Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 59
March 2, 2013
Be-Happy-Tudes #7 - Peacemakers and Maintainers
Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God! ~Matthew 5:9 (AMP)
On the dirt road where we currently live, a maintainer has to come through every few months and scrape the road to rid it of potholes that have grown deeper with each passing rain. Without that frequent maintenance, the road would soon become impassable. (I've often wondered if I could lose my little Honda Civic in some of those potholes...)
Life is much the same. Someone hurts our feelings. Resentment and bitterness builds. An unforgiving nature replaces the forgiveness we're called to extend. Potholes develop in our relationships with others.
Our Savior is the Prince of Peace. As His followers and ambassadors His ministry of peace and reconciliation becomes our ministry, too.
The apostle James puts it this way: But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it 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 3:8-10
Peacemaking and reconciliation aren't easy. Our human pride and selfish reasoning get in the way and cloud our judgment. And sadly, sometimes our efforts at reconciliation are met with resistance. In those cases, we must trust that the Lord knows we made the effort, and move on prayerfully, hoping that one day those doors to reconciliation will be opened to us.
God sent His only Son to this sin-filled planet for the purpose of reconciling a lost and dying world to Himself. Nothing else reveals our adoption into His family more clearly than when we reach out to others in peace and reconciliation.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the ministry of reconciliation which brought me into Your family when I was at my worst. Thank You for being our Prince of Peace in a world that is the very antithesis of peace. Lord, no matter how difficult, teach us how to follow in Your steps by living in a spirit of peace and reconciliation with our fellow man, especially with those who belong to the household of faith. I know I've personally failed You in this area in the past. Help me to do better. Amen.
On the dirt road where we currently live, a maintainer has to come through every few months and scrape the road to rid it of potholes that have grown deeper with each passing rain. Without that frequent maintenance, the road would soon become impassable. (I've often wondered if I could lose my little Honda Civic in some of those potholes...)
Life is much the same. Someone hurts our feelings. Resentment and bitterness builds. An unforgiving nature replaces the forgiveness we're called to extend. Potholes develop in our relationships with others.
Our Savior is the Prince of Peace. As His followers and ambassadors His ministry of peace and reconciliation becomes our ministry, too.
The apostle James puts it this way: But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it 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 3:8-10
Peacemaking and reconciliation aren't easy. Our human pride and selfish reasoning get in the way and cloud our judgment. And sadly, sometimes our efforts at reconciliation are met with resistance. In those cases, we must trust that the Lord knows we made the effort, and move on prayerfully, hoping that one day those doors to reconciliation will be opened to us.
God sent His only Son to this sin-filled planet for the purpose of reconciling a lost and dying world to Himself. Nothing else reveals our adoption into His family more clearly than when we reach out to others in peace and reconciliation.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the ministry of reconciliation which brought me into Your family when I was at my worst. Thank You for being our Prince of Peace in a world that is the very antithesis of peace. Lord, no matter how difficult, teach us how to follow in Your steps by living in a spirit of peace and reconciliation with our fellow man, especially with those who belong to the household of faith. I know I've personally failed You in this area in the past. Help me to do better. Amen.
March 1, 2013
Be-Happy-Tudes #6 - The Pure in Heart
Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! ~Matthew 5:8 (AMP)
Remember the Ivory Soap slogan? 99 and 44/100ths pure. Yeah, well...
The Bible's definition of pure is a little more...well, pure. In the Biblical sense, pure mean unmixed and undiluted. Single-minded devotion.
The greatest commandment as quoted by Jesus immediately comes to mind: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind..." ~Luke 10:27 (NASB)
Purity is an all-or-nothing proposition. Forget the fractions. They don't pass muster here.
This verse also comes to mind: Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. ~Proverbs 4:23
A few years ago I did an in-depth study on this verse, and I came to understand that our lives/hearts are very much like a spring of water. Great diligence must be undertaken to guard the source of that wellspring, because once it gets polluted (or impure), it will affect all the water.
In the same way, “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ~Galatians 5:9
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! ~Matthew 6:22-23
In conclusion, God deserves nothing less than our whole-hearted devotion. In fact, He won't settle for anything else. But the reward is well worth the effort...we will see God!!!
Lord Jesus, how easy it is to compromise our purity by allowing other things to take precedence over You. But absolutely nothing compares with knowing You. So when we're tempted to stray a little here and compromise a little there, remind us of how wonderful You are. Draw us back with bonds of love. Make our hearts 100% pure and in love with You. Amen.
Remember the Ivory Soap slogan? 99 and 44/100ths pure. Yeah, well...
The Bible's definition of pure is a little more...well, pure. In the Biblical sense, pure mean unmixed and undiluted. Single-minded devotion.
The greatest commandment as quoted by Jesus immediately comes to mind: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind..." ~Luke 10:27 (NASB)
Purity is an all-or-nothing proposition. Forget the fractions. They don't pass muster here.
