Freedom to Open the Door
Revelation 3:19-20 GW I correct and discipline everyone I love. Take
this seriously, and change the way you think and act. Look, I'm
standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and
opens the door, I'll come in and we'll eat together.

We have a choice, do life God's way to find joy, fulfillment and
blessing or shut the door on Christ and find hopelessness,
disappointment and despair. Are we wiiling to open the door and let
Jesus in not just as a guest, but as the center of our hearts, our
homes and our lives? Love or loss. The choice is yours and mine to
make--because God gives us that freedom.


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
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First Love
Revelation 2: 4-5 GW However, I have this against you: The love you
had at first is gone. Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me
and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I
will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don't
change.

God wrote to the churches of Revelation. Each had positives and
negatives in their fath walks, but this is one so easy to fall into.
When Jesus saves us we're grateful and excited to share. But time
passes. We get busy and let our close relationship to Jesus become
"religious" duty. We haven't cultivated our relationship and our
hearts grow cold and dead. It is a situation that will not last. This
passage makes clear, Jesus desires a close relationship. He desires to
bless. But that takes remembering Him, allowing Him access to every
area of our lives including our minds, hearts...and schedule. Do I
daily walk and talk with my Savior? Do listen I when He speaks?


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
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Willing to Share?
Revelation 1:2 GW John testified about what he saw: God's word and the
testimony about Jesus Christ.

John saw some pretty incredible things. Many of us would be afraid to
tell others what we saw or experienced for fear of being termed a
little goofy. John didn't have that problem. What God revealed He
shared. Am I willing to share the message God has given me--about His
sacrifice, salvation and His love? Or am I afraid of ridicule?


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
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Realization of Need
Jude 1:21 GW Remain in God's love as you look for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life.

Salvation, God's mercy and saving grace, doesn't go to the highest
bidder. It can't be bought with deals, prayer, church attendance or
good works.

We're saved by God's mercy alone. Jesus died and rose to offer us
life. Do we have the courage and realization of our need to accept?


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews

Success
III John 1:4 GW Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children
are living according to the truth.

What makes me happier--when my children are financially successful or
when I see spiritual fruit? What does this say about my priorities,
faith and values? Does my life, words and choices lead those I love to
value their spiritual heritage more than the striving for "things?"


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews

Real or Phoney
Exodus 33:35 GW they would see that Moses' face was shining. Then
Moses would put the veil back on until he went in again to speak with
the LORD.

Do I spend so much time with Jesus that it shows? Am I different
because I spend time with Him? Do I take time with God seriously to do
so? Do I believe enough to let Jesus into my heart, thought and
choices? Can others tell I've been with Jesus? If not, why not? Am I a
real or phoney believer?


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews

How to Follow
I John 5:3 GW To love God means that we obey his commandments. Obeying
his commandments isn't difficult

Obeying God's commands doesn't "save" us. Following God's principles,
however, is an outgrowth or natural consequence of committing our
lives to Christ and allowing Him to be master of our thoughts, words,
choices, ie, our lives. Without Christ, our attempts to be or do good,
without any but a "helping" motive, will fail unless His love flows in
and through us. Christ gives the ability to love others and follow
Him. Life and love both now and for eternity are found in only
One--Jesus Christ. Only by Him following Him can we keep His commands.

V. 11-12 GW This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and
this life is found in his Son. The person who has the Son has this
life. The person who doesn't have the Son of God doesn't have this
life.


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
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Simple Truth
I John 4:3 GW But every person who doesn't declare that Jesus Christ
has come as a human has a spirit that isn't from God. This is the
spirit of the antichrist that you have heard is coming. That spirit is
already in the world.

There are those who refuse to believe the Bible means what it says,
especially regarding Jesus life, death and resurrection. These are key
to the salvation message of good news. Yet some try to "spiritualize"
what Jesus did, dumbing down/twisting the truth. Scriptures is clear.
Jesus did come, God in human form, who willingly gave up His life for
you and I. Then He conquered death and hell as well. Believing less is
heresy and leads to death, not life.

Do I live like He died for me?

V. 14-15 GW We have seen and testify to the fact that the Father sent
his Son as the Savior of the world. God lives in those who declare
that Jesus is the Son of God, and they live in God.



--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
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Slavery to Whom?
I John 3:1 GW Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He
loves us so much that we are actually called God's dear children. And
that's what we are. For this reason the world doesn't recognize us,
and it didn't recognize him either.

