Month: January 2020

Becoming a Peacemaker

Posted in Blog, Christian Writers, Devotions, Faith, Friends, Friendship, Hope, J Kepler, JA Kepler, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Love, Prayers2 Comments

Matthew 5:9 English Standard Version (ESV), “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Peacemaking Is Not

  • avoiding
  • appeasing

You Need To Be a Peacemaker

Did You Know Unresolved Conflict …

1. Blocks your fellowship with God.

1 John 4:20-21(ESV), “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

1 John 1:3-4 (ESV), “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

2. Prevents your prayers being answered

1 Peter 3:7 (ESV), “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

Matthew 5: 9 ESV, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God

3. Hinders your happiness.

Job 18:4 (ESV), “You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you, or the rock be removed out of its place?”

Five Steps to Becoming a Peacemaker (using the acrostic P.E.A.C.E.)

P – Plan a peace conference

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV), “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

E – Empathize with their feelings

Philippians 2:4 (ESV), “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

A – Attack the problem not the person

Proverbs 15:1 (ESV), “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV), “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

C – Cooperate as much as possible

Romans 12:18 (ESV), “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

E – Emphasize reconciliation not resolution

2 Corinthians 5:18 (ESV), “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;”

Colossians 3:15 (ESV), “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

It has been said that the only time a woman will allow a man to have the last word is when it is an apology. – Unanimous

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

He Won’t Let You Down

Posted in Authors, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Reviews, Christian Love, Christian Writers, Devotions, J Kepler, JA Kepler, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Writer's Life, Writers, Writing3 Comments

Did You Know God is Faithful? 

Yes, God is faithful. He won’t let you down. God’s word says in 1 Corinthians 1:9 English Standard Version (ESV), “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Definition of Faithful

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives this definition of faithful. The definition of faithful:

  1. Steadfast in affection or allegiance: LOYAL a faithful friend
  2. Firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty: CONSCIENTIOUS a faithful employee
  3. Given with strong assurance: BINDING a faithful promise
  4. True to the facts, to a standard, or to an original a faithful copy
  5. Obsolete definition of faithful: full of faith

What Does it Mean to be Faithful?

  • It means to be reliable.
  • It means to be trustworthy
  • It means to be dependable 
  • It means to be consistent.

Four Ways God is faithful.

1. God is Faithful To Protect

Psalm 34:4 ESV, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

Takeaway: “I sought the Lord.” If you seek the Lord you will find that God is faithful.

Psalm 34:17-19 ESV, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Takeaway: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” If you cry to the Lord, he hears  and delivers. He is faithful.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Takeaway: God is faithful. When you are fearful remember he has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. He is faithful.

2. God is Faithful To Pardon

1 John 1:9 ESV, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Takeaway: “If we confess our sins …” God is faithful. God is faithful

3. God is Faithful To Provide

Philippians 4:18 ESV, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Takeaway: God will supply every need of yours” (not your greed). God is faithful.

4. God is Faithful To Preserve (that is to Keep Us Safe).

1 Peter 5:10 ESV, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Psalm 57:1 ESV, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.”

Takeaway: “I will take refuge” (in God). When you do he will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Yes, God is faithful.

I am reminded of a little acrostic I have heard many preachers use. It is GRACE. It stands for:

G – Gods

R – riches

A – at

C – Christ’s

E – expense.

Others may let you down but God promises to be faithful. Yes, God is faithful. 

Video Source: From YouTube. Fountainview Academy, British Columbia, Canada. Fountanview Academy is a Christian high school based in southern British Columbia, Canada, which holds Province of BC Ministry of Education accreditation. Students from all over the world are attracted to Fountainview because of its balanced approach to education. Each staff member is personally committed to the eternal success of every student, and together they strive for the highest standards in every respect.

Taking Care of Business

Posted in Blog, Christian Love, Christian Writers, Devotions, Friends, Friendship, Hope, J Kepler, JA Kepler, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Writer's Life, Writers, Writing10 Comments

Taking Care of Business

We all have things in our lives of which we need to take care.  I’ve been reminded of this too many times in the last five years as I’ve had my mother, then father, and finally, my wife die.

Add to that several of my friends recently passed into eternity. They were in their mid-sixties. They died while sleeping. I have other dear friends who lost their spouse or have spouses with life-threatening illnesses. As a result, I’ve come to realize the brevity of life in a personal way.

Because of the limitation of time and briefness of life, we must take care of business. The time for doing it is now. I want to suggest five needs we all have that will help us take care of business now.

Five “Need to Dos” When Taking Care of Business 

1. Hold What Needs Holding

Philippians 2:16 English Standard Version (ESV), “holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

    • Hold on to your loved ones.
    • Hold on to your values.
    • Hold on to God’s principles and truths.

2. Mend What Needs Mending

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV), “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Mend that broken relationship with family, a friend, or business associates.

    • Call them – take responsibility
    • Visit them – forgive them
    • Send a note or email – take the first step.

3. Walk What Needs Walking

Matthew 5:41 (ESV), “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

If you are a writer:

    • Get started – stop dreaming and start writing. Write that novel.
    • Get off dead center – submit the rejected manuscript to another agent or editor.
    • Stop procrastinating – do the rewrites the editor wants.

4. Say What Needs Saying

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV), “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

    • Have you found that words hurt you? Your words can also hurt others.
    • Don’t let your words hurt others.
    • Be a good finder, not a nitpicker.

5. Pray What Needs Praying

1 John 1:9 (ESV), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

John 16:24 (ESV), “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Takeaway: Ask God what plans He has for you and then do them! 

Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV), “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

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