30 Days of Conviction: A "No Frills" "Straight Truth" Guide to True Salvation

By S.E. Norton

This is an intensive thirty-day journey into your walk with God. I was hellbound for years, doing what I thought would get me to heaven, rather than doing what the Bible said. I wrote this book so everyone could know where they stand with God, because eternity is not the place to realize for the first time what Jesus did for you on that cross.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449757854

S.E. Norton

I thought I had gotten saved several times throughout my life, but I always knew something just wasn't right. I am not saying that people who said the sinner’s prayer and meant it are not saved; I am only saying that without repentance, no one will enter the kingdom of God. It was not until June 2008 that I was truly convicted of my sins, repented, and turned away from my sinful life to God's will for me. I am not a man of many words. I am just a saved sinner, trying to get out the truth about Jesus and what He did on the cross for you! I live in Flora, Mississippi, with my wife Wren and 3 children: Ashton, Ella, and Chap. I enjoy hunting, fishing, and pretty much anything outdoors.

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Copyright © 2012 by S.E. Norton.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

ISBN: 978-1-4497-5784-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-5785-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012911586

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WestBow Press rev. date: 07/31/12

A special thanks to Lacy L. Hancock for her help with

editing this book. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Thanks

CONTENTS

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty One

Twenty Two

Twenty Three

Twenty Four

Twenty Five

Twenty Six

Twenty Seven

Twenty Eight

Twenty Nine

Thirty

Preface

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance. Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

—Luke 15:7 10:7

ON JUNE 16, 2008, when I finally repented and was saved, I bet the angels were saying, It’s about time he figured it out! I’ve gone through many phases in my Christian journey. I had my first encounter with God in the second grade, when I raised my hand because I did not want to go to hell when I died. I do remember the first time I felt called by God to preach and teach the word of God. I think I was about fifteen, and I was at summer camp. For some reason this young man from Rolling Fork, MS, who was in my group, would only talk to me about his salvation. It really threw me for a loop, but I went with it, and it felt more natural than anything I had done to that point.

Now, you’re probably asking yourself how God can call someone to preach who really wasn’t even saved. I asked myself that for a long time, and it caused me a lot of grief. After prayer and study I realized that time was created by God, so He is not bound to it. In other words, God knew I was going to be saved and teach people about His word even when I was fifteen. So it really is not such a stretch to see that I felt called even before I was saved. This subject could get a little involved so we should just leave it for now.

I tell you all of this so I can tell you that I am working on several projects right now, all of which I feel called to do. I am working on a years worth of devotionals to publish in book form. I have received such a good response from the blog that I see devotionals for the "regular ol Joe’ seem to be what a lot of people need. As you know, my messages are without frills and to the point. I believe that is what I have been called to do, to tell the truth about what the Bible says about God and His Son Jesus in a very straight forward way.

ONE

Salvation by Grace

And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments.

—Luke 23:24

THESE DEVOTIONALS ARE WRITTEN because I have been convicted of something and feel the need to write about it.

As I read the scripture for today, all I could think about was how worthless I felt. In this passage Jesus has been beaten to a pulp, has been spit on, and was in what had to have been excruciating pain. Yet He was still asking God to forgive the people who did this to Him. He knew the magnitude of what was going on; He knew that God’s anger was going to rage!

Could you imagine watching thieves, liars, and other criminals beat your child? Could you imagine watching people spit on and curse your child while he or she was hanging on a cross and gasping for air? Could you imagine the pure outrage you would feel toward all those involved?

God had to have felt anger toward those sinful people. Now try to imagine some of your child’s last words being something like, Daddy, don’t be angry with them because they don’t realize what they are doing. It tears me up to think about Jesus’ crucifixion like this,