This verse also comes to mind: Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. ~Proverbs 4:23
A few years ago I did an in-depth study on this verse, and I came to understand that our lives/hearts are very much like a spring of water. Great diligence must be undertaken to guard the source of that wellspring, because once it gets polluted (or impure), it will affect all the water.
In the same way, “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ~Galatians 5:9
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! ~Matthew 6:22-23
In conclusion, God deserves nothing less than our whole-hearted devotion. In fact, He won't settle for anything else. But the reward is well worth the effort...we will see God!!!
Lord Jesus, how easy it is to compromise our purity by allowing other things to take precedence over You. But absolutely nothing compares with knowing You. So when we're tempted to stray a little here and compromise a little there, remind us of how wonderful You are. Draw us back with bonds of love. Make our hearts 100% pure and in love with You. Amen.
February 28, 2013
Frugal Friday: DIY Haircuts
In our efforts to cut back on our spending, Hubby and I invested in a pair of hair clippers about a year ago. I somehow managed to learn (with the help of the the instruction manual and Google) how to cut my husband's hair. I also figured out how to cut my own hair, with a little help from Hubby on the back.
As you can well imagine, with no monthly visit to the hairstylist the clippers paid for themselves in the first month!
I finally gave in the other day--after almost a year of doing it myself--went for a professional cut just to get my hair evened up a bit. But now that it's straightened out, I'll go back to cutting it myself until it gets unruly again.
I don't say this to brag, so forgive me if I come across that way. But in our attempts to tighten our belts, we've both learned how much we were taking for granted in relation to our spending. And you know what? We're happier for having gone through the experience. With the new skill sets of using coupons, shopping sales and thrift stores, and even cutting our own hair, we've proved to ourselves that life needn't be costly to be enjoyable.
So what are you waiting for? You might just discover that hairstyling is your new hobby! =)
Saving $$$ one haircut at a time,
As you can well imagine, with no monthly visit to the hairstylist the clippers paid for themselves in the first month!
I finally gave in the other day--after almost a year of doing it myself--went for a professional cut just to get my hair evened up a bit. But now that it's straightened out, I'll go back to cutting it myself until it gets unruly again.
I don't say this to brag, so forgive me if I come across that way. But in our attempts to tighten our belts, we've both learned how much we were taking for granted in relation to our spending. And you know what? We're happier for having gone through the experience. With the new skill sets of using coupons, shopping sales and thrift stores, and even cutting our own hair, we've proved to ourselves that life needn't be costly to be enjoyable.
So what are you waiting for? You might just discover that hairstyling is your new hobby! =)
Saving $$$ one haircut at a time,
February 27, 2013
Be-Happy-Tudes #5 - The Merciful
Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy! ~Matthew 5:7 (AMP)
It took me a long time to even have a smidgen of understanding about what mercy is. During the writing of The Way of Grace (the third book in the Miller's Creek Novels), I was forced to do an in-depth study of grace and mercy. I spent hours pouring over the scripture and bent the ears of those who were more studied in God's Word.
Though my human understanding of such a marvelous concept is still stilted and limited, this is the best definition I've been able to find. Justice is when you get what what you deserve. (For us sinners, that would be death.) Mercy is when you don't get what you deserve. Grace is when you get more than you could ever deserve or ever repay.
In the book, I used this analogy. If a cop pulls you over for speeding and gives you a ticket, that's justice. If he pulls you over and says that he'll just give you a warning this time, that's mercy. If he pulls you over and tells you that the guy ahead of you has agreed to pay your ticket, and oh, by the way, the penalty for speeding on this section of highway is death, that's grace. (Puts things in sobering perspective, doesn't it?)
In what has been called the Magna Charta of true religion found in Micah 6:8, we get a closer glimpse at mercy: He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. ~Micah 6:8
A note that I've penned in my Bible concerning this verse says this about mercy (sorry, no reference): "The Hebrew word is almost untranslatable. It means loyal love or faithfulness to someone to whom we are bound in a covenant relationship. It means fulfilling the obligations inherent in such a relationship even when there are no legal requirements that we do so and no legal sanctions if we do not. Justice is going the first mile; loyal love is going the second mile--doing more than is demanded of us. It is loving someone whose only claim on our love is his or her need to be loved. It means loving someone not because of who he or she is but because of who we are. It is the kind of love God has for us, and for that reason has sometimes been called 'covenant love.'"
Having been in such a position before, I can honestly say that being merciful is the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. Yet in light of what Christ has done for me, how could I refuse?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your infinite mercy. And thank You for even those difficult times that draw us closer to You--those times that You promise to use for good. Help us to be merciful with others, especially in the face of persecution. When we're tempted to give up, remind us of the bounteous supply of mercy You've bestowed upon us. Amen.
It took me a long time to even have a smidgen of understanding about what mercy is. During the writing of The Way of Grace (the third book in the Miller's Creek Novels), I was forced to do an in-depth study of grace and mercy. I spent hours pouring over the scripture and bent the ears of those who were more studied in God's Word.
