If you receive this article through email, you can click on the title to read it on GreenePastures.org for the best formatting, photos, and more.
———-
THE WAIT IS OVER! My new book, Unstoppable: Go the Distance with God, is now available. Ready to inspire, strengthen, and encourage you to pursue God’s path with unwavering faith. And as proof that miracles still happen, my “desk” is finally clear–turns out writing a book creates more clutter than ever imaginable.
But what you see below is a very messy table, with stacks of books and Bibles that filled every nook and cranny of my dining room as this book was being produced!
My work “desk” during a neat phase!
Unstoppable is officially LIVE and ready to jump off the shelves! You can grab it on Amazon or order it at your favorite local bookstore. But before I get into the wild ride that was my writing and publishing journey, let me tell you what’s inside.
This book began as a love letter to my children, a way for them to hear my voice long after I’m gone. But somewhere along the way, I realized it wasn’t just for them. It was for every believer, every seeker, every soul longing to know God more. The words are mine. Every thought, every bit of wisdom comes from a journey with the Lord. And I hope that as you read, you hear my voice—not just in ink, but in your heart. It is a book about the Bible, Prayer, Christian Living, Leadership, and Crises.”
The Writing Process
Writing a book should come with a survival guide. Between editing, formatting, and proofing (more than one hundred times), I learned that endnotes and bibliographies were designed to evaluate human patience. My dining room transformed into a battlefield of books, sticky notes, and a laptop that looked like it had survived a war. In an attempt to feel like I was in control of something, I started frequenting the nail salon. If nothing else, the salon became a form of stress relief to me.
And then there were the technical nightmares—the formatting jargon no one warns you about. Acrobat, DPI, cropping, templates, first-line indents, hyperlinks, marketing strategies, and the dreaded Kindle Previewer. I wrestled with Smashwords, preorders, reflowable text, TOC (which I now believe stands for “Totally Overwhelming Chaos”), citations, quotation marks, italics, and hyphens. Every minor detail became a new mountain to climb. Somewhere between resizing eBook files and debating whether “almighty” should be capitalized or not, I pondered every life instance, from toddlerhood to now, that the Lord allowed me to until this moment. And yes, He prepared me.
What God Taught Me Through the Process
But in all the challenges, God was working on me. He taught me patience, the importance of time management (because writing at 2 a.m. is not sustainable), and the power of prayer (especially when my manuscript almost disappeared into the abyss). I learned about His glory and honor, self-control, thankfulness, and stick-to-itiveness. Quitting was never an option. The Lord reminded me that persistence matters, that gratitude changes everything, and that friends, faith, and a sound support system are essential.
The Publishing Process
Ah, publishing—the part where a writer either gets an agent or slowly realizes that the industry now requires social media influence and more friends than you have. After six months of rejections and feedback that I wasn’t quite “popular enough,” I did what any stubborn writer would do—I self-published. Again.
This final process was chaotic, exhausting, but God nudged me forward, whispering that this book mattered. And when God nudges, you listen and obey—even if you’re delirious from lack of sleep.
Conclusion
So, here it is—Unstoppable: Go the Distance with God. It’s in the wild now, floating in Amazon’s Sea of millions of books. Will it become a bestseller? Who knows. But that’s never been the point. It’s a book of faith, a book of endurance, and, frankly, a book that put me through the ringer. And I believe it’s meant for someone, maybe even you.
So, go ahead and grab a copy. Not just because I’d love for you to buy it, but because I believe God has a purpose for everyone’s life, and it was written to help people live a godly life and “go the distance,” until God calls them home.
For ages 12 and above!
Unstoppable: Go the Distance with God, Paperback ISBN-13, 9798284335017
Unstoppable: Go the Distance with God, Hardcover ISBN-1, 9798284456651
It’s on Kindle too!
Feel free to share, forward, or comment as desired.
If you receive this article through email, you can click on the title to read it on the GreenePastures.org blog-Pics and all!
——————–
I love seeing a package from Thomas Nelson on my doorstep. I know that is my next Bible to review. Viewing multiple Bibles throughout the year is an honor, privilege, and pleasure.
External Appeal
I recently received the NKJV Study Bible FOR KIDS. It arrived in an elegant box perfect for gifting! The Bible’s appealing blue leather soft cover attracted me immediately. The front cover would look extremely lovely with beautiful engraving imprinted on it. Its size makes it convenient to carry, and the tactile experience of this beautiful soft cover is pleasant to the touch. The shade of blue is appropriate for both girls and boys.
Two Concerns
Before delving into its contents, I must highlight two concerns I have about this Bible.
First, while this Bible is labeled “FOR KIDS,” there is a need for more clarity on the specific age group it targets. I seem to always be concerned when a Bible says it is for a particular audience; in this case, the box, the cover, and the title page all say it is for kids, but “kids” can encompass a broad spectrum from young children to adolescents, potentially affecting its long-term appeal. For those browsing a bookstore looking at this Bible in its boxed form, there would be no indication on the box for the purchaser regarding the Bible’s age or reading level.
Second, I strongly believe that promoting the Bible “FOR KIDS” may confuse a purchaser. If someone buys this Bible for an 11-year-old, it implies that as the child grows into a teenager, they may not want to use it due to the “FOR KIDS” inscription on the front cover. As an alternative, I suggest it would have been better to keep the “FOR KIDS” on the title page but leave it off the front cover to not embarrass teenagers if they want to continue to use this Bible.
