that his wife will have a child.



The thought sends her into a fit of the giggles (which she later denies) brought on by doubt that God could do what He promised. (Genesis 18)



God still acted in spite of Sarah's doubt and brought about the promise of a child--a child named for the laughter he caused (Genesis 21:6-7).



Jacob

If any character in the Bible reveals the worst of human behavior, Jacob would certainly be on the list. Even his name reveals the worst: deceiver. That's certainly what he was, though one could argue that his mother and father certainly played a part in this character deficiency.



After cheating his older brother from both the blessing and birthright that were rightfully his, Jacob flees for his life. On his way to his uncle's house, Jacob spent the night at Bethel where God revealed Himself to this cheater and promised to be with him and bring him back to this land. Jacob responded with a vow to make the LORD his God.



When Jacob returned to his country--several years, wives, and children later--the Bible tells us that he feared meeting up with Esau again and struggled/wrestled with God (Genesis 32). Could it be possible that part of his struggle was doubting whether the Lord's promise to Him was true? After struggling all night, God once more reveals Himself to Jacob and give him a new name, Israel.



 God wasn't minimized by Jacob's doubt; He was made real in Jacob's life through the doubt.



Job

Another man who struggled with doubts and questions about God was Job.



We all know the story of how the accuser sought permission from God to buffet Job for the purpose of proving that Job's only reason for living a blameless life was because God had blessed him. As is usually the case, Satan wanted to draw Job away from God, to cause doubts to the point that Job denounced God.



And God, in His infinite wisdom, allowed Satan leeway.



In similar situations of struggle and pain, we too may question God. Those same doubts may arise in our hearts and minds.



Once more, in the midst of Job's rantings and ravings and doubts and questions, God proved Himself more powerful, and the end result was a Job who was stronger and better and wiser for having endured, a man who experienced God, a man who was then able to say: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” ~Job 42:2-6 (NIV)



Jeremiah

Here is the weeping prophet, a man given the horrific task of declaring God's judgment on his neighbors. To make matters worse, this task left him very unpopular with his fellow man, and in response he was shunned, derided, and even persecuted because of his God-given message.



I don't know about you, but this would've given me cause to doubt. I would question whether this message was truly from God or a figment of my imagination. As a recovering people-pleaser, the verbal taunts from my fellow man would not only make me doubt God, but myself.



No wonder Jeremiah responds in both doubt and accusation by saying: "Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails." ~Jeremiah 15:18 (NIV)



Jeremiah's accusatory words didn't stop God from carrying out His plan. In fact, God not only carried out His plan, but brought about a change in Jeremiah that later enabled him to say: "But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten." ~Jeremiah 20:11 (NIV)



The Man With a Sick Child

Is there anything like having a sick and hurting child to bring us to Jesus?



The name of the man in Mark 9 is not given, but we understand his panic and grief. He'd tried everything, including bringing his son to the disciples, who had not been able to heal him. Notice the doubt behind the man's words to Jesus, how Jesus wasn't taken aback by the doubt, and His power to operate in spite of the man's wavering.



Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ~Mark 9:22-24 (NIV)



How often I have responded to the Lord with this very same prayer: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (And He does!)



Thomas

No study on doubt would be complete without the doubting disciple.



Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” ~John 20:24-28 (NIV)



Notice that Jesus didn't hold the doubt against Thomas. Instead He presented evidence of who He truly was, commanded belief rather than doubt, and brought about a declaration of faith from this follower who's faith had been shaken.



APPLICATION :

Praise God that He is powerful enough to act in spite of our doubts. But there comes a point where like Sarah, Jacob, Job, Jeremiah, the grieving father, and the doubting disciple that we must respond in faith. Most often this is done through the gift of faith from God and a decision to persevere in spite of our fears and doubts. Consider these examples:


The Canaanite Woman ~ A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. ~Matthew 15:22-28 (NIV) 
Ruth ~ Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” ~Ruth 1:15-17 (NIV)

In closing, let us also remember not to browbeat those we come across in this life who are riddled with doubt. Instead, let us follow the example of Christ and "Be merciful to those who doubt..." ~Jude 1:22 (NIV)



Lord God, thank You for being bigger and greater and more powerful than our doubts. Thank You that You are able to act in spite of our doubts and that you don't condemn us for our doubts. Instead, You reveal Yourself to us on a deeper level and give us the gracious gift of faith in You and who You are. May we be quick to respond with the same compassion and mercy when we encounter those with doubts. May our response lead them to know You better. In Jesus' powerful name, Amen.

The Value of One

My oldest son and hubby are Trekkies. (Though he'll probably freak out at me posting this, my son even had a Star Trek costume as a child and frequently donned it to be "beamed up." But I digress...)



To our human way of thinking we "get it" when Spock says "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one." But in God's upside-backwards kingdom (a post for another day), He places prime importance, worth, and value in the one.



So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?....Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?....  ~Luke 15:3-4, 8 (NASB) 



Luke 15 then goes on to tell the story of the prodigal son. The father could have written off the younger son. After all, he still had a son who had not left to waste his inheritance.



But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ~Luke 15:20 (NASB) 



I can only speak for myself, but I'm grateful God doesn't have a quota of people to reach and then writes off the rest.