Though my human understanding of such a marvelous concept is still stilted and limited, this is the best definition I've been able to find. Justice is when you get what what you deserve. (For us sinners, that would be death.) Mercy is when you don't get what you deserve. Grace is when you get more than you could ever deserve or ever repay.
In the book, I used this analogy. If a cop pulls you over for speeding and gives you a ticket, that's justice. If he pulls you over and says that he'll just give you a warning this time, that's mercy. If he pulls you over and tells you that the guy ahead of you has agreed to pay your ticket, and oh, by the way, the penalty for speeding on this section of highway is death, that's grace. (Puts things in sobering perspective, doesn't it?)
In what has been called the Magna Charta of true religion found in Micah 6:8, we get a closer glimpse at mercy: He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. ~Micah 6:8
A note that I've penned in my Bible concerning this verse says this about mercy (sorry, no reference): "The Hebrew word is almost untranslatable. It means loyal love or faithfulness to someone to whom we are bound in a covenant relationship. It means fulfilling the obligations inherent in such a relationship even when there are no legal requirements that we do so and no legal sanctions if we do not. Justice is going the first mile; loyal love is going the second mile--doing more than is demanded of us. It is loving someone whose only claim on our love is his or her need to be loved. It means loving someone not because of who he or she is but because of who we are. It is the kind of love God has for us, and for that reason has sometimes been called 'covenant love.'"
Having been in such a position before, I can honestly say that being merciful is the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. Yet in light of what Christ has done for me, how could I refuse?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your infinite mercy. And thank You for even those difficult times that draw us closer to You--those times that You promise to use for good. Help us to be merciful with others, especially in the face of persecution. When we're tempted to give up, remind us of the bounteous supply of mercy You've bestowed upon us. Amen.
February 26, 2013
Writer Wednesday: Fresh Writing
This is where I sigh loudly and confess that I still struggle with this part of being a writer. It's just so convenient to use the tried and true cliches and trite phrases that every writer uses. *whine*
But the right combination of words holds a power that is every bit as astounding as the pounding of ocean waves against a rock-rugged shoreline.
Mark Twain phrased it this way: "The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
I also like this writerly quote from Anton Chekov: "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass."
Man, I wish I'd said that...
So how does a writer get better at writing fresh? Practice...and lots of it.
Our writing genes stretch and grow the more we use them, as long as we take the time during the rewriting process to hunt down those hackneyed phrases and blast them off the page. This kind of hunting require not only stamina, but a determined perseverance that won't rest until we've killed our quota (and then some) for the day.
Here are a few beautiful pieces of fresh writing that I came across in my computer files. Sorry I don't have references for the last two, because I would dearly love to give the author's credit (and kudos and applause and my Discover card...wait a second, scratch that last one...) for such lyrical language. Don't just enjoy...savor...
Honestly, if I read more books with writing like that, I'd never again eat chocolate... Okay, you're turn. If you have some fresh writing to share (yours or someone else's), please add it in the comments.
Here's to keeping it fresh,
But the right combination of words holds a power that is every bit as astounding as the pounding of ocean waves against a rock-rugged shoreline.
Mark Twain phrased it this way: "The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
I also like this writerly quote from Anton Chekov: "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass."
Man, I wish I'd said that...
So how does a writer get better at writing fresh? Practice...and lots of it.
Our writing genes stretch and grow the more we use them, as long as we take the time during the rewriting process to hunt down those hackneyed phrases and blast them off the page. This kind of hunting require not only stamina, but a determined perseverance that won't rest until we've killed our quota (and then some) for the day.
Here are a few beautiful pieces of fresh writing that I came across in my computer files. Sorry I don't have references for the last two, because I would dearly love to give the author's credit (and kudos and applause and my Discover card...wait a second, scratch that last one...) for such lyrical language. Don't just enjoy...savor...
"In the space between yes and no, there’s a lifetime between who you thought you could be and who you really are; it’s the legroom for the lies you’ll tell yourself in the future." –Jodi Picoult
"She pulled a veil of music between herself and the world—an invisible shield that could turn all but the sharpest words."
"He rarely spoke, leaving anything that needed to be said to the fiery gleam in his eyes and the wayward draw of the bow across his battered violin. His was a silent language, musical and ancient. He played as if he’d captured the spirit of a thousand Romany campfires and wove them into a single heartbreaking sigh."
Honestly, if I read more books with writing like that, I'd never again eat chocolate... Okay, you're turn. If you have some fresh writing to share (yours or someone else's), please add it in the comments.
Here's to keeping it fresh,
February 25, 2013
Be-Happy-Tudes #4 - Hunger and Thirst For Righteousness
Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! ~Matthew 5:6 (AMP)
Very few of us have truly suffered from hunger or thirst. Maybe that's why we have a difficult time understanding what it means to hunger and thirst after righteousness. The original Greek actually is better translated "hungering" and "thirsting," implying an ongoing action.