Age
The book details on Amazon say this book is for grades four through six, which would most likely be ages nine through 11. However, customers rate the reading age as seven to 11, a discrepancy when deciding upon the book.
However, I understand that education has been dumbed down over the years, so defining who can read this Bible is difficult.
What’s Inside?
Setting aside these considerations, the NKJV Study Bible For Kids impresses with its comprehensive features and design. Although the font size could be slightly larger across its 1,582 pages, the layout is well-organized with ample half-inch margins and sturdy paper quality. A striking yellow ribbon bookmark adds a touch of elegance. The margins all around the text are 1/2.” The paper quality appears nice and sturdy.
Educationally, this Bible excels with distinctive features color-coded throughout, giving extra information kids (and adults) would enjoy.
Book Review: NKJV Study Bible For Kids
1. Action Feature (purple) covers topics such as Friendship and Giving to God.
2. Epic Ideas (blue) explores themes such as A Man of True Wisdom and Don’t Be Afraid.
3. Spotlights (red) illuminate subjects like God Watches Over You and Jesus is God.
4. In Focus (purple) provides insights on terms like Demon-Possession and Prophecy.
5. Timelines (yellow) trace historical events from Genesis to Revelation. The print size could be made more reader-friendly.
6. On Location (green) includes maps detailing journeys and locations crucial to biblical narratives.
7. Starring Roles (yellow) profiles key figures Biblical characters like Moses and Titus.
Extra Features
Additionally, this Bible concludes with valuable resources such as a dictionary—concordance, book abbreviations, and detailed lists facilitating more straightforward navigation through its supplemental materials.
This edition of the Bible is currently in pre-order status on Amazon. It is listed for $49.99. It is also available in paperback and hardback at lower prices.
Valuable Resources
Despite my initial reservations about its target audience labeling, the NKJV Study Bible For Kids is a valuable resource for children and parents dedicated to imparting Biblical truths – especially to homeschoolers. Beyond its “FOR KIDS” designation, its depth and educational richness make it a commendable choice for serious Bible study and spiritual growth at any age.
In fact, I can see myself using this Bible in my quiet time and for the Study Bible tips and information.
God bless.
Feel free to comment, repost, or share as desired.
If you like articles like this, please subscribe to my blog on the right-hand side of this article, where it states, “SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL.” You will then be asked to confirm your subscription through an email request.
Have you ever pondered the Holy Spirit’s presence and calling in your life? Feeling lost or uncertain is easy, especially when life takes unexpected turns. But here’s what I’ve learned over the years.
Never Alone
God never abandons us. When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit becomes our constant companion. Even in moments of doubt and desire, we’re not alone.
Testing Grounds
Sometimes, the Holy Spirit leads us to testing grounds. We stumble, but that’s okay. These trials refine us, shaping our purpose.
Silent Moments
Sometimes, we don’t feel God’s presence. Perhaps there is sin in our lives, or maybe God is testing us. But even in silence, He’s working behind the scenes.
Perseverance
Life can be tough. Criticism, misunderstandings, and unmet prayers weigh us down. Yet, we persevere. God’s timing is mysterious, but He’s always leading.
Surrender
By surrendering our desires and hopes, we invite the Holy Spirit’s touch. He trusts us with His plans, even when they diverge from our expectations.
Stay Vigilant
The enemy seeks to distract us during life’s storms, but God remains steadfast. We may not always feel Him, but He’s there.
So, my friends, let’s trust the journey—even when it’s hard. God’s purpose unfolds, and we’re part of something greater.
Feel free to share this reflection with others. May it encourage hearts and remind us that we’re never alone on this path.
God Bless,
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Life can be rough sometimes. Allow me to trust You through all my ins and outs. Let me build into my Christian foundation the fact that You love me and will never leave me or forsake me.
Bible Verse
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
If you receive this blog through an email subscription, you can click on the title to see the full version of this snippet.
As a result of the February 2021 winter freeze, while my husband and I were out of town, our home was drastically damaged by an unattended pipe, which froze and burst. Movers had to come quickly to salvage what they could, resulting in things being thrown in any old box and brought to storage in whatever condition it was found.
Now that school is over for me, and it is two years later, I am finally trying to locate, unpack, and organize what wild and reckless packing looks like.
I thought I had lost everything in the picture above but I found disarrayed boxes in our new home’s garage. [Yes, we moved after seeing all our home’s destruction.]
In unpacking boxes, I found essential certificates, house deeds, my childhood stamp collection album, MANY articles I have written and published, blogs started but not finished, multiple rejection letters, and more that I have yet to discover. But I rejoice because I thought I had lost all these things, but this week I found them.
Odds and Ends
Honestly, I have been distraught thinking I lost all my writing and compilations over forty years!!!
However, now that my most precious items (except for my wedding dress) have been found, the time has come to sort through, throw away, salvage, and/or reorganize what I have valued and sunk my heart into for years.
Going through these piles is NOT my cup of tea, but I am excited to see what I thought was lost is now found – maybe mildewed and torn but found.
Just like I found boxes of my stuff, Jesus Christ finds us—possibly finding us mildewed, torn, and disarrayed, and He wants us to become aware of His love for us and make us part of His kingdom. He will not disregard us or throw us away. He wants to salvage us and reorganize our lives.
God allows us to choose between Him and the world.
He truly loves us and wants us to call upon His son Jesus Christ by asking Him to forgive our sins and place our faith and trust in Him. That, my friend, is called salvation with the promise of the Holy Spirit’s presence coming to abide in us forever.
A parable in Luke 15:24 says, “This son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to celebrate.”
