Guest #Devotional #Blog - Nona King

The Daily Challenge

One of the greatest challenges for me as a Christian is to overcome the Enemy’s daily reminder of my past failures. From relationships to story lines, if there is an aspect that did not fall in line with my idea of a Christian theme, it is used against me.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." ~II Corinthians 5:17

Wait. What? Because I’m a believer, I’m a new creature? But, what about that questionable bit of story line I was tempted to write all of last week? I’m not a new creature anymore. I’m as wicked as I ever was.

But it doesn't work that way.

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” ~Lamentations 3:22, 23; NKJV

Each day is a new beginning. Each morning we are a new creature in Christ. He allows us these precious moments to begin anew. To grow in our faith and in our witness for others, so we can attest to His great mercies. His patience. His unending devotion to us, His children. In that promise there is hope, each new day, for me to once again craft my heart to fulfill His desire for my future.

I feel certain that future is bright.

Connect with the Author:

www.NonaKing.com – Fiction .|. www.WordObsession.net – Blog

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Nona King's latest book, Searching for Sara (Heart of the Blessed)

is currently on sale for 99c Kindle Edition.

Sunday #Devotional ~ Friend of #God = Enemy of Satan?

You are my friends if you do what I command. (John 15:14 NKJV)

So the other day, someone pasted this Mantra on Facebook, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head.  If there is anything that I want to be in life, it is a friend of God and a threat to my enemy, Satan.

So what have I been doing to make that happen? And what do I need to do to accomplish it?  I thought about that in my time with the Lord. And here is what I was told:

Be still and know that I am God.  (Psalm 46:10 NKJV)

I need to pray more, and in a way that keeps me focused and still.  I spend too much time not being still in the Lord, trying to read His word instead, and worrying about how to serve Him (like Martha) instead of just listening to Him like Mary.

John, the beloved disciple, was always leaning on the bosom of Jesus listening to Him.  He describes himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. And the word he uses more in his gospel than all of the other gospels combined is "BELIEVE." Not do, not work, not serve, just believe.

So when I look at this mantra, it makes me want to pick up my sword and start slashing.  But God has told me to choose the better part and be still, get to know Him, and become someone worth fearing.

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Prayer Thought: How about you? Do you have trouble sitting still and just waiting upon God? If you do, spend this time in prayer with Him and ask for His help in improving your patience and listening skills.

BLOG Giveaway WINNERS and a Cover Reveal for Winter Fae

The Winners of the Birthday Bash for December ~
1- $20 Amazon Gift Card: NONA K.
2- Found Adrift PB and Boat Bookmark: KELLEE F.
3- Clockwork Dragon PB and Dragon Bookmark: JAMES N.
4- Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball and Holiday Necklace: JIM L.
5- Steampunk Necklace and Winter Fae E-book winner: CAROL J.

Congratulations!

And here is the Cover for the Fantasy Steampunk release of WINTER FAE (Available December 15th)

~The SHORT STORY Prequel to Armored Hearts ~

Once upon a time, a fairy princess gave up her home, her family, and her birthright for the love of a human lord. But life outside has made her sick. When she returns to the land of fae with her son, she discovers things are not as they should be. Will she find the healing she so desperately seeks for herself and invalid son? Or will she be received with the coldness of winter?

(Look for Armored Hearts in February 2013)

 

Are you willing to be a FAILURE for #God?

LOOKING FOR THE GIVEAWAY? CLICK THE BIRTHDAY BASH!

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:12-13)

Do we ever think our dreams for success or accomplishment is God's purpose for us? Do we think that if we obey God will accomplish great things with our obedience?  His purpose may well be just the opposite.  God's end, His purpose for us IS the process of submitting our will to Him. It is today that He wants us to focus on. 

Our obedience will accomplish great things.  Perhaps we will never see the repercussions of what our faith does.  Maybe God will give us a goal that He has no intention for us to personally reach.  There were missionaries who felt that they were to go and preach the word to an indigenous tribe in South America - but when they got there, they were slaughtered within days of their arrival by the very people they were trying to bring the gospel to.  But when more missionaries came, including their families - not to seek revenge, but to share God's love, the tribe who did the murdering came to Christ.  It is said that the church is a plant that is watered by the blood of saints.  Are we truly willing to shed our blood in order to bring God glory?

The Bible is full of ordinary people who went to impossible places and did wondrous things simply because they decided to obey God, even when others said, "You can't do that." They weren't more qualified for their tasks than we are. But they trusted God to open doors and give them the power they needed in their situation. Can we trust God to open doors that seem closed? The doors God sets before us are much like grocery store entrances - the doors seem closed, but the minute you step up to them, they open.  God opens the door the minute we step up in faith.  But if we never take the step of faith, the doors will always be closed.

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Prayer Thought: Are you willing to be a failure for God? Are you ready to re-prioritize what is important and what is successful? Ask God today to help you seek out those misconceptions within you. Pray that they will not keep you from being a true success for God.