First of all, we need to get a good grasp on righteousness, or uprightness and right standing with God. Our human attempts at righteousness are worthless and pathetic. The Bible clearly states that no one is righteous. That ought to be enough to make us hunger and thirst for righteousness! And Jesus said that unless a person's righteousness exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees they would not enter heaven. I'm sure that must've shocked the listeners, because these were the most righteous and holy folks around!
Maybe these verses will help explain righteousness a little more clearly:
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
So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ~Galatians 3:6, Genesis 16:3, Romans 4:3
...and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ~Philippians 3:9
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” ~Romans 1:17
When Christ took on our sin, He also imputed to us His righteousness. That thought never ceases to amaze me. In addition, our faith is credited to us as righteousness. How blessed we are to serve such a good God who provides for us what we can't manufacture on our own!
Only as we seek to live by faith can we truly hunger and thirst for righteousness. And honestly, when I start to feel a little stained from walking through this filthy world, I do hunger for something more and better. Like the psalmist, my song becomes:
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God? ~Psalm 42:1-2
Praise God! Only He can satisfy!
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the privilege of being Your child. Thank You that the weariness that comes with wandering through this world leads us to that place of hungering and thirsting for more of You. Thank You for being the Bread of Life and the Living Water that feeds our hunger and quenches our thirst. Thank You for taking our sin in exchange for Your righteousness. I confess that I don't understand that overly-generous transaction, but I'm humbly grateful for it all the same. Show me how to hunger and thirst for You even more. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Very few of us have truly suffered from hunger or thirst. Maybe that's why we have a difficult time understanding what it means to hunger and thirst after righteousness. The original Greek actually is better translated "hungering" and "thirsting," implying an ongoing action.
First of all, we need to get a good grasp on righteousness, or uprightness and right standing with God. Our human attempts at righteousness are worthless and pathetic. The Bible clearly states that no one is righteous. That ought to be enough to make us hunger and thirst for righteousness! And Jesus said that unless a person's righteousness exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees they would not enter heaven. I'm sure that must've shocked the listeners, because these were the most righteous and holy folks around!
Maybe these verses will help explain righteousness a little more clearly:
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
So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ~Galatians 3:6, Genesis 16:3, Romans 4:3
...and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ~Philippians 3:9
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” ~Romans 1:17
When Christ took on our sin, He also imputed to us His righteousness. That thought never ceases to amaze me. In addition, our faith is credited to us as righteousness. How blessed we are to serve such a good God who provides for us what we can't manufacture on our own!
Only as we seek to live by faith can we truly hunger and thirst for righteousness. And honestly, when I start to feel a little stained from walking through this filthy world, I do hunger for something more and better. Like the psalmist, my song becomes:
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God? ~Psalm 42:1-2
Praise God! Only He can satisfy!
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the privilege of being Your child. Thank You that the weariness that comes with wandering through this world leads us to that place of hungering and thirsting for more of You. Thank You for being the Bread of Life and the Living Water that feeds our hunger and quenches our thirst. Thank You for taking our sin in exchange for Your righteousness. I confess that I don't understand that overly-generous transaction, but I'm humbly grateful for it all the same. Show me how to hunger and thirst for You even more. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Free Christian Kindle eBooks for February 25, 2013
Want a way to read all these great 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 indeed
free before you click to buy. Also, I want to offer readers only the
most highly rated books, so all books listed are at least 4 out of 5
stars with at least 5 reviews. Just so you know, I have not read all
these books, so I can't testify to their content or spiritual accuracy. Happy reading!
Courageous
by Randy Alcorn
Published August 2011
Contemporary Fiction: From the creators of Fireproof comes an inspiring new story about
everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong
impact on their children. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell,
Nathan Hayes, and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the
world can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that
none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. While they
consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all
they can muster as dads. But they’re quickly discovering that their
standard is missing the mark. They know that God desires to turn the
hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning
to drift farther and farther away from them. Will they be able to find a
way to serve and protect those who are most dear to them? When tragedy
hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears,
their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads
draw closer to God . . . and to their children?
4.6 stars with 102 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Mantle
by William H. Stephens
Published March 2009
Biblical Fiction: Perhaps once in every generation a historic novel appears which is to
powerful, so totally gripping, that it becomes universally acclaimed as a
classic. The Mantle is destined to be such a book. The reader will be
completely absorbed in this sweeping saga of one fearless man facing a
decaying nation, a sadistic queen and a totally sensual religion. In
this brutal, yet magnificent, story—set in the stark landscape of
ancient Israel—William Stephens vividly portrays the heroic adventures
of Elijah. All alone this rough-hewn prophet confronts Queen Jezebel in
her malicious scheme to supplant the worship of Jehovah with the
sensuous fertility cult of Baal. All alone God’s servant, Elijah, turns
the tide of Jewish history. Elijah . . . Jezebel . . . Ahab—names
charged with electric emotion! Here the electric charge is transformed
into throbbing, explosive reality—names become flesh and blood people—as
the reader lives with them in the terrible presence of frenzied,
demonic priests and enslaved masochistic devotees of Baal.
