devotional

The Questions of Jesus: questions asked by Jesus, questions people asked Him.

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The Questions of Jesus

is a collection of fifty-two questions that Jesus asked or that people asked Jesus arranged in two-page chapters. All come from the Gospels or Acts. The book can be used like a devotional and would work well for group study in a small group or book club. Understanding Jesus’ questions will help the reader to grow in spiritual maturity. Some of Jesus’ parables are explained because they provide answers to questions or raise questions themselves.It provides something of a commentary on the most interesting questions in people’s interactions with Jesus—people like the Samaritan woman at the well, Nicodemus, and Mary and Martha. What was Satan doing when he challenged Jesus, “If you are the Son of God . . .”? Do you wonder what is the unforgiveable sin against the Holy Spirit? What did Jesus mean by the sign of Jonah? Jesus’ questions in the Sermon on the Mount are explored and many more too.
Jesus asked questions to engage His listeners or to challenge their thinking. His disciples often wanted to understand Him but sometimes to use Him; His opponents sharpened them as weapons against Him. Some of Jesus’ questions seem stupid, even rude—they’re not! As always with Jesus, there’s more to everything He said than at first appears. The interactions have lasting value too—for us. What lies behind the questions we sometimes ask God? What do His questions teach us about ourselves? His questions examine us and encourage us to think and live more like Him.

Meet John Avery

John Avery is the author of The Name Quest: Explore the Names of God to Grow in Faith and Get to Know Him Better (Morgan James Publishing, 2015). The Name Quest won the 2016 Oregon Christian Writers’ Cascade Award for nonfiction.

John is a trained teacher with over thirty years’ experience as a Bible teaching pastor, small group leader, and missionary. He has lived in England, Israel, Africa, and the Caribbean, ministering with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), international student ministry, and local churches. He and his wife, Janet, now make their home in Oregon. John likes to hike, snowshoe, and cross-country ski. John writes short, thought-provoking Bible devotionals at www.BibleMaturity.com many of which are being compiled in book form. He maintains a comprehensive resource for all the names of God at www.NamesForGod.net.

30 Days with Elijah: Pointers from Elijah’s Spiritual Journey for Yours (A Devotional)

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30 Days with Elijah: Pointers from Elijah’s Spiritual Journey for Yours is the third in a series of devotionals written to pick up pointers from Bible characters for our spiritual journey. Elijah’s story is uniquely helpful because “Elijah was a man just like us” (James 5.17). To trace his life is to look in a mirror at our own.
Elijah was as human as we are. He’s not so other-than-us it makes us believe it’s impossible for us to match his faith, his prayer life, or his walk with God. He battled the same roller coaster of emotions we do. He experienced life from both ends of the spectrum like we do — from periods of undaunting courage and unwavering faith, to struggles with deep depression and frantic fear.
The story of Elijah shows us God can transform an average Christian into a person he can use despite our foibles and weaknesses.
Elijah challenged a powerful king without wavering even with his life was on the line.
He devoted the best years of his life to prove Jehovah God was the only true God, and to call Israel to turn to the Lord God Almighty from the impotent, false gods they worshiped.
Elijah persevered even though he thought he was the only one loyal to God in the entire nation, and everyone was against him.
He endured the hardships of living as a Godly man in an ungodly culture — a culture not just indifferent to God but anti-God, making every effort to erase hum completely from their history, government, schools, and homes.
Above all, Elijah was a man who prayed and obeyed.
Because Elijah was no different than you and faced the same issues you do, and because God is the same God who works today the way he did in the days of Elijah, his story can become your story.

Meet Steve Wilmot

Steve’s lifelong passion has been to encourage and inspire Christ-followers on their long and sometimes treacherous spiritual journey Home. Over the years, he’s learned valuable lessons from his own journey of faith and developed indispensable relationships that kept him from giving up when discouragement and doubts enveloped him. His purpose for the remaining years of his life is to share what he’s learned in his everyday walk with God and in his study of the Word of God.

Steve married his college sweetheart, Becki, in 1974. She was an indispensable partner during their years together when Steve pastored five churches from 1976 to 2016. They have four grown children and eight grandchildren. From 1992 until 2017, Steve worked as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service while also pastoring a church in Edgerton, Ohio, where he and his wife still live. Though retired from his bi-vocational jobs, he continues to engage with others to help them love Jesus and follow him their whole life long.

Always with an itch for writing to spur spiritual growth, Steve now writes novels, spiritual growth books, and devotionals. He also writes a weekly column for two local newspapers called “Pastor’s Ponderings.”