Patti Greene is a Baylor University and Dallas Baptist University graduate, a Second Baptist Church -1463 member of Houston/Katy, TX, and the author of seven books. The views expressed are those of the author.
Books by Patti
3 PRAYER JOURNALS – 3 BIBLE WORD SEARCH PUZZLES, AND A BOOK ON CHRISTIAN CAREGIVING.
In the Old Testament, God’s children would receive a direct revelation of God through the agency of God’s Spirit. When this revelatory facet occurred, it became a central feature of the late Second Temple Jewish understanding of God’s Spirit. In the New Testament, God’s Spirit is seen in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Then proceeds when the Holy Spirit is sent to the disciples at Pentecost. While this Spirit helps in conversion, it is also this same Spirit that helps to discern what spiritual gifts the Lord has given to individuals. The Lord is the one who distributes the gifts. Often it takes some experimentation with various ministries to find the fit that the Lord has called a person to do. Not knowing one’s gift should not excuse a lack of ministry involvement. People can recognize their gifts by trying out assorted opportunities, receiving input from others, or taking spiritual gift inventory and survey tests, which can be found online, in churches, or multiple books. Contrarily, DeVries does not like spiritual gift inventory assessments as much as he uses the Bible to discover your spiritual gifts. He believes the Bible gives two testing criteria for discovering one’s spiritual gifts: The fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and the spiritual qualities of godliness noted in 2 Peter 1. Either way, one should take responsibility and pursue one’s spiritual gifts, leaving the results in the Holy Spirit’s direction.
Confusion, conflicts, and questions arise when evaluating spiritual gifts. The primary topic causing the most confusion involves charismatic gifts, including the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. Charismatic gifts (sign gifts) include tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, miracles, and prophecy. Some charismatic groups also consider laying on hands, fasting, faith, and prayer in this category.
The Book of Acts deals with the custom of speaking in and interpreting tongues in three places. When the disciples were baptized in the Spirit at Pentecost, they began to speak in tongues. In Acts 10, Simon was preaching. When the Spirit fell upon the assembly, the Gentiles spoke in tongues showing the Jews that they had received the Holy Spirit. Lastly, when Paul encountered some disciples of John, they began to speak in other languages and to prophesy. Scholars use the word glossolalia when referring to tongues. In each of these instances, tongues are introduced to a different group of people: Jews, Samaritans (possibly), and Gentiles. Brand says, “[Paul] also noted that unless tongues speech is interpreted, it ought not to be employed in public worship since the purpose of spiritual gifts is the edification of the body” (1 Cor. 14:3, 6).
The question is whether the sign gifts (including tongues) were delegated to the early church or does it continue today. The terms coined are cessationists and continuationist. Most cessationists believe that God can heal and do miracles, but they reject the idea that Christians can heal, prophesy, and speak in tongues. Cessationist Thomas R. Schreiner says, “As a cessationist, I believe God still heals and does miracles today, though I think such events are relatively rare. Still, I pray for the healing of the sick and believe God can do so miraculously. My argument is not that miracles and healings never occur. Instead, I claim that believers today [do not] have the gifts of doing miracles and healing.” Conrsely, a continuationist believes all the sign gifts are valid and operable today. As one can see, sign gifts can cause confusion, misunderstanding, and divisiveness in a church. C. Douglas Weaver says, “A growing number [of] Baptists are also continuationists. . . But plenty of Baptists also contend that some or all of the miraculous gifts [sign] are invalid for today, or they differ considerably from continuationists’ understanding of those gifts.” There has also been plenty of Baptist-continuationist rivalries since the first wave of Pentecostals began speaking in tongues and prophesying in the opening years of the twentieth century.
Conflicts also occur when discussing the Holy Spirit and its role in our lives, including the holiness movement, gender, and racial egalitarianism. There is difficulty separating other issues from one another when speaking of the Holy Spirit, including how spiritual gifts are used.
God’s Holy Spirit has been functioning in lives for over six thousand years—through the Old Testament and New Testament times and even today. The Holy Spirit guided Jesus’s ministry and likewise in our ministry.
First, God designed us to be used for Him. Psalm 139:13-16 states, “For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to Thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance and in Thy book they were all written, all the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. God ordained our days. Moreover, He wants to equip us to use us for His service.”
Second, John 16:13 mentions that the Spirit of truth will guide us into all the truth, and when He does, he wants to equip us for His service as mentioned in 1 Peter 4:10-11, which says, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies. so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to who belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Third, the Lord wants us to meet the needs of others. One of the ways He accomplishes this purpose is by providing believers with spiritual gifts to be used powerfully for His intentions. Christians possess gifts to be used locally and universally within the body of Christ to serve others. In other words, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus (1 Cor. 12).
Ephesians 4:11-14 speaks of our privilege to build up the body of Christ—for unity and to grow to become more Christlike. We should strive for the whole body to fit together, where every person is involved in the building up the church in love.
Conclusion
Charles Stanley sums it up best when he says, “Time is a gift from God, and He has allotted each of us a measure in which to live and accomplish His purposes. We have only two options—to spend it temporally on our own interests or invest it eternally. Since time can never be retrieved or reversed, it’s critical that we make the most of every opportunity the Lord provides.” Just like the fudge cake mentioned earlier, where all the ingredients combine for the best results, we need all members of the body of Christ to employ their best selves. This can occur when one uses their spiritual gifts, in the supernatural power of Christ, within the body of Christ in love and unity.