4.4 stars with 9 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Paper Roses
by Amanda Cabot
Published January 2009
Historical Fiction: The future stretches out in front of Sarah Dobbs like the pure blue
Texas sky. Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride
Sarah arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom, Austin Canfield, a
man she has never met but whose letters have won her heart from afar.
But there is one problem--he has died. And Sarah cannot go back East. As
Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is drastically
changed, Austin's brother, Clay, struggles with his own muddled plans.
Though he dislikes working on the family ranch and longs for a different
life, Clay is driven to avenge his brother's death. But something
between them is growing and neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit it.
4.3 stars with 308 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Delirious
by Martin Smith and Craig Borlase
Published February 2011
Nonfiction: Martin Smith—one of the leading voices in the modern worship
movement—shares his story, his insight, and his challenge to change the
world. For seventeen years, Smith held the microphone for
Delirious?—the mega-selling, Dove Award-winning, Grammy-nominated band
that helped bring the modern worship movement into existence. Here
Martin reflects on everything from the craft of leading worship to the
challenges of parenthood to how to find a place of compassion within a
culture of consumerism. Along the way, he challenges readers: Are you
going to be spectators—or agents of change? Are you going to read
history—or make it happen? Are you just going to sing the songs—or will
you live them out? Always personal and often surprising, Smith’s story
will spur readers to embrace the action God wants them to take.
4.9 stars with 7 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Victory Through The Storms
by Wale Olulana
Published February 2013
Nonfiction: Storms of life are real. However, not all storms can be explained,
forecasted or foretold by prophecy. Most people are aware that life may
take an unusual twist and they tend to brace up for this. Many would
like to think they know what they can or cannot do in any situation, the
reality is, you do not know what things you are capable of doing until
you are put under fire. There are storms that can confound theories,
astound imagination, render foolish the wisdom of the wise and dumbfound
the strong. Storms carry the element of redefining times,
seasons and events which carry a general meaning to you until you have
encountered storms. They can hit the most secured, spiritual, sound
minded or otherwise. We are to prepare for war in the time of peace,
this book will tell you how. The principles presented in this
book would open you up for deeper interaction with God who is able to
still all storms. It will empower you with the knowledge of how to
respond to storms, resume normal life again, deal with your
vulnerabilities, handle various kinds of people and their reactions to
your storm. It will enlighten you on how to lean on Jesus whose ever
faithful grace is able to help navigate your broken and overworked radar
through the clouds. It may not be an easy or smooth landing, but it
will be a safe one and the beginning of another journey into your
future.
5 stars with 25 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Beautiful Battlefields
by Bo Stern
Published February 2013
Nonfiction: Where is God in the midst of this? You’ve probably heard that question
or perhaps asked it yourself. In the battle for your joy, your marriage,
your finances, your health, an emptiness creeps in. Where is the peace
You promised, God? Bo Stern has been there—and is still there. Yet in
studying the battles in Scripture, she came to a startling conclusion:
God is using these fierce fights in our lives for an astonishing
purpose.
5 stars with 20 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
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 indeed
free before you click to buy. Also, I want to offer readers only the
most highly rated books, so all books listed are at least 4 out of 5
stars with at least 5 reviews. Just so you know, I have not read all
these books, so I can't testify to their content or spiritual accuracy. Happy reading!
Courageous
by Randy Alcorn
Published August 2011
Contemporary Fiction: From the creators of Fireproof comes an inspiring new story about
everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong
impact on their children. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell,
Nathan Hayes, and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the
world can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that
none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. While they
consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all
they can muster as dads. But they’re quickly discovering that their
standard is missing the mark. They know that God desires to turn the
hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning
to drift farther and farther away from them. Will they be able to find a
way to serve and protect those who are most dear to them? When tragedy
hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears,
their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads
draw closer to God . . . and to their children?
4.6 stars with 102 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Mantle
by William H. Stephens
Published March 2009
Biblical Fiction: Perhaps once in every generation a historic novel appears which is to
powerful, so totally gripping, that it becomes universally acclaimed as a
classic. The Mantle is destined to be such a book. The reader will be
completely absorbed in this sweeping saga of one fearless man facing a
decaying nation, a sadistic queen and a totally sensual religion. In
this brutal, yet magnificent, story—set in the stark landscape of
ancient Israel—William Stephens vividly portrays the heroic adventures
of Elijah. All alone this rough-hewn prophet confronts Queen Jezebel in
her malicious scheme to supplant the worship of Jehovah with the
sensuous fertility cult of Baal. All alone God’s servant, Elijah, turns
the tide of Jewish history. Elijah . . . Jezebel . . . Ahab—names
charged with electric emotion! Here the electric charge is transformed
into throbbing, explosive reality—names become flesh and blood people—as
the reader lives with them in the terrible presence of frenzied,
demonic priests and enslaved masochistic devotees of Baal.
