Saturday, December 16, 2023

3 Views of the Church, 1of3

~ 3 “B” Word Pictures from Ephesians: Building ~

 

|||* BOOKS EXTRAVAGANZA: See Below *|||

 

Building  ~  “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22). “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:9-11).

 

The true Church of Jesus Christ is like a building where Christ is the Foundation.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN NON-FICTION

Half-Price eBooks ~ Right now you can obtain any, or all, of my eBooks for half-price (epub). Only at https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=robert+lloyd+russell 

 

Choose From:

          Christian Concepts Series

GOD’S CHURCH: Christ’s Pearl

GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight

GOD’S CHILD: Like A Tree

 

                     Christian Growth Series

GOD’S DESIRE: How to Finish Strong

GOD’S LIGHT: How to Respond

CHRIST’S DISCIPLE: How to Finish Strong

 

                     Christian Theology Series

CHRIST’S BLOOD: 7+ Amazing Benefits

PRIDE: Good and Bad

TEMPTATION: 50+ Tips

 

                     Bible Character Series

SAMSON: Spirit-Controlled to Self-Centered

PETER: Failure to Faith

 

                     Missions

JIM ELLIOT: Recorded Messages 

Friday, December 15, 2023

EXTRA: Big Book Sale

 ~ All eBooks Half-Price ~

 Beginning Tomorrow: December 15

AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN NON-FICTION

Right now you can obtain any, or all, of my eBooks for half-price (epub). Only at https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=robert+lloyd+russell 

 

Choose From:

          Christian Concepts Series

GOD’S CHURCH: Christ’s Pearl

GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight

GOD’S CHILD: Like A Tree

 

                     Christian Growth Series

GOD’S DESIRE: How to Finish Strong

GOD’S LIGHT: How to Respond

CHRIST’S DISCIPLE: How to Finish Strong

 

                     Christian Theology Series

CHRIST’S BLOOD: 7+ Amazing Benefits

PRIDE: Good and Bad

TEMPTATION: 50+ Tips

 

                     Bible Character Series

SAMSON: Spirit-Controlled to Self-Centered

PETER: Failure to Faith

 

                     Missions

JIM ELLIOT: Recorded Messages 

 

For Specific Information about individual books go to:

https://www.booksrlr.com/

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 


* * * * *

Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

FREE Author Newsletter: Subscribe today and receive a FREE welcome gift followed by occasional news and special offers.  https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. 

Author web page: “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell” http://booksrlr.com/ – 11 national and international book awards.

Daily blog page: “Abundant Life Now” http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/

·         An INDEX of past topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

·         The current TOP 10 reader favorites are listed at the bottom of the page.

·         His personal TOP 10 favorites are listed in the right-hand column of the blog. 

Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/robertlloyd.russell 

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Fool Characteristics, 38

 ~ Fools Don’t Understand Proverbs ~

 

|||* BOOKS EXTRAVAGANZA: See Below *|||

 

Series Note  ~  In this series we look at some of the passages in the Book of Proverbs – wise sayings that are generally true – that describe a fool from God’s perspective.  Some may surprise you. 

 

Chapter Note  ~  Eleven of the first twelve verses of Proverbs 26 contain a comment about fools (only verse 2 does not).

 

Scripture  ~  “Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools” (Proverbs 26:9).

 

Important Truth  ~  “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’” (Psalm 53:1a).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN NON-FICTION

Half-Price eBooks ~ Right now you can obtain any, or all, of my eBooks for half-price (epub). Only at https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=robert+lloyd+russell 

 

Choose From:

          Christian Concepts Series

GOD’S CHURCH: Christ’s Pearl

GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight

GOD’S CHILD: Like A Tree

 

                     Christian Growth Series

GOD’S DESIRE: How to Finish Strong

GOD’S LIGHT: How to Respond

CHRIST’S DISCIPLE: How to Finish Strong

 

                     Christian Theology Series

CHRIST’S BLOOD: 7+ Amazing Benefits

PRIDE: Good and Bad

TEMPTATION: 50+ Tips

 