Neither should we.



I'm reminded of the story of a little boy who spent hours picking up beached starfish and flinging them back into the ocean. After watching him for a while, a man approached and told him, "Son, you'll never be able to save all these starfish. Go enjoy your day. This doesn't really matter."



The boy never stopped. Instead he picked up yet another starfish and tossed it into the waves before he turned to face the man. "It mattered to that one."



Heavenly Father, thank You that the one matters to You. Help us to have that same mindset. May we not get so sidetracked about reaching the masses that we see past the one You've placed in our path today. May we be busy carrying out Your mission of seeking out the lost. Amen.

Christian Kindle Freebies for September 4, 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!





Lord, Teach Us To Pray 

by Andrew Murray



Nonfiction: There are no shortcuts to Spiritual Power other than through PRAYER. As
modern day disciples, we must follow our Lord’s example. Prayer must be
our chief request if we are to experience God’s presence and walk in the
power of His Spirit. God has used this little book to speak to my
heart and the depth of my soul in a very profound way, on the subject of
prayer. My eyes have been opened to the amazement of God’s real intent
for PRAYER in the life of a believer. My prayer life has been taken from
a Duty to a Desire. I pray this book does the same for you.



Click HERE to download.





East of Ashes 

by Gideon Nieuwoudt



Fiction: Evil is deeply entrenched in society during the First Crusade, as two
worlds collide over faith and powerful figures manipulate religion and
men to further their own agendas. In the middle, three ordinary people
are in danger of being overwhelmed by war and political expedience – but
they do not fight alone…



Part romance, part historical epic, East of Ashes follows the journey of Lamech – a young knight with
blood on his hands who seeks redemption in the love of a beautiful
woman, but instead finds that his path leads him right into the midst of
the brutality of the First Crusade.

As he fights in the
Crusader army at the siege of Antioch in the year 1098 A.D., Lamech
witnesses horrific deeds that echoes with his own guilt, but begins to
discover something so radiant that it threatens to consume him.



Click HERE to download.





Strivings Within 

by Mitzi VanCleve



Nonfiction: "Strivings Within" is a book that relates the author's personal journey
of living with Panic Disorder and OCD. The book is divided into three
parts: Part One describes the author's personal experience of what it's
like to live with these disorders and the initial fear that they stirred
up in regard to her faith. This section is a very descriptive narrative
which seeks to convey to the reader just how painful and debilitating
an Anxiety Disorder can be to a person who is afflicted with it. Part
two shares how the author came to understand her disorder's in regard to
the causes and triggers for severe and episodic flares. This section
also delves into the very real stigma and misunderstanding that many
folk have in regard to these types of disorders, especially within the
church, and the negative impact this can have on a person who is
afflicted. The author's aim in this portion of the book is to educate
and thereby create an attitude of empathy and understanding toward the
sufferer. This section of the book also delves into the practical
measures that the author learned to employ in order to manage her
disorders. Part Three relates the role these disorders played in
strengthening the author's personal faith in Jesus Christ and how they
made her more dependent on the sufficiency of His grace and strength.
This is a book which is meant to encourage anyone who is afflicted with
these disorders toward the goal of understanding that living with an
Anxiety Disorder cannot rob them of experiencing the abundant life in
Christ which He extends to all who trust in Him.



Click HERE to download.

Satan's Strategy: Hopeless

In this series of posts on the strategies of our enemy Satan, we've discussed how he likes to divide and conquer and how he operates through doubts, fears, and lies. One of the lies he loves to perpetrate is that we're hopeless--that we've messed up way too much for God to love and forgive us.



Nothing could be further from the truth.



“A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate." ~Luke 15:11-24 (NASB)



Truth #1: We All Stray (aka Sin)

Though the enemy would like for us to believe otherwise, none of us are righteous. We all stray away from God through sin.





Truth #2: Sin Is Turning Away From the Father and Following Self

Ultimately, all sin is against God (though it often involves and affects others). Why? Because in sinning, we follow our own way instead of God's Way.





Truth #3: Sin Leads To Spiritual Famine

God is the source of life. If we choose to deny Him and His ways--if we choose to go our own way--we will reach a point where we're spiritually impoverished and malnourished.



Truth #4: It Is Possible to "Come To Our Senses"

I love the way the Bible tells us that the prodigal son "came to his senses." In His great mercy, God can use our spiritual impoverishment to draw us back to Himself.



Truth #5: Repentance Involves Humility

True repentance humbles us. We cannot have a cocky attitude AND return to God. Notice how the prodigal is humbled to the point that he's willing to become a servant in his father's household.





Truth #6: Father God Is Waiting With Open Arms

Satan whispers lies in our ears, telling us God can't love us after all we've done, but look at the picture Jesus paints here. He doesn't reveal an angry God who turns His back on His child. Instead He shows a Father rejoicing, His sandals slapping against the pavement as He races to embrace His prodigal.



That is a picture of hope for all of us wayward sinners.



Father, thank You for Your amazing grace, mercy, love, and compassion. Thank You that with You there is always hope. We are so grateful that in spite of our sin, You continue to love us and search the horizon, waiting for our return, then run to gather us in Your loving and faithful arms. Thank You for the hope we always have in You. Amen.