4.4 stars with 9 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Paper Roses
by Amanda Cabot
Published January 2009
Historical Fiction: The future stretches out in front of Sarah Dobbs like the pure blue
Texas sky. Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride
Sarah arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom, Austin Canfield, a
man she has never met but whose letters have won her heart from afar.
But there is one problem--he has died. And Sarah cannot go back East. As
Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is drastically
changed, Austin's brother, Clay, struggles with his own muddled plans.
Though he dislikes working on the family ranch and longs for a different
life, Clay is driven to avenge his brother's death. But something
between them is growing and neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit it.
4.3 stars with 308 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Delirious
by Martin Smith and Craig Borlase
Published February 2011
Nonfiction: Martin Smith—one of the leading voices in the modern worship
movement—shares his story, his insight, and his challenge to change the
world. For seventeen years, Smith held the microphone for
Delirious?—the mega-selling, Dove Award-winning, Grammy-nominated band
that helped bring the modern worship movement into existence. Here
Martin reflects on everything from the craft of leading worship to the
challenges of parenthood to how to find a place of compassion within a
culture of consumerism. Along the way, he challenges readers: Are you
going to be spectators—or agents of change? Are you going to read
history—or make it happen? Are you just going to sing the songs—or will
you live them out? Always personal and often surprising, Smith’s story
will spur readers to embrace the action God wants them to take.
4.9 stars with 7 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Victory Through The Storms
by Wale Olulana
Published February 2013
Nonfiction: Storms of life are real. However, not all storms can be explained,
forecasted or foretold by prophecy. Most people are aware that life may
take an unusual twist and they tend to brace up for this. Many would
like to think they know what they can or cannot do in any situation, the
reality is, you do not know what things you are capable of doing until
you are put under fire. There are storms that can confound theories,
astound imagination, render foolish the wisdom of the wise and dumbfound
the strong. Storms carry the element of redefining times,
seasons and events which carry a general meaning to you until you have
encountered storms. They can hit the most secured, spiritual, sound
minded or otherwise. We are to prepare for war in the time of peace,
this book will tell you how. The principles presented in this
book would open you up for deeper interaction with God who is able to
still all storms. It will empower you with the knowledge of how to
respond to storms, resume normal life again, deal with your
vulnerabilities, handle various kinds of people and their reactions to
your storm. It will enlighten you on how to lean on Jesus whose ever
faithful grace is able to help navigate your broken and overworked radar
through the clouds. It may not be an easy or smooth landing, but it
will be a safe one and the beginning of another journey into your
future.
5 stars with 25 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Beautiful Battlefields
by Bo Stern
Published February 2013
Nonfiction: Where is God in the midst of this? You’ve probably heard that question
or perhaps asked it yourself. In the battle for your joy, your marriage,
your finances, your health, an emptiness creeps in. Where is the peace
You promised, God? Bo Stern has been there—and is still there. Yet in
studying the battles in Scripture, she came to a startling conclusion:
God is using these fierce fights in our lives for an astonishing
purpose.
5 stars with 20 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
February 24, 2013
Be Happy-Tudes #3 - The Meek
Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth! ~Matthew 5:5 (AMP)
We all know them--those good-hearted folks with the patience of a saint. They seem to have more than their fair share of troubles, but take it all in stride and keep on going.
The word "long-suffering" really sums them up well, doesn't it? Moses, the leader responsible for bringing over two million people out
from under Egyptian slavery, leading them through the wilderness, and
finally to the edge of the Promised Land is described this way in
Numbers 12: Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. (That's so not the picture I have in my mind...thank you, Charlton Heston...) But talk about a man who endured. Can you imagine the pressure of listening to two million whiny and grumbling Hebrews on a wilderness walk for forty years? Just shoot me now...
Meek people make meekness look so easy, but in reality, we know it's not. After all, it takes a lot of strength to keep your cool when life is pelting you with lemons. One thing meekness is not is weakness. I must confess, any meekness I have seems to come equipped with a breaking point. I can endure only so long, then "Whoa...Nelly..."
Speaking of whoa, I've often heard the analogy of a horse with a bridle used in defining meekness. The horse may be spirited and strong, but the bit in his mouth brings him under control. There is only one problem with this analogy. The horse doesn't bring himself under control, but the person does. Self-control is one of the fruits of God's Spirit, and therein lies the key. When we voluntarily relinquish control to the Spirit, He is able to bring us under control.
I think there's also a connection to humility here--the ability to stay controlled and humble, even when the world gives you accolades, realizing that anything good in us is only there because of Christ.
Here are a few more verses on meekness and self-control to meditate on:
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ~Matthew 11:29
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. ~Proverbs 25:28
But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ~1 Peter 3:4
But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. ~Psalm 37:11
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ~Romans 12:14
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. ~James 1:21
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ~Colossians 3:12
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord. ~Zephaniah 2:3
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ~2 Peter 1:5-7
Oh, Lord, how happy and spiritually prosperous I would be if I could only learn to do things Your way. Help me move past my tendency to explode under pressure. Lord, help me to remember that any good in me is not my own achievement, but Your mighty work of grace in my life. Help me to moment-by-moment relinquish control of my life to Your Spirit. Produce that fruit of meekness in my life, Lord, so that I might better represent Jesus to this lost and dying world. Amen
We all know them--those good-hearted folks with the patience of a saint. They seem to have more than their fair share of troubles, but take it all in stride and keep on going.