In his spare time, Steve enjoys reading, gardening, and landscaping around his house and as a free service for anyone who needs his expertise and labor. He stays connected with his Band of Brothers small group as they live out Ecclesiastes 4.9-12, Hebrews 10.24-25, and Acts 2.42 together.

About a Relationship

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This book is filled with one hundred and eleven daily devotional stories. These are true accounts in the author’s life, his daily walk with Jesus. Despite the personal nature contained in this book, these stories are about you and me, how God seeks a rich and meaningful relationship with each one of us. How does one recognize the one, who is invisible? This question is answered in these wonderful short-stories. It is hoped that will be enriched and blessed by this book

Meet Werner Langer

Werner Langer is a retired professional photographer, who lives in the city of Brisbane/Australia. His birthplace though was on the other side of the world, in a small town, named Wetter. Born in June 1949, Werner grew up in post-war Germany and was educated in his home country. During his final three years he served as a police-officer. In October 1969 Werner migrated to Australia, soon settling in the outer suburb of Sandgate, in the city of Brisbane, Queensland. In 1972 he entered the College of Art to study photography and these skills equipped him for a forty year long career, twenty-eight of those years as a professional freelance photographer.

His introduction to writing began at the age of forty-two, when an unusual experience on a lonely beach changed his life. “I once was lost, but now I’m found.” These words, written by John Newton, became Werner’s personal possessions on that day, shaping the remainder of his interesting life.

“Nowadays my aim is to follow an invisible guide,” the author writes.

The solid foundations of his Werner’s books are his faith in Jesus Christ, written to bless and provide clarity for his readers.

Werner Langer is the author of three books, titled “About a Gardener” and “About a Relationship”, plus “About a hidden Garden”, all available on the Amazon website.

Werner Langer served as a volunteer chaplain for seven years in the local Magistrates Court. Nowadays the author enjoys a quiet life with his wife and family, a little gardening, sailing and fishing. Watercolour landscape painting is another one of his creative passions and two book-covers feature his paintings.

    30 Days with the Father: A Devotional to Discover How Heaven Can Follow You Everywhere

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    Words from the Father you will not hear at church.

    Would you like to sit down face-to-face with God each day and have real conversations with the Father? Do you want to discover what is holding you back from experiencing God’s wonders and His all-consuming love invading the depths of your soul? Would you like to experience Heaven following you everywhere so you can leave lasting impressions of Heaven with everyone you meet? This thirty-day devotional will take you on a journey to unveil God’s heart as you sit down with the Father each day and discover how the wonders of Heaven can begin to chase after you.

    Some benefits from reading this book:

    • Walk freely by the Father’s side and experience the endless spectacle of Heaven all around you.
    • Rise far above any circumstance and usher in a whirlwind of God’s presence to everyone you meet.
    • Become a magnet of God’s love and goodness that others desperately crave.

    This devotional book is different from others. It focuses on having a dynamic relationship with the author of the Bible (God the Father) rather than studying what He wrote so long ago. Experience for yourself the same real connections with the Father that I have as you explore the discussions I had with God. Find your favorite quiet place with a cup of coffee or tea in hand, and spend the next thirty days encountering the Father as you discover the unlimited wonders of Heaven God desires for you.

    Meet Daniel Green

    Hi, my name is Daniel Green. I am a writer, speaker, blogger, and the founder of Anakainoo International. My passion is to help you and those who are frustrated with what religion has to offer and show you how to have face-to-face encounters with God every day to experience an abundant life where signs, wonders, and miracles become an everyday normal experience for you.

    About a Gardener

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    “About a Gardener”This book is filled with an abundance of delightful surprises, but you don’t have to be a gardener to appreciate the 111 chapters that provide practical advice, share personal experiences and offer a rich harvest of wisdom for your life. “My Father is a gardener,” Jesus once said. That is the foundation of this book and the author, Werner Langer, introduces us to many wonderful gardening metaphors that will enrich the reader’s personal landscape. We are all gardeners, the author claims, whether we are aware of it or not, each one of us in possession of a valuable allotment, our inner garden, where love and a noble character ought to grow. This book will bless your life, because it is about God, a gardener, who loves us very much.A wonderful book, containing many surprises for readers who seek inner growth and perhaps enjoy gardening.

    Meet Werner Langer

    Werner Langer is a retired professional photographer, who lives in the city of Brisbane/Australia. His birthplace though was on the other side of the world, in a small town, named Wetter. Born in June 1949, Werner grew up in post-war Germany and was educated in his home country. During his final three years he served as a police-officer. In October 1969 Werner migrated to Australia, soon settling in the outer suburb of Sandgate, in the city of Brisbane, Queensland. In 1972 he entered the College of Art to study photography and these skills equipped him for a forty year long career, twenty-eight of those years as a professional freelance photographer.

    His introduction to writing began at the age of forty-two, when an unusual experience on a lonely beach changed his life. “I once was lost, but now I’m found.” These words, written by John Newton, became Werner’s personal possessions on that day, shaping the remainder of his interesting life.

    “Nowadays my aim is to follow an invisible guide,” the author writes.

    The solid foundations of his Werner’s books are his faith in Jesus Christ, written to bless and provide clarity for his readers.

    Werner Langer is the author of three books, titled “About a Gardener” and “About a Relationship”, plus “About a hidden Garden”, all available on the Amazon website.

    Werner Langer served as a volunteer chaplain for seven years in the local Magistrates Court. Nowadays the author enjoys a quiet life with his wife and family, a little gardening, sailing and fishing. Watercolour landscape painting is another one of his creative outlets, two of his book-covers feature his paintings.

    30 Days with Joseph: Inspiration from Joseph’s Spiritual Journey for Yours (A Devotional)

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    How did Joseph do it?

    For 13 years the circumstances of his life went from bad to worse. Slavery. Alleged rapist. Prison convict. He did nothing to deserve such rough treatment. Yet Joseph never whined or complained. He didn’t get angry or depressed. In fact, when he had the chance to take revenge, he gave mercy, grace, and generosity instead. How did he do it?

    You’ll find answers in 30 Days with Joseph, the second in a series of devotionals that focuses on a Bible character. Each day of the month, you’ll accompany Joseph on his spiritual journey and learn how he overcame the challenges he encountered along the way.
    And show you how you can too!

    Meet Steve Wilmot

    Steve Wilmot’s passion is to encourage and inspire Christians on their long and sometimes treacherous spiritual journey Home. Over the years, he learned valuable lessons from his own journey of faith and developed indispensable relationships that kept him from giving up when discouragement and lack of hope told him to. His purpose in life is to pay it forward whenever he can — first as a pastor for 40 years and now as a writer and mentor.
    Steve married his college sweetheart, Becki, in 1974. She supported him — and many times served as his anchor and cheerleader — during their years leading churches from 1976 – 2016. They have four grown children and eight grandchildren. He retired from his bi-vocational jobs as a pastor and a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. Along with devotionals, spiritual growth books, and novels, Steve writes a weekly column, “Pastor’s Ponderings,” for two local newspapers.
    In his spare time, Steve enjoys engaging with his grandkids, reading, gardening, and landscaping around his house. He stays connected with his small group, the Band of Brothers, as they travel side-by-side toward Christlike character and Home. They’ve discovered the Christian life is not Jesus and me. It’s Jesus and we, and they are committed to encouragement, support, love, and unconditional acceptance of each other.
    Steve also likes sharing his spiritual journey and teaching from God’s Word at churches and conferences.

    The Gospel of John: What Happens When We Believe

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    Connect with the God of the Universe with the Gospel of John

    “The Gospel of John takes us on a journey to understand what happens when we believe in Jesus.”

    When it comes to reading the Bible and finding a daily devotional, there is no better place than starting with the Gospel of John. In this short read, you can find 21 devotional daily pages that will help you connect with God, grow in your faith, and share Jesus with others.

    Each daily devotional page shares a passage from one chapter of the Gospel of John, shares why it is important, and then gives you three steps to help you apply it to your life.

    This is a great place to start if you are looking for a devotional book as a new Christian or as someone who has been walking with Jesus for a long time. The best part is that each day is a quick read so you can fit it in at any point in your day to be sure and connect with God.

    If you are ready to start a daily devotional habit, start right here with the Gospel of John and begin to see how your life can change with understanding what happens when we believe. 

    Meet J.R. Heimbigner

    J.R. Heimbigner lives with his wife and three daughters in the beautiful countryside of eastern Washington state. Their five-acre hobby farm creates a wide-open space that has brought him and his family closer to God over the last few years.

    While he started his writing journey trying to help people chase their dreams, it continued into the productivity and self-help spaces before God took hold of his heart and directed him to start sharing his faith through his writing.

    Now, you will find him looking for ways to help connect people with the creator of the universe. Not pushing his faith on people, but sharing it with those who are open to having the conversation. His books have been written in the same manner. Openness, honestly, and stories of experiencing a faith journey that he wants to share with others.