My sister, Blessing Ball, so graciously contributed the artwork for both the front cover and back cover of this book. It looks amazing! Thank you sis! She and her family are currently on a missions journey to Spain, check out her blog here:
Front Cover, Back Cover, And Spine Artwork:
Description: “The First Book To Know Him” is Part 16 of The Book Of Benjamin Kareth. This book is a journey into solitude, and from solitude to discover Who God is… in 2021 God called me to come and know Him more. And so as 2022 begins that is what I am seeking to do. This book is a collection of my daily findings on Who God is… it is my seeking To Know Him more and to make Him Known to the world.
A Glimpse Inside:
Chapter 13: The Shiloh: The Peacemaker
JANUARY 9th, 2022
To Know Him… He is… The Shiloh, the Peacemaker, the King of Peace, the peaceful One, the bringer of Peace, the promise and fulfillment of that promise.
Shiloh was the promise of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who was the fulfillment of that promise. The promise was of one who would be eternal peace and security for those who believed in Him.
There isn’t much peace in the world today. Read any social media feed or news outlet and you see that clearly. There isn’t much peace in the systems of the world. Everything seems chaotic and insecure. Like the whole world has lost its mind… but Jesus is peace for those who know Him. He is eternal security, a refuge in this world.
“The scepter [of royalty] shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh [the Messiah, the Peaceful One] comes, And to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” – Genesis 49:10 AMP
I believe that peace, for me, is when I’m forgiven and washed in the blood of Jesus putting me in right-standing with God… bringing an end to my war with Him by submitting to His will.
If I live on this earth, in this body, I will sin. But in the end, this body will die, and I will be resurrected by Jesus to live with Him forever in peace with God.
I keep walking down the path toward Him. No matter how many times I fall or fail, I’ll get back up and keep walking. I need a savior. Every single day in a million ways I need forgiveness.
And the truth is… and this one most don’t get yet… the close you walk with God the more and more the darkness in your heart will get exposed. His light gets brighter and brighter as we get to know Him… and as that light gets brighter, we see more and more clearly how much we need Jesus to save us.
You would think we would get more and more perfect as we get closer and closer to God, and yes, we will be perfected when we die… but in this life, as we walk closer in relationship with Him, what happens is a refining fire. A process of heating, exposing, transformation of the inner parts of us. Why is it such a slow process? I think it’s because we war against it, we push back, we struggle and wrestle it. I do every single day. It’s in many ways maddening… and often bring me close to wanting to quit the cycle.
But I am not the man I use to be. I am not the man God wrapped His arms around in that parking lot in South Carolina in 2018. I have changed. I am different. What’s the difference? My will. That’s what He has been slowly renewing. That’s what He has been changing, my heart. Some days I wonder if this process has happened at all, or if it is happening at all. That’s when I must take a good hard look at myself and compare who I am today to who I was back then. Completely different. Not perfect yet… no. But it is very different.
I would say I’ve walked closely with Him for the past four years. And in that process, the more and more I obey and listen and walk forward He is working through all my deep places in a process of transformation. It’s painful. It’s unpleasant most of the time. Seeing the darkness in my heart is the most disappointing thing. I need Jesus to save me… every day. I need His forgiveness. I need Him.
In this solitude I wonder if all of this I’ve made up… somehow. I’m sure people believe that. That I’m running… but I see what He is doing. He is working in the deep places… the deep places of my ever-wandering heart. Daily He holds me and daily He forgives me. Brings me back to Himself repeatedly. What love is this that never gives up on me? He is faithful, even when I’m unfaithful over and repeatedly. I would have given up on myself again. Thrown myself out into the garbage. Truly.
But one thing I know with all my being is that He is the only answer. And so, I’ll keep asking questions. I’m going to keep seeking Him. I’m going to give up and sacrifice everything in this life to find and gain Him. Period.
People want to push me toward so many things in this world, but I want Him. When I’ve gotten Him maybe there will be space in my life for other things… but for now I am beyond broken and in need of a savior. And the closer I get to Him… the more I see how much I need Him.
Daily I walk before His throne of grace and surrender everything again to Him. Repeatedly. Every single day. Here I am. Do whatever pleases you. Take all that I am and use it to bring your Great Name glory.
For some it’s easier to not even take a step toward God. It’s far easier to live our lives the way we want. But as for me, I’m going toward Him. And I’ll let Him set the standard for my life. He can draw the lines. And I know He will help me, a little more every day, become more and more like Jesus, living by the daily bread of obeying the Father. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.” – John 17:3 AMP
Chapter 29: The Whole Earth Filled
JANUARY 20TH, 2022
I’ve been wrestling so much the past six months with God and with myself. About my path, my journey, my life, feeling like I’ve somehow missed the mark or am missing the mark. The fear of all this has just gripped me so much.
Last night as I crawled in bed I was just so defeated. The Lord said, “You can’t miss what I’ve planned for you. You’re in the middle of it.” And this light turned on in me.
To fill the whole earth with His glory. This is my purpose and I’ve been doing it my whole life. Since I was a kid, I’ve been holding onto my faith in God tightly. With my friends, boyfriends, strangers… I’ve always held on to it. And through that I saw that I was shining. Though my life was so broken, I was filling the earth with His glory… just by my belief and my faith that never wavered. In the darkest depths He was there. And it’s increasing… day after day… His glory is filling the earth and I’m part of that. It’s His light flooding out of this earthen vessel. Arms stretched wide in surrender… “Father have all the glory! Use my life any way you can to show who you are!”
Fill the earth with His glory. Any way you can. To anyone you can. As often as you can. Struggle. Yes. Grow. Yes. Fail. You will. Get back up. Ask forgiveness and keep walking. God will hold onto you. He is faithful. He is worthy. Keep going, always further along your path toward Him.
Chapter 64: A Stone Of Grace
MARCH 7TH, 2022:
To Know Him… He is… The Friend That Loveth At All Times.
God is The Friend. I like to think about this and meditate on it. To me He is my One and True Living God and He is absolute truth… but also… He has revealed Himself to me as my friend. We talk and converse. We spend time together. We relax together. We share life moment by moment. He is constant and overwhelming love. He knows me and I am continuing to get to know Him. Day after day our relationship grows… through time… and as my trust in Him grows so does my ability to allow Him into deeper places in my heart. He has never asked for more than I am ready to give… and He has always healed and transformed the places I was ready to yield.
Relational equity. Think about it… how much do you have with the Lord? Is He your friend? Does He call you friend? Is that a reality in your life? Are you His sheep and hear His voice? Do you seek a deeper relationship with Him daily?
Audio Book:
Behind The Pages Video:
Part 16 on Amazon.com
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