Words of Grace – Book Review

This is certainly not just another devotional.  It’s better than that.  It’s full of thoughtful, inspiring articles that drew me closer to my God.  It led me to a deeper level of thought on what the Word is trying to say.

Best of all, I can pick it up or put it down at any point.  Meaning, it’s not dated so I didn’t feel pressured to read a certain part on a certain day.  I can open it anywhere and read something important about my walk with Jesus any time I want.

It is thoughtfully divided into three categories.  Who God is, how He works in our lives, and how we are to respond to Him.

Here are a few quotes that really spoke to me:

  • “In the realm of morality and money, family and friends, work and play, God has a will and a way for us to live.”  (pg. 13)
  • “What is the message of Good News? God’s favor is on all mankind.” (pg. 25)
  • “We must know, feel, and acknowledge our sin before we will turn to Christ for salvation.  We must turn to Christ for salvation before we will have freedom from our sin.” (pg. 51)
  • Regarding the truth of Romans 8:1 – “You don’t have to justify yourself to others.  Imagine relating to others without being defensive.  You are not condemned, and no one can condemn you before God, so when you interact with others you can focus on truth, love, and edification.” (pg. 87)

I had only one drawback as I read through.  Scott Patty is a deep thinker and with that came sentence structure that was sometimes difficult to read.  But then, that forced me to think more deeply on God’s Word.

I’m sure I’ll be keeping this devotional in my book basket for months/years to come.

What a blessing!

Marie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Broadman and Holman Publishers.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

20 Ways To Practice Lifestyle Evangelism

 

Wear a piece of jewelry that invites discussion.

Take a glass of something cold to your neighbor or to the person doing lawn work.

Visit someone in a hospital or nursing home that doesn’t get visitors.

Call to say I’m thinking of you.

Volunteer!

Invite the person sitting alone (in church or at a restaurant) to sit with you.

When someone’s name pops into your mind, send them an ‘I’m thinking of you” note.

Follow through when you’ve said you would do something. If you said I’ll call, then call.

Don’t hesitate to pray anywhere and anytime you’re asked. 

Be sincere in your compliments. People can always tell when you’re ‘just sayin’.

Ask someone you don’t know (at the doctor’s, the grocery store, or other public places) if you can pray for them. Do it right there.

Handwrite notes to a new member, someone who is ill, or someone recently baptized…

Choose a missionary to stay in touch with.

Give rides to those who don’t have a way to get to the doctor, grocery store, …

Use your craftiness to help others. Crochet an afghan, quilt a lapgan, embroider a favorite Bible verse, …

Prayer-walk your neighborhood. Pray for every home even if you don’t know the person living there.

When you get ready to get rid of your Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary cards, put them in a box and keep them in your ‘prayer spot‘. Take one out each day and pray for that person. Let them know you prayed with a call or a card/note.

Keep a Jar of Joys. Put little slips of paper in it that tell about good things that have happened through the year. Go through it at the end of the year and give thanks for the joy and delight God has put in your life.

Invite someone who may be all alone to family dinners like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter…

Take a picture frame that you aren’t using. Put a sheet of blank paper behind the glass. Write the names of those you want to pray for regularly. Hang it in a place you see every day. Mine is above my home/office desk.

If you think of another way to show Jesus to others, feel free to write it in the comments.

The Kremlin Conspiracy – – Book Review

Intrigue and lies at the upper levels of world leadership…  Men and women killed senselessly…  Life choices…  God’s presence…

I don’t usually like books of this genre.  But The Kremlin Conspiracy had me from the first chapter.  With well-developed characters and a storyline that simply doesn’t slow down, I couldn’t wait to turn the pages.  From the mountains of Colorado to Russia’s Red Square the action continually transports one into the lives of the characters.

Political upheaval is caused by two presidents, a world apart.  One weak and inexperienced, the other over-confident and mentally unbalanced, put the world on edge with the threat of nuclear war.

This quote from The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky sums up the motive behind the story.  “Above all, don’t lie to yourself.  The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and he loses all respect for himself and for others – and having no respect he ceases to love.”

If you like fast moving, action-packed reading, you’ll love this book!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Weekend Wanderings

Here are a few of my favorites from this weeks posts.  Enjoy!

THE DAY GOD GAVE ME MORE THAN I COULD HANDLE  God will give us more than we can handle because He wants us to remember that we are never in it alone.

HOW TO RESPOND TO THE GROWN-UP MEAN GIRL   Bullies and ‘mean girls’ are all around us.  Yes, but how should we respond?  Jennifer has the answer.

SECRETS, STRUGGLES AND THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF GOD    These words of Holley’s are ones that we should always keep in mind, “Whatever we did yesterday, whatever we’re battling today, whatever we may face tomorrow, the love of God for us and the grace of God toward us will never, ever change.”

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

Who Are The Other People?

My thoughts and ponderings on this word led me to who are the ‘other’ people in our society?  In a social climate that prides itself on equality, we have certain ‘other’ people that are not counted among the equal.  People of color, any color actually, white, black, olive, pink… women, elderly, poor, rich, educated, homeless.  Every one of us fits in an ‘other’ category.

When I looked up the definition here’s what it said: used to refer to a person or thing that is different or distinct from one already mentioned or known about.  

What, then, does God say about it?

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.  Luke 6:31 (I can still hear my mother’s voice… Do unto others as you would have them do to you.)

Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:4 (I don’t think this verse would even be necessary if we would stop being all about ourselves.)

So, isn’t it time to start making the ‘other’ people in our lives more important than we are?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

I’m sharing this with a group of writers who set aside 5 minutes each week to write about one word.  Why don’t you join us?  Five Minute Friday