Keep Praying and Hoping

The Holy Bible is filled with stories of hope and

redemption. I like the story of Job. Here was a

man who had everything you could ask for.

Prosperous and well-liked, faithful to God,

family and friends. Owned a lot of property and

livestock, and was happy—who wouldn’t be.

One day Job lost everything, became very ill,

and to make things worse, his friends

abandoned him. They wanted him to curse God

and end his suffering—not the kind of friends we

need, anyway. We need friends who encourage

us when we are down, and everyone gets down

at one time or another, don’t they?

Job didn’t cave in; he kept on praying and

hoping things would turn around. And because

he never lost hope, things did turn around. God

not only returned all he had lost, he gave him

lots more than he had before. That is our loving

and merciful God. 

(from the book These Three Remain by Gene Allen Groner, available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B077YTVSJZ      geneallengroner@gmail.com ).

How I long to see Bethlehem

I would kneel at the feet

Of our Lord Jesus

I would kneel at the manger

Where Christ was born

In the stable near the Inn

Let me see Mary his mother

And his father, good Joseph

Join with the shepherds

As they worshiped the King

From the book titled, Prayers and Poems of Christ, by Gene Allen Groner (available on Amazon Books at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B077YTVSJZ  geneallengroner@gmail.com

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,

The whole earth is full of His glory.”

from the book Speak To This People: Prophets and Prophecies in the Bible,

by Gene Allen Groner  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B077YTVSJZ  geneallengroner@gmail.com

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,

The whole earth is full of His glory.”

from the book Speak To This People: Prophets and Prophecies in the Bible,

by Gene Allen Groner  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B077YTVSJZ  geneallengroner@gmail.com

I recently submitted an article to several Christian magazines titled, God Answered My Prayer. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Wow! I could hardly believe what had happened. The truth is, I shouldn’t have been surprised. I know from past experience that God answers prayer. But still, I am always amazed. This is the first time the Lord answered my prayer in a dream. I know that happens in the Bible, but I didn’t know it still happens today. I think that’s why I felt so amazed at the experience.

I have told this story many times, but it is always fresh in my mind. God answered my prayer. God is alive and well, and his grace and generosity are simply amazing. 

Here is an excerpt from an article I recently wrote about the grace of God:

Then one Sunday morning I went to church with my wife. When the congregation stood up, and we started singing the opening hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” I felt a warm spirit come over me. My eyes began to water. Something happened during the singing of that hymn. I felt different. The warmth coursed through my veins and filled my whole being. I felt as though the Lord was reaching into my soul and bringing me new life. 

A Prayer for Peace:

Father in Heaven, May the world be blessed with peace, the peace only you can bring. May love, hope, joy, and peace prevail in every heart, Let each of us work for peace in our homes, our families, and our communities, May the peace of Christ live within us. We ask it all in Jesus' name, amen.

That night, as I was preparing for bed, I remembered the book and the challenge. So I took off my shoes—Moses was told to do this in the Exodus out of respect for God—and knelt beside my bed to pray. I said, “Dear Lord, I am accepting this challenge and I ask for your perfect will to be done in my life. May I once again feel the flame of passion for life. I am willing to do whatever you want. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Read my latest book, Hallowed Be Thy Name, and learn what happened next. Go to http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B077YTVSJZ

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:1-4 KJV)

I am writing a new book, titled The Helper. Here is an excerpt from the book:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26 NASB).

The Holy Spirit, or Spirit of God, is referred to 100 times in the Old Testament and 250 times in the New Testament. The reader can easily see how prominent it is in the Holy Bible. It is first mentioned in Genesis 1:1-2, and from there we find it in every major division of the Bible.

 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2 NASB).  

The Spirit is the force that created the universe and all that is in it. We can no more live without it than we can live without air, food, or water. It is in us and around us all the time. We live and breathe because of the Holy Spirit of God.

The Greatest of These is Love

I have just finished writing my latest book, These Three Remain, which reveals a deeper understanding of the Love Chapter found in the writings of the Apostle Paul. "Love never fails" is the main theme of the chapter, found in First Corinthians, and is the very foundation of the Christian Life. The book will soon be available on Amazon.com.

You can view all my books and writings, including my books of poetry, faith, prayer, fine art, and biographies of Bible characters, in addition to my daily messages of peace and hope on the Gene Groner Author Page at https://www.amazon.com/Gene-Allen-Groner/e/B077YTVSJZ.

These Three Remain

I just finished writing a new book, Evangelist Billy Graham, that is now available on Amazon.com. It is an interesting book about a man whose message of hope and salvation has reached around the world. Billy Graham is 99 now, and looking forward to his 100th birthday celebration this November. His vibrant testimony of the living Christ has touched the hearts and souls of millions of people hungry for a message of hope in a world of chaos. The book, along with 21 of Gene's other Christian books can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B077YTVSJZ