The 3 A’s , Christian Life and Development by D. S Reynolds, is here to help individuals align with the Word of God. It is wonderful to know that whatever it is he wants us to do, he equips us with the necessary tools and resources that we need. However, this often needs to be coupled with us exercising obedience faith and trust in Him.

Here is an extract from her book:

CHAPTER ONE – Letting Go!

When you look at the life of Jesus Christ, He was often criticised for interacting with the rejects, undesirables and dysfunctional people in society. The pious people of the day could not comprehend why He wanted to mix with such individuals.

Matthew 9:10–13

Later, as Jesus and his disciples were eating dinner at Matthew’s house, there were many notorious swindlers there as guests.

The Pharisees were indignant. “Why does your teacher associate with men like that?”

“Because people who are well don’t need a doctor. It’s the sick people who do.” was Jesus’ reply. Then he added, “Now go away and learn the meaning of this verse of Scripture, “It isn’t your sacrifices and gifts I want – I want you to be merciful”. For I have come to urge sinners, not the self-righteous back to God.”

Jesus was saying He had come for those who are broken, hurting, wounded, dysfunctional and generally all those who recognise that they are in need of Him. In my view that is all of us, because we have all experienced some kind of hurt, pain, rejection and or exposure to some form of dysfunctional relationship in life whether intentionally or unintentionally.

However, there are others who are self-righteous, who see themselves as good and are judgmental towards others. These are the people who think they do not need to be forgiven because according to their standards, they have not offended God and they are okay.

Individuals who hold such opinions are missing out on the wonderful blessings God wants to give them. They are not in a place to humbly receive such blessings because they have everything sorted in their lives and therefore, have no need of Him.

I am not ashamed to say that the impact of my parent’s divorce affected me. I would also say, do not underestimate the impact of divorce on children. It is possible for a child to harbour bitterness towards a loved one as result of the words used by one parent to express their dissatisfaction with their former spouse. This can adversely impact a child and contribute to their misalignment later on in life. It could even impact upon their future relationships.

As I began to study the word of God, somehow bitterness and the Christian message of forgiveness and love your neighbor, seemed incompatible. Therefore, I knew I had problems. This is what the word of God does; it convicts you and helps you realise that something is not right in your life. It brings things to your attention that are out of alignment with the word of God. You choose how you respond to that conviction. Some people ignore it and continue to justify their behaviour. Others may acknowledge it but that is as far as it goes. Others may acknowledge it and maybe try to do something about it. The choice is ours, but we must also be prepared to accept the consequence of how we respond to our convictions. – Written by D S Reynolds

Get your copy now!

Trevor Summerlin’s book, Christian Parallels, Working Towards Spiritual Maturity Through the Medium of Skiing.

The book begins by assessing how essential it is for each person to develop a completely different approach to the way they see themselves, and everything around them. It then goes on to look at the various elements that contribute to a person’s experience as they progress into the world of skiing, including the development of specific skiing skills.

Here is an extract from the book:

I have always loved snow and have fond memories of building snowmen in our tiny back garden in Catharine Street, Cambridge, where I grew up.  Whenever there was a snowfall I would enjoy frequent snowball fights with the other kids in our street and we would often challenge each other in snow clearing races up and down the street until it was too dark to see.  One activity which always captivated us was making a long slide.  We did this by continually running at, and then skidding over a small patch of snow so that it became compressed and icy.  I think this was the precursor to snowboarding !

It was during the great ‘freeze’ of 1963 that I first saw the sea frozen.  My parents had taken me to visit an aunt in Hunstanton and I have vivid memories of staring in awe and amazement at the static sea and marveling at how whole trees had been covered with such a thick hoar frost that every twig and branch was highlighted in white.  The river Cam was frozen solid that year and I was able to witness cars being driven along it by some university students.  This prompted my mother to dig out her ice skates and persuade me to give this a try.  Her father had in the past competed in the ‘Champion of the Fens’ ice skating races so it seemed that there just might have been a winter sports gene in my family. – Extract from Christians Parallels

To read more about Trevor’s experiences get your copy now!

Here is an extract from the book:

Chapter 3 – Why putting God first in your life and relationship is worth it

There are days when I question whether it is worth suffering for Christ as I try to live my life out for Him each day. Although it is hard to honour God during bad days and some can be easier than others, I always try to think of the positives and remember how blessed I am. I tend to wonder if the changes I make in my decisions show I am focused in following God and pleasing Him.