God bless.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I love you and desire to know and use the gifts you have given me. Confirm what they are in my mind. May others see them in me. Lord, you are my God, and I give my entire life to you and desire Your presence every moment. Keep me from temptation and deliver me from evil. In Your blessed name, Amen,
********************
This article may not be reproduced except for written permission from the author.
Sources not included.
********************
Books by Patti
3 PRAYER JOURNALS – 3 BIBLE WORD SEARCH PUZZLES, AND A BOOK ON CHRISTIAN CAREGIVING.
Are you looking for a Bible study to teach or to work on yourself?
Below you will find a Bible study on Psalm 51 that can be worked on at any time. By studying straight from the Bible, my prayer is that you will discover spiritual truth and direction in your life or in the lives of others.
Read 2 Samuel 11:1-27 and 2 Samuel 12:1-25 for background information about King David’s sin and Nathan’s rebuke of him. This will enhance your understanding of the Bible study lesson.
A few years ago, a man wrote to Dear Abby needing help. The article titled, “Dear Abby, Guilt over affair leaves husband thinking of suicide.” This man had been married for 19 years and had two children. He fooled around, convincing himself that the women knew what they were doing and that he never promised them anything. His affairs became public, and his reputation was in ruins. He asked “Dear Abby” to provide a solution. He signed off calling himself Shattered in Louisiana. ¹
We find a similar real-life story in the fourth and most well-known penitential psalm, Psalm 51. Penitential psalms are psalms that express deep sorrow leading to a person’s true repentance of sin. Most scholars claim that King David wrote this psalm, or if not, by someone who knew the extent of the deep suffering he experienced. This prayer psalm was written after Nathan, the prophet, confronted David about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. King David was on his palace rooftop when many say he should have been with his men in battle. He looks out and sees Bathsheba bathing. He asks his men to fetch her and bring her back to the palace, where he has sex with her. She becomes pregnant. David arranges for her husband to come home from battle, anticipating that he will sleep with her and then he would take the responsibility of fatherhood. However, being an honorable man, Uriah does not go into Bathsheba and camps in tents away from her presence. David arranges for Uriah to be killed in battle. [1]
As a married woman, what do these two stories speak to you about being faithful in marriage?
KING DAVID’S CALL FOR MERCY, FORGIVENESS, REPENTANCE, AND CLEANSING. Read Psalm 51:1-2.
The King James Version uses the word mercy to describe what David wants from God. He is crying out to God for help. David’s goal is for God to blot out his sin, so he can be cleansed and resume fellowship with Him. To grasp how the Bible looks at blotting, cleansing, and washing away sins, refer to Isaiah 43:25, Leviticus 11:32, and Isaiah 1:18, respectively. He is aware that he willfully rebelled against God and is grieved. David is ready to confess his sin and have fellowship with God again. Today, our sins are covered by Jesus’ death on the cross.
Describe a time you reached a breaking point, and you called out to God for forgiveness?
RECOGNITION OF SIN. Read Psalm 51:3-6.
David begins to openly concede he has sinned. In verse 3, David acknowledges that his sin is “ever before me.” Although he knows his sin was towards Bathsheba, Uriah, and the entire nation of Israel, he is addressing his grave sin toward God. His sin against the LORD was the most offensive. David shows his seriousness when talking of his sin by calling it EVIL.
What does David’s example teach us about the seriousness of sin?
In verse 5, David is now ready to accept whatever judgment God may choose for him. David recognizes that he was born in sin in verse 5. He is not using that as an excuse for his sin, but he acknowledges that he is human. All humankind has a sinful nature within them. Here it is important that one mustn’t think David is criticizing conception or birth, but that he is just conversing with God regarding what he understands about human nature. Moving to verse 6, we find David wanting God’s truth to be within his innermost being.
In the Compact Bible Commentary, the inward parts are described as “a rare word in the Hebrew Bible, indicating something clouded over, difficult for anyone to see but God.” ² David trusted God so much that he does not mind God searching for his innermost being. These verses conclude with David desiring wisdom—God’s wisdom. [2][3]
In James 1:5, what does James say we should do if we lack wisdom?
PURIFICATION, HYSSOP, SNOW, AND BONES. Read Psalm 51:7-9.
These verses contain the phrases, “purify me, wash me, make me hear joy and gladness, let my broken bones rejoice, and hide thy face from my sins.” David is pleading for cleansing from his sin. Verse 7 mentions hyssop. Hyssop was a bush whose stems were dipped in blood or water and then sprinkled on people who needed cleansing. See Leviticus 14:4 and Numbers 19:6. Ceremonial hyssop was used on lepers and others during this period. Today, we receive our cleansing from the mighty blood of Jesus Christ. David desires true repentance and pleads for a clean heart—one that will wash him, make him joyful, and heal him. He wants his life to be as white as snow. When a person accepts Christ, there are testimonies of how they feel so clean and pure inside. That is David’s desire to have his life like that again. He also wants his sins hidden from the LORD. Verse 8 is intriguing. David declares how his sin has affected his eyes and bones. It is easy to deduce that more had been affected as well. Keep in mind that when we sin, our sin does affect us. We can become depressed, ill, and even suicidal. We should take a special interest in caring for our friends and loved ones if we see their destructive behavior. Verse 9 circles back around to David desiring God to blot out his sin. (See Psalm 51:1) This repetition shows that David really is serious about repenting of all his sin.
What matters most in David’s life at this point is God’s forgiveness. What matters most in your life, and how is God intertwined in the matter?
CENTRAL VERSE EXPRESSING THE HEART OF DAVID. Read Psalm 51:10-12.
