MSI Press Blog

  Excerpt from  God Speaks into Darkness PREFACE We learn so much about ourselves in times like these, do we not? How are you coping with the incredible tragedy of the coronavirus? Has it stretched your faith or weakened it or shattered it? Hopefully, you and your family are well. You’ve likely heard the adage, “These are the times that try men’s souls.”  I trust it has prompted you to dig down deeper into the bedrock of your faith and draw closer to God. Also, as believers, this is a rare opportunity reach out to befriend others and speak encouragement and hope into troubled hearts. Tragedy is opening many doors. For centuries, people have found wellsprings of encouragement in the Psalms . These brief meditations inspired by the Psalms also include some of the teachings of Jesus on the same topics. The scriptures used have been paraphrased into language more common to today’s readers. My prayer is that they will be a source of inspiration to you in these challengi...

Excerpt from God Speaks into Darkness   Your Tears Matter in Heaven Inspired by Psalm 126 My wife Dot keeps in her Bible a gold-embossed bookmark with these words, “ All the beauty in the world is in your smile. ” As we do our daily devotions, I like to pull that little reminder out and show it to her. It always brings the response I’m looking for—her wonderful warm and loving smile. The only thing that moves me more is her tears. It breaks my heart to see her cry—all the more so if I have caused it by some thoughtless word. Can you relate to this? Those you love are the very ones who can wound you the deepest—and you can do the same to them. In a word, tears of those we love matter. Likewise, we break God’s tender heart when we ignore or reject him: “High on the windswept mountains, I hear voices crying, crying. It is my children who have turned their backs on me. They have wandered far away and become lost. They are disoriented and destitute. O my rebellious children, c...

   Excerpt from  God Speaks into Darkness Helper of the Helpless Inspired by Psalm 10 A terrifying new flu-like disease, the coronavirus, is sweeping the globe. The World Health Organization has declared it a pandemic; the President declared a national emergency. Nations around the world have closed their borders, barring public gatherings and shutting down schools and churches, restaurants, businesses and sports events in a race to save lives. Doctors and health care workers are risking their lives to save people. Mortality rates are ten times as high as with other flus. Some nations are digging trenches for mass graves. The stock markets and people’s life savings are in free-fall. Legislators are passing emergency relief measures. Food pantries and soup kitchens are overwhelmed. Feeding stations are springing up to feed the masses needing relief, lines of cars extending for miles as people wait in line. In some countries, people have been trampled by others driven wild ...

  Today's book back story is about Bennettt Easterling's book,   God Speaks into Darkness . From the publisher --  This book was one of 12 produced during the pandemic in answer to a call from the publisher to authors to produce a series of books to provide support to readers during the pandemic. They were to be very reasonably priced and also available in e-book versions to make them accessible to as many readers as possible. Each author who accepted the call was asked to write a pandemic-oriented book in their own specialty/genre. Easterling had written two award-winning spiritual books,  Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra  and  Jesus Is Still Passing By . Bennett's paperback book can also be purchased at the  MSI Press webstore  at discount. (Use FF25 for 25% discount.) Pinnacle Book Achievement Award American Book Fest Best Books FinalistA For more posts about Bennett and his book, click  HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow...

  Today's book back story is about Bennettt Easterling's book,   God Speaks into Darkness . From the publisher --  This book was one of 12 produced during the pandemic in answer to a call from the publisher to authors to produce a series of books to provide support to readers during the pandemic. They were to be very reasonably priced and also available in e-book versions to make them accessible to as many readers as possible. Each author who accepted the call was asked to write a pandemic-oriented book in their own specialty/genre. Easterling had written two award-winning spiritual books, Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra and Jesus Is Still Passing By . Bennett's paperback book can also be purchased at the  MSI Press webstore  at discount. (Use FF25 for 25% discount.) Pinnacle Book Achievement Award American Book Fest Best Books FinalistA For more posts about Bennett and his book, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twi...

    excerpt from God Speaks into Darknes s (Easterling) Hemmed in and Locked Out? Inspired by Psalm 88 Today, as this is being written, the world is still losing to COVID-19, which has claimed thousands of lives and infected millions. Twenty-two million Americans have filed for unemployment—and the toll is mushrooming every day.  The United States is facing the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. What began in China has locked down, isolated, or quarantined the lives, health, and economy of every nation. Psychiatrists tell us prisoners locked in total isolation for long periods never fully recover. Courts are being asked to decide if this is such cruel and inhumane punishment that it violates our constitution and should be banned. Have you ever found yourself locked into a perplexing predicament that seems irresolvable, a situation so desperate it seemed unbearable? A pit can be so dark and deep it drains one of hope, slams you up against the border of de...

  Excerpt from God Speaks into Darkness How Long, O Lord? Inspired by Psalm 13 Think back over your life journey to mountains you’ve climbed and valleys you’ve encountered. You have found your share of troubles—or they found you, right? Have you noticed that when trouble comes, it often brings cousins and friends? Yesterday the birds were singing. Today even family and best friends are missing. Your body, mind, and spirit capsized. You sent out SOS signals; yet no one responded--and there’s no lighthouse in sight. In times like this, have you ever voiced the Psalmist’s lament, “How Long, O Lord will this last? Have you forgotten me? Will it be forever?” The Psalmist in this classic prayer is uttering a universal cry: “How long will you forget me, Lord? Will it be forever? How long will you look the other way while I’m suffering, feeling all alone and abandoned? How long will this sorrow fill my heart day and night? How long will my enemies triumph over me? Is this permanent, Lord?...