Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 61

Free Christian Kindle eBooks for February 14, 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!





Songs in the Key of Solomon

by John and Anita Renfro

Published October 2007



Devotional: dies, are you tired of trying to engage your man in something he is
reluctant to do? Let’s face it: husbands are not normally seen running
to bookstores to buy a couple’s devotional.

And guys, are you tired of feeling like the term “devotional” is code for “boring? You may be thinking, Please, not one more thing to check off my daily to-do list. Plus, you and your wife have different views on what intimacy is all about, right? If
either of you is wondering if you’re living more with your “roommate”
than your “soulmate,” then this devotional can help you meet on common
ground and discover each other in new ways. You won’t even need an
alarm clock to wake you when your “devotional time” is finished.

Filled with insights from a real couple on real issues, Songs in the Key of Solomon
will get you and your spouse laughing, thinking, sharing, touching,
and praying – possibly all during the same reading. Each offering in
this devotional is designed to spark connections around issues that
matter, so you’ll deepen your emotional, spiritual, and physical unity
and ignite new levels of intimacy. (One devotional involves a bathtub
and some candles...try not to get stuck on that one page over and over
again.) Here is an invitation to hear the music in your marriage – maybe for the first time…or maybe once again.



4.8 stars with 13 reviews



Free? Click HERE to see.





The Serving Church

by Paul Alan Clifford

Published November 2012



Non-fiction: ou were made for something more. Deep inside you know it's true.
Getting up, going to work, coming home, and going to bed isn't doing it
for you. You long for a life that matters. What will people
say about you when you're gone? Will they even notice that another cog
in the corporate machine is missing? Will people instead talk about the
difference you made in their lives? Will anyone say, "My life is
better for having known her" or "I'd be so much worse off if he hadn't
given of himself?"

The path to significance and meaning isn't
paved with dollars or fame. It's paved with sacrifice and humility.
While some people make a difference through their own selfishness, at
the expense of others, most of us can put aside our plans and ambitions
and really make a difference, a difference that outlasts our lives, a
difference that changes lives and affects generations.

This book is for every Christian or Christian leader who serves in the church, wants to, or leads people who do. Do
you know why you serve? What do you do when it's difficult to do what
you know God is calling you to do? Can you really serve in the same
church for the rest of your life? What about money? Should people who
serve be paid?

We'll discuss reasons for serving, the attitude
to have, leadership, following, flexibility, being a part of a team, and
much more.This is a unique book because the author isn't a
Pastor or even paid staff. He's a regular guy who's been serving
tirelessly for years and wants to share what he's learned with you.You
can affect lives and eternities. Will you or will you stay comfortable
on your couch affecting nothing? The choice is yours.



4.6 stars with 7 reviews



Free? Click HERE to see.





The Delusion

by Laura Gallier

Published October 2012



Suspense: Are unseen spiritual forces actually at work in my life? It's an intriguing question that confronts us all and begins to haunt Owen Edmonds. Literally.

By
March of Owen's senior year, eleven students at Lincoln Forest High
School have committed suicide. Amid the media frenzy and fanatical
onlookers, Owen remains levelheaded - that is until he encounters his
own near death experience and wakes to a distressing new reality. Everyone he sees appears shackled and enslaved.

While
frantically seeking to cure his crazed hallucinations, Owen's delusions
become even more sinister when he witnesses what appears to be an
unseen army of hideous, towering beings. These Creepers, as he calls
them, are preying upon people, including his classmates and girlfriend,
tormenting and inciting humanity to self-destruct. Owen
eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: He's not merely
imagining forces of evil at work. Everyone else is blind to the evil
that is.

He must warn others and rescue those he loves, but this
proves to be no simple mission. He's hard pressed to get anyone to
believe him.Take this heart-pounding journey through Owen
Edmonds' eyes, and decide for yourself: Are wicked forces after me? It's
a question that transcends mere fiction, one that some would argue is
dangerous to ignore.



4.8 stars with 17 reviews



Free? Click HERE to see.

God's War on Little-g "gods" - Part 1

The Exodus story will always be one of my personal favorites because it is such a perfect picture of the journey we all take as God's people. As I recently read through the account of the plagues God delivered to Egypt, I was struck once again by how each plague uniquely declared war on the various "gods" of Egypt. His purpose was so the Egyptians would recognize Him as the LORD (Exodus 7:17).



My purpose in this blog post is to show that God does not take it lightly when men created in the image of God make "gods" for themselves. There is MUCH application for us today.



Plague #1: Blood

So Moses and Aaron did even as the Lord had commanded. And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood. The fish that were in the Nile died, and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. And the blood was through all the land of Egypt. ~Exodus 7:20-21 (NASB)



The Egyptian people thrived on the life-giving waters of the Nile. Without the water the river provided, Egypt could not survive, because the nation's agriculture depended on the water through the use of irrigation canals. In addition, the river flooded annually, depositing a thin layer of very fertile soil. In the minds of the Egyptians, the Nile was what made life possible. As a result, they made the river one of their chief "gods."



