New devotional from Kimberley Payne

                                       

Still Learning: Reflections from the Life of a Believer

Meeting Faith Devotional Series, book 5

Kimberley Payne
Self-improvement
Inspirational Living
April 27, 2024, 240 pp

$5.99 ebook

$12.99 Print
Buy on Amazon

About the Book

Do you want wisdom and encouragement in your spiritual journey? Discover these devotions that can bring you into a deeper understanding of living the Christian life.

Are you looking to deepen your understanding of the Bible? Do you have specific theological questions? Are you looking for encouragement and a boost in your faith? Kimberley Payne is a down-to-earth writer who is passionate and curious and offers a refreshing perspective to enhance your spiritual growth and devotion.

Still Learning is a collection of 100 devotions with questions about salvation, grace, suffering, and the very essence of God's nature, presented through the lens of everyday encounters and heartfelt contemplations. By reading these reflections you’ll be feeling encouraged and strengthened in your faith.

In Still Learning you’ll discover:

Theological questions in the Bible through the unique lens of a non-theologian

Personal insights, real-life experiences, and profound reflections with scriptural inquiry

Reminders of teachings from the Bible without being preachy

An accessible exploration of the Bible's theological questions

A diverse array of topics

Still Learning is an authentic and inspirational devotional that will resonate with both seasoned believers and those on the quest for spiritual understanding.

If you like stories that celebrate the beauty of faith and inquiry, then you’ll love this book as a supplement to theological studies.

My Review
In her new book, Payne sets out to expound with sincere simple kindness many of the questions and sometimes their answers regarding what makes the Bible so fascinating.

Often using examples of three, easy to remember, the author begins by sharing why and how to read the Bible, why it’s trustworthy, and why the Old and New Testaments work together.

Along the way the author uses examples from her own family about teaching and living the doubts we all have about faith, God, morality, and history. Why should we follow any of the Biblical “rules” if they no longer make sense? This is the topic of the segment “Should We Follow All the Laws in the Bible Today?”

Payne, a prolific author, shares in these lovely essays examples of how and life are deeply woven, no matter what you believe. The joy of finding lost ones; what about baptism, prayer—to whom, when, keeping a journal, what to do with your doubts, and even how to know if you’ve committed the unforgiveable sin of blasphemy. I appreciate the author’s candidness, the ways she shares how she came to understand what she believes, and even the learning curve. For example, learning about prophetic utterances had some unintended consequences. Payne took the time to learn more about her experience with a pastor she trusted, and realized there were better ways to share messages in faith.

Still Learning sets out to do what it promises: celebrate the beauty of faith and inquiry. Most topics include scriptural references, but are not set up in traditional devotional ways. Most of these 100 topics are a couple of pages long and easy to read and ponder. Recommended for inspirational readers teen and up who enjoy exploring matters of Christianity.

About the Author
Kimberley Payne is a Jesus follower, Oma, and an eclectic author. She combines her teaching experience and love of writing to create books for parents and children about family, fitness, science, and faith. Her books and teachings help you boost your belief, face difficult challenges, and draw closer to God. https://www.kimberleypayne.com

Guest Alexis Goring Devotional on God's Family

God’s Family: A Forever Place to Belong

A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

We all want to belong. 

Sororities and fraternities are a big deal for college students in the United States of America. There’s a whole, grueling, sometimes embarrassing process that young men and women go through just to belong to one.

People go to great lengths and do all sorts of things (good and bad) just to get in because they want to belong to a support system that’s like family consisting of their peers.

But what they fail to realize is that they are already invited to be part of God’s Family where they truly belong and are loved unconditionally.

Best of all, God’s Family is for life not only on this Earth but forever.

Beth Moore, a famous Bible teacher and writer, said something in her book Breaking Free that resonates with me. She wrote,

“God is not only the answer to a thousand needs, He is the answer to a thousand wants. He is the fulfillment of our chief desire in all of life. For whether or not we’ve ever recognized it, what we desire is unfailing love.”

Unfailing love can only come from the heart of God. Not sororities. Not fraternities. Not gangs. Not high school cliques. Not memberships to prestigious organizations. Only God.

