Encouragement for life and faith

Home » Blessings and Grace Blog

Building Faith with Bible Pathway – sample – New Testament Reading

by · In: Books and Resources

Building Faith for Bible Pathway is part guide book, part devotional book that helps you read straight through the entire Bible in one year. It helped (and still helps) me to read the Bible and increase my faith. I was given the opportunity to bring it back to print. It’s now available for purchase at Amazon and other book stores. You may also see the sidebar on my website. Here is an excerpt (December 25) from when we are in the New Testament. A reader would begin with the daily guide (below) and then read the Scripture chapters listed – …

Building Faith with Bible Pathway – sample – New Testament ReadingRead More

Reading the Bible – Seeking God – Don’t Give Up

by · In: Yes - Read the Bible!

Don’t Give Up – If You Want to Read the Bible Maybe you’ve tried to read the Bible before and given up. I encourage you – try again. Don’t quit. Keep trying. Persevere.  Find a way to read the Bible that works for you, because there are faith-increasing and life-giving – promises and surprises – in store for you if you don’t give up. Yes, I’m a Christian who loves God and follows Christ. I know that God is at work in me. But there are times that I’ve struggled with God and with His Word. Usually when life or …

Reading the Bible – Seeking God – Don’t Give UpRead More

From what-if’s to God’s Nevertheless

by · In: Proof, Evidence, Promises, and Joy!

Our God is a God of good promises, good intentions for each of us, and power to carry out His plans. But God tells us that there’s an evil one who seeks to steal all good God-things from us. Sure enough, Satan tries to come in and steal from everyone that he can – our blessings, trust in God, and joy. This evil one has certainly thrown fears and doubts my way. Not only because of him, but also because I’m flesh, because of past painful difficulties, and maybe even partly because of what I have been wrongly taught, my …

From what-if’s to God’s NeverthelessRead More

Building Faith with Bible Pathway – sample – Old Testament Reading

by · In: Books and Resources

Building Faith for Bible Pathway is part guide book, part devotional book that helps you read straight through the entire Bible in one year. It helped me read the Bible and increase my faith. I was given the opportunity to bring it back to print and it’s now available for purchase at Amazon and other book stores. You may also see the sidebar on my website. Here is an excerpt from June 3rd, when we are in the Old  Testament. A reader would begin with the segment guide below and then read the Scripture chapters listed – in this case …

Building Faith with Bible Pathway – sample – Old Testament ReadingRead More

Note to Self – Seek God’s Connection, Not More Information

by · In: Proof, Evidence, Promises, and Joy!

I have to keep remembering it’s not about information and knowledge in this journey of life. It’s not about finding the right system, program, book, or answer – even though I love the right answers. It’s not even about reading the Bible and then closing it up again, but rather it is about knowing God in each trying circumstance. Every time this journey feels so difficult, I try hard to figure out what to do. I try to find the secret to wrapping up life in a nice tidy box. But it’s not about that at all. Besides, that was …

Note to Self – Seek God’s Connection, Not More InformationRead More

How Are Your Assignments Coming Along?

by · In: Live God’s Blessings Blog

We see much throughout Scripture about the tasks and assignments individuals are given. In 1 Chronicles 23 alone here are a few of the jobs that had to be filled and the workers needed. supervisors for temple workers, workers to build the temple, craftsmen and artisans, officials and  judges, gatekeepers, those who praised the Lord with musical instruments, and finally one man Aaron, was set apart to minister before the Lord and to pronounce blessings in His name. As I read about the tasks and jobs it always makes me think about our assignments. First, each of us has our …

How Are Your Assignments Coming Along?Read More

Trampled by the enemy or Resurrected and Blessed by God

by · In: Special Encouragement for Tough Times

There virtually isn’t any part of our own life that the world and the enemy of God enemy hasn’t effected, fought over, maimed, stolen, or tried to kill, ruin, and destroy. We would like to think that we’re born into God’s world and that we’re safe, but really the world that we’re born into is God’s world that has been touched and trampled by the enemy of God and the enemy’s minions. The enemy takes God’s good gifts and twists them into all sorts of lies, ugliness, and counterfeits. Our job is to come to know the Creator, King, and …

Trampled by the enemy or Resurrected and Blessed by GodRead More

Praying for Guidance

by · In: Live God’s Blessings Blog

My book, “Building Faith with Bible Pathway,” which I brought back to print is an enjoyable devotional/guide that helps us read the Bible daily. (It’s available through Amazon, plus my website www.ToughTimesandPeace.com.) Dr. John Hash, in the April 8th entry, reminds us that:  Though the way may seem more uncertain each day, we must be like David, who as the days got more difficult and as his enemies pursued him, continued to pray for guidance on which way to turn. How applicable this is for us on many levels. It is what I’m trying to do these days. I’m praying …

Praying for GuidanceRead More

Feelings and Soul-Healing

by · In: Special Encouragement for Tough Times

Sometimes I’m a real mess. Lately, I’ve had a few issues that have hit some sore spots in my soul and I flinch with pain-induced over-reactions. I semi-wake in the middle of the night thinking on these things. Not only are we born with a fully functioning sin and self nature of our own (which easily desires to take us in a direction other than God), but we’ve also been born into a family with it’s own reactive threads that have unknowingly been woven into our lives. Each family and generation has needs and deficiencies and wounds, as well as …

Feelings and Soul-HealingRead More