The word "long-suffering" really sums them up well, doesn't it? Moses, the leader responsible for bringing over two million people out
from under Egyptian slavery, leading them through the wilderness, and
finally to the edge of the Promised Land is described this way in
Numbers 12: Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. (That's so not the picture I have in my mind...thank you, Charlton Heston...) But talk about a man who endured. Can you imagine the pressure of listening to two million whiny and grumbling Hebrews on a wilderness walk for forty years? Just shoot me now...
Meek people make meekness look so easy, but in reality, we know it's not. After all, it takes a lot of strength to keep your cool when life is pelting you with lemons. One thing meekness is not is weakness. I must confess, any meekness I have seems to come equipped with a breaking point. I can endure only so long, then "Whoa...Nelly..."
Speaking of whoa, I've often heard the analogy of a horse with a bridle used in defining meekness. The horse may be spirited and strong, but the bit in his mouth brings him under control. There is only one problem with this analogy. The horse doesn't bring himself under control, but the person does. Self-control is one of the fruits of God's Spirit, and therein lies the key. When we voluntarily relinquish control to the Spirit, He is able to bring us under control.
I think there's also a connection to humility here--the ability to stay controlled and humble, even when the world gives you accolades, realizing that anything good in us is only there because of Christ.
Here are a few more verses on meekness and self-control to meditate on:
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ~Matthew 11:29
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. ~Proverbs 25:28
But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ~1 Peter 3:4
But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. ~Psalm 37:11
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ~Romans 12:14
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. ~James 1:21
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ~Colossians 3:12
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord. ~Zephaniah 2:3
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ~2 Peter 1:5-7
Oh, Lord, how happy and spiritually prosperous I would be if I could only learn to do things Your way. Help me move past my tendency to explode under pressure. Lord, help me to remember that any good in me is not my own achievement, but Your mighty work of grace in my life. Help me to moment-by-moment relinquish control of my life to Your Spirit. Produce that fruit of meekness in my life, Lord, so that I might better represent Jesus to this lost and dying world. Amen
February 23, 2013
Be-Happy-Tudes #2 - Those Who Mourn
Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted! ~Matthew 5:4 (AMP)
Are you broken over some failure from your past? Or maybe living in this world has literally broken your heart. As painful as brokenness can be, it's actually a good thing according to God's Word, because we will be consoled in our mourning!
To go a little further on the issue of personal sin, if we treat our sins as frivolous and no big deal--if we act arrogantly and pretend we've done nothing wrong--we tread on dangerous ground. Why? Because we serve a holy God who can't abide sin or pride. Yes, when we confess our sins God faithfully forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness, but our attitude in the process also has implications.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. ~Psalm 51:17 (NASB)
I don't mean to suggest that we should always walk around with a sour face to prove to the Lord and the world that we're sorry. In fact, the exclamation point at the end of each of the beatitudes suggests otherwise. We have reason to rejoice! God will comfort us in our mourning!
But at some point we all have to reach a place of broken-heartedness and repentance over our sin, realizing and remembering all that Christ did to deliver us.
Here are some more verses and quotes on mourning and brokenness, and more reasons to rejoice!
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ~Psalm 34:1
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. ~Psalm 147:3
Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. ~Psalm 30:5
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. ~Isaiah 61:1-3
“Leave the broken, irreversible past in God’s hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.” ~ Oswald Chambers
“We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a
world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to
redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high
privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for
others.” ~ Elisabeth Elliot
“My grand point in preaching is to break the hard heart, and to heal the broken one.” ~ John Newton
“Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will
likely be in your darkest days – when your heart is broken, when you
feel abandoned, when your out of options, when the pain is great – and
you turn to God alone.” ~ Rick Warren
Heavenly Father, forgive our arrogance toward our sin. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours. And Lord, for the mourning we experience as a result of living in this cursed world, we humbly hand it to You, like a child with a broken toy, asking You to fix it. Then, Father, we rejoice, because You bestow comfort and healing, and beauty instead of ashes. In addition, You promise to one day make all things new. Thank You for binding up our broken hearts and for the comfort that only You can give. May we in turn then comfort others with the comfort You've given us. Amen.
Are you broken over some failure from your past? Or maybe living in this world has literally broken your heart. As painful as brokenness can be, it's actually a good thing according to God's Word, because we will be consoled in our mourning!
To go a little further on the issue of personal sin, if we treat our sins as frivolous and no big deal--if we act arrogantly and pretend we've done nothing wrong--we tread on dangerous ground. Why? Because we serve a holy God who can't abide sin or pride. Yes, when we confess our sins God faithfully forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness, but our attitude in the process also has implications.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. ~Psalm 51:17 (NASB)
I don't mean to suggest that we should always walk around with a sour face to prove to the Lord and the world that we're sorry. In fact, the exclamation point at the end of each of the beatitudes suggests otherwise. We have reason to rejoice! God will comfort us in our mourning!