I love the song “Your Love Never Fails” by Jesus Culture. It’s about how God’s love never fails or gives up on us. He is our Creator, Lord, Savior, Redeemer and truest Best Friend. He loves us with all of His divine heart and He wants us to love Him too. But He will never make us love Him because He wants us to love Him out of the free will that He gave us, not because we’re scared of going to hell or have ulterior motives about making it into Heaven.

God is love. He embodies the word and His love for His creation is present in nature all around this world! He is our Heavenly Father and when we accept His Son Jesus Christ into our lives, we become a permanent part of His forever family!

The best part is that we don’t have to do anything drastic to belong to God’s Family. We just have to trust Him, believe in Him and accept the free gift of salvation that He offers humankind through His Son Jesus Christ. According to John 1:12 (ESV), this is how we become part of God’s family after we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

It’s simple. No strings attached. Only hope eternal knowing that when our life here on Earth ends that we have the promise of spending eternity with Him when Jesus Christ returns to Earth again to take His faithful followers to Heaven.

God’s Family is global. When you join His forever family, you gain brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world. Just think how grand our big, diverse family reunion with our brothers and sisters in Christ, will be when we make it to Heaven!

Belonging to God’s Family is something we should all seek before seeking acceptance from any social or prestigious organization here on Earth. Remember, your worth does not come from what your fellow man thinks of you. Your worth comes from God! Focus on what He says about you. Believe what He knows is true about you. Let Him be your mirror. Listen to His Truth. Don’t allow what mankind says to define you, good or bad. Let your sense of self ... your core identity ... come from God! He thinks you’re amazing because He made you. As one of His children, you are loved!

Yes, I know that as mortals, even when we have the Creator of the Universe lavishing His divine love upon us, we still may want to seek acceptance from sororities, fraternities or other prestigious organizations that are safe (gangs and cliques are NOT safe). I’m not saying to not seek after those things. I’m just saying to keep God as your primary focus and seek Him first. Find out what He wants you to do and ask Him for wisdom to make good decisions that will help you, not hurt you. Also, as you journey through life, remember who you are (your identity as a follower of Jesus Christ) and whose you are (you belong to God) and refuse to let the opinions of people deter you from remaining a part of God’s Family.

In closing, I’d like to share a prayer from Beth Moore about unfailing love that is from her book, Breaking Free. She wrote, 

“Oh, God, awake our souls to see—You are what we want, not just what we need. Yes, our life’s protection, but also our heart’s affection. Yes, our soul’s salvation, but also our heart’s exhilaration. Unfailing love. A love that will not let me go!”

God’s Love for you will never let you go. Stay close to Him and allow Him to direct your destiny. Remember, you are loved and part of His family!

Author Bio: Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.

Visit her blog at:

http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com/

This post originally appeared at Whispers in Purple in May, 2019.

Used with permission.

Photo: swans, courtesy of Morguefile, a free sharing site.

Guest post Alexis A Goring Thankful for God's Protection

Thankful

I thought of Psalm 91:11 (a verse in The Holy Bible) earlier this afternoon, when I saw what is becoming a familiar sight at one of my favorite town centers. 

When I drove into the town center earlier today, I saw for the second time this year, a squad of men and women dressed like secret service agents (people with “serious” no-nonsense looks on their faces who are dressed in Black slacks, Black blazers, white shirts, shiny black shoes and wearing ear pieces to communicate with each other). Just like the first time I saw them, they descended on the town center and set themselves up on the four corners surrounding the area in which a cupcake shop is central. They had the entire area covered. Each guarded a checkpoint. Each person looked serious as they surveyed their surroundings and if they had a weapon, it was concealed. 

I do not know who these secret service agents were guarding but I think the person may be a high-profile politician or government employee given the area that the town center is located. It’s only a few miles away from important places where people in power gather for business and work-related matters.

It’s the second time this year that I’ve seen this happen. But today was the first time that my mind drew a parallel and life lesson from this scenario.

Ready to hear it?

Here it is: After today, I realized that just like those secret service agents guarded every corner of the area where their Very Important Person (VIP) was visiting, staying vigilant and ready to defend the VIP if needed, God sends His Angels from Heaven to guard us every single day, in every way!

The Bible says in, Psalm 91:11, “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.”

According to Belief Net (website), “This translates literally to mean that God will instruct His angels to watch over individuals. God will give each of His angels a purpose: to guard His children. Those who are faithful will be under the constant care of His angels.”

