Happy New Year, 2018

By Benjamin H. Liles

I just want to tell everyone who visits my site how happy and fortunate I am for all of you. Also, to wish you and everyone out there a Happy New Year! I love being able to do what I do for you! So, I just wanted to extend those holiday wishes into this new year by saying that to you. I want you guys to be blessed. The way you have blessed me is wonderful and great. So, I ask our God and Lord to bless all of you. May all your dreams and aspirations be blessed in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! God bless you all. More articles will come as soon as I am able!

Prayer

By Benjamin H. Liles

I know I have a tendency to admit things when I feel I have to and this is one of those times: I’m not like my wife, who is a passionate prayer warrior. To tell you the truth prayer doesn’t readily come easy to me as it does for and to her. It always seems she has the right words for the situation you find yourself. And that’s the thing, prayer isn’t just a onetime event and then you move on. It’s something you actively have to do. Do you have a job promotion that you’re about to get? Pray on it. Are you in pain and suffering? Pray over it. Have you faced the highs and lows of life, needing direction? Pray to God about it.

By Benjamin H. Liles

It's Christmas day here, going on about 9pm. So, here in a few short hours it won't be Christmas anymore. I could do a longer post tonight on Christmas, why we call it Christmas and all, but I'll save that for another time. Instead I wanted to give a sweet and lovely message of Christmas to everyone!

By Benjamin H. Liles

Bright star, do you see this thing going on? Do you notice this thing that's taking place before my eyes? I'm here keeping watch over a flock of sheep. The night so cold and deep. I stay with them in the hopes they will be kept safe and secure. But there's this action going on. Later on someone will sing "Do you see what I see?" But I'm telling you about this. This is the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed.

By Benjamin H. Liles

“When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, ‘Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord.’ Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her. Then I will give her her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.” ~ Hosea 1:2; 2:14-15, New American Standard

By Benjamin H. Liles

And speaking of the prophet Daniel, Darius said this of Daniel's God: "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions" (Daniel 6:26, 27, NIV).

By Benjamin H. Liles

The next day when they came out from Bethany, [Jesus] was hungry. After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples heard it. They came to Jerusalem, and He went into the temple complex and began to throw out those buying and selling in the temple.

He overturned the money changers’ tables and the chairs of those selling doves, and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex. Then He began to teach them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!” Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. ~ Mark 11:12-17, 20, Holman Christian Standard

By Benjamin H. Liles

The latest in the Recruits series has a lot of non-stop action. From start to finish it is a thrill-ride of Tolkienesque proportions. And that's the thing of it all. While I enjoy reading/reviewing Locke's books, it seems the further he goes with his writing as he's giving a nod to the late Lord of the Rings author. In a sense it feels that way to me. And in saying that it's not a bad thing in and of itself. Actually, if anything, Tolkien would be proud to see a man come so close to emulating his style and prose for a series as classic as Lord of the Rings.

By Benjamin H. Liles

This is too funny! When I thought I was reading the 3 Dec 2011 Devotional, it turns out I was reading Monday's 5 Dec 2011 Devotional. How can this tie in to not just the title but to the passage of Isaiah 49:9 can be stated in this way: What has you enslaved?

By Benjamin H. Liles

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ~ 2 Peter 3:10-11, NKJV

By Benjamin H. Liles

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ~ 2 Timothy 4:1-5, New American Standard

By Benjamin H. Liles

When I read this book it read to me like a promise book. I don't just believe Daniel Amen's words that in living out the words of the Bible will help memory, but also elevate your quality of life. It has been proven that if you want to get some where you have to start walking. So it is with memorization, meditation, and in living out a rich and qualitative life in Jesus (sorry for big words). In other words, when we memorize scripture, when bad moments come we can walk through relatively unscathed and worse for wear as God's word is imprinted on our hearts.

