C.H. Spurgeon's Evening Devotional
Thursday June 12, 2025

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling."-2 Timothy 1:9
    
    The apostle uses the perfect tense and says, "Who hath saved us." Believers in Christ Jesus are saved. They are not looked upon as persons who are in a hopeful state, and may ultimately be saved, but they are already saved. Salvation is not a blessing to be enjoyed upon the dying bed, and to be sung of in a future state above, but a matter to be obtained, received, promised, and enjoyed now. The Christian is perfectly saved in God's purpose; God has ordained him unto salvation, and that purpose is complete. He is saved also as to the price which has been paid for him: "It is finished" was the cry of the Saviour ere He died. The believer is also perfectly saved in His covenant head, for as he fell in Adam, so he lives in Christ. This complete salvation is accompanied by a holy calling. Those whom the Saviour saved upon the cross are in due time effectually called by the power of God the Holy Spirit unto holiness: they leave their sins; they endeavour to be like Christ; they choose holiness, not out of any compulsion, but from the stress of a new nature, which leads them to rejoice in holiness just as naturally as aforetime they delighted in sin. God neither chose them nor called them because they were holy, but He called them that they might be holy, and holiness is the beauty produced by His workmanship in them. The excellencies which we see in a believer are as much the work of God as the atonement itself. Thus is brought out very sweetly the fulness of the grace of God. Salvation must be of grace, because the Lord is the author of it: and what motive but grace could move Him to save the guilty? Salvation must be of grace, because the Lord works in such a manner that our righteousness is for ever excluded. Such is the believer's privilege-a present salvation; such is the evidence that he is called to it-a holy life.
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Thursday, June 16, 2011

PompeII by T. L. Higley with giveaway







This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Pompeii
B&H Books (June 1, 2011)
by
T.L. Higley

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A fiction aficionado since grade school, T.L. Higley, author of Pompeii: City on Fire (B&H Publishing House, June 2011) started her first novel at the age of eight.

Now the author of nine historical fiction novels, including the popular Seven Wonders series, Higley isn’t just transporting readers: She’s transporting herself, too.

“My Iifelong interest in history and mythology has taken me to Italy, Greece, Egypt, Rome, Turkey, Jordan and Israel, where I’ve gotten to study those ancient cultures in rich detail,” says Higley. “It’s my desire to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past, and I figure what better way to do that than to visit the cultures themselves?”

In addition to her accomplished novelist career, Higley is a business entrepreneur and a mother. In fact, for Pompeii, she brought her daughter along with her to Italy for the research trip.

“We gave it to her as a graduation present, not only because Italy is terrific, but because I believe in exposing children to global cultures,” says Higley, who became a student herself again this year. She’s now a graduate student at American Public University, earning her master’s degree in Ancient and Classical Studies.

When Higley isn’t traveling on research trips, writing her novels, or studying for class, she operates four online retail companies, including KoolStuff4Kids.com – a family-run business that began as a way for her oldest daughter to make some extra money for camp. Today, it is a go-to site for parents, children and teachers all over the country, looking for beads and other kid-friendly craft supplies.

Higley lives with her husband and her three other children (aforementioned daughter now in college) just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Pompeii, a city that's many things to many people. For Cato, it's the perfect escape from a failed political career in Rome. A place to start again, become a winemaker. But when a corrupt politician wrongfully jails Cato's sister, he must oust the man from power to save her.

For Ariella, Pompeii is a means to an end. As a young Jew, she escaped the fall of Jerusalem only to endure slavery to a cruel Roman general. She ends up in Pompeii, disguised as a young man and sold into a gladiator troupe. Her anger fuels her to fight well, hoping to win the arena crowds and reveal her gender at the perfect time. Perhaps then she will win true freedom.

But evil creeps through the streets of Pompeii. Political corruption, religious persecution, and family peril threaten to destroy Ariella and Cato, who are thrown together in the battle to survive. As Vesuvius churns with deadly intent, the two must bridge their differences to save the lives of those they love, before the fiery ash buries Pompeii, leaving the city lost to the world.

Watch the book trailer:

If you would like to read the Prologue of Pompeii, go HERE.


 Thanks to B&H Books I have a copy to giveaway.  I'd like for you to comment on what interests you most about this book.  Read the sample, watch the video, read the book summary above.  What is it that intrigues you most???? that is mandatory then I'll have some bonus entries available (on form) since I'm in the mood.  Please be sure to leave a way of contact.  I must limit this to US residents only.  Sorry.  I will draw a winner on July 1st.
Congrats Pictures


to winner...

www.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.wswww.bigoo.ws




 

8 comments:

  1. a wonderful review/posting...

    ~karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm most intrigued by Ariella being disguised as a man...and being sold to a gladiator troupe!! I read a series by Angela Hunt a couple of years ago where the main character had to pretend to be a man in each book. It was very interesting! :)

    bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I forgot to add that I was sending my comment on Pompeii from Scraps of Life. Can this be added?

    Blessings,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am most intrigued with how she will write about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

    lovetoread205 [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've always been interested in Pompeii - this sounds like a great read.
    Ann
    cozyintexas@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've been hearing a lot about this book and though it's interested me I've not had a longing to read Pompeii. That is, until I read your teaser. Now, I'm hoping to pick it up soon!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The book Pompeii interests me because Ariella, is a young Jew and she escaped the fall of Jerusalem. Then she had to endure slavery to a cruel Roman general. This time period intests me and I'm hoping to read about what some of the jews had to go through. To me, this book sounds so good!

    judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love reading about the mysteries and theories about Pompeii!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for adding a Scrap of your Life.