Consider Divine Love
By Donna J. Farris
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Donna J. Farris
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Acknowledgments
Special thanks to House of Compassion Ministries and the brave women who have come forward with their stories of struggle, survival, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. They are alive because of Divine Love.
Table of Contents
Part 1 - Who is this Jesus Anyway?
Part 2 - Words of Love for the Battered Heart
Part 3 - Behold What Manner of Love
When a woman has been abused by a man she once loved, it is extremely difficult for her to consider the possibility of trusting anyone again, even God. For victims of domestic violence, concepts of intimacy, respect, honor, and submission have, to one degree or another, been defined by the perversions of her tormentor. You may be one of those women.
Maybe at one time you experienced, or perhaps are still in, a relationship where power was abused and twisted for self-centered domination. As a result, when Christians talk about "surrendering your life to the love of Jesus Christ," you may think they are crazy. You may wonder, "Why in the world would I give my heart again to any man? I did once and it nearly cost me my life. Never again!"
Maybe, during times of extreme sadness, loneliness or despair, you found yourself emotionally moved by the biblical claims of God's love. You wanted to respond in some way, but hesitated. Doubts invaded your mind and you began to question the integrity of God's word. Your mental images may have been different; your emotions, descriptions and examples uniquely personal. But in essence, you found yourself asking some of the same kinds of questions listed below. See if you recognize any of these hindrances to receiving divine love.
Part 1 - Who is this Jesus Anyway?
Who is this mysterious man called "Jesus"? - Anyone born so long ago, so distant and impersonal makes me feel very uncomfortable. How can someone like me relate to someone so foreign and "different?"How can I know whether or not Jesus is telling the whole truth about who he really is and what he wants? What if Jesus is hiding information about his life, or has covered up some deep, dark secret about his past? How could I know for sure? And besides, Jesus has been dead for more than two thousand years. Why should I care what a man dead for so long has to say about anything?
Many men claimed to love me. What makes Jesus claims of love any different? - My husband said he loved me on our wedding day. But since then, nothing I do seems to please him. I don't understand what I've done to make him hate me so much, but he is probably right. There must be something really wrong with me. When God finds out who I really am, and eventually He will, I'm certain He will despise me just as much as my husband does. Then I will truly be alone. And no one in the entire universe will care whether I am alive today or am murdered tomorrow.
Men are full of insecurities, jealousy, pride, and anger. Isn't Jesus the same kind of man? - Does He have a short fuse like my abuser? Instead of just calmly discussing an issue with me, would Jesus start screaming and throwing lightning bolts down from heaven in a fit of rage? Is God insecure about His identity, or does He have any kind of emotional baggage? What if He is still angry with people for crucifying His Son? Maybe God is just biding His time, waiting for a chance to get even.
I've heard God is a jealous God. Are His expressions of jealousy any different from my husband's jealous tirades? And the Bible says Jesus got really violent with people a couple of times. His heavenly father didn't condemn His behavior. Maybe God would say my husband's violent outbursts were also justified and that he had every right to break my nose if it would teach me to obey his commands.
Does God agree with my husband's use of power in our home? - My husband used to shout, "I'm god in this home and don't you ever forget it!"He said the bible gave him authority to execute justice as he saw fit. I had rights and worth as a human being only when he said I did. But since he blamed me for practically every problem in our marriage, I was always being punished for something. He said it was his responsibility to teach me to submit to his leadership. He said if I would just cooperate and stop being so rebellious, he wouldn't have to hit me. If Jesus uses his "god-given authority" like my husband did, I don't want anything to do with Him.
My husband used words as manipulative pawns to get what he wanted and made promises he never kept. Why should I believe God's words are any different? How do I know He will keep His promises? - Words are nothing more than sounds coming out of people's mouths. Words are just random noises pretending to represent truth, but having little to do with reality. They are just tools used to intimidate and seduce others for personal gain. How can anyone know for certain whether or not God's words are any different, whether His words represent the truth?
My husband had a very short memory when it came to keeping his word. "Trust me, honey! I'll change, I promise. Things will be different this time." I've heard those words a thousand times. It makes me sick when I remember I actually used to believe them. I took him back and yeah, things were different alright. I ended end up in the emergency room with three broken ribs and a black eye. Then somehow he managed to get the kids, the house, the bank account, the car and kept his reputation spotless in the process. Everyone felt sorry for him since he had to deal with such a "crazy" wife. God makes a lot of promises in the Bible. How can I be sure He'll remember them from day to day, much less, keep any of them?
