Matthew 7:13

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (2 Peter 2:9-10)

Peculiar! Check out that word in Websters as an adjective and right away you can see that this is not the accepted norm. Yet God’s people are not of this world. Beyond not being normal I’m hated! “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

“Listen to the word of the LORD, all who tremble at his word. Your relatives, who hate you and exclude you for my name’s sake, say, “Let the LORD show his glory; then we will see your joy.” But they will be put to shame.”( Isaiah 66:5)

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.” (Matthew 5:10)

God warns us as believers over and over in the holy scriptures not to be deceived:

“Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  But evil people and phony preachers will go from bad to worse as they mislead people and are themselves misled. However, continue in what you have learned and found to be true. You know who your teachers were. From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. They have the power to give you wisdom so that you can be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval. They equip God’s servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things.” (2 Timothy 3:12-17)

Soon after I was saved I read Johanna Michaelsen’s book “The Beautiful Side of Evil“. I was profoundly moved by this book. To know that what looks beautiful is not necessarily of God. Here is a link to a blog post with a short and recent interview with Johanna.

It’s one thing to have the “World” hate you. But really difficult to have to disagree with your brothers and sisters in Christ! They scream “UNITY & GRACE”! I’m not neglecting unity or grace. Yet I am not sacrificing TRUTH for the sake of unity. “You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear.”( James 2:19)

So this goes deeper than unity and belief. This is about the “wide gate” and the “many” who go through it, and the “narrow gate” which few go through.

“Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate.” (Matthew 7:13)

I threw away my prayer list!

I’ll just stick with 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and

Pray without ceasing!

The list of people that I commit to pray for has turned into a never ending book.

My Father knows before I even ask Him:

Matthew 6:8

So, I’ll pray continually and  work towards completing my list of

daily chores along the way.

Now my priorities will be right!

God knew all along:

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

What a perfect time to begin a new devotional at the dawning of a new year.  ”Unto The Hills“, by Billy Graham, is 365 very short readings divided by months and days that begin with a scripture. The unchanging Word of our Living God is what sets this devotional apart from others that I’ve encountered. All too often devotional books are just inspiring stories without the power to change us.  There is nothing else written that can literally be absorbed into our soul with the promise of accomplishing what God has purposed for it:

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:11

“Unto The Hills” is capable of devotional transformation! After the scripture there is the treat of a paragraph or two written by our nation’s most beloved evangelist himself, Billy Graham.

This book was originally published nearly 25 years ago and has been re- released to inspire a new generation of readers.

I’m looking forward to reading Unto the Hills each day and being devotionally transformed.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson.Inc. for giving me a copy of this book for review and not requiring that I post a positive review.  I love your “booksneeze” book blogger’s program and your philosophy that all discussion positive or negative is publicity!

He was wounded for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds. Isaiah 53:5

When he died, he died once and for all to sin’s power. But now he lives, and he lives for God. Romans 6:10

For in Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28

God is enthroned above the earth, and those who live on it are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the sky like a canopy and spreads it out like a tent to live in. Isaiah 40:42

The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble. He is enthroned over the angles. Let the earth quake Psalm 99:1
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, John 11:25

Then Jesus said loudly, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me. John 12:44

Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:5
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. John 6:47
As the Scripture says, “Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me” John 7:38

We believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring back those who have died. They will come back with Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Brothers and sisters, whom God loves, we know that He has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love each other. 1 John 4:11

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears. James 4:14

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Tim 4:6-8

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1

Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:8

I’m not sure why I am consumed with the knowledge as of recent that my time is at hand. But if my Maker is allowing me the ability to be aware of my departure from this clay; I must say with a pure heart that it is only by His grace that I will be counted worthy to stand in that day.

May my short time on this earth allow for some eternal weight of glory.
And may the memories I leave bring glory to His Name and assurance to those who are yet lost and seeking to be found.

I desire to be with Him… but He may have work for me yet here. My days are in His hands and my salvation is sure. Because of what He has done- All is well with my soul.

Even so Come Quickly Lord Jesus