By Benjamin H. Liles

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! ~ Psalm 133:1, Holman Christian Standard

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited. ~ Romans 12:16, Berean Study

By Benjamin H. Liles

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ~ Colossians 3:15, NKJV

By Benjamin H. Liles

Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. ~ Psalm 1:1-2, WEB

By Benjamin H. Liles

Dani Pettrey's latest book, Blind Spot, is non-stop action smattered with tender hearted Christian moments. As I read this book I couldn't help but not put it down. I had to re-read it a couple of times to understand. everything. The one problem I had was trying to get my hand on her other two books in the series (to no avail) to understanding where she was going with this book. But that's not a real bad thing or even a concern.

By Benjamin H. Liles

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ~ 1 John 2:15-16

By Benjamin H. Liles

God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength. ~ Job 37:5-6

By Benjamin H. Liles

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale for my honest and sincere thoughts on Hannah Hurnard's book she wrote many years ago. With it's updated look and illustrations it's hard not to put this book down at all. I have been reading this book and am amazed by how she wrote this book. I think it's a perfect picture of the Christian walk.

By Benjamin H. Liles

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ~ Romans 13:6

By Benjamin H. Liles

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ~ Romans 13:1

By Benjamin H. Liles

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints ~ Ephesians 1:18

By Benjamin H. Liles

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9, AMP

By Benjamin H. Liles

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ~ Romans 12:1

By Benjamin H. Liles

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ~ Romans 10:13

Because all flesh [is] as grass, and all its glory as [the] flower of grass. The grass has withered and [its] flower has fallen; but the word of [the] Lord abides for eternity. But this is the word which in the glad tidings [is] preached to you. ~ 1 Peter 1:24-25, Darby (Verse of the day)

By Benjamin H. Liles

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

By Benjamin H. Liles

Dennis Rainey's pocket-sized book, Choosing a Life that Matters, is a power punch of God's goodness wrapped up in his own words. Dennis, from what I can tell, is one of those rare gems, a guy who's sold out for Christ and standing upon the word of God to show how we can live fruitful and meaningful lives.

By Benjamin H. Liles

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father. ~ Ephesians 5:19-20

By Benjamin H. Liles

I knew I already liked Third Day. They have so many wonderful and powerful songs. So when this opportunity came up to choose this book I had to leap at it. Granted this review could truly be biased considering I truly and absolutely love Christian music. But reading Mark Lee's account of his life--he's a founding member of Third Day, a guitarist, songwriter, father--I have to say I feel like I got a backstage pass to get to know "the guys," as musicians tend to say.

By Benjamin H. Liles

When I saw they were not following the truth of the Good News, I spoke to Peter in front of them all. I said, “You are a Jew, but you are living like a Gentile and not a Jew. So how can you now try to force Gentiles to live like Jews?” It is not because we followed the law, because no one can be made right with God by following the law. We Jews came to Christ, trying to be made right with God, and it became clear that we are sinners, too. Does this mean that Christ encourages sin? No! ~ Galatians 2:14, 16b-17, Expanded

By Benjamin H. Liles

I know I posted this up yesterday and made some comments that were said in frustration about my inability to be able to read Mark Baker's Spiritual Wisdom for a Happier Life. Overall, he's well-written, he's got a good handle on theology and has a good deal of amazingly insights. The one thing I think it lacks is in the area of application. Usually, and from my experience, I have learned a great deal from realizing "How does this help me be better?" Maybe I'm still not seeing or getting it.

By Benjamin H. Liles

"But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!" (2 Timothy 3:1-5, Berean Study).

By Benjamin H. Liles

"I feel stuck in my life. Kind of like I know what I want to do, but I'm unsure of how to go about it, or even if it's God's will," I heard her say. So many of us in life wonder if we're hearing God's voice in the moments that are dry and appear desert-like. Sometimes we even wonder, "I feel like I'm going around in circles and not doing anything. How do I know and put God's will into practice for my life?" For certain of this don't be discouraged. I've been there multiple times even in my faith with God.