                     Bible Character Series

SAMSON: Spirit-Controlled to Self-Centered

PETER: Failure to Faith

 

                     Missions

JIM ELLIOT: Recorded Messages 


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Thursday, December 14, 2023

Newness In Christ, 6

 ~ We Have New Blessings Every Day ~

 

Scripture  ~  “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him’!” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

 

Comment  ~  Those who have been believers for a significant period of time testify to this reality.  Early in the Christian life it is not always obvious the reality of God’s daily blessings. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

* * * * *

Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

FREE Author Newsletter: Subscribe today and receive a FREE welcome gift followed by occasional news and special offers.  https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. 

Author web page: “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell” http://booksrlr.com/ – 11 national and international book awards.

Daily blog page: “Abundant Life Now” http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/

·         An INDEX of past topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

·         The current TOP 10 reader favorites are listed at the bottom of the page.

·         His personal TOP 10 favorites are listed in the right-hand column of the blog. 

Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/robertlloyd.russell 

~~~~~~~~~~~   

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

God Attribute, 98

 ~ Rescues ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Scripture  ~  “And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment” (2 Peter 2:5-10 NLT).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Why Trust God? 72

 ~ God Is Compassionate Towards You ~

 

Introduction  ~  “Abundant Life Now” previously provided a list of Biblical of examples of fearing / reverencing God (217 posts).  In this current series we look at Biblical accounts that demonstrate that we can fully trust God.  Initially we posted seven general reasons for trusting God.  We are currently looking at passages from all 66 books of Scripture which demonstrate a reason for trusting our Creator. 

 

Scripture  ~  “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.


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Monday, December 11, 2023

The Christian Walk, 5

 Series Introduction  ~  The New Testament has much to say about how a believer should live their life.  Christians should never have to guess about the life that pleases God.  In this series we look at a variety of passages that speak about the Christian walk on earth. 

 

Scripture  ~ “Whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him.  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:5-6).

 

Comment  ~  This post and the next three posts refer to Christ’s life on earth as our example of how to live our lives. 

 

Quote  ~  “To walk with someone means you are aware of their presence.  And this is true with God.  If you’re to walk with Him, you must be continually aware of His presence.” —Kay Smith {Pleasing God)

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.


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Sunday, December 10, 2023

In Jesus We Have… , 46

 ~ In Jesus We Have Eternal Life, 11 ~

 

Introduction ~ In this series we look at a few of the verses which state what we have when we are “in Christ.”  Consider our series theme verse: 

 

“God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4-10).

 

Currently we are posting some of the many verses which talk about eternal life?

 

What is your definition of “eternal”?

 

Scripture ~ “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven — not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever’” (John 6:53-58).

 

Comment ~ I like to consider one-word descriptions of the Bible.  There are many but my favorite is “forgiveness.” 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.


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Saturday, December 9, 2023

Satan in Matthew 4, 9of9

~ Satan Departs ~

 

Series Note:  Matthew 4 is a well-known chapter which gives an account of Satan tempting Jesus Christ in the wilderness.  There has been a lot written and discussed regarding these three temptations (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life). 

 

While the study of Matthew 4 is a rich study regarding our Savior Jesus Christ it also allows us to have insight into some of Satan’s abilities and actions.  This series contains nine examples which make it clear that Satan is a real personality. 

 

Scripture ~ “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matthew 4:1-11).

 

Scripture 2 ~ “Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Lament and mourn and weep!  Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:7-10).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.


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Friday, December 8, 2023

Fool Characteristics, 37

~ Don’t Honor A Fool ~

 

Series Note  ~  In this series we look at some of the passages in the Book of Proverbs – wise sayings that are generally true – that describe a fool from God’s perspective.  Some may surprise you. 

 

Chapter Note  ~  Eleven of the first twelve verses of Proverbs 26 contain a comment about fools (only verse 2 does not).

 

Scripture  ~  “Like one who binds a stone in a sling is he who gives honor to a fool” (Proverbs 26:8).

 

Important Truth  ~  “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’” (Psalm 53:1a).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.


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