Why should I trust Christ? He never answered my prayers. - I cried out to God for help many times, but he never came to my rescue. He never intervened to stop the violence - not once! I begged God to stop my husband from locking me in that awful closet over night, but God never delivered me. Why didn't Jesus answer my prayers for deliverance? Where was He all those times? It seems to me God was too busy helping my husband. I guess men really do stick together.
The bible says Christians are servants of God, right? What's the difference between being a slave to my abuser or being a slave of God? Seems to me both relationships have the same outcome. - My husband treated me like a piece of property; like he owned me. I couldn't go or do anything without his permission. He controlled every move I made. Every phone call, every letter, every friendship, every trip to the grocery store was closely monitored. I couldn't even talk to my friends without asking him first. Every morning he prepared a "to do list" for me. If I didn't complete each task by the end of the day, I was not allowed to eat dinner that night. I've heard God requires me to submit to his absolute control. Seems to me I'm being asked to trade one dictator for another. Either way, I'm still a prisoner.
Most days, my husband treated me worse than his dog. During the years of our marriage, I was publically humiliated and privately ripped to shreds. Won't God use his power to treat me the same way? After all, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, right?
My husband was constantly looking for the slightest imperfection or failure in my life. That was his way of justifying the abuse. Isn't God also just waiting to "zap" me the moment I make a mistake? - Once, my husband shoved my head into the open flame on top of the stove. He said I overcooked the steak and he needed to prove to me how hot the fire was. He almost burned off my face. God has a ton of commandments and He watches everything I do. Since He is all-knowing, I'm sure God will notice the instant I fail to keep one of His many rules. And since God is also all-powerful, I don't even want to think about what He might do to me as punishment for my transgression.
Part 2 - Words of Love for the Battered Heart
If any one of the preceding inner dialogues sounds familiar, please read further. There is an old cliché which states, "To know Him is to love Him." When considering divine love, nothing could be closer to the truth. The only way a person can understand the difference between God's love and the perversions previously experienced is to meet the real Jesus Christ - God in human flesh.
Through the pages of scripture, God reveals His nature, His character and His unchangeable attributes. In the next part of this booklet, behold as the veil separating heaven and earth is pulled back. Listen now as Jesus, in His own words, addresses some of the persistent, nagging fears discussed above and reveals His marvelous, multi-faceted love.
Did you know you don't have to beg God to love you? - You do not have to plead with God to accept you, be kind to you, tell you you're desirable, help you, be gentle with you, hold you, stay with you, provide for you, protect you or honor your trust? The truth is these thoughts are already a part of God's nature. Such desires are already in His heart. His love towards you is amazing, beautiful, complete, delightful, eternal, faithful, great, holy, irresistible, just, kind, lavish, mighty, never-ending, perfect, real, satisfying, trustworthy, unconditional, unfailing, un-perverted, and absolutely wonderful! God's love is like nothing you have ever known.
[God's nature of love] "The LORD, the Lord God, compassionate, and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness and mercy." Exodus 34:6-7
[God's enticing love] "I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore, I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3
[God's delivering love] "There is none like the God of Israel who rides the heavens to your help, and through the skies in His majesty. The eternal God is a dwelling place and underneath are the [His] everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 34:26-27
[God's declaration of love] "There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number, but you, my dove, my perfect one are unique." Song of Solomon 6:9
[God's beautifying love] "For the Lord takes pleasure in His people, He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation." Psalms 149:4
[God's sacrificial love] "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him." John 3:16-17
[God's committed love]"I will never leave you. I will never abandon you." Hebrews 13:5
[God's provisional love] "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
[The satisfaction of divine love] "He who believes in Him [Jesus] will never be disappointed." I Peter 2:6
Did you know God's love for you is not based on your past, present or future performance? - God's love is unconditional. This is an amazing concept, but absolutely true. You could gain one hundred pounds, forget your birth control pills, and get pregnant. You could never take out the trash, walk the dog or wash the car. You could cut your hair, and never wear makeup, headscarves, or long dresses again. You could buy chocolate ice cream instead of strawberry, forget to balance the check book, burn dinner every night for the rest of your life, make long distance calls or even wreck the car.
You could leave the house without permission, spend money without asking, go back to school, get a job, have different opinions, and say "No" to intimacy. You could even leave your abuser and file for divorce. But no matter what you did, God would not stop loving you even for a single second. Consider His words of love.
