66 ways God loves YOU

There are 66 books in the bible and they all fit together to tell an amazing story of God's redeeming love. 

Jennifer Rothschild takes each book of the Bible and relates God's redeeming love for us to readily see and understand. It's almost like being able to be read 66 love letters. Love letters from God's word, from each book of the bible. 

There are many times in which we need a very real and very clear reminder of God's love for us and this book provides 66 of them.  I say read them for yourself. Read them to your children, read them to a friend who may be struggling. 

This is from the book of Exodus (I enlarged it so that the words can actually be read)

{FYI: I received this book from the publisher through the BookLook Blogger program in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Searching the Scriptures

If you're trying to gain not only a better relationship with God but to also learn His Word, this is a book to have:  Searching the Scriptures by Charles R. Swindoll. A little background on the author: Swindoll is a teacher of the Word, and has been in the pastorate since 1963 and is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS).

I enjoy that the book reads well BUT it also has "homework" which makes you use what you read and makes you practice what Charles Swindoll is teaching in this book. I will say it isn't a book to complete in a day. This is a book to savor, take a chapter a day or a chapter every two days so that you can really digest what Swindoll is teaching. I have been reading and completing the "homework" everyday in the evenings when my littles are in the bed and it has been a total eye opening blessing. Teaching and convicting my spirit on much of my personal actions, or rather lack thereof.

This is an well written and added book to my arsenal of study aids.

I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for an HONEST review.

The Case for Grace

Through out the years we've learned that grace and mercy is the saving grace of the Christian.

It is the traits of God that grants us forgiveness. 

Yet in recent years it seems grace has been almost over used and under valued. 

I mean that to say everyone preaches the message of grace and mercy to the sinner, that it renews each day. Yet they forget to include the disclaimer that grace and mercy is not an OK to sin thinking "Well God will have grace and mercy and forgive me." 

It is important to remember this because God judges the heart. He sees all of what we think we're doing and judges our motives. So if we do not grasp grace and mercy in its fullness. Then we could very easily lose its covering. God is not a man that He would be made a fool of.

Grace and mercy is all in Jesus bearing the sins of all mankind on the cross.

Grace and mercy is all in Jesus' resurrection.

Grace and mercy is what kept Jesus on the path to crucifixion.

What is is NOT is: 

a license to sin.

What it DOES DO:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

The above passage in Titus, shows us that the grace of God brings salvation. It teaches us to deny ungodliness & worldly lusts. It exhorts us to live soberly, righteously, and godly. Notice it says in the present age, meaning it is ever applicable. Grace enables us to seek out Jesus Christ to be redeemed and purified by Him.

So today, look for the grace of God in your life and be thankful for it. Know that as God graces you each day, that we must confess our sins. We are born sinners and will remain that way until we leave this earth and as such must ask for forgiveness of the sins we commit and in that we are repenting which is not only asking for forgiveness but also turning AWAY from the sin. That is making the conscious effort to repeat.

~Kris