Tag: world

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You may Give up on God, But He won’t Give up on You

I had a horrible day yesterday. Satan isn’t happy that I published, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”

I decided to put my author hat away, and put on a salesman hat. It was time to contact all the local bookstores, and gift shops.

Out the door I went all excited to do God’s calling.

The first place I went to was a small independent Christian book store called, “Wings of the Soul.” I walked up to the store door and turned the knob. It was closed!  The store was suppose to open. It was not. I left feeling a little dejected, but  moved on to the next place on my list.

The next place was a local pharmacy that had a nice gift shop. I am even close friends with the owner. He was in favor of me putting the book in his store, but he has a shop manager that I needed to contact first.

I went into the shop, and asked one of the staff if I coud meet with the manager. The lady I talked to must of ate nails for breakfast. She blurted out, ” She’s not here.” I asked when she might be back.? “I don’t know!” This went on for a few minutes, and I finally  gave her one of my promotional packets, and asked her to give it to the manager. She again blurted out,” I don’t when she may be back! She comes and goes when she wants!”

That was a wonderful adventure, but I am not done yet. I  stopped by the city library to set-up a signing there in the future. It was closed!! They close the library on Mondays due to cut-backs.

I had one more stop. It was another independent Christian Bookstore near my home. I met with the owner, and he wouldn’t budge on what he wanted for a discount, and I left a broken man.  

I then got home and opened up my email. There was an email from the manager of my local Borders bookstore in Same, Oregon. We have a signing scheduled there on November 6th from 2-4 p.m.

(If any of you life in the Salem, Oregon area, the address of the Borders Bookstore is 2235 Lancaster Dr NE. Go to Mapquest to locate it.)

He said my publisher wouldn’t send him the books he ordered for the signing until he paid upfront. He let me now that he didn’t  have the funds in his local budget to pay for 100 books. He only has enough for 35 books.

I emailed him back and said I could provide the 100 books from my own personal inventory of books I had. I hope that works out well.

All in all, a day to be depressed, and wonder where God was. Well, I found out later where God was. I went to my weekly BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) meeting.

Please understand that what was covered in this one meeting wasn’t planned just for me, but when you read some of the quotes form the meeting you will see God was definitely speaking to me.

The topic? Adversity, Trials, and misfortune.

Quotes form the lecture:

“Fear results when you believe your adversity. Faith results when you believe God’s Word.”

“Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:28 ” God causes all those things of adversity in our lives to work to good those who believe.”

” You may give up on God, but He doesn’t give up on you.”

“Be still and now that I am God.”

“God’s presence with me is my solution to fear.”

The final statement by the speaker was this:

“God will be your sanctuary as you will be a SIGN to the world when you fear Him.”

I heard the word “sign,” loud and clear. That word is in the title of my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”

God was telling me to get up, and dust myself off. Get back out there and try again. I am doing that today, so pray that I will be more successful because I have God on my side.

BTW… you can order the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” off of my author site at www.dougbolton.com.  If you do you will get an autograph and personal note  with the book. When you get to the site, just click on “Bookstore.”

Never give up! Never ever give up!!

 

 

 

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God Doesn’t Make Mistakes. He Made You

Hate Is Not a Family Value

 

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemy.”

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:43–44

 

I have had students say things to other children that I couldn’t help but think came from their own homes. Surely these 8–11-year-old children couldn’t have learned so much hate anywhere else. They learned about discrimination and bigotry right in their own homes—perhaps because the parents also grew up with hate and prejudice.

Hate should not be a family value, but it feeds on generations of hate. And it will not stop being handed down as long as each family member continues to let hate breed within them. Someone needs to break the chain so that it stops in this generation.

If you are one who fuels hate, prejudice or discrimination, it has to stop with you! We must realize that it can stop when each of us decides to do something about it and banish it from our thinking. We accomplish nothing by showing hate or even simply looking down on other people as “beneath” us. We are all people of worth, and we need to respect that in everyone.

Proverbs 22:6 reminds us of this important thought: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.”

As parents and grandparents, change can start with us. We have the responsibility to teach our children to love and respect others. Imagine what a change there would in the world if everyone started to respect and love each other.

God didn’t create anything that wasn’t good. Each and every person (and thing) on earth was created by God. He does not make mistakes. He has a purpose for everything and everyone He created. Each of us has the same value to Him. Therefore, we should consider everyone around us as one of His creations and love them as we would love ourselves.

Hate never works any good in the end. We may try to hate, and shun someone, but we are the losers when we do. We wallow in our own mire and muck trying to hate our neighbors, but the only misery it causes is our own.

It really is so much easier to love someone than to work so hard at hating him or her. The stress level is much higher when you hate someone, and you never feel like you’ve won the game. Loving someone reaps many rewards—peace, for instance. Hating someone only destroys the crop—and eats away at you.

Avoid the rush. Be one of the first in your world to reach out and love those with whom who you’ve had conflict. They will be surprised, and may not react right away. But in the end they will respect you. They will have the burden on their shoulders to either accept your peace offering, or they will be the ones who get to wallow in the muck and mire.

Who would you rather it be—them or you?

 

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 6:27–28

 

Further adventures

Think about what your parents taught you. Are they values you want to pass on to your children? Are they values you live by today? Do they teach tolerance and love? If not, do some soul-searching. For the sake of your children, take time to evaluate your thinking. If it isn’t quite what you think you want your children to know, do something about it. Get into the Word and see what God says about loving your neighbor—and yes, even loving your enemy.

 

Something to ponder

Isn’t it funny that when you smile you have more face value?

 * Excerpt from: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World

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Do I have to Give up My Toys to go to Heaven?

Many of you already know that I have signed a contract with Winepress Publishers to have my book: “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” published.

I had six deadlines that I had to meet with my publisher since I signed a contract with them January 15th. It Seemed like an overwhelming task. But, I met every deadline (so far) with the help of God.

We often turn our backs on challenges because we think they are too frightening, or to much to handle. There is nothing on this earth that can’t be handled when we turn things over to God.

When we can be submissive to His calling, and obey His commands we can conquer all our fears, and accomplishing many things.

It is very difficult to be submissive to anyone. We have to give up freedoms to do that. We don’t want anyone controlling our lives. However, if we allow God to lead us, being submissive is easy because we look at His only Son who was totally submissive to his Heavenly Father. He obeyed God all the way to the cross.

He could have decided that He wasn’t going to be put to death. He could have caused the earth to shake and the cross He was would have fallen to the ground. He could have destroyed any of the people who were mocking Him. But, He loved them so much He remained on the cross, and died a horrible death.

He obeyed His father, and because of that we can have eternal life if we accpet Jesus and try to be like Him.

What is stopping you from being submissive to God?  Can’t give up that job that is giving you many goodies in life, even though you stepped over many people on the way up that ladder of success?

Still wanting that boat, because the Jones’ next door have two, knowing that you will not be able to tithe to God if you do get one.  

How about that Beamer? Looks nice in the show room doesn’t it?

All of these are things that get in our way of serving God the way we should be. The old saying, “You can’t take it with you,” should have a lot of meaning here. Material goodies mean nothing if you don’t have eternal life.

Being submissive is turning our back on this world, and living a life for God. It is hard at best to accept that , and to really commit to it.  Think of the ultimate goal, and that is to be ready for the day of judgment, and to serve God during your time on this not so friendly world.

* My next post will be an excerpt from the book: “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. It will come out Wednesday the 3rd.

Doug