[God's redeeming love] "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind [this means YOU] appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy…that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7
[God's unconditional love] "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:6-8
[God's healing love] "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out all fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love Him [Jesus] because He first loved us." I John 4:18-19
[God's unearned gift of love] "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." Ephesians 2:8
Did you know God's love and affection towards you are given out of the nature of His very being? - God is love! Pure love is one of God's unchangeable attributes. He does not have to learn how to love you, or try to love you, or convince Himself He should love you. He isn't faking it or putting on some kind of grandiose performance just to trick you into believing He loves you. He is not some kind of smooth-talking salesman or con artist. There are no hidden agendas with God. He is totally honest with you. What you see is what you get, now and forever!
[God's incomparable thoughts] "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9
[God's good plans] "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11
[God's unfailing merciful love] "The LORD's loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22
[God's satisfying love] "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all our iniquities; who heals all our diseases; who redeems your life form the pit; who crowns you with loving-kindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle." Psalms 103:2-5
[God life-giving love] "…God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." I John 4:8-10
[God's overcoming love] "These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
[God's peaceful love] "I will hear what God the Lord will say; for he will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones…" Psalms 85:8
[God's freeing love] "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36
Did you know God created you? - The theory of evolution is a lie from hell. God made you then purchased you with the blood of His own Son, Jesus Christ. You are now doubly His. In spite of His ownership, God does not bully you or beat you into submission to prove He is stronger and "in control." He does not need to prove anything to anyone. He knows who He is and is absolutely secure in His identity.
Instead, God draws you to Himself with gentle cords of loving-kindness. He will never bind you with ropes of bondage. He daily lavishes upon you His tender mercies and affections. Any restraints or limits He places in your life are to protect you from predators, not strip you of God-given, God-ordained human dignity.
[God's creative love] "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:21
[God's responsible love] "For by Him [Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16
[God's poetic works of love] "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works." Ephesians 2:10
Did you know there is a sinister, supernatural plot to keep you from intimacy with God? - Your adversary Satan, the Father of lies, the hater of your soul, the deceiver of your mind, wants to keep you in fear of intimacy with God. The devil wants to keep you distrustful of God's words and ignorant of God's promises. His agenda is twofold.
First, he wants to hurt God the only way he can by keeping you, the desire of God's heart, away from close communion with your Creator. Since God earnestly desires a personal relationship with mankind, His heart is deeply grieved when anyone rejects His offer of eternal love.
Second, Satan works feverishly to ensure you are eternally separated from the presence of God. His every scheme is designed to keep you as far away as possible from enjoying the pleasures found in a most "sacred and precious" romance with Jesus.
But as a created being, Satan is not all-powerful and was utterly defeated on a cross more than 2,000 years ago on a hill in Israel, just outside Jerusalem. A complete victory was secured on your behalf when Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins. Through faith in the finished work of Calvary, you can now have unrestricted access to God's friendship forever. The way to divine intimacy has been restored.
[God's life-giving agenda] "The enemy comes to rob, steal and kill; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
[God's triumphant agenda] "The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil." John 3:8
[God's military agenda] "When He [Jesus] had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him" Colossians 2:15
[God's delivering agenda] "For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13
[Song of the redeemed]"I am my beloveds, and His desire is for me." Song of Solomon 7:10
[God's un-conquerable love] "Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or feminine, or nakedness, or peril or sword…for I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35
Part 3 - Behold What Manner of Love
Much has been written in mankind's attempt to quantify true love. Countless books and movies have been promoted by people claiming to have found the true meaning of this highly coveted ideal. Yet conflicting opinions abound and the search continues. Is true love even definable? And is there an immutable, universal standard by which to measure all such claims? The answer to both questions is unequivocally, "Yes!"
The Greek word "agape" is unique to the Judeo-Christian faith. Directed by God's Spirit of revelation, the writers of the New Testament repeatedly used this word to express the self-sacrificing love of Christ. It defines a quality of love previously unknown in the realm of human experience. And in the New Testament passages of I Corinthians 13:4-8, we find some of the most comprehensive descriptions of agape love ever given to mankind. Whether exploring the concept of loving God, loving ourselves, loving our families or our neighbors, these words provide a heavenly standard for true love against which all other claims must inevitably be measured.
