Blessing I Will Bless You

Book Marketing Jesus' Way (Genesis 22:17)

“Blessing I will bless you.” (Genesis 22:17)

Lord I pray back your word to you. While you are blessing us, you will bless us. You said that through Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).  Through your Holy Spirit the apostle Paul testifies that if we belong to you, the Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29).

Your promises are pictures of what you desire us to become. Your promises are a picture of who you are. Multiplying you will multiply (Genesis 22:17). No matter how many promises you made, they are “Yes” in Christ. Therefore, through Christ the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of you, our father in heaven (2 Corinthians 1:20).

For this reason in the mighty name of Jesus I declare that while you are blessing Dead Man’s Hand, you will bless Skull Creek Stakeout. While you are blessing Dead Low Tide you will bless Rumor of a Werewolf. While you are blessing Phantom Gunslinger, you will bless Medium Well Done.

While you are blessing Curse of the Black Avenger, you will bless Dead Calm, Bone Dry. While you are blessing The End of Calico Jack, you will bless No Good Stede Goes Unpunished. While you are blessing Down to Davy Jones, you will bless The Day The World Sneezed.

While you are blessing Summers’ Love, you will bless My Father’s Business.

Pick The One Best Thing

Book Marketing Jesus' Way (Luke 10:38-42)

Once there was a reader named Martha who hosted an author event.

  • Martha opened her home (but not her heart) to her guest.
  • Martha was distracted.
  • Martha was worried.
  • Martha had to to make preparations.
  • Martha petitioned others for help—her family (perhaps friends) .
  • Martha grew upset with othersher family (perhaps friends) due to their lack of help.
  • Martha questioned (doubted) her guest, Jesus, regarding his heart, compassion, and concern for her.
  • Martha commanded Jesus to act.
  • Martha pitied herself.
  • Martha praised herself.
  • Martha participated in many activities.

Martha’s sister Mary joined the others as they gathered around the guest of honor, the Author of all things.

  • Mary sat at Jesus’ feet.
  • Mary listened to Jesus’ words.
  • Mary chose the best: time with Jesus.

Pick The One Best ThingWhen we choose Jesus, no one can take him from us (John 10:28).

When we choose anything other than Jesus, those things we select will distract us from him. So much so, that often we miss the best and only thing we need for task at hand.

If you find that your efforts produce little and leave you tired, worried, upset, distracted, filled with self-pity, pride, and on the outs with others, take a break and sit with Jesus. Listen to his words. Rest in him.

Words matter. The Word matters most of all. Get into the Word. Then ask him to bless the works and words of your hands.

Let Us Stop Opposing Ourselves By Playing the “Yes, but” Game

Book Marketing Jesus' Way (2 Timothy 2:25)

Let Us Stop Opposing Ourselves By Playing the "Yes, but" Game“You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” Haggai 1:6

Does this sound like your book promotion efforts? Lots of seed sowing with little to show for it? Sometimes it’s not the seed that’s the problem or the soil or the weather, but the farmer returning to the field to sow weeds among good seed.

When we mix God’s Truth with the devil’s deceit we sow doubt and destroy our crop.

The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God …” (Luke 4:3)

The devil said to Jesus, “All this power will I give you if ….” (Luke 4:6)

The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God …” (Luke 4:9)

If is a fine word when creating story. The “great if” often begats a great premise. “What if the Creator of the universe came to earth in the form of man, what would that look like? How would he be received?”

Playing “what if” for creative brainstorming is fine at a novel retreat, but when we begin questioning God’s words, debating in our minds his truths, we elevate ourselves above God and claim his sovereignty for ourselves.

How do we do this? Here are a few phrases we love to spout.

  • “yes, but”
  • “my god wouldn’t”
  • “how do you explain”

Such comments place limits on God—limits that do not confine him but will box us in. Only when we judge God to be trustworthy in all matters, unable to lie and full of truth, will we escape our Yes, But Box.

In the kingdom of God there are three kinds of faith:

  • Inactive Faith
  • Reactive Faith
  • Proactive Faith

Inactive Faith reflects the heart of someone who believes Jesus died for their sins. They have confessed this with their lips. Beyond that, however, they live pretty much like everyone else. Little about their life would lead anyone to guess that they are a believer in Jesus.

Such individuals may go to church occasionally, read portions of their Bible, even pray sometimes. These are those Jesus called “you of little faith.” The seed of great faith is in them but they do little to make it grow. Worse, they hardly sow any seeds of faith for others.

Reactive Faith is the heart of someone who responds to an event with earnest belief. Circumstances prompt them to put all their trust in Jesus. If he doesn’t come through, they are doomed.

And when Jesus does come through, their faith is strengthened for a while. No amount of explaining from others can remove the individual’s conviction that only Jesus could have performed such a miraculous act.