But they ignored the One who provided the Nile River, and God had a very different viewpoint on life.



For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. ~Leviticus 17:11 (NIV)



It's no wonder then, that when God confronts the god of the Nile He does so through blood, and proves that He is God.



Plague #2: Frogs

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’” So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. ~Exodus 8:5-6 (NASB) 



The Egyptian goddess, Hekht, was responsible for protecting the land from frogs. But when the LORD God Almighty sent frogs, there was nothing Hekht could do. To make matters worse, the frogs died and were heaped in piles which reeked.



Plagues #3 and #4: Gnats & Flying Insects

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.’” They did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats through all the land of Egypt. ~Exodus 8:16-17 (NASB)



Then the Lord did so. And there came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants and the land was laid waste because of the swarms of flies in all the land of Egypt. ~Exodus 8:24 (NASB)



I combined these two plagues because the Egyptian pantheon held the responsibility of keeping flying insects away from the nation. Once more God showed His superiority. If you've ever walked through a horde of gnats, you know how bad it can be. They get in your eyes, your nose, and your mouth. The Bible says that all the dust of the earth became gnats...yeah, you get the picture. And I've also lived through times when other flying insects have seemingly invaded the land. You can't walk for crunching them beneath your feet. God was not only showing His supremacy; He was trying to get their attention!



Plague #5: Death of Livestock

The Lord set a definite time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died. ~Exodus 9:5-6 (NASB)



This plague, which some scholars have likened to anthrax, struck the personal property of the Egyptians, and most caused financial distress in the country. In addition, animal life was sacred to the Egyptians, and the Apis bull was considered divine. So God was not only showing His superiority to the "gods" of Egypt, but He also began to hit them in their pocket book. Notice that only the livestock of Egypt was affected, while none of the livestock belonging to the Israelites died. In addition, God showed His power over time by predicting when the plague would take place.



I hope the first part of this series opens your eyes the way it did mine. God will have no other "gods" before Him--back then and now! On Saturday we'll finish our study of the war God waged against the gods of the Egyptians.



Welcome back to part two of God's war against the nation and "gods" of Egypt. As a reminder, let me repeat a few things from yesterday. First of all, God didn't just decide to strike Egypt for the fun of it. His purpose was not only for the deliverance of His people, but also to reveal Himself as the One True God to the Egyptians. Secondly, I believe that this part of Bible history is extremely relevant to us today. We live in a society where many "gods" are worshiped, and our nation is in danger of God's judgment if these so-called "gods" aren't forsaken.

Writer Wednesday: From Rough Draft to Almost Final Copy

As I continue to work on deep edits for The Pilgrimage of Promise, I thought it might be beneficial for some of you newbie writers to see the difference between the rough draft copy and a copy that has undergone deep edits. While this later rendition is improved, it is still not final. I will go through one more round of edits on the manuscript, as well as have beta readers/editors offer their suggestions.



Rough Draft Excerpt:

    Mama Beth peered down at the only man she’d ever loved and lifted a hand to her aching chest. Garbed in a hospital gown, Bo somehow seemed small and vulnerable amidst the towering machines surrounding him. Though his eyes were closed in sleep, the wrinkle between his now white brows revealed suffering. She allowed her gaze to linger on every feature of the face she’d memorized years ago, growing fear returning to gnaw at the last fringes of her unraveling hope.
    She moved to the window of the Baylor Medical Center hospital room and watched the people scurrying below, hurrying to the warmth of skyscrapers. Another icy cold and dark day. Another day in a month of days confined to this darkened room. Dani and Steve had been up over the weekend, but with Dani expecting and running the day care in her absence, and Steve tending to the business of Miller’s Creek, they’d left Dallas yesterday to return home. Trish and Andy and the kids would be up next weekend, but a hospital wasn’t a good place for kids who needed to run and make noise and expend energy.
    With a heavy sigh she turned to face Bo again, her heart immediately moving to its familiar position in her throat. Though she’d been through many storms in her sixty plus years of living, none of them had shaken her to the core of her faith like this one. She had to somehow find a way to lean on God’s promises to help her through this valley of the shadow of death.
      Lord, bring him through this. Heal him. Please don’t take him away from me now. You’ve already taken Cecille, and I just don’t think I can handle any more deaths in the family. Through tear-filled eyes she once more glimpsed the pain etched on Bo’s face as the machine at the head of the bed continued its infernal beeping. But I don’t want him to suffer, so if healing him is not part of Your plan… She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing tears down her face, unable to finish the prayer.
    “You okay, hon?”
    His whispered words shook her from self-pity, and she quickly swiped her face and stepped toward him, relieved to see him awake. “Of course. Just being a silly goose and giving into a little bit of a pity party.” She leaned across the bed rail and cupped his face with her palm. “Are you feeling okay? Any pain?”
    He closed his eyes and gave his head a little shake. “Not too bad.”
    “You’d best not be feeding me a lie, you know.”
    A gentle laugh eased out of him, forcing his taut lips into a smile, the familiar twinkle returning to his dark eyes. “Now would I do that?” He searched her face and lifted one hand. “Never mind. Don’t answer.” He grew quiet momentarily, and an expression came across his face that unnerved her. “Bethie, I know we promised when we got married to not bring up the past, but I think it’s time.”
    No! Every fiber of her being screamed the word. That meant he was giving up. “Don’t you dare give up on me, Bo Miller.”