But at some point we all have to reach a place of broken-heartedness and repentance over our sin, realizing and remembering all that Christ did to deliver us.
Here are some more verses and quotes on mourning and brokenness, and more reasons to rejoice!
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ~Psalm 34:1
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. ~Psalm 147:3
Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. ~Psalm 30:5
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. ~Isaiah 61:1-3
“Leave the broken, irreversible past in God’s hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.” ~ Oswald Chambers
“We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a
world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to
redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high
privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for
others.” ~ Elisabeth Elliot
“My grand point in preaching is to break the hard heart, and to heal the broken one.” ~ John Newton
“Your most profound and intimate experiences of worship will
likely be in your darkest days – when your heart is broken, when you
feel abandoned, when your out of options, when the pain is great – and
you turn to God alone.” ~ Rick Warren
Heavenly Father, forgive our arrogance toward our sin. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours. And Lord, for the mourning we experience as a result of living in this cursed world, we humbly hand it to You, like a child with a broken toy, asking You to fix it. Then, Father, we rejoice, because You bestow comfort and healing, and beauty instead of ashes. In addition, You promise to one day make all things new. Thank You for binding up our broken hearts and for the comfort that only You can give. May we in turn then comfort others with the comfort You've given us. Amen.
February 22, 2013
Be-Happy-Tudes #1 - Poor in Spirit
Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! ~Matthew 5:3 (AMP)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again--true humility is an elusive quality. The minute we think we have a grasp on it, it takes flight. When we compare ourselves to the rest of the world, we get more than a little puffed up and think, "Hey, at least I'm not as bad as them."
Unfortunately, that's exactly the attitude of the Pharisee in the following story from the book of Luke:
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” ~Luke 18:9-14 (NASB)
Our primary need is our need for God. Without Christ we are undone and hopeless. There is nothing within us worthy of praise. Only when we see ourselves in comparison to Christ do we realize our true standing and our true spiritual condition. Like Isaiah when he encountered God in a vision, we cry: "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I
live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King,
the LORD Almighty."
So if you're painfully aware of your sinful self and your worm status, there is reason to rejoice. God's Kingdom has room for you.
Now please indulge me as I share a poem that befits this topic. It's a poem I heard often as a child. I'll never be able to read it or hear it without thinking of my mother.
Amen.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again--true humility is an elusive quality. The minute we think we have a grasp on it, it takes flight. When we compare ourselves to the rest of the world, we get more than a little puffed up and think, "Hey, at least I'm not as bad as them."
Unfortunately, that's exactly the attitude of the Pharisee in the following story from the book of Luke:
And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” ~Luke 18:9-14 (NASB)
Our primary need is our need for God. Without Christ we are undone and hopeless. There is nothing within us worthy of praise. Only when we see ourselves in comparison to Christ do we realize our true standing and our true spiritual condition. Like Isaiah when he encountered God in a vision, we cry: "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I
live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King,
the LORD Almighty."
So if you're painfully aware of your sinful self and your worm status, there is reason to rejoice. God's Kingdom has room for you.
Now please indulge me as I share a poem that befits this topic. It's a poem I heard often as a child. I'll never be able to read it or hear it without thinking of my mother.
The Fool's Prayer
by Edward Rowland Sill
The royal
feast was done; the King
Sought some new sport to banish care,
And to his jester cried: "Sir Fool,
Kneel now, and make for us a prayer!"
The jester doffed his cap and bells,
And stood the mocking court before;
They could not see the bitter smile
Behind the painted grin he wore.
He bowed his head, and bent his knee
Upon the Monarch's silken stool;
His pleading voice arose: "O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!
"No pity, Lord, could change the heart
From red with wrong to white as wool;
The rod must heal the sin: but Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!
"'Tis not by guilt the onward sweep
Of truth and right, O Lord, we stay;
'Tis by our follies that so long
We hold the earth from heaven away.
"These clumsy feet, still in the mire,
Go crushing blossoms without end;
These hard, well-meaning hands we thrust
Among the heart-strings of a friend.
"The ill-timed truth we might have kept--
Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung?
The word we had not sense to say--
Who knows how grandly it had rung!
"Our faults no tenderness should ask.
The chastening stripes must cleanse them all;
But for our blunders -- oh, in shame
Before the eyes of heaven we fall.
"Earth bears no balsam for mistakes;
Men crown the knave, and scourge the tool
That did his will; but Thou, O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!"
The room was hushed; in silence rose
The King, and sought his gardens cool,
And walked apart, and murmured low,
"Be merciful to me, a fool!"
Amen.
CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog
FREE digital copy of A PATH LESS TRAVELED (2nd stand-alone book in the Miller's Creek novels and an Amazon Kindle Best-Seller) when you subscribe to Cathy's FROM MY FRONT PORCH newsletter. On my blog
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