The central verse (theological principle) in this Bible study comes in Psalm 51:10 when David says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” David desires to be renewed, restored, and transformed. In verse 10, the word create is the same word used in Genesis 1:1, which states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God in His power called the world into being, and God in his power can cleanse David from his agonizing sin. David wants a new heart and a new spirit. He recognizes that he cannot do this by himself. It is up to God. We see God cleansing Israel and giving Israel a new heart and spirit in Ezekiel 36:25-27. This concept is very similar to Psalm 51 where it speaks of sprinkling water on the Israelites for cleansing, giving them a new heart and a new spirit, and allowing them to walk in His ways again. David wants to be in God’s presence again when he says he does not want to be cast from God’s presence in verse 11. He wants God’s Spirit, and he is ready to do the Lord’s will. In our life, we do not want to quench the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Striving to keep ourselves clean from sin is necessary for God’s Holy Spirit to move in our lives and keep us from temptation. Compare to Acts 15:8-9.
While the LORD did forgive David, there were still consequences to his sin, one being the death of his son when he was 7-days old. (2 Samuel 12:18) What outcomes have you seen in your or other peoples’ lives due to sin?
Verse 12 speaks of regaining the joy of one’s salvation. David wants that “feeling” of purity and love for God back into his life. He wants it to be a sustainable feeling as well. He does not want to lose fellowship with his LORD again.
Describe a time you or someone you know lost fellowship with God but then had it restored.
SINNERS CONVERTED, RIGHTEOUSNESS DELIVERED, RIGHTEOUS SACRIFICE, AND A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART. Read Psalm 51: 13-17.
In verses 13-15, David expresses his desire to be of service to God. He wants to teach others (sinners) and take what he has experienced and learned to help others. He wants to see people restored as he had been. It is a glorious event when we see others offering themselves up to serve God. Romans 5:20b eloquently states, “but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” David recognized his sin, and now that he has experienced restoration, he wanted to share God’s righteousness with others. Verse 14 speaks, delivering David from bloodguiltiness. Scholars believe this refers to Uriah’s blood. David experienced forgiveness for all his sins. He got right with God.
What does God call David in Psalm 51:14?
Have you ever experienced God’s gift of salvation? Would you like to share your salvation testimony with the class?
DELIGHT IN GOD. Read Psalm 51: 18-19.
When we look at verses 18 and 19, David is longing for God’s security. This is what he is referring to when he says, “Build the walls of Jerusalem” The walls were to be a security to God’s holy city, and that is how he wants his heart to be—secure in His LORD and to delight in Him. David gave God the sacrifice He desired, his heart. He is ready to be “the man after God’s own heart” that many call him today.
Where can we find our security in God?
APPLYING THE TEXT.
· God is gracious and compassionate; therefore, when we repent, He forgives and cleanses us.
· Sin is serious and destructive.
· We must cry out to God to create a clean heart in us.
· God desires a broken and contrite heart from us.
· Once true repentance occurs, we are restored and able to delight in the Lord, our God.
CONCLUSION: REMEMBER THE MAN IN ADULTERY. Read Psalm 51:17.
At the beginning of this study, a man asked Dear Abby for advice on dealing with his guilt over affairs, leaving him thinking of suicide. Dear Abby’s answer was purposely not shared. There is only one solution for this man. It is to follow King David’s path calling on the LORD to wash him, cleanse him, and seek repentance in Jesus Christ. Then, in God’s grace, he will become pure. His broken spirit can be healed, and he can face life with a renewed heart and spirit. If not, he will remain Shattered in Louisiana.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father.
Thank you for washing me clean when I transgress against You. Lead me away from sin. Give me wisdom so that I can live with a pure heart. Keep my spirit steadfast in You. Lord, I want to be in Your presence always. Let me sing Your praises. Give me a broken and contrite heart so that I can praise You always.
In Christ Alone, Amen.
God bless,
Bibliography
Carson, D.A., R.T. France, J.A. Motyer, and G.J. Wenham, eds. New Bible Commentary. Downsers
Grove: Intervarsity, 1994.
Hays, J. Daniel and J. Scott Duvall, eds. The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook. Grand Rapids: Baker
Books, 2011.
Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton, A Survey of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.
Pfeiffer, Charles F. and Everett F. Harrison, eds. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody
Press, 1962.
Radmacher, Earl, Ron Allen, H. Wayne House. Compact Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson,
Van Buren, Abagail, "Dear Abby: Guilt over affair leaves husband thinking of suicide," Accessed 4
October, 2021.
https://www.mrt.com/news/article/DEAR-ABBY-Guilt-over-affair-leaves-husband-7477821.php.
Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Bible: Old Testament, Job—Song of Solomon. Colorado Springs,
David C. Cook, 2004.
[2]Radmacher, Earl, Ron Allen, H. Wayne House, Compact Bible Commentary, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004. 378.
Permission: I, Patti Greene, am the copyright owner of the above material titled Psalm 51: Bible Study. I consent to use this material with the expressed purpose of individual or group Bible Study only. Please give credit to the author by including: “Written by Patti Greene @ GreenePastures.org for use in Bible studies only.”
Subscribe: Join my blog by subscription to ensure you receive an email every time a new blog is posted. You can subscribe to the Greene Pastures blog site in the right-hand corner. You will receive an email to confirm your subscription. Feel free to forward this to your friends and family. I promise you won’t be overloaded with excessive emails — only when I post, which is no more than twice a month!