Deep-Edited Excerpt: (numbers added for analysis purposes)

    Mona Beth(1) lifted a hand to her aching chest(2) and peered down at the only man she’d ever loved. Garbed in a light blue(3) hospital gown, her gentle giant(4) somehow seemed small and vulnerable amidst the towering machines which surrounded his bed. Though his eyes were closed in sleep, the wrinkle between his now-white brows revealed pain and suffering. She allowed her gaze to linger on every nuance of the face she’d memorized years ago, growing fear returning to gnaw at the last fringes of her unraveling hope.

    Her heart leaped to its familiar position in her throat(5). She simply had to somehow find the strength to make it through this valley, not for herself, but for Bo. He wouldn’t recover well or quickly if he spent all his time concerned about her. And the sooner he got better, the sooner they could go home to Miller’s Creek where they belonged. But only if they got a good report(6).

    A nurse entered the room and sent a polite, close-lipped smile as she strode noiselessly toward the hospital bed. “How are you, Mrs. Miller?”(7) She half-whispered the question as she checked the data on one of the contraptions Bo had nicknamed the green-eyed monsters for their tendency to glare an eerie green into the room at night while they tried to sleep(8).

    “I’m fine.” Same old lie for the same old question(9).

    After she finished her routine duties, the nurse turned to face her. “You’re welcome to go to the cafeteria for breakfast, but you should know that Dr. Kumar will most likely be here soon. He usually makes his rounds about now. And please let us know if you need anything.”

    “Thank you.” News of Dr. Kumar’s probable visit whisked away any appetite she might have had, not that she had much of one considering the tasteless cardboard the hospital cafeteria characterized as food(10).

    The young woman departed as quietly as she came. Now the walls of the hospital room, completely devoid of any of the homey comfort to which she was accustomed, seemed to close in on her once more.  A yearning sigh escaped.  The place held not even one ounce of the charm of the home they shared in Miller’s Creek, and there was only so much more she could take of this antiseptic-smelling and sterile place(11).

    Mona Beth meandered to the plate-glass window of the Baylor Medical Center hospital room. People scurried below, hurrying to the warmth of nearby skyscrapers, living their normal everyday lives(12). But for her it was just another icy-cold and dark day. Another day in a month of days confined to this darkened room. Another day of endless waiting(13).

    She rubbed at the headache building above her eyes(14). Dani and Steve had come to visit over the weekend, but with Dani expecting a baby and running the day care, and Steve tending to the business of Miller’s Creek and the ranch, they’d had to leave Dallas yesterday to return home.

    Trish and Andy and the kids would be up next weekend, but a hospital wasn’t a good place for kids who needed to run and make noise and expend energy—kids who needed to play rather than watch their beloved Papaw grow weaker(15).

    Lord, bring him through this. Heal him. Please don’t take him away from me now. You’ve already taken Cecille, and I just don’t think I can handle any more deaths in the family. Through tear-filled eyes she once more glimpsed the pain etched on Bo’s face as one of the green-eyed monster machines at the head of the bed continued its infernal beeping(16). Lord, I don’t want him to suffer, so if healing him is not part of Your plan… She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing tears down her face, unable to finish the prayer.

    “You okay, hon?”

    Bo’s(17) whispered words shook her from self-pity, and she quickly swiped her face and stepped toward him, relieved to see him awake. “Of course. Just being a silly goose and giving into a little bit of a pity party.” She leaned across the bed rail and cupped his stubbled cheek(18) with her palm. “Are you feeling okay? Any pain?”

    He closed his eyes and gave his head a little shake. “Not too bad.”

    “You’d best not be feeding me a line, you know.”

    A gentle laugh eased out of him, forcing his previously taut lips into a smile, a hint of the familiar twinkle returning to his dark eyes. “Now would I do that?” He searched her face. His expression sobered, and he lifted a hand. “Never mind. Don’t answer.” He grew quiet momentarily, and an unnerving frown landed on his forehead(19). “Bethie, I know we promised when we got married not to bring up the past, but I think it’s time.”

    No! Every fiber of her being screamed the word in unison. That meant he was giving up. She leaned back to give him a hard stare(20). “Don’t you dare give up, Bo Miller. I just won’t have it. You hear me?”(21)

Overview of Changes:

For the sake of time and space, I won't discuss all the changes made, but here are some of the major differences between the rough draft copy and the excerpt that has undergone deep edits. (Numbers correspond with small numbers in the deep-edited version.)


