Powerful Is A Forgiving Heart

From Award-winning author Kaylin McFarren comes a powerful novel about love, loss, and the power of forgiveness...

Flaherty's Crossing

Successful yet emotionally stifled artist Kate Flaherty stands at the deathbed of her estranged father, conflicted by his morphine-induced confession exposing his part in her mother's death. While racing home, Kate's car mishap leads her to a soul-searching discussion with a lone diner employee, prompting Kate to confront the true reasons her marriage hangs in the balance. When her night takes an unexpected turn, however, she flees for her life, a life desperate for faith that can only be found through her ability to forgive.

"Trust And Obey ... Be Happy In Jesus ... "

‘He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord’ (2 Chronicles 12:14). Read these words, and pray - ‘Lord, may these words never be true of me’. These words are a warning to us. Things will only go from bad to worse if we turn back from following the Lord. ‘As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him’ (2 Chronicles 13:10). Read these words, and pray - ‘Lord, may these words always be true of me’. This is the better way - God’s way: ‘God is with us; He is our Leader’ (2 Chronicles 13:12). We read about unbelief and disobedience. We read about faith and obedience. “Do not fight against the Lord... you will not succeed’ (2 Chronicles 13:12) . ‘Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.’

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (10)

When we move beyond our rejoicing in divine grace to speak of those who refuse to come to the Saviour, we must take great care. Some have much knowledge of "the Scriptures." They have had the Gospel of Christ preached to them. They have been shown the way to "eternal life." Still, they have not trusted the Saviour. What are we to say about this? Jesus said, "you refuse to come to Me to have life" (John 5:39-40).

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (9)

God is graciously speaking to sinners, calling them to return to Him. Sadly, many do say 'No' to Him. We may wonder how people can possibly refuse such a great love as the love of Christ? - This is "the mystery of iniquity" (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Grace breaks the power of sin. This is the great truth of the Gospel. When we speak of 'irresistible grace' we are praising the Lord, we are giving Him all the glory for our salvation. This does not come from us. It comes from Him.

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (8)

For those of us who have come to Christ, we give glory to God, giving thanks that His grace has reached us and lifted us out of our bondage and into His freedom. Rather than magnifying our own free will, we sing, from the heart, "He drew me and I followed on, charmed to confess the voice divine." We know, in our hearts, the truth of Jesus' words, "All that the Father gives to Me shall come to Me" (John 6:37). We also know that there are many who hear God's voice and yet they harden their hearts. Those who have come to rejoice in Jesus Christ may well ask, "How can anyone say 'No' to the Saviour's love?" When we, who have come to the Lord, are giving our testimony, we may well speak of an 'irresistible grace' - "Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Philippians 3:12). When, however, we are calling upon sinners to come to the Saviour, we must speak clearly of the fate of those who, when they hear God's voice, persist in hardening their hearts.

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (7)

It is through the death of Christ that we are brought out of bondage (Hebrews 2:14-15). Looking to our Saviour, we give all the glory to Him. His grace has reached us. He has drawn us to Himself. There are those who persist in their rebellion against the God of grace. The Word of God comes to them as it comes to us. It comes with the promise of salvation - "He is able to save to the uttermost all who come to God through Him" (Hebrews 7:25). Along with the promise of the Gospel, there is also the warning of the Gospel: "Today, when you hear God's voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7), "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3)

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (6)

Our faith does not come from our own free will. We are sinners. we are in bondage until Christ sets us free (John 8:36). Going back to the beginning, we learn that the first sin was not an act of freedom. It was an act of disobedience. It was an act of rebellion against the divine command - " of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat... "you shall not eat ... " (Genesis 2:17). By eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil chose to go their own way rather than God's way. This action led them into bondage. Believing "that old serpent called the Devil and Satan" (Revelation 12:9) - ""You shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4) - they brought themselves into a bondage which can only be broken when we look beyond "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" where they attempted to take salvation into their own hands. We look from there to another tree - our Saviour "bore our sins in His own body on the tree ... " (1 Peter 3:24).

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (5)

"God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13). Where does this prayer come from? It comes from the Lord. He puts it into our heart. Those who truly pray, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" do not take any glory for themselves. They say, "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:23). They say, "Not to us, O Lord, but to Your Name give glory ... " (Psalm 115:1).

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (4)

God's promise does not say, "Everyone will be saved." It says, "Everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21). When we hear Peter's words as an urgent call to faith, we need not fear that, by emphasizing the call for decision, we are preaching a man-centred Gospel, which fails to magnify the grace of God. Many people refuse the grace of God. They persist with the idea that somehow, by their own good works, they might possibly save themselves. Their lack of a believing response to the Gospel does not change that the fact that the God of grace will hear and answer their prayer should they find it in their heart to pray, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13).

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (3)

Faith, rightly understood, is never to be viewed as competing with grace for our attention. We must take care to avoid a wrong emphasis on faith. We must never conceive of faith as a work by which we earn our salvation. This would be a contradiction of the sovereign grace of God. No matter how much we may choose to believe, our faith cannot, by itself, result in salvation. There is only one basis for believing that, through faith in Christ we receive salvation . It is the divine promise of salvation, so graciously given to us by God; "Everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2: 21).

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (2)

Grace, by its very nature, cannot be construed as a 'reward' which is given to faith. To say, "By grace you have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) does not detract from the statement, "By grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:5). Giving the glory to the God of our salvation, we emphasize the absolute necessity of grace for salvation. We affirm that "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9) without being afraid to lay full emphasis on the absolute necessity of faith for salvation.

"By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith" (1)

It is important to note that Paul contrasts grace with works (11:6) and faith with works (9:32), but does not contrast grace with faith. It is works (as a way of salvation, not as a fruit of salvation - Ephesians 2:10), which is set over against both grace and faith. Any hint of a tension between grace and faith suggests an unbiblical way of thinking. Faith, by its very nature cannot be construed as a 'work' by which grace is earned. Grace, by its very nature, cannot be construed as a 'reward' which is given to faith.

Encouraging Your Child To Read

The Child Who Learned Dreams Come True is dedicated to children and the child deep within us all. That child who loves to dream, that loves adventure, that believes and hopes for great things.

You see, we all dream. Dreams are a part of our character. They encourage us, mentor us, help us to process life, and even help us to find greatness deep within.

However, there is more. This book is also dedicated to adults who have lost their desire to dream, who have lost that desire for adventure, and feel that life's dreams have passed them by.

Order it from the author through this site or get it online everywhere or at your local bookstore .

ISBN 9781603830980 - ISBN 1603830987

Order It at: The Everlasting Kingdom

The ‘Wisdom’ Which Leads To ‘Salvation Through Faith In Christ Jesus’

2 Chronicles 1:1-2:18
‘Give me wisdom’(1:10). What is the greatest wisdom of all? - It is the ‘wisdom’ which leads to ‘salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’. Where do we find this wisdom? - Read ‘the Holy Scriptures’. Ask God for wisdom - ‘Open my eyes that I may see the wonderful truths in Your Word’. Ask the question concerning salvation - ‘What must I do to be saved?’. God will give you His answer - ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved’(2 Timothy 3:15; Psalm 119:18; Acts 16:31). Salvation cannot be earned. It can only be received as a gift. It is ‘the gift of God’(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8). What is wisdom? - It is to say, with Solomon, ‘Our God is greater than all other gods’(2:5). Nothing else and no-one else can even begin to compare with the Lord. Be wise. Build your life on Him (Matthew 7:24-27).
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Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com