Tag: excerpt

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Jesus Was Born – Now What? Your 2nd Day of Christmas Gift

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience

Jesus Was Born – Now What? It’s the 2nd Day of Christmas and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this Christmasy excerpt from my non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley.

What happened between the visit of the shepherds to the manger and the visit of the wise men to the house? In this two-part series, you’ll find out! Both parts are coming out today, as my two gifts to you!

That’s not all–my other twenty-five gifts are below for your reading pleasure. You don’t have to unwrap them–just click on them.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

Half of Your Gifts!

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Jesus Was Born – Now What? From The Gospel Medley

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift Jesus Was Born - Now What?
The Gospel Medley back cover

 (Where the shepherds left us.)

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord 

23 (as it is written in the law of  the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be holy to the Lord”),[1] 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”[2]

25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning Him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Simeon’s Proclamation

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift Jesus Was Born - Now What?
The four icons of the four gospels

“Now You are releasing Your servant, Master, according to Your word, in peace; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples; 32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel.”[3]

33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning Him, 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, His mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

[1]Exodus 13:2, 12, 15 –”Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.” 12 that you shall set apart to Yahweh all that opens the womb, and every firstborn which you have that comes from an animal. The males shall be Yahweh’s. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of animal. Therefore I sacrifice to Yahweh all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

Jesus Was Born – Now What? Footnotes from This Section

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift Jesus Was Born - Now What?
Back cover detail

[2] Leviticus 12:2-4, 8 – 12 Say to the Israelites, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be unclean seven days, unclean as during her monthly discomfort. 3 And on the eighth day the child shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall remain [separated] thirty-three days to be purified [from her loss] of blood; she shall touch no hallowed thing nor come into the [court of the] sanctuary until the days of her purifying are over. 8 If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.’”

[3] Isaiah 42:6-7 –“I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations; 7 to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison. Jeremiah 2:11 – Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Zechariah 2:5 – “For I,” says Yahweh, “will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the middle of her.”

Jesus Was Born – Now What? Concludes

Gospel Medley cover spread Jesus Was Born - Now What?

What do you think of your Twenty-Fourth Literary gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like The Gospel Medley you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Get your autographed copy of The Gospel Medley by clicking here.

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here right now to find out how.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Get Your Fifteenth Gift of 25 Gifts – For Advent Day 15

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience
Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
The Gospel Medley back cover

Get Your Fifteenth Gift of 25 Gifts – For Advent Day 15 of 25 Gifts to Christmas. Merry Christmas, you’ll enjoy this new Christmasy excerpt from my non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley (Click here to grab it). My book goes on sale TODAY from December 15th to 22nd, 2024.

AND so does my other non-fiction book, The Book of Revelation Devotional. It’s on sale TODAY from December 15th to 22nd, 2024. Click here to get yours. And I’ll give you another excerpt from it in this post.

Check out my past Advent gifts listed below

  1. Advent Day 1 – Get Your Free Copy of Secret Supers on Advent Day 1

2. Advent Day 2 – Grab Villain’s Vacation for 67% Off, For Advent Day 2

4. Advent Day 4 –Three Free Excerpts from Three Secret Supers Books – Advent 4

5. Advent Day 5 – Get Your Free Copy of My Most Popular Book–Advent Day 5

6. Advent Day 6 – Three Free Zombie Detective Excerpts – Advent 6

7. Advent Day 7 –Meet My Undead Mother-in-law My Gift for Advent 7

8. Advent Day 8 – Paranormal Privateers Is Your Wildest Ride — Get Your Excerpt

9. Advent Day 9 – Oops! You Get Double Gifts for Advent Days 9 and 10 – My Mistake

10. Advent Day 10 – Double Posts Double Your Gifts – Advent 10

11. Advent Day 11 – Laugh At Four Free Audiobook Excerpts – Advent 11

12. Advent Day 12 – Four More Free Audiobook Excerpts for Advent 12

13. Advent Day 13 – Your Thirteenth Gift of 25 Gifts – For Advent Day 13

14. Advent Day 14 – Get Your Glimpse of the Future – Advent 14

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Get Your Fifteenth Gift – What Else Happened Before Jesus Was Born?

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
The four icons of the four gospels

During Mary’s Pregnancy

Matthew 1:18–25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 

20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is He who shall save His people from their sins.”

22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel [1] which is, being interpreted, ‘God with us.’”

24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

[1] Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The Birth of John the Baptist

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
Back cover detail

Luke 1:57–80  

57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified His mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father. 

60 His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled. 

64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?”

The hand of the Lord was with him. 67 His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people; 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David 70 (as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets who have been from of old), 71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember His holy covenant, 73 the oath which He spoke to Abraham, our father, 74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.”

76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us, 79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

 80 The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Luke 1:26–56; John 1:14

Get Your Fifteenth Gift – Excerpt from December 15th

December 15 – Revelation 22:5 from The Book of Revelation Devotional

There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

What is the light of the city?