One Christian scholar wrote, "Love can only be known from the actions it prompts." Consider now the words of God as He defines genuine love and the subsequent actions which prove the validity of those coveted three words, "I love you."
GOD IS PATIENT: Who God is cannot be separated from what He does. His acts of kindness towards us are too numerous to count. God is not an uninvolved bystander sitting on the sidelines. He intimately and actively seeks opportunities to bless us. All of God's words, thoughts, and actions towards us are always perfectly good. If we have eyes to see, we will recognize His abounding kindness every single day of our lives.
GOD IS NOT JEALOUS: Human jealousy is motivated by selfish insecurities and fear. However, God's identity and "personhood" are not at all threatened when good things happen to His people. He never seeks to diminish or rob us of blessings in order to make Himself feel superior. He never manipulates us, tricks us, lays guilt trips on us, or forces us to please Him. Instead, He allows us to simply and freely respond to His love. His goal is not to rob, steal or destroy life, but to give mankind abundant life.
GOD IS NOT BOASTFUL OR ARROGANT: God is not puffed with arrogance at the magnificence of His power, beauty or being. He does not suffer from insecurities, seeking ways to prove His own worth by diminishing ours. God's love stands in direct opposition to a narcissistic braggart. God's selfless, agape love gives us a true esteem of the value of others thereby limiting our estimation of ourselves.
GOD DOES NOT ACT UNBECOMINGLY: He does nothing out of place or time. He behaves with courtesy and good will towards us at all times. God never disgraces us, embarrasses us, or puts us in compromising situations. He never makes a joke out of our failures. He seeks to protect our weaknesses rather than exposing them. He never forces Himself on us in a shameful or hurtful manner. He is never prideful, selfish or rude to us. God is always a perfect gentleman.
GOD DOES NOT PURSUE SELFISH ADVANTAGE: True love is the eternal enemy of selfishness. God never pursues agendas which would result in harming His people. He is the undisputed, supreme ruler of the universe and can do anything He pleases. Yet with all His power, instead of flaunting His authority, He faithfully chooses to continually bless us. God's declarations of love are consistently followed by acts of selfless love.
GOD IS NOT PROVOKED: Therefore He is not touchy or irritable. He never suffers from stress, mental fatigue, hormonal outbursts, or "bad hair days." The foolish things we often do may frustrate our friends, but not God. We can never come to an end of His mercy. He will never say to us, "That's the last straw! I've taken all I'm going to take from you. You're out of here!" Instead, God's loving kindness towards us is fresh and more than sufficient to handle the pressures of our waywardness.
GOD DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A WRONG SUFFERED: God does not hold grudges against us and never seeks revenge against those who are trying to please Him. When we come to God through faith in the name of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, and ask Him to cleanse us from everything we have done contrary to His love, God promises to forget all our law-breaking words, thoughts, and actions. He does not keep a hidden score card of offenses, checking it twice to see if we've been naughty or nice. God will never drag us through the streets of heaven as a common criminal nor expose our sin for public humiliation.
For followers of Jesus Christ, the only inventory records maintained in heaven are the list of works done in faith for Jesus, motivated by love and a grateful heart. These are the deeds which will be publically proclaimed and collectively applauded at the soon-coming awards banquet. At that "black-tie" event, Jesus Christ will be Master of Ceremonies. After all, He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
GOD DOES NOT REJOICE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS: God never happily greets legal injustice or moral wrongfulness as a friend. Sin is never a laughing matter to God, nor is He ever entertained by sin. God hates injustice of every kind, therefore He can never just wink at sin or "let it slide just this once." To do so would corrupt justice on a universal scale. But God is incorruptible. Therefore He can never compromise even once on the smallest ordinance or commandment.
Everyone sins. Sin is breaking God's law. Our criminal offenses demanded celestial justice. But no amount of fines or jail time could ever satisfactorily pay our personal, legal debts. So because of God's great love, He took upon Himself the sins of the world and submitted to His own morally pure judicial system. Jesus death on the cross fully satisfied our legal obligations resulting in a full heavenly pardon for anyone willing to accept the court's decree.
GOD REJOICES IN THE TRUTH: People may not always tell us the truth, but God always will. He delights in fully explaining the realities of everything in our lives in a manner that is completely true, and exactly accurate. He will never tell us anything that is not absolutely true. He never attempts to deceive us by leaving out vital details. He does not keep secrets from His followers. God celebrates when we chose to believe and trust in the words of Jesus Christ rather than the words of man. God takes great pleasure when we speak the truth to one another in love just as He speaks the truth in love.