Without God we are slaves to our
own ideas, rationalizations and choices. We are under the domination
of darkness, evil and death. Satan holds rights to our minds and
hearts. But Jesus died, gave His life to pay the price for our
freedom. This was no small thing. We stand between darkness and light.
While we might not like slave imagery today, we will serve somebody.
Will we chose slavery to sin, thinking we're doing life "our way," or
will we find that true freedom starts by choosing slavery and service
to Christ? Jesus loves us. Which master makes the most sense?

V. 7-8 GW Dear children, don't let anyone deceive you. Whoever does
what God approves of has God's approval as Christ has God's approval.
The person who lives a sinful life belongs to the devil,...


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
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Claims vs Choices
I John 2:4-5 GW The person who says, "I know him," but doesn't obey
his commandments is a liar. The truth isn't in that person. But
whoever obeys what Christ says is the kind of person in whom God's
love is perfected. That's how we know we are in Christ.

Doing good doesn't save us. We cannot save ourselves by our actions.
Salvation comes from accepting that Jesus died on the cross for our
sins, asking Him to take control of our lives and living for Him.

But we cannot separate belief from behavior. How we act and words we
use is a truer reflection of what we believe than faith "claims"
without evidence of those claims in our lives. Our actions do not save
us, but they do reveal whether our faith in Christ is genuine.

If I live a life that deliberately contrasts with God's principles,
how can I claim to follow Christ?


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews

The Reality of Evil
I John 1:5-7 GW This is the message we heard from Christ and are
reporting to you: God is light, and there isn't any darkness in him.
If we say, "We have a relationship with God" and yet live in the
dark, we're lying. We aren't being truthful.
But if we live in the light in the same way that God is in the
light, we have a relationship with each other. And the blood of his
Son Jesus cleanses us from every sin.

There is light and there is darkness. There is good and there is evil.
Both exist. To dismiss evil as not real is also to dismiss good.
Dismissing the reality of evil is life lived in unreality and leads to
devastating personal and national decisions.

Where wrong, darkness and evil exist, we must fight it, and seek to
stop it, not comprise with it. God wants us to live in the light, a
light made clear in His Word and in a life dedicated to serving Him.

Where do I rationalize with evil? Where do I compromise?

Help shine the clear light of your grace, Lord. Amen.


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
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The World Will End
II Peter 2:10,15 GW
The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will
pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe
will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have
done on it will be exposed. ...Think of our Lord's patience as an
opportunity for us to be saved....

The Lord has been and is patient with those He created. He desires we
come to Him, follow Him, have a personal relationship with Him. But
there is an end. At some point, God allows individuals, families,
nations and the world itself to suffer the consequences of turning
away from Him. And, one day, our world itself, will end. Our choices
have consequences for ourselves, our families, nation and they are
choices for all eternity.

Knowing my choices have long-term consequences for myself and others,
what legacy do I wish to leave--one of faith or rebellion? One of
service or selfishness? My choice.

V. 18 GW But grow in the good will and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to him now and for that eternal
day! Amen.


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
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Willing to Live for Christ?
II Peter 1:16 GW When we apostles told you about the powerful coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ, we didn't base our message on clever myths
that we made up. Rather, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes.

Some say the Bible is a book of made up fairy tales. Yet these early
followers died, many in horrible ways, for their message. They'd
walked with Jesus. They witnessed, first hand, what occurred. They
believed because they saw. They died for truth.

Am I willing to live for Christ, willing pass on His message of
forgiveness and hope, that others, too, might know Him?


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews

Rumors
Exodus 23:1-2a GW The LORD continued, "Never spread false rumors.
Don't join forces with wicked people by giving false testimony. Never
follow a crowd in doing wrong..."

Gossip. Spreading information you have heard, but haven't checked out
or really know to be true. Filling your mind with political put downs
and character assassinations. These things do not lead to good or
positive outcomes whether derived from a chat or interactions with
friends, entertainment shows or news, or from other sources. God calls
us to a higher standard of being careful both what goes into our minds
and what comes out of our mouths. It's called following God's
principles in the matter of accountability.

Do I?


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews

Accountability?
Exodus 23:1-2a GW The LORD continued, "Never spread false rumors.
Don't join forces with wicked people by giving false testimony. Never
follow a crowd in doing wrong..."

Gossip. Spreading information you have heard, but haven't checked out
or really know to be true. Filling your mind with political put downs
and character assassinations. These things do not lead to good or
positive outcomes whether derived from a chat or interactions with
friends, entertainment shows or news, or from other sources. God calls
us to a higher standard of being careful both what goes into our minds
and what comes out of our mouths. It's called following God's
principles in the matter of accountability.

Do I?


--
CAROLYN R. SCHEIDIES
History, Mystery, Romance...and Hope!
I DEAL IN HOPE
http://IDealinHope.com
***
AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS
http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews