Friday, January 24, 2014

Another Book I Recommend

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Of course, the Bible is the first, best, most wonderful book of all that I recommend everyone read, but this one is the second this week that I would suggest. It, too, is available from Amazon, and I think is under $5.00. I’ve bought it and “Return From Tomorrow” that I wrote about Tuesday as gifts as well.

I do have a bone to pick with Susanna Aughtmon because of her target audience – tired supergirls. Too confining. What she covers in her humorous writings is valid for all – or am I the only one that has gone on a guilt trip thinking of God as being aware of my errors, and ready to pass judgment:
We know this is how life works. … We sin big? We get punished big. … for every wrong action there is an even greater smackdown coming, since you knew better in the first place and what on earth were you thinking anyway?
She gives a lot of credit for this excessive guilt to the Liar. You’ve met him:

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44 KJV)

He began his lies before the throne of God, started on mankind with Eve, stood before Jesus with specific lies using God’s word and continues to:
… layer our hearts with the belief that God is unforgiving and harsh and vengeful, so he brings to mind all the punishments that we deserve.
Oh, we know we deserve punishment, that sin has a price. God told us:

For the wages of sin is death;

And, we find that much easier to believe than the rest of that verse:

but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)

The Liar using a tiny part of truth, then spins it (and us) so we don’t see the perfect judgment of God is balanced by His mercy and His grace. We accept the judgmental first part (and often apply it to the lives of others!) without the gift filled with love, offering peace with God. We look for the God who would break us, neglecting to see that He heals. All of this in just the first chapter of her book.

Never forget - God loves us:

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)

Enough to die for us:

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5 KJV)

Then, we get to the really good stuff:

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6 KJV)

Let Jesus’ words be all we need before the Liar:

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:10 KJV)

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