The Book of Life

Angel Writing In The Book Of Life Pen & Ink Illustration © S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved.
Angel Writing In The Book Of Life Pen & Ink Illustration © S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved.

The Book of Life Prayer Song & Video Music & Lyrics © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden

Revelation 3:5

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

Philippians 4:3

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”

 Revelation 20:11-15

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” ~St. John writing in his vision

 The Book of Life

 God cherishes each one of us. The bible says that “God our Savior…wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) Jesus Christ told Nicodemus, a religious leader who came to Him one night,  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” ~(John 3:16-17)

 The Lake of Fire mentioned by St. John in the book of Revelation was prepared by God as an eternal punishment for the devil and the angels that rebelled against Him.

Gustave Dore Lucifer The Fallen Angel
Gustave Dore Lucifer The Fallen Angel

It was never intended for man whom God made in His own image.

Yet, the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, fell away from God when they rebelled against His command. The result was spiritual death and a loss of divine fellowship.

 

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Gustave Dore Adam & Eve Expelled From Paradise

 

 

 

 

 

All of their children would, like them, be sinners or rebels against God. They would never be able to enjoy perfect fellowship with God because God is holy and cannot dwell with sin.

God’s word says that sin must be paid for with a sacrifice. Hebrews 9:22 says: “In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”

The only One worthy to pay for our sins, to redeem our souls from eternal destruction and to bring us back into fellowship with God, was God Himself, for He alone is perfect among all His creation. He is sinless, spotless, without blemish.

God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth clothed in flesh so that He could become a living sacrifice and shed His holy blood to pay for our sins. He loved us that much.

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Christ on the Cross ~ from the San Xavier del Bac Mission

God could not die unless He became human. That is why He had to be made like us. He suffered a horrible death on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and so that we could live in Paradise with Him forever.

Not only did He want us to enjoy eternity with Him, He wanted us to be able to enjoy fellowship with Him now.

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Once we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts, we become God’s own children. The Father sends His Holy Spirit into our hearts to seal our salvation as a sure sign that we belong to Him. We will never be alone again from that point because He will never leave or forsake us. His love will keep us firmly in His strong grip. He will help us weather every storm. He will meet our every need. He does not promise freedom from trials-for “many are the afflictions of the righteous,“ God’s word says, “but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

My Testimony

Angel Writing In The Book Of Life Pen & Ink Illustration © S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved.
Angel Writing In The Book Of Life Pen & Ink Illustration © S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved.

The moment I invited the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart I felt a beautiful peace envelop me and a warm glowing presence filled the room. I heard the Lord speak to my heart. “All will be well, You are going to be all right.”  I was only 16 years old.

As I lay in my bed that night filled with Christ’s peace I saw an image in my heart of an angel writing my name in a huge book.  Though I had gone to Catholic school, I had never heard about  the Book of Life.  I wondered what the vision meant.

Not until I began to read the bible on my own through the discipleship of our neighbor did I learn about the Book of Life and what that vision meant.

God was showing me that He had recorded my name in His book of life that night when I had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart.

It comforted me to know that my name was written up in Heaven.

When I grew up and my children were in Sunday school I created a picture of an Angel writing in the Book of Life. I made it into a Sunday school book cover for the children in the church we were attending. I wanted it to comfort them to know that after they had accepted the Lord as their Savior, their names were written in Heaven, and when the Last Day comes, and the books are read, they will be judged “Not Guilty,” because they are wearing the righteous robes that Jesus has given them. Their sins have been washed away by the blood of the spotless Lamb of God.

Rev20 How do our names get into God’s Book of Life? The Book of Romans says: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” ~Romans 10:9-13

That night when I was 16 years old I simply called upon the name of the Lord and He came to me. God is no respecter of persons. The Lord Jesus said He would never reject anyone who called upon His name. (John 6:37) And once a person receives Him into their heart, He will write their names in His Book of Life.

PRAYER

 Heavenly Father, may You bless all those who call upon the name of Thy Son Jesus Christ and write their names in Thy Book of Life. May they live with You forever. Thank You, Lord, In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

The Prayer Song “The Book of Life” is from my new Album “Paths of Peace”~available on Itunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and on my music website http://www.peacefulprayersongs.com

 Prints of the Angel Writing in the Book of Life are available in my Etsy shop as Notecards and as a Triple Matted Fine Art Print.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WingsPublications

 

 

If I Take The Wings of The Morning

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If I Take The Wings Of The Morning (A Prayer Song)

© 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.

 Oh where could I go from your Spirit,

Oh where could I flee from You, Lord?

If I take the wings of the morning

If I fly to the farthest shore,

If I ride to the heights of heaven,

If I fall to the depths of Sheol,

Your mercy will come and find me,

You will seek and find me, Lord

Your grace and mercy find me

No matter how far I flee,

Your love is everywhere I go,

My heart You will never leave.