It’s comforting to know that God’s Angels are always watching over you and me, guarding us and delivering us from evil. They are stronger and smarter than the world’s best-trained secret service agents and unlike mere mortals like you and me, they will NEVER fail an assignment to cover us. They cannot be killed and they are very skilled at doing God’s will.

The Bible also says in Psalm 34:7, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”

According to Belief Net (website), “The angel of the Lord can mean any one of God’s angels. In this passage, it is noted that God would send His angels down to His true loyal children and rescue them from danger. His angels will lift us up and keep us from harm if we choose to trust in Him.”

Situations in life can be scary but you don’t need to be a VIP to be covered by God’s protection. God has promised to be with you wherever you go. He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He’s holding you close in His Hand (Isaiah 41:13) and taking care of you from the moment He wakes you up in the morning (believe it or not, it’s not our alarm clock that wakes us up) to the moment you go to sleep for the night then His angels are on guard as you sleep! 

God’s protection over all of His children here on Earth is a 24/7/365 operation. He has unlimited resources to help us and deliver us from evil. All we need to do is trust Him to take care of us and obey Him. Remember, there are consequences to our sinful actions but God is merciful. He’s ready to forgive you of your sins if you ask Him. But then He expects you to turn away from your sins and seek Him. Life can be messy but God is with you in your mess. He will never give up on you! I’ve heard stories of how He’s protected people in the middle of their mess and rescued them from dangerous situations.

Point is: If you believe in God, you’ve already got a protection squad in the form of His Heavenly Angels. You may not be able to see them but they are always with you. God’s Angels are here to help us make it through our journey here on Earth. Hebrews 1:4 (KJV) says, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” 

So next time you’re in a situation that scares you, ask God to send His protection. Pray for His protection even when you cannot sense danger or think that everything is okay. Remember, God sees what we cannot see and He protects us more than we may think! So don’t only ask God for protection, thank Him for it!

Trust and believe that your Creator (GOD) loves you. He is there for you, sending His Angels to protect you and guard you in all your ways. Best of all, you don’t need an ear piece to communicate with God, He’s only a prayer away and He knows what you need even before you pray! 

Perhaps God’s Protection can be summed up in the words of Isaiah 65:24 (KJV) in which He says, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

Isn’t God Awesome?

In closing, I’d like to share this song, “Angels Watching Over Me” by Virtue. You can listen it to here. God bless you, dear hearts! 

Always remember that you are loved and protected by your Maker (God)!

Love,

Alexis A. Goring

Founder of "God is Love" blog

This post originally appeared on God is Love.

Used with permission.

Photo: courtesy of Lisa Lickel, Hawaii rainbow, March 2019

Guest Alexis A Goring shares Silver Platter Faith

Here we are with another Faithful Friday offering from returning guest Alexis A. Goring. 

Silver Platter Faith

A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. 

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

~ Romans 5:1-5 [NIV]

Ever since I was a youth, I’d prayed to God to give me an unshakable faith in Him that withstands the test of time. When trials and tragedies entered my life, they shook me. But as I aged, I realized that when I asked God for an unshakable faith in Him, He wasn’t going to hand it to me on a silver platter. He had to immerse me into situations that would not only test my faith in Him but refine my faith and make it solid as gold.

As the Master Teacher, God knew that He would have to put me in situations that tested my faith in order to produce perseverance and result in that deeply anchored, unshakable faith that I crave.

As Romans 5:3 [NIV] states, “suffering produces perseverance.” Sometimes, God needs us to suffer so that we learn how to persevere and hold on to Him. He doesn’t send the storms into our lives to destroy us; He sends tough times to strengthen us! He wants us to have a faith deeply rooted in Him and the only way to get that is to go through things. If our life was always easy or as they say “peaches and cream,” we wouldn’t have faith in God. We may even be led astray thinking that we don’t need Him, which is not true because, without Him, we would be lost and never make it to Heaven.

There’s a song, “The Anchor Holds” and the lyrics speak to the message that I’m trying to convey. Here’s my paraphrase of the song, “The Anchor Holds” as performed by Christian recording artist Ray Boltz: Life’s journey can take you through dark nights, making you feel like you’re fighting for your life alone while trying not to drown in the open sea. But through it all, God’s eyes are watching you and yet the anchor holds! Though your body is battered, though the sails that help you move through life are torn, though you’re in the midst of a raging sea, despite the storm your faith in God is anchored deeper than the ocean and you will survive the storms of life because your faith is rooted in Him and He has the power to speak “Peace Be Still” and calm the waves around you. But if He chooses to take you through the storm and not lessen the magnitude of it all, know that you will stay safe as long as you stay in faith with Him.

