MSI Press Blog

Excerpt from the award-winning book, God Speaks into Darkness , by Bennett Easterling, MSI Press author, winner of many book awards.  Are You Lonely Tonight? Inspired by Psalm 120 If you’re a believer sincerely trying to follow the Lord, you’re going to feel pretty lonely at times. Hello? Listen to the Psalmist crying on God’s shoulder: “Deliver me, O Lord, from this world of liars. They have lied so much it’s become a way of life. O lying tongue, what shall become of you? You will be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with red-hot coals. My troubles multiply among these God-haters; these scoundrels, scalawags, and scammers! I am weary of their talk of plots and revenge; they love wars and hate peace. My voice for peace is drowned out in their councils, by those clamoring for war. In my lonely troubles, I pled with God to help me. I opened my heart to him, crying out for him to intervene. And, once again, he heard my plea and came to my aid. Thank you Abba!” Have you noticed tha...

Proudly announcing the release of  God Speaks into Darkness , the third book in our pandemic series -- a set of books dedicated to helping people make it safely (mentally and physically) through the pandemic. These books are written by experts in their fields, who are also authors by their own right of other MSI Press books, and  information about new books to be released in this series can be found on the  MSI Press home page . In God Speaks into Darkness,  brief devotionals speak to the enormous challenges facing our world today. So many of you are grieving loss of loved ones, or risking your life daily to help others, or facing  loss of your livelihood, financial ruin or uncertainty. The  Psalms and teachings of Jesus offer treasures of hope for today and promises us a brighter tomorrow. You will find in  these meditations that God wants to comfort his own and then use us to help and bless one another. Bennett Easterling has authored two ot...

    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   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 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?...

Soul Food for the Weary                                                                                                   Inspired by Psalm 16 If you develop a toothache, you go to a dentist, right? If you need glasses, you call an optometrist; if you need money, a banker. But what if you’re soul-weary?   “Where could I go but to the Lord? Seeking a refuge for my soul Needing a friend to help me in the end (Brother won’t you tell me?) Where could I go, O where could I go, where could I go but to the Lord?”  (Gaither Vocal Band) The psalmist declares: “The Lord himself is my inheritance, my prize.  He is my food and drink, my highest joy!  He guards all that is mine.  He se...

  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...

  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...