Proactive Faith is faith that relies on spiritual eyes and ears. The circumstances we see with our eyes matters only as a means of framing the mighty acts which take place after our lips have declared that what is not yet will be.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Proactive Faith is the sort of faith Elisha had when he prayed:

“’Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’” the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17-20)

Proactive Faith comes by witnessing the powerful hand of God moving in our life, or the life of another. Proactive Faith begins to grow when the Holy Spirit comes upon us in power. The Apostle Paul went about preaching in the demonstration of the Spirit’s power. Though he spoke God’s words, it was our Lord’s actions that convinced the crowds that God’s power was in Paul.

People were healed, demons cast out, lives changed. Such power can only flow from those who are truly righteous in the Lord and filled with his power — an individual so convinced their sins are forgiven that they can stand before God without guilt and before the devil without fear.

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2

The key to Proactive Faith is getting up, getting out, and getting filled with the Holy Spirit of Christ.

When you know that you are fully righteous, holy, and pure because of the blood of Jesus, you will do even greater things than what Christ did. (John 14:12-14)

When you know that you are fully righteous, holy, and pure because of the blood of Jesus, you will stop denying him and cease playing the “yes, but” game.

When you know that you are fully righteous, holy, and pure because of the blood of Jesus, you will expect and watch for a bountiful harvest from the good seed you’ve sown.

God Gives Life to the Dead – Even Dead Books

Book Marketing Jesus' Way (Romans 4:17)

God Gives Life to the Dead - Even Dead BooksGod gives life to the dead. (Romans 4:17)

Does your book seem dead? Breathe life into it with the words of God.

God formed man of dust from the ground. He breathed life into the man’s nostrils. (Genesis 2:7) God gives life and breath and all things to people. (Acts 17:25) Because the breath of the Lord blows on the grass, it withers. Flowers fall. (Isaiah 40:7)

If the breathe of God can cause flowers and grass to shrivel and die, he can also breathe life into grass, flowers, and books.

Are not books made of paper? Is paper not made from pulp? Does not pulp come from trees? Your book is a living organism. Or was.

God calls into being things that were not. (Romans 4:17) Call your book to life. Declare to your books: Live, you books! Expect your books to live. Prepare for your books to live. Speak bold words of live to your books.

Then watch the mighty power of God work on your behalf.

Receiving Healing and Help from God — Jesus Rebukes Unbelief: Finding Faith for the Struggling Writer

Luke 9:37-42, Mark 9:14-28, Matthew 17:14-20

After the nine disciples cast out the demon it did not leave the boy. Perhaps at that point doubt entered their minds. Had they done something wrong? Failed to use the right words?

Some time earlier we find a group of demons negotiating with Jesus. Did the Nine use that event to justify their unbelief?

A man filled with a demon ran and fell on his knees in front of Jesus. Jesus had said to the demon, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

The demon shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion, for we are many.”

Let’s pause to consider the pronouns used by unclean spirits. First they lied to Jesus by claiming to be a singular spirit. But when Jesus demanded to know the spirit’s name, they confessed to be a group of spirits.

Second, the demon asked Jesus not to torture it. In fact over and over the demons begged Jesus to spare them.

The demon begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs.

The Nine would have recalled how Legion negotiated with Jesus, so when they attempted to cast it out, the demon may have sensed their weak faith and rejected their authority.

When Jesus arrives his first response is not to rebuke the evil spirits, but his disciples. He scolds them for their perverted skepticism.

“You unbelieving and perverse generation. How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” (Luke 9:41)

Receiving Healing and Help from God — Jesus Rebukes UnbeliefAnytime our actions and beliefs are contrary to what is right and good in God’s eyes we are in a state of depravity and perversion. Perversion brings about the opposite of what God intends. The Nine claimed to act on behalf of Jesus, but the fruit of their actions led to taunting by the religious leaders. Their perverse unbelief brought not honor, but dishonor to Jesus.

Doubt and indecision have no place in God’s healing and help. When we doubt, we are in agreement with the devil. When we are unsure if God wants us healed and helped, we deny Christ, for he said, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “You have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:28-29)

Pure faith and prayer are the keys to mighty works in the name of Jesus.

Jesus’ final action is to rebuke the unclean spirit and give the boy to his father whole, healed, and in his right mind.

If you seek healing from God, do not doubt. Do not say, “If it is your will . . .” Jesus is always willing to heal. (Matthew 8:3) Healing is purpose. By his wounds, lashes, bruises we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) To question if he wants us to remain sick and feeble is to question if he wants us to be saved from sin. Jesus said:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”Luke 5:31

Jesus is in the business of healing and saving. May we also be about his business.