The song also talks about one’s perspective when they’re young in their faith and compares their youthful viewpoint to their viewpoint when they’re older and more seasoned by life. As a person matures in their faith walk with God, they see that God uses the storms of life to prove His love for you! It is in tough times that we rely on God the most and in those moments, we see how good He is and we learn that no matter what happens, He is in control. We also find it to be true that there’s nothing we can do to make Him love us less and there’s nothing we can do to make Him love us more because He is our Heavenly Father and He loves us just because we are His creation.

The love of God is a kind, gentle and passionate force that will change you from the moment you experience it and radiate through you for as long as you cultivate your relationship with God. As God’s love radiates through you, it will draw people who need Him to you and before you know it, God is using you to change the world for the better with His love.

Beautiful, isn’t it?

I hope that you are encouraged to stay strong in Jesus Christ and that you too will ask God to give you a faith that’s deeply rooted and withstands the test of time. Trust me, as time moves on and this sin-ridden world gets worse, a faith that’s deeply anchored in God is exactly what you need to survive!

God bless you.

 Love, 

Alexis...

Alexis A. Goring is a college graduate with a degree in print journalism from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. Writing is her passion. She hopes that her stories will touch hearts, bring smiles to faces, and inspire minds to seek God whose love for humanity is unfailing.

 

This post was originally published on Whispers in Purple blog, April, 2019.
Used with permission.

Life is a Highway with Tracy Krauss

Life Is a Highway 

Tracy Krauss

$2.99 eBook

$5.98 Print
ISBN-13: 9781491223741

Buy on Amazon 

c. 2014

About the Book:

Life is full of surprises and there are many unexpected twists along the way. Hope and guidance are within reach when you let God be your tour guide. Using Biblical examples sprinkled with personal anecdotes. This little book offers sound advice and is sure to lift your spirits. Based on a series of talks given at a Christian women's retreat, it can be used as a study manual for small groups or as a personal devotional.

My Review:

Connecting with other people of faith is important for encouragement and sharing life lessons and experiences. Krauss’s book is like a virtual visit with this uplifting author. The chapters vary a bit in length, but each is a deeply personal and honest reflection on one Christian’s faith walk. Scripture comes alive to me when I see it interpreted through the eyes and practice of others, role models, so to speak. Krauss shares honestly where she came from as a youth, how she gave her life to Christ, and the continued sometimes difficult but joyful walk as a wife and mother and daughter of the king.

The personal reflection questions are great, intentional, and made me think about how I want to be seen as a person of faith to my neighbors and what practicing m faith really means to me. It’s a short book but shouldn’t be read all in one gulp. I’ll be going back to it.

About the Author: Tracy Krauss is a multi-published author and playwright living in northern BC, Canada. For more, visit her website: http://www.tracykrauss.com

Anita Estes and her forty day devotional When God Speaks

When God Speaks--Forty Days and Nights of His Promises 

by Anita Estes

Anita shares:

          The inspiration for  When God Speaks grew out of my desire to connect women to the powerful promises of God. Told through my own stories and life experiences, my hope is to show others how God's promises can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

          Each of the forty days start with a vital promise from God's word that encourages, challenges and lifts your spirit. The stories illustrate the working out of the biblical promise in real life circumstances. This is followed by a short, powerful  prayer, application question and night time reflection that puts you in the position to hear God's gentle voice.

          I hope that readers will be inspired by this book to hold onto the promises of God in turbulent times, learn to apply God's Word to their everyday life and how to hear from God. I want to bring to others the message of God's faithfulness to us even in the darkest of times!

Some of the topics covered are: Divine Guidance, True Identity, Resurrection Life, Hope, Victory, Peace and Joy, Healing, Empowering Love, Freedom from Fear, Freedom from Condemnation, Forgiveness, Answers to Prayer and Contentment.

        

I invite you to embark on this exciting 40-day journey, and partner with God in standing on His promises. May your faith be strengthened through His mercy, authority, favor and grace; and may your spirit be uplifted. It is available at Amazon and  on my blog New Life Dialogue.