I decided the female lead would think of herself as Mona Beth since she's lived with that name longer. The citizens of Miller's Creek are the ones who call her Mama Beth.
I had the order reversed here. She would feel her aching chest before she peered down. Also I think the sentence has more impact for the reader by ending with "the only man she ever loved."
More detail is a good thing, because it helps the reader visualize the scene and pulls them deeper into the story.
By calling him "her gentle giant" rather than "Bo," we get deeper into Mona Beth's point-of-view. Again this pulls the reader deeper into the story. It also helps characterize Bo from Mona Beth's perspective. We better understand how she feels about him and what kind of person he is.
I felt the passage warranted more and stronger emotion. One way for the reader to "feel" that emotion is to describe it using a common visceral response, in this case a lump of emotion in her throat.
As I checked the original draft for the point-of-view character's goal and motivation, I realized that it hadn't come through for the reader. To fix the problem, I just got in Mona Beth's head and had her voice what she wanted to accomplish and why.
In the rough draft the writing took too long to get to dialogue. I can only speak for myself, but when I see paragraph after paragraph of no dialogue, my eyes immediately glaze over and begin to skim. I added this dialogue with a nurse for the purpose of breaking up large chunks of Mona Beth's thoughts. It also served the purpose of making the hospital scene more realistic.
Adding this sentence further characterizes Mona Beth by using words specific to her character, such as "contraptions." It also adds a bit of humor to an otherwise very serious scene. It's always a good thing to break up especially tense or sad passages with a little levity.
Hints at Mona Beth's state of mind.
More humor and a connecting point with the reader. We've all probably had the pleasure of eating hospital cafeteria food at some point in our lives. If not, let me warn you in advance... ;)
Inserted this to further set the scene. Notice that I appeal to the sense of smell. Makes my nose burn just thinking about it.
One of the best ways to show the reader how a character is feeling is to use comparison and contrast. Here Mona Beth is comparing herself to the people who are able to carry on with their normal everyday lives while she's cooped up in a hospital room.
I had already sort of used the rhetorical device of anaphora here with the repetition of the word "another," but I felt like it needed another "another" to cement it. =)
Here I found a big blob of nothing but Mona Beth's thoughts. While those thoughts are necessary to get the reader inside the main character's head, too much is tiring. I broke it up with an action that also revealed her physical state.
More emotional appeal added here. And again, most of us have been in similar situations, so we can relate to Mona Beth's angst.
No change here, but this is another good example of the language Mona Beth frequently uses.
Oops! The reader might like to know who's speaking!
More sensory detail. This helps the reader "feel" what she feels.
This was one of those places where I felt the original wording was weak and confusing. Still not completely satisfied, but I think it's better than it was. (NOTE: You won't always be completely satisfied with everything in your stories. Lesson: Change what you can and move on. Don't get caught up in trying to make everything perfect or you'll never get finished!)
After reading through the first version, I felt like Mona Beth needed to act on her thoughts, so I added this sentence.
I read through every line of dialogue out loud. While Mona Beth is not one to mince words, she's also gonna have her say. I think the extra lines of dialogue not only drive the point home, but characterize her very well.

Hope this helps you see what happens to the rough draft during the deep editing process. And for all you non-writers, I hope it helps you see that writing stories isn't near as easy as it might seem! =)



Happy writing!

Free Christian Kindle eBooks for February 12, 2103

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!





Let Them Eat Cake

by Sandra Byrd

Published December 2012



Romance: Lexi Stuart is at a critical crossroads. She’s done with college but
still living at home, ready to launch a career but unable to find a job,
and solidly stalled between boyfriends. When a lighthearted
conversation in French with the manager of her favorite bakery turns
into a job offer, Lexi accepts. But the actual glamour is minimal: the
pay is less than generous, her co-workers are skeptical, her bank
account remains vertically-challenged, and her parents are perpetually
disappointed. Her only comfort comes from the flirtatious baker she has
her eye on–but even he may not be who he seems to be! So when a
handsome young executive dashes into the bakery to pick up his high
profile company’s special order for an important meeting–an order Lexi
has flubbed–she loses her compulsion to please. Ssomething inside Lexi
clicks. Laissez la révolution commencer! Let the revolution begin!
Instead of trying to fulfill everyone else’s expectations for her life,
Lexi embarks on an adventure in trusting herself and her God with her
future–très bon!  



4.4 stars with 45 reviews



Free? Click HERE to see.  





The 4 Seasons of Marriage 

by Gary Chapman

Published August 2012



Nonfiction: Spring, summer, winter, fall. Marriages are perpetually in a state of
transition, continually moving from one season to another—perhaps not
annually, as in nature, but just as certainly and consistently.
Sometimes we find ourselves in winter—discouraged, detached, and
dissatisfied; other times, we experience springtime with its openness,
hope, and anticipation. On other occasions, we bask in the warmth of
summer—comfortable, relaxed, enjoying life. And then comes fall with its
uncertainty, negligence, and apprehension. The cycle repeats itself
many times throughout the life of a marriage, just as the seasons repeat
themselves in nature. The seasons of marriage come and go. Each
one holds the potential for emotional health and happiness, and each one
has its challenges. The purpose of this book is to describe these
recurring seasons of marriage, help you and your spouse identify which
season your marriage is in, and show you how to enhance your marriage in
all four seasons. 



