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Includes Current Free Read for Review Book Offering! Sign up for this daily message or place it on your site so it automatically updates each day. Go HERE. |
| | Do Not Fear! Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV
Lord Jesus Come! |
| | ... in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their sins against them... 2 Cor 5:19
... Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
"I will forgive their iniquity, I will remember their sin no more.” Jer 31:34b
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| | | | | A Diamond in the Rough – Ken Barnes
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NIV)
The pressure applied to us as Christians will make us into a crown jewel in God’s royal collection.
I grew up in a small coal mining town in Western Pennsylvania. Though not perceived as such by those of us who grew up there, others in the area viewed it as a rough little town. I got a teaching job in an adjacent county. Once, my Principal, when speaking about my hometown, referred to me as a diamond in the rough. I am unsure if I ever lived up to that description, but hearing those words was nice.
Coal and diamonds are both formed from different forms of carbon. Diamonds have been subjected to extreme heat and pressure—1200 degrees Fahrenheit and 720,000 pounds per square inch. Diamonds become pure carbon, whereas coal has many impurities, and this beautiful gem becomes the hardest material known to man and one of the most valuable.
The Bible reminds us that we should not be caught off guard when we face many 'fiery trials' (1 Peter 4:12 NKJV). These trials can come from external circumstances or from within us. We live in a fallen and rough world. Accusations, misunderstanding, and rejection are all too common and can sometimes intensify the heat and pressure to almost unbearable levels. But remember, the same sun that nourishes plants can also scorch the soil. Our trials can either embitter us or empower us, and the deciding factor is our perspective. They can be the catalyst for our growth and spiritual maturity.
Take heart, my dear brothers, and sisters in Christ; when it seems least likely and you appear to be struggling the most, God is at work in you. Struggle is the name of the game. God may not have created your circumstances now, but he uses them to remove the impurities and conform you to his Image. He is making you into a diamond in the rough in a sick and dying world, reflecting the grace and glory of God, recreating you into one of his crown jewels.
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| | | Free Reads for Reviews
Be inspired while you encourage and support new Christian authors. Read great Christian books for FREE in exchange for a brief review.
This is one of many great Christian books you can read for free in exchange for a simple review on Amazon. New books come into the program on a regular basis.
Below is today's featured book in Free Reads for Review.
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| Unwind: A Christian's Guide for Battling Stress, Worry, and Anxiety
Tim Atkinson
Life is crazy. It comes at you fast. Relentless deadlines, commitments, pressures.
We find ourselves running, racing, and in the process emotionally wearing down.
But living with peace is possible! You can experience calmness even in the midst of the stress and strife that life throws at you.
Go HERE to see today's book.
Go HERE to learn how Free Reads works. |
| | Offer Life to the Lost!
Always Free E-Book Share with Anyone Who Does Not Believe or Encourage the Faith of Those Who Do Believe. Send to inmates direct from Amazon.
Perfect to equip the believer for defending their faith. Ideal to send to a skeptical friend, family member or inmate (free e-book or $3.99 print copy). Great for teens and young adults who have never reviewed the objective evidence for God's existence and identity. God has used Gravity to help lead many to Christ, even atheists. It is being used in over 1,300 prisons, numerous college campuses and online in several languages.
"If false, Christianity is an irrelevant hoax. If true, Christianity is the most important fact for every human being. This little book concisely shows you why Christianity is true and what that means for you. No fluff, just the facts!" Dr. Frank Turek author/co-author of I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist
"After reading your book, and being that I’m a cop, the evidence was compelling so the choice became easy. Thank you for being a big part of saving my life and seeing the truth about Jesus. My life has drastically changed for the better!!! I’ve handed out many of your books already, and can hardly wait to give more away! Thank you. And God bless!"
"For anyone on the fence, backsliding, or doubtful this book clarifies misunderstandings, perceived contradictions, and outright lies. I was led to read this book at a time when I thought I was over Jesus, but truth defeat lies every time and never forsakes the believer.”
Maybe you know someone in prison or just a lost soul that you love who needs to trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior or needs to have their faith encouraged? You can ship single paperback copies directly from Amazon for $3.99 each to an inmate or anyone. For inmates, you just need their facility name, address, inmates name and id number. Most prisons and jails will accept packages directly from places like Amazon. If you are a member of Amazon prime it would ship for free. Just add the person's shipping address when you check out and it goes directly to them. If you try to send it from a personal address, it will be rejected.
GO HERE to order your copy of Gravity to be sent to your lost friend or family member who is (incarcerated or not) and needs Jesus. Offer them the gift of eternal life in Christ for $3.66. What a great investment.
"Michael, I have ordered books a couple times now and have had nothing but good responses from the inmates that read it. I had one approach me with tears in his eyes thanking me for giving him a book that answered questions he has always wondered about regarding the Bible. I had another one ask me for another copy so he could mail it to his family to read. Another one told me that everyone in his pod was passing it around reading it, the cover made people ask what he was reading. He then asked if I could get more. I would like twenty more books please. It's nice to be able to give a concise apologetic at an affordable price." Gordon, a prison guard who has ordered books."
An in-depth study of the factual evidence leads a person to realize how little faith they need to believe, while it gives them great faith at the same time.
Free e-book and print copies at our cost for orders of ten or more HERE. |
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Be a Better Christian Writer Six Month Program The world desperately needs more excellent Christian writers. FaithWriters is offering a plan to dramatically improve your writing for Jesus in six months. Go HERE to learn more. |
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Now available in over 100 languages.
Unique Free Gospel tract that you can copy and reprint. This tract is being used in many locations around the world, producing incredible amounts of fruit, once again proving that God uses the simple things of the world to produce great fruit. Print one out in your own language and then make copies to hand out. |
| | Share Jesus Without Fear (Copy and print out for use.)
The steps to share your faith without fear – no confrontation. Pray and then get them alone.
Ask these five questions to help discover their personal spiritual condition.
Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?
To you, who is Jesus?
Do you think there is a heaven and a hell?
If you died right now, where would you go?
If what you believe were not true, would you want to know it?
Listen to their answers in a calm and open way. You are asking their permission to share Christ with the last question. If they say no, you can drop it – no confrontation. You have still done the work of Christ and offered the truth.
Here are a series of five Bible verses to ask the lost person to read aloud if you have their permission. Let them read them and remain silent. After each verse they read, ask them what it says to them. If they misunderstand, ask them to read it again until they admit the truth in the verse.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 ESV
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 ESV
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 ESV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV
if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.… Romans 10:9-10 BSB
Then ask them a series of five questions that summarizes the truth of the verses and lead the lost person to the point of decision.
Are you a sinner?
Do you want forgiveness for your sins?
Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
Are you willing to surrender yourself to Christ?
Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart and into your life?
Lead them in the Sinner's Prayer if they are ready to make a decision. Stay in touch and get them discipled or connect them with a local fellowship or small group for future growth.
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| | | Use the Good Person Test to share your faith. It is very powerful. Go HERE. |
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