How long will God’s servants reign?

Prayer: Father, just as You provided the sun to shine by day and the moon by night, they will no longer be necessary in Your Presence in the city of God. You are our sun and moon, our Light of the world. Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

They will reign forever and ever. This is significant, for the reigning of God’s children continues without end. The rule over the Earth from Jesus’s return until the white throne judgment is clear, (See Revelation 20:11-13 for details about the judgment.) but this reign continues into the new heavens and the new Earth. The details of the subjects and the territory are not covered.

Your Fifteenth Gift Concludes

Gospel Medley cover spread

What do you think of your fifteenth gift for Advent? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like The Gospel Medley you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

You can also get an autographed copy of The Gospel Medley by clicking here right now!

Get Your Glimpse

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here right now to find out how.

Note that both The Gospel Medley and The Book of Revelation Devotional are on sale TODAY December 15th, until December 22nd. Grab your copies now!

You can also get an autographed copy of The Revelation Devotional by clicking here right now!

Posted on by — 7 Comments

Get Your Glimpse of the Future – Advent 14

Get Your Glimpse of the Future – Advent 14 Part of your 25 Gifts to Christmas. Dig into your free excerpt of The Revelation Devotional. My book goes on sale from December 15th to 22nd, 2024.

Check out my past Advent gifts listed below, next to the back cover of The Revelation Devotional.

The Revelation Devotional back cover
  1. Advent Day 1 – Get Your Free Copy of Secret Supers on Advent Day 1

2. Advent Day 2 – Grab Villain’s Vacation for 67% Off, For Advent Day 2

4. Advent Day 4 –Three Free Excerpts from Three Secret Supers Books – Advent 4

5. Advent Day 5 – Get Your Free Copy of My Most Popular Book–Advent Day 5

6. Advent Day 6 – Three Free Zombie Detective Excerpts – Advent 6

7. Advent Day 7 –Meet My Undead Mother-in-law My Gift for Advent 7

8. Advent Day 8 – Paranormal Privateers Is Your Wildest Ride — Get Your Excerpt

9. Advent Day 9 – Oops! You Get Double Gifts for Advent Days 9 and 10 – My Mistake

10. Advent Day 10 – Double Posts Double Your Gifts – Advent 10

11. Advent Day 11 – Laugh At Four Free Audiobook Excerpts – Advent 11

12. Advent Day 12 – Four More Free Audiobook Excerpts for Advent 12

13. Advent Day 13 – Your Thirteenth Gift of 25 Gifts – For Advent Day 13

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Get Your Glimpse of the Future – What Did John See in Heaven?

Enjoy your first excerpt, from The Revelation Devotional.

March 1 – Revelation 4:7


The four seraphim before God’s throne

The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.

Have you ever heard of creatures that looked like these in the Bible or outside?

Are any of these creatures pictured in the Temple or the Tabernacle?

Are any of these creatures shown in Eden? (Genesis 2-3)

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us mysteries in the book of Revelation, in the Bible, and in the world. Through these puzzles, our minds will work and grow as we search out the why and how and what and when of Your creation. Amen.

The first creature was like a lion. A flying lion occurs in Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel 7. Another occurs in Ezekiel’s visions in Ezekiel 1:4-11. Ezekiel in 10:1 identifies these creatures as cherubim. This means they were in Eden in Genesis 3:24 and in the tabernacle and temple over the mercy seat above the Ark of God. Note these cherubim have four wings. That information will be important to remember with tomorrow’s verse.

Get Your Glimpse of the Future – A Prophecy

What prophecy is this? The first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse! Check it out.

March 20 – Revelation 6:2

Get Your Glimpse
The Four Horsemen

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

What did John see?

1.

2.

3.

What did the horseman do?

Prayer: All praise to You, Holy Father, and to Jesus our Revelator! You tell us what will happen before it happens. Thank You, Jesus, for not only revealing the future to us in Revelation but also in the gospels. Thank You for staying with Your church to the very end of the age and sustaining us through all persecution. Glory to You forever for Your triumph in the church! Amen.

A white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown. Some have thought this was a picture of Jesus.

Yet in Revelation 19:11-12 I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns.

Jesus is portrayed on a white horse with many crowns. Revelation 19 takes place after His second coming. His second coming has not yet been mentioned in Revelation 6. Who can solve this mystery? Jesus Himself gives the future to the disciples.

Matthew 24:3-5 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray”.

The first thing Jesus mentions are false messiahs, and the first seal is someone who looks like Jesus but is not.

Get Your Glimpse of the Future – Your Fourteenth Gift Concludes

Get Your Glimpse

What do you think of your Fourteenth gift for Advent? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like The Revelation Devotional, you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

You can also get an autographed copy of The Revelation Devotional by clicking here right now!

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here right now to find out how.