Intro:

Sitting in my living room on a sunny March day, I was praying and asking God to show me what to do with my writing. I thought about putting together a collection of devotions and articles. I wondered, “But what could I call it, and what would be its theme? What significance would it have for readers?”

Immediately the name When God Speaks came to mind. I recalled a book that I had read many years ago when I first became a Christian, which was written by two women who recorded what God spoke to them each day. Over the last two years, I have been writing a collection of devotions I believe God has spoken into my life through His Word—The Bible. I want to share forty of these with you. Thus the subtitle: Forty Days and Nights of Promises.

Read an Excerpt

And we know all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

          "In the midst of trials it might be difficult to believe this promise is true. We ask, “Are sickness, death, broken relationships, and catastrophes good?” No, this verse does not say all things are good, for there is indeed the presence of evil. It says that God works things together for good.

          Bad things happen to everyone, both the just and the unjust. God never intended to shield His followers from suffering. Just look at the lives of the apostles and early Christians. Many suffered terrible tortures and were martyred. Yet God worked good from bad. The Bible says they will rule over dominions from thrones in heavenly places!"

Here's one of the Night Time Reflections: 

Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 NIV

          "Christ living within us? It’s astounding to think, but the Word of God promises it is true. What hope this produces for the spirit. Yet, it gets better than just living with the hope of life here and in eternity. It is a hope of glory—magnificence, splendor, and wonder beyond our imagination. We shall behold the glory of God. Moses only glimpsed God’s back for a few moments and the prophet glowed for days. We will live in His glory. Now that is hope beyond compare!"

What's Up Next? 

I have a supernatural, mystery novel to be released this January, The Dividing Stone, which chronicles the tale of a young girl, Margo Pierson, who stumbles upon  a tattered letter that catapults her into a world of diabolical evil,  secret societies and powerful prayer!

Wow, sounds exciting, Anita. Thanks for visiting today and sharing about your work. We'll look forward to learning more about your novel.  ~Lisa

Book review: Am I Okay, God with Lorilyn Roberts

Best-selling author, Lorilyn Roberts, and her new winner!

 

Am I Okay, God?

Lorilyn Roberts

Kindle: 2.99

 

 

Devotional accompaniment to the Seventh Dimension: The Door

ASIN: B00FTP5G82

 

My review:

I knew Roberts’s The Seventh Dimension: The Door was a terrific story; an allegory that I thoroughly enjoyed, even though it’s targeted to young adult readers. It’s no stretch, then, to see how this lovingly thought-out devotional adds even more depth and meaning to The Door. Each of the twenty-six devotionals deals with an aspect of life we all know, from being bullied, to holding secrets you think no one else shares, to forgiveness and seeing God for who he really is. The individual chapters features a passage from The Door, some long and some just a sentence, which shows how the theme is played out in Roberts’s allegorical world. The author then shares an episode from her life or from another person or book in a brief essay that ties into the theme. Lovingly crafted prayers follow.

The most unique aspect of the devotional is the QR codes (and website links for those of us without smart phones) that take the reader to a YouTube video or song that illustrates the devotional. I appreciated the work that went into preparing this, and learned about a few artists I was unfamiliar with.

Am I Okay, God is a wonderful partner to your faith. Recommended for any junior high and up-aged loved one; younger if more mature. Makes a fantastic godparent/sponsor gift, too!

Forty Days of Encouragement, with Pauline Creeden

Found Adrift

By Pauline Creeden 

Forty days of Recovering Grace

Devotional

 

AltWit Press

C. 2012 

ISBN: 978-1480030725

$2.99 Kindle

$8.99 Paperback

Creeden’s dedication, “For those who, like me, find themselves in the middle of the lake of life without a paddle” says a lot about what to expect in this nifty little guide of forty days’ worth of lessons to change a habit of poor choices.

From the opening lesson of choosing to draw near to God through better prayer through cutting off “unfruitful” aspects of our lives, to doing what we are commanded to being teachable and seeking forgiveness and grace when we need it, each day opens with Scripture and ends with prayer – a habit in itself easy to seek.

This encouraging guide may be small but packs a huge impressive punch. You will certainly be uplifted and challenged as you read through these days and practice each lesson. Definitely a good gift to share with someone you love.