Books by Patti Greene (Great for Christmas Gifts!)
Let me end this year by encouraging you to choose a Bible reading plan and read the Bible through in 2021. You will never regret soaking up the Word of God.
Below is a link with many different plans you can chose from. Choose one that suits you best and go for it!
Also, here are a few tips that I have learned over the years.
1. Skip over the Bible genealogy you can’t pronounce. [At this point, knowing there’s a genealogy is enough for now, especially if this is your first read-through.]
2. Read with a pen, highlighter and notebook nearby to write down verses, questions, or things you want to look up later.
3. It is okay to read ahead. There will be days you will miss.
4. If possible, find a friend to read along with you on the same plan. [This way you will have a comrade to share with.]
5. Don’t be discouraged if you lag behind. Keep at it. So what if it takes you 1 1/2 or 2+ years to finish?
6. If you are reading a book for your Bible study class or group, count it. When you get to that book, you will be happy to have some catch-up time.
7. If you are in a plan where you are reading the entire Old Testament at once, give yourself permission to stop and read something in the New Testament.
8. Share meaningful verses with your friends and family.
9. Look for God’s sense of humor as you read. For example, today I did something rather “stupid” and the next thing I read (in my plan) was in Matthew 11:4. It said, “Go and report to John what you hear and see.”
Yikes, John is my husband’s name! I laughed when I read that. I still haven’t told him, but I will when he wakes up!!!
Best wishes and again, have a blessed 2021!
And please share this article with your friends and family!
As I watched a crew of tree trimmers pruning the trees in my yard, there was one designated man whose job it was to place ropes securely around himself and climb into the inner portion of the tree to trim the branches that were high and unreachable to the other crew members. Without a doubt, this man–I feel sure—had been meticulously trained on how to use the saws and climbing gear properly.
I held my breath as this man stood on the tree limbs—convinced some would be too weak to hold him.
But then, I froze when I saw him slip a few feet down the limb. Only I WAS FEARFUL. He was not. He was confident because he had ropes holding him securely fastened in case of a fall.
He trusted in the ropes.
Watching him, I was reminded how many times we slip in our Christian walk, i.e. gossip, jealousy, critical spirit, and more.
But we have a God who, just like the ropes, holds us securely in place.
However, first, we must trust Christ to be assured of His full protection.
We do that by believing in Jesus Christ.
Then, we can lean on Him, securely aware He is our protector, and that He holds us securely in His arms.
In the Bible, ropes were used both for positive and negative purposes. On the positive side, ropes were used for . . .
Support
After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along. (Acts 27:17)
An escape
So, Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped. (1 Samuel 19:12)
A reminder of God’s commandments
You shall, therefore, impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. (Deuteronomy 11:18)
Let us choose today to allow God’s “ropes” to give us His confidence during our times of need!
As I pondered the new patriotic fabric bolts in my closet, I began speculating that instead of keeping my feet up relaxing during this pandemic—maybe, just maybe—it was time to put my feet to the pedal.
But, “How Lord?”
Honestly, I was quite comfortable sitting on my couch in my own home during my city’s stay-at-home advisory.
After a short while, with some prayer and the Holy Spirit promptings, I was impressed to make/have made face masks! A lot of face masks—like using all my fabric which totaled about 1,500+ face masks.
”What Lord? That’s crazy!” I responded.
“Why Lord?” “Obedience Patti,” He responded. Of course, I just heard “JUST DO IT!” Hmm.
“When Lord?” “Immediately,” he declared.
The Path
I have been on this path before, and I know to obey God is always the best route to follow—even if it sounds absurd.
“But Lord, 1,500+ face masks? Are you sure?” No response!
We might not always understand what God is asking us to do or why He is asking us to do it, but such a large quantity became our goal.
I might note, I still don’t know why and I might never know.
I am just hoping I don’t end up with that many face masks hidden in my closet for my children to figure out what to do with them when my day comes!
Learning to follow the Lord’s promptings has led me to some crazy ministry ideas, i.e. allowing my son to miss Vacation Bible School so he could “take care of his gerbil named Pizza”; driving around an apartment complex writing down pithy bumper sticker expressions for our education minister and more.
This face mask idea may be one of these crazy ministry ideas to add to my list! We shall see. But, it stemmed from desiring to be obedient to the Lord. Sometimes I obey reluctantly rather than obeying immediately. This might be the case here since I feel I am a week later than I should be in selling face masks—my sew(er) even said so.
So, after a week of speculating, there wasn’t any question that I should obey the prompting, and for that reason, Greene Pastures Shop has created eight different kinds of patriotic face masks. Getting this many face masks manufactured and creating an online store within a week was a monumental task.
It is only appropriate to thank my husband for his unfailing support and technical expertise. He’s been on this road with me before. Some people may call it creative, but we call it “Patti’s crazy ministry ideas.”
Triple-layer protection; 100% cotton fabric (front), middle filter barrier, and 65% cotton polyester/35% cotton fabric (back); 8.5 x 4.5″ finished pleated product; 8.5 x7″ when open.
Filter Pocket includes 1 MERV 13 filter. MERV 13 filters are high-quality filters that fight dust & lint, dust mites, pet dander, cough & sneezes, bacteria, pollen, mold, smog, smoke, and viruses; Filters are not reusable and cannot be washed
Covers nose, mouth, and lower face with a comfortable, moldable nose bridge
Packets of 3 reusable MERV13 filters can be purchased
Made in the U.S.A. Ships from Houston, Texas
꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿꓿
Each mask comes individually wrapped; Wash in warm water and dry line
Sold in a set of 3
DISCLAIMER: Wearing this mask will not guarantee immunity to any virus (including Covid-19) and should only be viewed as a preventative measure. These face coverings are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders as recommended by current CDC guidance.