By Benjamin H. Liles

For most of my life I have struggled with bipolar depression. I have taken numerous medicines to help overcome the struggles I face, both in the manic side as well as depression side. While through all of this I have been and felt suicidal, at least three times in my life, I have marched on. These days, at the age of forty-four, I still struggle, but due to my walk with Christ, things are a great deal easier. Why? Jesus tells us, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27, New American Standard).

By Benjamin H. Liles

"Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”(Genesis 4:9, New King James).

"[The older son] was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him’" (Luke 15:28-30, New King James).

By Benjamin H. Liles

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. ~ 1 Peter 1:3-9, New American Standard

By Benjamin H. Liles

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. ~ Matthew 5:16, New King James; John 15:8, New Living Translation

By Benjamin H. Liles

"Those who enter God's kingdom come through [me] the narrow gate. The gate that leads to destruction is [pleasant and] broad and wide for those who go that way. Yet, the road to life [you will experience trouble and] is very narrow and difficult; there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14, a mix of New Living Translation and how Christ is referring to himself).

By Benjamin H. Liles

Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you" (Romans 2:21-24, New Living Translation).

By Benjamin H. Liles

For the better part of this month I have been working on an idea I have had to help those of us who follow Christ to maintain their walk with Jesus as well as to help build faith. I'm not fully ready to divulge more, yet, but keep waiting as I will share more in days and weeks to come. With that said, I want to look at what Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:19-21: "Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But store your [for yourselves] treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your treasure is."

By Benjamin H. Liles

Every parent considers ways of teaching their children. Should they allow the public school system? Maybe some consider private school. Others go with a more nontraditional route: home-schooling. With the rise of threats being made to children in the school system, parents have more ways of thinking of how to give their children the best education available. Dr. Kevin Leman provides that way in his book Education a la Carte.

By Benjamin Liles

In this world, we need to learn to listen to people more than we talk. The importance of this is so that not only do relationships flourish, but also that others feel heard and in some way are validated. Becky Harling does a phenomenal job with her book How to Listen so People will Talk. In her thirty some odd years as a certified speaker and coach, she has learned how to draw people out so they feel comfortable enough to talk.

The best paraphrase I can think of is

"A joyful heart offers healing."

By Benjamin H. Liles

This morning I want to do something hugely different. While over the past year I have focused primarily on the gospel of Jesus Christ, today I want to look at something a lot of people claim Christians are not. Joy. How many of us go around looking like we have just eaten something akin to a pickle? You know, that sour look on the face that leaves your mouth puckered and somewhat unable to talk all that well? I made you laugh? Sorry. Can't say it may not happen again.

By Benjamin H. Liles

Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27, Holman Christian Standard).

By Benjamin Liles

Mark Hitchcock writes with great ease and candor about Bible Prophecy, especially as it concerns what's going on in the Middle East and her biggest support--Russia. I had the great privilege to review this book on behalf of Tyndale in exchange for my honest feedback. And that's exactly what you'll get with what I'm about to say. Before I even dove in to reading this book, I have been going over the things Ezekiel was given charge by God to tell the people of Israel up to Chapter 13 so far. I have yet to fully get to Ezekiel 38 and 39 in terms of what's being said.

By Benjamin H. Liles

"Let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; yes, let them rejoice with gladness. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. The singers went on, the musicians after them, in the midst of the maidens beating tambourines. O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God! ~ Psalm 68:3-4, 19, 24-25, 35, New American Standard

By Benjamin H. Liles

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’” Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ~ Ezekiel 13:1-23, New King James

By, Benjamin H. Liles

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. ~ Isaiah 26:3, NKJV

By Benjamin H. Liles

Whole, by Steve Wiens, is an interesting book by far. I have been able to review it and from what I read I truly liked a great deal. The way he writes is reminiscent of Max Lucado, to a degree. Steve Wiens takes certain stories from scripture and embellishes them a little. Bit he does it to draw us a picture. He does it with a gentle grace to get to the point he's trying to make.

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