When all the blessings go away

In the midst of the Shadowlands,

Lord, Your love will never leave

You’ll hold me in Your hand.

Your blessings, Lord, they are not You,

Oh may I not mistake

Your gifts as symbols of Your love,

And think my soul You hate,

When all the blessings go away,

Lord, in the fiery trials~

You’ll never take Your love away,

Forever I’m Your child.

 Oh where could I go from Your Spirit?

Oh where could I flee from Your love?

You’re in my heart forever, Lord,

And I’m in Yours, oh God.

Gods-Hand

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us so much that Your word promises that You will never leave or forsake us. You watch over us everywhere we go; You are with us in every moment of our lives, sharing in all our joys and suffering with us through all our sorrows and pain.

When we stumble on our path, You are there to lift us up, dust us off and help us to our feet again, ever ready to forgive knowing that we are not perfect. You cherish us for we are Your masterpieces, made in Your own image and You long for us to know how much You value us.

Help us to come close to You, to hear Your voice, to see Your face in the face of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross that we might be saved from our sins and be given eternal life.

Thank You for the wonder of Thy grace and of Thy measureless love for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

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*To Read this Original Message and Stream Peaceful Music while you read visit my music website http://www.peacefulprayersongs.com

Angel Song  Pen & Ink Illustration (Psalm 139) “If I Take The Wings of The Morning” © 1990 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. Prayer Song Excerpt “If I Take The Wings Of The Morning” © 2014 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved. Featured Detail of Main Image © S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved.

 

 

God’s Faithful Promises

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Psalm 97:10
“Let those who love the Lord hate evil.
He guards the lives of those who are faithful to Him.
He saves them from the power of sinful people.”

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Guardian God and have promised in Psalm 121:8 that You will “guard my going out and my coming in from now until forever.”

You have promised in Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.”

Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, You promise in John 10:27 that we will be able to hear Thy voice: “My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me.”

Lord, You promise to give us “eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, who gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 28-29)

Lord Jesus, You promised that You will never ever reject any soul that comes to You seeking help. (John 6:37) “Those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.”

Lord, Your word promises that even though we may have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, that You will be right there with us, you will never leave or forsake us.
(Psalm 23:4) Your word even says that we are engraved on the very palms of Thy hands! (Isaiah 49:16)

In the book of Zephaniah 3:17, Lord, Thy word says, “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Thank You, Lord, for such beautiful promises of Your love and protection.
May we ever thank and praise You for these eternal promises. For, Lord Jesus, You said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will never pass away.”

Lord Jesus ,You are eternally faithful and keep every promise forever! Your last words to Your disciples before You ascended into Heaven were, (Matthew 28:20) “… I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Thank You, Lord, for Your abiding Presence, faithful love, and powerful protection always guarding us. May we trust You more and more as we put our faith and hope in Your holy word which cannot lie. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“God’s Faithful Promises” © 2014 “Prayer of Thanks” S.D. Harden; Angel Song/Photo Illustration Source: Pinterest

God’s Strength

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God’s Strength
(Inspired by Isaiah 40:28-31
© 2014 S.D. Harden

God strengthens the weak and weary,
Gives hope to those with faith,
And those who trust in Him will run,
They’ll walk and will not faint.

Those who trust in God will soar
On wings as eagles fly;
Jesus will renew their strength
And lift their spirits high.

Even youths get tired
And those who seem so strong
Will one day stumble in their strength,
They’ll stumble, slip, and fall.

Yet those who trust in Jesus
Will regain their strength;
Though they may slip and stumble
They’ll walk again by faith.

Jesus will renew their souls;
He’ll wash away their sins.
He’ll never disappoint the ones
Who put their hope in Him.

His mercy reaches higher
Than a universe of stars,
Those who wait upon the Lord
Will meet Him in their hearts.

Oh have you never known?
Oh have you never heard?
The Everlasting God, The Lord,
The Creator of all the earth
Never faints or stumbles,
He’s ever strong and wise;
His understanding infinite,
And He never, ever lies.

Our God is ever faithful,
To every promise true,
To all who trust in Jesus
Their souls He will renew.

God strengthens the weak and weary,
Gives hope to those with faith,
He’ll never disappoint the soul
Who trusts in Him and waits.

Dear Heavenly Father, may You help us to humbly trust in Your unlimited strength and not in our own limited resources to meet every challenge we face. Your word says, “It’s not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says The Lord of Hosts…” Thank You for Thy grace to patiently wait on You in faith. We love You, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“God’s Strength” Prayer Song, © 2014 S.D.Harden All Rights Reserved.
Digital Scripture Illustration by S.D. Harden: ANGELSONG © 2014 All Rights Reserved.