GOD BEARS ALL THINGS: God puts up with all the foolish things we do and quietly endures the times we break His heart in our rebellion against His love. In spite of everything we do that is contrary to His ways, He remains loyal to His people. However this decision was not without cost. The price paid was the life of His one and only Son. But Jesus gladly bore the burden of our sins and willingly endured the cross so we might freely have a relationship with His Father. That's sacrificial love!
GOD BELIEVES ALL THINGS: God does not utter cheap or meaningless words of sappy, shallow affection just to gain our trust. When He said, "I believe their salvation will occur," He staked His life on it! God the Son came down from His throne, took upon Himself the form of human flesh, dwelt upon the earth, and then gave His all so all might live. Jesus demonstrated total commitment, not lip service, to His plan of redemption. Before He even made the world, God's love was already at work putting into motion the means of our salvation. He wanted to make sure every heavenly benefit would be ours to enjoy forever. That's selfless love!
GOD HOPES ALL THINGS: God is the author of hope. Real hope does not deny reality nor hang its dreams on some delusional, brightly-shining star. Wishful thinking is not true hope. God does not pace up and down the corridors of heaven, wringing His hands, muttering to a host of angelic beings, "Gosh, I hope they make it. I hope they do what's right. I'd really like them to be part of my forever family." That kind of anxiety is found only in the human heart which does not know what the future holds. But God knows everything everyone has done, everything everyone will do, and He's not worried about anything! True love seeks to impart hope, not destroy it. Perfect hope is perfect peace.
GOD ENDURES ALL THINGS: Nothing in all the universe can weaken or diminish even slightly God's love for us. He has already endured all the pain and shame of hell itself on our behalf. He continues to stand firm in our defense against all adversaries. Jesus Christ is our greatest cheerleader and He's committed to go the distance. He will never turn away from His beloved people half-way through the race. And He is the one who will be waiting to congratulate and receive us when we cross the finish line.
GOD'S LOVE NEVER FAILS: God will never at any time throughout all eternity be driven off His course of love for those who love His Son. He will never abandon His people. No one can force God to change or alter this commitment. It is simply not possible - not today, not tomorrow, not ever! Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's love will remain. His love will never come to an end. It will stand the test of time without the slightest decay or degradation. His promises are true and those who love Him and obey His words can fully and completely rest in His everlasting love. God's love is the most valuable, durable, personal, constant and undefiled reality in the entire universe. Nothing compares with God's love!
Every human heart longs to be unconditionally loved. Some have described this longing as a "God-shaped hole in the heart of every human soul which only God's love can fill." No matter what your race, nationality, gender, age, social status, education, or occupation may be, please believe how precious you are to the God who created you. He loves you so much that at this very moment He offers you His divine love, boldly declaring His ultimate objective. No hidden agendas; no tricks. He just wants to give you eternal life and love you forever. That's it! All things considered the only remaining question is, "Will you let Him?"
Some say there are risks in the development of any intimate relationship. But in considering an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, the only risk you face is having your preconceived ideas about God changed. But if you are willing to sincerely consider the claims of Christ as recorded in the bible, you will discover truthful answers to those questions which have prevented you from accepting Divine Love. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain in this endeavor.
So open your eyes, open your ears, open your mind and behold what manner of love is waiting for you today. Why would anyone in their right mind say, "No" to such an offer? Why would anyone ever want to?
"No one is righteous - not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one." Romans 3:10-12
"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17
"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved.)" Ephesians 2:4-5
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." Romans 10:9-10
"And we have come to know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love and the one who abides in love abides in God and God in him." I John 5:3
"All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don't believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life." I John 5:10-13
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About the Author
Donna J. Farris has been helping people overcome painful experiences for years. She believes now is the time for redeemed saints of God to stand up, speak up and to declare God’s power to transform lost and broken lives. Therefore in 2010, she launched the Gripped for Glory blog encouraging Christians everywhere to convert painful experiences into stories of hope for God’s glory.
The world needs to hear Christian testimonies now more than ever. Join the Gripped for Glory community of saints who are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Discover other titles by Donna J. Farris at Smashwords.com
Exceptional Devotion - Exceptional Honor: A Biblical biography of Anna the Prophetess
Freed to Testify: A Biblical biography of Mary Magdalene