4.5 stars with 34 reviews



Free? Click HERE to see.



The First Gardner  

by Denise Hildreth Jones

Published July 2011



Contemporary Fiction:
Jeremiah Williams has been tending the gardens of the Tennessee
governor’s mansion for over twenty-five years. And like most first
families who have come and gone, this one has stolen his heart.
Mackenzie
and her husband, Governor Gray London, have struggled for ten years to
have a child and are now enjoying a sweet season of life—anticipating
the coming reelection and sending their precious daughter, Maddie, off
to kindergarten—when a tragedy tears their world apart. As the entire
state mourns, Mackenzie falls into a grief that threatens to swallow her
whole.
Though his heart is also broken, Jeremiah realizes that his
gift of gardening is about far more than pulling weeds and planting
flowers. It’s about tending hearts as well. As he uses the tools that
have been placed in his hands, he gently begins to cultivate the hard
soil of Mackenzie’s heart, hoping to help her realize what it took him
years to discover. A Southern tale of loss, love, and living, The First Gardner reminds us that all of life is a gift, but our heart is the most valuable gift of all.



4.5 stars with 149 reviews



Free? Click HERE to see.





Why Holiness Matters

by Tyler Braun

Published July 2012



Nonfiction:

When was the last time you thought about holiness? God's specific command for holiness: "Be holy, for I am holy," (in Leviticus 11, 19, and in 1st Peter 1) is an idea rephrased and repeated throughout the Bible. But because of our misunderstandings of sin, holiness,
innocence, and God, His command rings hollow in the action of our faith.



-Sin (we view it as either inevitable or we just go with it)
-Holiness (we view it as unrealistic or we ignore it because there's no immediate payoff)
-Innocence (we view it as subordinate to "experiencing the world"), and
-God (we often think he'll probably let us down-just like so many people do).



But, what if there was a different way? By entering into God's deep affection, He rewrites our wayward story into a narrative of unwavering devotion, a living, breathing Christian faith distinguished by God's inner-working. In Why Holiness Matters, Tyler Braun tells the story of the Millennial Generation
and our need for rescue from our own shame into the light and love of living in God's presence.



4.5 stars with 55 reviews



Free? Click HERE to see.

We All Need Rest

Rest. Our bodies need it to function properly. Thankfully, rest is a very integral part of God's design and extends beyond this earthly tent to a day yet to come, but one that is certain enough for us to "rest" in today.



During my recent study of Leviticus, I read God's instructions through Moses to the Israelites about keeping Sabbath Years and the Year of Jubilee once they entered the Promised Land, and was reminded of the special role these events played in the lives of the people as a symbol not only of their relationship to God and each other but also a symbol of a future rest brought into existence by Jesus. In light of this New Covenant instituted by Christ, I was reminded of the passage in Hebrews that also talks about rest.



The Sabbath

You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest. ~Exodus 34:21 (NASB)



Of all God's Commandments, I struggle with the command to rest more than any other. Maybe it's because of the sense of urgency I feel. My earthly days will soon come to an end, and my to-do list is longer than the hours in a day. Then again, maybe I can blame it on society. Our world is full of workaholics who push themselves to extremes, and I must confess to being one of them.



I think I also struggle with it because Jesus butted heads with the Pharisees time after time on the topic of the Sabbath. He even told them that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27) I know Jesus' main point of contention was the extraneous laws the Jewish leaders had added to the original command. In addition, with Christ's death came the new covenant.



For a little background, in Genesis 2:3, God blessed the Sabbath and rested from His work of creation. In Exodus 20:8-11 and Leviticus 23:3, the Bible specifically mentions "no work" in relation to the Sabbath. In Exodus 31:17 God calls it a day of refreshing. In Deuteronomy 5, God mentions a remembering of His deliverance of His people from slavery. In Isaiah 58:13, God told His people to make the day one of delight and honoring God, instead going their own way. In the books of Ezekiel and Exodus, God calls the Sabbath a sign between Him and His covenant people. Because it was a "holy" day it demonstrated to a watching world that these people were set apart for God.



The penalty for disobeying the commandment was stiff. People were stoned or cut off from the congregation for dishonoring the Sabbath.



Sabbath Years

The Lord then spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard. Your harvest’s after-growth you shall not reap, and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year. All of you shall have the sabbath products of the land for food; yourself, and your male and female slaves, and your hired man and your foreign resident, those who live as aliens with you. Even your cattle and the animals that are in your land shall have all its crops to eat. ~Leviticus 25:1-7(NASB)



Can you imagine how odd the Hebrew people must have found this request? Once they settled in the land, they would be dependent upon their crops for food. But here God was telling them to give the land a rest every seventh year.