Shipping and Tax
Free Standard Shipping by USPS Priority Mail; Tax included in price
Face Mask Order Information
I hope you will consider purchasing a set of these masks. Help me not to feel so crazy!
(Hint: When ordering a mask, you must put something in the address field that asks for your apartment/unit number. Just put N/A or something. We did good technical-wise, but getting rid of that field was one task we could not figure out.)
And looking forward, a new blog is coming soon by Guest Blogger Ellsworth Johnson and it is terrific. Keep your eyes open for it.
Bible Verses
So the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. (Deuteronomy 6:24)
Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)
For as through the one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are loved. I love You so much.
We are all facing this COVID-19 season from different viewpoints and circumstances. You are here for each one of us.
Nonetheless, it is my privilege to know that You know what I am going through right now. You created me in my mother’s womb, and You know me better than anyone else. Help me to see this time from Your perspective. Let me be grateful when struggling and when at peace. Show me my sins. Let me honor You as I seek Your will. I want to surrender my life to You no matter what the predicaments I find myself in. Give me wisdom as I pray for others. Place the names of those who need prayer upon my heart. And Lord, let me obey You without question even if You lead me to do crazy things. Let me confirm through Your Word, prayer and the protection You have given me thus far, the path You have for my life. Thank you, Lord.
Any child of the 1960s will recognize those words, intoned from a clandestinely placed tape recorder each week as Jim Phelps calmly accepted one dangerous and logistically challenging assignment after another on the ironically titled TV spy series “Mission: Impossible”.
Phelps always accepted the mission, and never failed in his efforts!
We as Christians are given the Great Commission by Jesus Christ, a “mission” He urges us to accept. Like on the TV show we have great latitude in determining where, when and how we undertake this objective, as well as who will help with bringing it about.
Our success rate will probably be less than 100%, at least in our estimation, but the important thing is that we, at some point, in some way, “accept the mission”. – Ed.
Off to Belize City, Belize
In 1989, I boarded a plane with my husband and off we went from Houston, Texas on our first mission trip to Belize City, Belize, Central America. Our sleeping arrangements involved single bunk beds on a cement floor in the dank basement of a missionary couple’s home. Roaches flew by as I tried to fall asleep, and I recall the exact words I said to my husband: “How in the world could you take me to this God-forsaken place?” Of course, as I look back, it was mostly the cockroaches that invoked this question, which was more a declaration of my mental state at the time.
As I think about my comment, I realize that missions and evangelism are all about bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to “God-forsaken places” like this one but with my first experience, I could not get beyond the “cockroach mentality” and my disdain for the creatures. Fortunately, in time, I was blessed by many of the lovely people I met on my subsequent trips to Belize. Praise God!
Bible Verse
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) implores us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
While some are called to give up money and their livelihood to follow the Great Commission, others will be called to a different mission, purpose, or place. What is important is to seek out God’s individual plan for our lives, and to obey His direction at every stage.
From a United States Citizen’s Perspective
As a resident of the United States, it is sometimes difficult to even imagine the poverty some people live in daily in other parts of the world. It is hard to conceive of worshipping in a run-down shack without air conditioning or sanitation. A.W. Tozer, a self-taught theologian, and a fearless preacher said, “Evangelical Christianity is now tragically below the New Testament standard. Worldliness is an accepted fact of our way of life. Our religious mood is social instead of spiritual.” ¹ We are now seeing churches sporting cafés, movie theaters, gymnasiums, and even local fashion shows.
For those reading this who are from an “advanced” country, have you ever considered that the reason we have been blessed with such relative abundance may be so that we can give generously to the cause of evangelism, rather than to our pleasures and wants? While many are trusting God in total dependency in living out their calling, so many others (even believers) have little regard for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have become so “ME-centered” that the Lord hardly even seems present in their lives other than an occasional church service or a cursory glance at the Bible.
Satan’s Perspective
It is important to remember that Satan does not want us to be involved in any missionary or evangelical endeavor. Period! His desire is for us to either stay neutral on the subject or to become more centered in our own lives so that they revolve around us, and what makes us happy, rather than around the lives of others.
Sometimes those in mission work get so discouraged seeing so few showing an interest in their Christian beliefs or evangelism. This is another way our enemy seeks to degrade work done for the Kingdom, by attacking not only the missionary (through discouragement) but the supporter as well (through apathy, sloth and other distracters).
God’s Purpose
Regardless, God’s purposes will always be fulfilled. Even today, we can see the Holy Spirit operating around the world in many different nations. Many are coming to accept Christ where the Gospel has never been preached before. Salvations are occurring despite witchcraft, demonic influences, and secular rites and rituals. People are accepting Jesus Christ despite the fear of imprisonment, the fear of beheading, and the fear of being ostracized.
It is happening because of the prayers of believers. Maybe you are praying for a missionary, a specific country, a mission trip, or donating to help others participate in the Great Commission. If so, you are part of a wonderful opportunity by allowing the Holy Spirit to use you in His work.
As we pray for souls to be saved, let us remember the profound words of South African writer, teacher, and Christian pastor Andrew Murray. In Pray for the World, Murray is quoted saying, “Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things, above all that we ask or think.” ² God does work in mysterious ways!
