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Thursday, February 27, 2020

NEW RELEASE by Award-Winning Author JIM BATON




In the HOPE Trilogy, teenagers Kelsey and Harmonie solve mysteries, fight for justice, experience the supernatural, and find their place in God’s destiny for their town of Hope, Colorado.
Purchase at Amazon: Hope is a Dangerous Place
For iBooks: click here and Nook: click here
Also available on Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, etc. here
From the back cover of the book:
Seventy-five years ago, fifteen-year-old Hope McCormick disappeared. To remember her, the newly incorporated town was named “Hope.” 
When high school friends Kelsey and Harmonie begin looking into this unsolved mystery, they discover that someone will do anything to make sure the town’s secrets never come to light. 
Which neighbors are allies, and which face masks a violent enemy? And what will it take for their struggling town to fulfill its original destiny of hope?
The Hope Trilogy is written for those who are hungry for God’s revival and transformation of their communities. Learn more at www.jimbaton.com.
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“All over the world, radical lovers of God are rising up to reform their communities. We’re about to see entire cities and nations experience supernatural kingdom transformation. Jim Baton’s HOPE Trilogy captures in riveting narrative what it could look like.”
-Johnny Enlow, founder of RISE, author of The Seven Mountain Renaissance: Vision and Strategy through 2050 and Rainbow God: The Seven Colors of Love 

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Praise and Worship with Val Edwards

Heavenly Vitamins


Heavenly Vitamins by Val Edwards
Edwards Family Publishing, September 2019
75 pp
$5.99 Ebook
$12.00 paperback

Buy on Amazon  US

About the Book
Jesus is our Living Word encouraging us by His Holy Spirit with His Words of LIFE. So here are new songs of affirmation and declaration for equipping us all to be saints in Light. Restorative Spiritual Songs are direct from the Word. They will be tonic with good medicine for the spirit, body, mind and soul that give voice to our Heavenly Father’s Love and Care for us all. An alphabet of simple songs will help us meditate on and remember Our Heavenly Father’s Word with Flowing Grace. Singing them out will cause these truths to positively dwell deep in our hearts and spirits. Offerings of Praise and Thanks to God can be heartily sung round. We may swim, march, dance, prayer walk or simply be, as we sing them heartily. They will do us good and build us up as we sing out and give voice to these Heavenly Vitamins, and share them with each other too.

Lisa's review:
This precious book is an intimate look at a relationship among soulmates; between heaven and earth. Filled with loving photographs taken by the author and songs of devotion, Heavenly Vitamins is an alphabet of interactive praise meant to fortify and build up the reader. For the musically inclined, songs are set up in formatted notes, accompanied by Scripture and lovely images. Simple tunes, such as “Praise shall continually be in my mouth, Psalm thirty-four verse one” both offer our adoration and help us memorize verses. Images of creation in seasons, fruit, blossom, wildlife, sunsets, all meld into hallelujah.

Those who enjoy music and photos in a peanut-size coffee table book will love Heavenly Vitamins.

About the Author:
The late Val Edwards of Britain’s South Coast had a degree in molecular sciences. She and her husband Jim have four children and a grandchild.

Saturday, February 8, 2020

The Dangers of Making Assumptions


   by Pearl Nsiah-Kumi 

An assumption is defined as the acceptance that something is true, or is certain to happen, without proof. Needless to say, it’s risky when we assume and present false information as truth, based on what we think or feel. We need to be certain about the information we choose to believe and share, by first verifying our facts, and then being patient–not rushing to accuse, judge, or condemn people.

What is at risk if our assumptions turn out to be wrong? When we make assumptions, we falsely accuse others, which can destroy their reputations, even if only temporarily, jeopardizing our own in the process. In fact, if what we say turns out to be false, whatever we say in the future could be taken with a grain of salt.  

Click to Tweet: So, before we jump to conclusions and accuse others, let’s research our facts and have proof, and even then be very unhurried to speak.

The Bible teaches this lesson in the story of Job, who was described this way: “blameless, a man of complete integrity, feared God, and stayed away from evil” (see Job 1:1). 

If you are familiar with this story, you’ll remember that the devil was permitted to bring misfortune into Job’s life, to prove Job’s loyalty to God. He lost his ten children, property, and health; and, needless to say, he was heart-broken and in anguish. He tried to figure out why God would cause him such distress. As far as he knew, he had done nothing wrong to warrant that kind of punishment. Even his wife did not console him. She said to him: “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 2:9 NLT). Wow!



Job’s three friends, who knew nothing about the conversation that took place between God and the devil prior to Job’s troubles, chided him (see Job 4:3-6), and then jumped to conclude that Job’s suffering was the result of sin in his life. “Stop and think!” Eliphaz, the first friend, said, “Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed? My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same. A breath of God destroys them” (Job 4:7-9 NLT). Sadly, his conclusion was partially based on his personal experience. If we are honest, we’ll admit that we all do occasionally jump to conclusions about issues we know nothing, or very little, about. God help us.

Job’s second friend Bildad’s assessment of the situation was this: “Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved. But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home” (Job 8:4-6 NLT). “WELL DESERVED.” Really? Talk about jumping to conclusions. 

As Bildad continued to ramble on, he said, “The hopes of the godless evaporate. Their confidence hangs by a thread. … The godless seem like a lush plant growing in the sunshine, its branches spreading across the garden… But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked” (Job 8:13-20 NLT). Unbelievable. This was like adding insult to injury.

Zophar, friend number three, finally chimed in. “Listen. God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!” Then he adds, “Get rid of your sins and leave all iniquity behind you. Then your face will brighten with innocence” (Job 11:6 and 14 NLT). Such boldness.

Elihu, another character, younger than Job and his three friends, finally responded. He rebuked all four men. He was angry with Job for insisting he was innocent, instead of admitting wrongdoing, and admitting God was just in punishing him. He was angry with the three friends for making God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments. 

Elihu’s assessment of the situation, however, was just as bad. One of his many accusations was: “Be on guard. Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil” (36:21). 

When Job tried to defend himself, these friends would have none of it; they were 100% sure Job’s troubles were the result of his sin. These were friends who had come to comfort one of their own. No wonder Job referred to them as “miserable comforters” (see Job 16:2). He told them, “If it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief” (Job 16:5 NLT); “Have mercy on me, my friends, have mercy on me” (19:21 NLT).



God finally entered the conversation and challenged Job: “Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer me” (38:3). Then He rebuked Eliphaz: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me as my servant Job has … My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve” (42:7-8 NLT).

Let’s not jump to conclusions! If we choose to offer our opinion, it should be clear to our listeners that it’s strictly an opinion and not necessarily facts. These four men really hurt Job with their ignorant statements, and by so doing displeased God. Let’s be careful, quick to hear, but slow to speak!


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