Just as the people were to consider the seventh day of each week as a cessation from work, the land was to enjoy the same rest every seventh year. In Deuteronomy 31:10-13, God's Word reveals that this was also a special time of instruction in the Law of God. Then in addition to the Sabbath year, the people were also to give the land an additional year of rest after the seventh Sabbatical, called...



The Year of Jubilee

‘You are also to count off seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years, so that you have the time of the seven sabbaths of years, namely, forty-nine years. You shall then sound a ram’s horn abroad on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the day of atonement you shall sound a horn all through your land. You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family. You shall have the fiftieth year as a jubilee; you shall not sow, nor reap its after-growth, nor gather in from its untrimmed vines. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You shall eat its crops out of the field. ~Leviticus 25:8-12 (NASB)



Not only was the year of Jubilee an extra year of rest for the land, but it was also a time for servants to be given their freedom and for property to be returned to its original owners.



God's Purposes

To our modern sensibilities, these passages on the Year of Jubilee and Sabbath years seem foreign and strange, but consider the following:


Land needs rest just like people do. Whether the land is used for growing crops or raising animals, it's important to give the soil a break. Crops derive nutrition from the soil, so the resting time allows the soil to rebuild those much needed nutrients. Animals can quickly deplete grazing land if the area isn't permitted to rest so that the grass/grain can replenish.
These God-ordained years of rest foreshadowed the atoning sacrifice of Christ at His first coming and His triumphant return at His second coming, both events holding the promise of eternal rest.
As mentioned above, God allocated this time to give His people special instruction in His Word, to remind them of Who He was, and the best way to live in relation to Him and to others.
Most importantly, God wanted His people to learn to trust Him. Can you imagine not planting crops for two years in an agricultural society? This special time set apart by God would surely encourage their dependence on Him.

The Ingredient of Faith

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. ~Hebrews 4:1-2 (NASB)



The early Christians lived in a time when it was all too easy to fall back into Judaism and the legalistic tendency to merit their salvation through works. If we're completely honest, the temptation is there for us, too. Doesn't it make you feel better when you can do something that makes you feel worthy of eternal salvation and heaven? But our works will never be enough to gain salvation because we're sinful and imperfect people. Only Christ is worthy enough to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. In light of rest, then, the ingredient of faith is key as mentioned in this passage from Hebrews. Our faith in the sufficiency of Christ is what enables us to gain God's perfect rest, and we can rest in the fact that He is all we need. Our faith is our rest.



Application

Praise the Lord! Because of our freedom in Christ we are not bound to a set of legalistic requirements. Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Rest is still beneficial and necessary. As we rest, we remember what Christ has done for us by delivering us from slavery to sin and look forward to His return and our eternal rest. We study His Word for the purpose of knowing Him and for living in right relationship with Him and others. Our faith is a resting in Him, and becomes a sign between us and our covenant God that we are indeed His people. And it demonstrates our complete and total dependence on Him to meet our every need.



Thank You, God, for rest.  Lord, fill our hearts with the desire to honor You through resting in who You are. As we study Your Word may we know You better and live in right relationship to You and our fellow man. May we recognize not only our personal ineptitude, but our total dependence on You. Thank You for what Christ accomplished for us at the cross. Thank
You that we can rest in Him. Amen.

Free Christian Kindle eBooks for February 11, 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!





False Pretenses

by Kathy Herman

Published March 2011



Suspense:  Zoe Broussard loves the life she and her husband Pierce have built
in her beloved Louisiana hometown—especially their popular brasserie Zoe
B’s, to which folks drive all the way from Lafayette for lunch or
dinner. It seems like heaven. But it’s about to
become hell. A series of anonymous notes is making her life a
misery—because Zoe has a secret so terrible it could leave the business
in shambles and tear her marriage apart. Can she find the courage to
face her past?



4.2 stars with 62 reviews



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Woman of Stones

by Meredith Allard

Published August 2012



Novella: Though she has remained nameless throughout the centuries, her story is
timeless. Who is the woman of stones? How did she come to be at that
place, at that time, caught in the very act of adultery, left as a
guidepost for the ages, a lesson for everyone always? She is
from a poor settlement in a powerful Greco-Roman world. When Othniel
bar-Ismael, a textile merchant from Jerusalem, arrives in her village,
he is determined to take her for his wife. But the reality of living as a
fine lady is not as grand as she thought it would be. When she meets
the man of her dreams, an acquaintance of her husband’s, her life is
forever changed. Caught with her lover, she is beaten and
bruised, dragged and kicked to the Temple Courts. Her accusers hold
their fist-sized stones, ready to challenge the new teacher and show him
to be a fool who contradicts his own teachings. With a few wise words,
the teacher makes her accusers go away. In the end, she must struggle to
make sense of the second chance she has been granted.



4 stars with 9 reviews



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Deacon Leeds and the Pyramid of Symbols

by Grant Morris

Published February 2012



Science Fiction/Fantasy: Deacon Leeds is spending his school break on a scientific expedition in
frigid Antarctica. Unfortunately, the only other teen staying at the
Terra Nova Station is a royal jerk named Broderick Norsworthy. But when a
football-sized golden pyramid—covered in curious symbols—is discovered
buried below the ice, Deacon quickly learns that Broderick is more than
just a pimple-faced nuisance: He's a thief on a dark mission. Now
it's up to Deacon and Fitz, an old driller, to track Broderick down and
rescue the ancient artifact. The unlikely companions are thrust into a
harrowing adventure across the polar plateau, where they must survive
the brutal climate, as well as a mysterious entity that will stop at
nothing to prevent them from acquiring the golden Pyramid of Symbols. Along
the way, Deacon deciphers the pyramid's magical symbols and unlocks a
secret that will lead him to an even larger mystery thriving below the
ice. It is there that Deacon learns what is truly at stake….



4.8 stars with 13 reviews



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Servants of the King

by Sean Kelley

Published June 2012



Science Fiction/Fantasy: Servants of the King is the first of a series of novels that follows the
legendary warrior, Dal’Seaas, and his new disciple, Renn, through an
ever changing world. For seven years, the greatest of all the Judges had
been thought slain. Yet now, Dal’Seaas has emerged in the world again,
claiming to be sent on a mission by the divine ‘King’. Dal’Seaas meets
Renn, an obscure orphan, but sees great potential in him both physically
and spiritually. Together, they set out on an epic odyssey to challenge
the other Judges to repent of the very evil that almost sent Dal’Seaas
to his death those seven years ago. In all of this, a new secular nation
arises in the south, swelling with power and momentum, threatening to
erase the name of the Judges from history. Caught between the two sides,
Dal’Seaas teaches Renn to trust in the mighty ‘King’ who rules over
all. Renn soon discovers that there is something far more to Dal’Seaas
than remarkable skill and strong convictions. He sees in him a power
that will shape the very foundations of the changing world, and create
in him a faith that he never knew he had.



4.7 stars with 9 reviews



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Here We Come

by Chautona Havig

Published February 2012



Romance: In the hubbub of wedding preparations, Christmas celebrations, and a
house full of lively children, Aggie is feeling overwhelmed and
unappreciated. Add to that two puppies who are growing faster than she
can replace chewed shoes and fix dug fences, it seems like things just
can’t get any worse. Then, as she should be enjoying the most exciting
time of her life, she’s faced with her worst nightmare.



4.4 stars with 73 reviews



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Let It Go

Ever struggle with forgiving yourself? Sometimes that seems so much harder than forgiving others. But I've come to realize that many times my struggle with forgiving myself stems from not truly forgiving others. Memories of past wrongs and hurts are quick to return, bringing with them intense pain. My human side cries out for vindication and revenge. I want the other party to pay for this!



Then the Lord, in His still, quiet voice, reminds me of all that I've been forgiven. If I keep such a tight grip on what others have "done" to me, I can't open my hands to receive the forgiveness that is mine through Jesus Christ. In the process, I also hold on to not forgiving myself. After all, if I hold others to a strict and unrelenting set of standards, I must also do the same for myself.



The word for forgiveness used in the Bible carries with it a sense of letting go, of not holding it to account. The past is over and done with. We can't go back and undo anything, either on our part or on the part of anyone else. Holding onto it only causes further pain and keeps us from moving forward in our relationship with Jesus and with others.



God has graciously forgiven me so much. How can I refuse to forgive in light of His grace and forgiveness?



Father God, help me to remember that everything that has come into my life--both good and bad--has been allowed by You. And You've promised to use everything for my good. I've seen evidence of this promise in my life. Grant me the ability to let go--to not charge it to their account--and in the process fully receive the gift of Your forgiveness. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

God: The Center of Life

This morning I started a study of the Old Testament book of Numbers. I must confess a past tendency to view the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy as a little dry, but as I've matured (that's the nice way of saying "become old") the symbolism I come across in these books fascinates me.



As the Israelites wandered through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, God gave very explicit details about how they were to live.



But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.” Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the Lord had commanded Moses, so they did. ~Numbers 1:53-54 (NASB)



God In Our Midst  

Numbers, chapter two, then precedes to mention how the remainder of the tribes were to encamp on on various sides of the tabernacle, so that it was completely enclosed--so that God's presence was the center of their life. Whether they were on the march or camped out, this was the permanent arrangement.



Protecting His Holiness

Notice that the purpose of this arrangement was "so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel." God's very presence was in their midst, and throughout the prior book of Leviticus they were taught that He was a holy God. Their encircling of the tabernacle not only showed that God dwelt among them, but that this nation's army was to protect His presence and holiness.



Application For Us

For those of us who believe, God is in our midst. He must be kept at the center of our lives, and we must remember His holiness. His presence and holiness are intertwined. If we lose sight of our reverential awe and wonder of who He is, we also lose sight of His presence.



Father God, thank You for dwelling in our midst. Help us not to forget Your holiness. May we have a sense of awe and wonder at who You are so that we are constantly reminded of the gift of Your presence. Amen

Christ, Our Most High Priest

The biggest bulk of my Bible study time over the past few weeks has been in Leviticus. Throughout this time, I've been struck over and over by how symbolic the Law given to the Israelities foreshadowed the coming of Christ. All that the priests were to be has been perfectly fulfilled by Christ.



The Person of the Priest

Old Covenant - So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement: he shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments, and make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar. He shall also make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. ~Leviticus 16:32-33



New Covenant - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ~Hebrews 4:14



The Entry Point

Holy of Holies - When he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, no one shall be in the tent of meeting until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household and for all the assembly of Israel. ~Leviticus 16:17



Heaven - For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us... ~Hebrews 9:24



The Frequency

Once a Year - Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year. ~Leviticus 16:34a



Once - He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ~Hebrews 9:12b



The Blood  

Of Bulls and Goats - Moreover, he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; also in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. “Then he shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. ~Leviticus 16:14-15



Of Christ Himself - ...and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood... ~Hebrews 9:12a



Effective For Whom

The Nation of Israel - Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for
the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year. ~Leviticus
16:34a



Those Who Come to God by Him - Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. ~Hebrews 7:25



Effective For How Long

Only One Year - Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for
the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year. ~Leviticus
16:34a



Eternally - He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ~Hebrews 9:12b



Purification of the Priest

Continually For Himself/Household - Then Aaron shall offer the bull for the sin offering which is for himself, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household. ~Leviticus 16:6



Perfect Forever - For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. ~Hebrews 7:26-28



Jesus, we praise You for being our perfect high priest, who continually makes intercession for us before the Father. Thank You for accomplishing for us what we could never accomplish on our own. Lord, may we never forget the sacrifice of Your blood on our behalf, and may we live our lives in light of that truth. Amen.

Free Christian Kindle eBooks for February 8, 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!





Taste and See

by Annabel Robinson

Published November 2012



Non-fiction: The Bible arguably contains the greatest stories of all time. It is the
most-printed and most-distributed book in the world making it a
must-read for all people. Taste and See is an interactive prequel to the
Bible to help make it more accessible to anyone who has not read the
Bible before.
Taste and See:
• Provides an overview of the main Bible story
• An introduction to 12 short sections of the Bible; 5 Old Testament readings and 7 New Testament readings
• Identifies key themes found in the Bible and in the sections above
• Asks thought-provoking questions to open doors of spiritual discovery
• Encourages readers to take the first steps in a spiritual journey



5 stars with 5 reviews



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Keepers of Salt

by Debby Davis

Published January 2012



Nonfiction: Have you ever felt betrayed or forgotten? Have you ever longed for
lasting covenants in a world of broken promises? This book restores the
lost truth of the "Covenant of Strong Friendship." This great, lost
key will heal your heart, bring a deeper meaning to your life, help you
understand the Bible better and make you more Christ-like.



4.9 stars with 14 reviews



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LifeQuakes

by Leah Weber Heling

Published May 2011



Non-fiction: We live in a day of stress and anxiety as a result of international,
national, and personal conflicts and difficult circumstances. People are
looking for true lasting peace, freedom from fear, and ways to
exterminate the worry bug. "LifeQuakes: God's Rescue Plan in Hard Times"
offers help in those areas and more. This nondenominational,
how-to-eBook for living by faith in any crisis also guides readers to
have perfect peace when their world seems to be falling apart around
them. This unique book is not only a guidebook; it is also a resource
book and an inspirational book of encouragement. Not only will this book
prepare the reader for the next crisis or difficult circumstance, it
aims to draw the believer into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.




5 stars with 8 reviews




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Afton of Margate Castle

by Angela Hunt

Published July 2008




Historical fiction: Beautiful, headstrong Afton is taken from her parents at an early age
and raised in the castle, a companion to the earl’s daughter. Schooled
in the ways of kings and surrounded by splendor, Afton falls in love
with the earl’s son, brave, Calhoun, her childhood protector. But
Calhoun’s mother, the Lady Endeline, has much different plans for him
than marriage to a villein’s daughter. Suddenly Afton’s world is torn
viciously apart. She is cast out of the castle, given to a man she fears
and despises as a reward for his loyalty—an all too clear reminder
that, for all her dreams, she is nothing but a villein. Now all she has left is a burning desire for vengeance . . .



4.4 stars with 34 reviews



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A Very Special Delivery

by Linda Goodnight

Published to Kindle August 2012



Romance: t was the surprise of a lifetime for recluse Molly McCreight when
single dad Ethan Hunter entrusted her with his infant daughter while he
delivered medicine to an elderly man during an ice storm. Past
experience had taught Molly how fragile life could be, but she was
touched by this stranger's faith in her abilities. Once the storm
had passed, though, and her guests returned home, normalcy eluded Molly.
The Hunters' presence had brought much-needed joy to her quiet world,
but their absence threatened to crush her forever. Still, was she ready
to admit that this tiny family held the key to the future she'd always
secretly craved?



4.3 stars with 270 reviews



Free? Click HERE to see.