Advancing the Cause of Jesus Christ
Below are some ideas on how we can advance the cause of Jesus Christ. They are listed in alphabetical order, but all are worthy of equal consideration to the same degree.
Adopt and pray for a country. Ask the Lord for the Holy Spirit to seek out the lost and lead them to Him;
Be obedient to whatever or wherever the Lord leads;
Befriend a person(s) from a different culture or country;
Have a “missions fair” at your church.
Participate in a mission trip – local or foreign;
Provide mission-centered training in your church or organization;
Research your country. Learn as much as you can about the culture, land, religion, livelihood, population, ethnic groups, economy, literacy, languages, education, and more. [This is a nice family activity to do.]
Seek out opportunities for involvement.
What Happened Because We “Accepted The Mission”
Because we accepted the Great Commission and journeyed to Belize, we were able to be witnesses for Jesus Christ to the Belizean people. My husband John, our three children (ages 8, 6 and 4 at the time) and I spent our time in the Central American nation becoming lifelong friends with our hosts, Pastor Tony of Punta Gorda Baptist Church and his family, as well as other members of the local community. Fortunately, we still communicate with Tony’s adult children to this day.
John preached his first sermon there. I helped design the layout for a bookstore. Most importantly, John worked with the Southern Baptist Mission Board and trained Tony in the process of him becoming a fully-ordained pastor.
We ministered to Tony and his family well beyond that trip to Belize. When Tony developed kidney disease due to his uncontrollable diabetes, we let him stay at our home in St. Louis. Later, John arranged for him to get into a program at a downtown Houston hospital. At the time, dialysis was unavailable in Punta Gorda, and as a result, he had to travel regularly the 167 miles to Belize City for treatment, so we brought Tony here to the United States for more focused medical care.
Remember what I said earlier about the reason for having abundance is to share it with others? Recall that Luke tells us, “everyone to whom much was given, of [Him] much will be required. (Luke 12:48 ESV). We gave Tony and his family cars. We paid for their youngest daughter’s high school education. Some people might call my telling you this “braggy”, but I simply say it’s the kind of thing our Lord expects of us.
In sustaining the pastor and his family, we, in fact, supported the spreading of the Word by removing obstacles and distractions which would otherwise have hindered its free flow. That, above all other blessings we have been able to provide, is the most enduring.
Sadly, diabetes ended up taking Tony’s life, but his desire and work to bring the Word of God to the people of Belize lives on.
What I Learned on Our Mission Trips to Belize
Going to Belize was my first mission trip. It was “eye-opening“—except when I closed my eyes to avoid those huge cockroaches at night. I learned I could do without my eyeliner and my eyelet bedspread.
But what I couldn’t avoid was the eyesore of poverty that confronted me every day. After urinating in a dirt hole in the ground, I was thankful for an outside toilet. After watching seven-and eight-year-old boys steal in order to purchase food, I was thankful we had enough to feed our own children. After seeing the native Belizeans shop at different grocery stores based on their political parties, I was thankful for our relatively stable public life in this country.
Secure in Their Faith
However, what amazed me the most was that the native Christians I met were solid and secure in their faith. They possessed a faith that I had never seen before. Their walk with the Lord was so evident by the fruits in their life, i.e. love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). I saw that they HAD TO depend on their relationship with God to sustain them for food, water, shelter, and more.
The churches we visited had pastors that cared that people accepted the gift of salvation. They preached with a firm voice as if it might be their last time to preach—and knowing the violence that surrounded them (at least in Belize City), any preaching experience very well could have been their last!
In all, my husband John has made ten trips to Belize. I myself have been along on three of those journeys. We keep “accepting the mission”, because, as long as there are unsaved people walking the Earth, it never ends…
Conclusion
Evil is abounding right now in every corner of the world. Let’s increase our faith, shape our Christian ministries, and pray sincerely for the Holy Spirit to be a mighty force in reaching the world for Christ. And let’s remind ourselves that God desires salvation for ALL people – even those in “God-forsaken” countries!
Bible Verses:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17)
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14)
Prayer:
Lord Jesus. Thank you for my salvation through Jesus Christ. Lord, please soften my heart so I am more sensitive to the eternal and spiritual needs of others. Let me pray for the Holy Spirit to gently guide me to the purposes and callings You have already planned for me. Provide opportunities for me to see through Your eyes and give me the courage and willingness to respond. In Your name, I pray. Amen.
Central Houston Inspirational Writers Alive! Associate Member; BibleGateway Blogger, Member; SBC, Church Member
² Murray, Andrew. “Andrew Murray Quote about #Everything, #Beware, #Prayer, Unbelief.” All Christian Quotes. Web. Accessed 7 Oct 2019. https://www.allchristianquotes.org/quotes/Andrew_Murray/141/
New American Standard Bible.BibleGateway.com. Web. 16 Oct 2019.
All Bible verses are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted.
Bible Gateway Bloggers
===============
Patti Greene is a fun-loving (but serious) coffee drinking wife, mom, and Grammi! She serves as a Bible teacher and Sunday School helper in her home church where her husband also teaches in Katy, Texas. She writes and speaks with the sole purpose of leading and maturing others in Jesus Christ and His everlasting love. To receive blogs from GreenePastures.org delivered straight to your email, please email her at Patti@GreenePastures.org with your email address, and you will be added to the email listing. You will need to confirm your decision to be added to the blog by email. You can also catch up with her on her Twitter feed at (@PattiGreene13) or her Facebook Patti Greene-Pastures page at (https://www.facebook.com/author.greene).
Tweet This