It can be easy to get distracted by challenges, issues and worries that life can bring. This can make us ask ourselves if God is really there and walking with us in our troubles and trials. We can have confidence in believing that God is always by our side and will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

It always reassures me to know that there are Bible verses about this which show that it is worth suffering for Christ and making the changes in our daily lives.

1 Corinthians 9:24

‘Do you not know that in a race

all the runners run, but only one

gets the prize? Run in such a

way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the

games goes into strict training.

They do it to get a crown that

will not last; but we do it to get

a crown that will last for ever.’

As Christians, we are enduring the suffering through the race and straining so that when we eventually get to the end, we will receive a prize for all our hard work.

One of Satan’s schemes is to make us think it is pointless doing this as there is no healing or restoration which comes from it. The enemy tries to evoke the feeling of guilt and fear, so we do not reach the end of the race as we stop trusting God. His plans remain only to make us feel unworthy of God’s forgiveness and lead us astray. As believers, we must remind ourselves that grace can always be received no matter what position we are in the race.

Paul says we should run the race and not stop to consider any alternatives or fall into sin which so easily entangles us but follow Jesus wholeheartedly with everything we have. The prize we will receive will eternally remain with us compared to the other runners who are struggling for a crown which will not last. He also mentions how this reward is completely worth the suffering.

To read more – get your copy now!

Just published! Whatever Next?!?! by Lilyanne Joy.

We are in the end times and so many people are not aware of it. In writing to my family, it occurred to me that maybe others would appreciate the simplifies message. The Book of Revelation is difficult to understand and this little book is an easy read in short bites. It explains what is happening now and will happen in the future – maybe very soon. My hope is that anyone reading it will ask Jesus into their heart and life. He will not only guide and comfort through turbulent times but He will ensure a future eternity with Him in heaven. As I say many times in the letters, if you have questions, find a Bible-based church near you and talk to the Minister. May the Lord bless you and stir your heart as you read. – by Lilyanne Joy

As an Missionary Kid Lilyanne Joy grew up with the sound of the gospel in her daily life. Both parents wrote and were published so grew to love word and books. She has written Gospel song lyrics for two Gospel groups, poetry and produced the works’ newsletters, plus there are other books which she has in the pipeline. Now retired from official work, Lilyanne still volunteers and one of her many hobbies is real letter-writing!

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The Plans I Have For You draws from talks that he has given at his local church, sermons which Alan reworked as studies from the word of God that can be read, rather than merely listened to. The subject matter covers a range of topics from both Old and the New Testament, but the message of God’s Love and His Grace shines through it all. It is an unchanging message, as God is unchanging and it is a message that men and women today need to hear in a world that is uncertain and often, to many, frightening.

Here is an extract from Alan Batchelors’ book:

Chapter One – The Plans I Have For You

The message that God had for the people of Judah tells us much about the character of God. We are reminded of God’s love for his people as he reminds them of their first love for him.

Jeremiah 2:2,3 The word of the LORD came to me: “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the LORD says: “’I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’” declares the LORD.

God had a plan of prosperity for his people, yet they rejected it to go their own way.

Jeremiah 2:7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.

Jeremiah 2:13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

And the lord questions why.

Jeremiah 2:5 “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me?”

Jeremiah 2:21 “I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?”

Jeremiah 2;31 “Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to you no more’?”

I’m sure you remember in Revelation the letter to the church in Ephesus:

Revelation 2:4,5 “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Chapter two of the book of Jeremiah records some of the ways in which they have turned away from God. And the words of Jeremiah reflect the heartache of God for the people who have turned away from him. God reveals to Jeremiah some of the hurt that he feels towards his people. Even the example of the exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel did nothing to stir the hearts of the people of Judah:

Jeremiah 3:6-10 “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.  I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood.  In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.

And here’s a remarkable statement:

Jeremiah 3:11 “The LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah.”

Yet God’s love is such that if they will turn away from their iniquity and turn back to Him, He is merciful and is willing to forgive and restore. The God whose word Jeremiah proclaims is a god of boundless grace and compassion.

Written by Alan Batchelor

Available now.