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being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Romans 1:29-32
Comforting Those Who Grieve
~ Those who mourn are all around us; may we offer them the compassion of our Savior.
Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 11:26-27
Like Tamar and Rahab, the fourth woman in Matthew’s genealogy has a tarnished reputation — Bathsheba is labeled by some as a temptress. In reality, however, she was a victim. Desired by King David, she was brought to him and soon found herself pregnant and in danger of death for adultery. David tried to cover up his sin by manipulating Bathsheba’s husband Uriah. When that didn’t work, David had him killed at the [battle] front.
Suddenly, Bathsheba was a grieving widow. “She mourned for her husband,” according to 2 Samuel 11:26. Then David made her his wife. When she delivered a son, her joy was short-lived. The child became sick and died, as the prophet Nathan had prophesied (2 Samuel 12:14). Now she was grieving two great losses: a husband and a child.
When it comes to our attention that a parent is grieving, we may feel unsure of the best way to reach out. But we have Jesus as a model of how to offer care. Matthew saw his Master heal the multitudes and remembered the words of Isaiah:
“He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick;” ~ Isaiah 42:3
May we receive such people with gentleness and be a safe place that promotes their healing.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/comforting-those-who-grieve
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"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
Psalm 118:24
Casting Crowns-"Praise You In This Storm"
Let me tell you this morning that it is 100 percent true that God is good and that God is in total control. However...that does not prevent bad things from happening. And i also want you to know..that although its within Gods power to give everyone a perfect life...a perfect existence...that truly would not be in our best interest. Now you may say...what or why...i dont get that...not in my best interest? You see folks...often times it is trials and suffering that drives people...points people to the Father and they become saved. And for those of us who are already His followers...God often times uses harsh circumstances...burdens and tribulations...to mature our faith...build our trust in Him...our dependence in Him...and conform us to the image of His Son...Jesus. Do you think it might just also be possible that even as believers...if we had a walk thru the rose garden everyday...that we in our state of being human might just forget about God? Yes...God will allow disaster and evil and sickness to touch our lives so we can grow from the experience and growth...whether in compassion...trust or knowledge...thats a good thing! If we could peek behind the scenes of our life...look into our future...we would see God in His perfect wisdom...sovereignly working toward His ultimate purpose for us. But it is so important to remember that although we sometimes see immediate positive results from trials. Other times...we must wait months or years...or maybe until we reach heaven...to fully understand what God was doing in those difficult circumstances. Suffering and evil are just part of living in a fallen world. But we have the blessed assurance that God is in control of the universe...even though it may not look like it...God is in control....including the tiny corner that each of us occupies. So remember...when God permits bad things to happen...we can be sure that He will continue to provide comfort and guidance as He shapes us into the people He wants us to be. Molding us into the likeness of Jesus in preparation for heaven...our forever home! Gods love for us surpasses all understanding...His love is so total and complete...and...He does care about our problems...but....i believe that even more than that...His desire is to mold us into the likeness of His Son Jesus as we walk this earthly path....and....think about this....if life was always problem free...could we really appricate the good not knowing the bad times in our life? The good news is for born-again believers...that we are going to spend forever with Jesus in heaven and there on the new earth / heaven....we will have that perfect life in our new glorified bodies and it will never end as we give God the praise for His grace and mercy and saving us from hell thru the sacrifice Jesus made on that old rugged cross!
I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
“You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1 John 4:4
Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psalm 100:3
The meaning of life does not consist in what we make of it, but in what God makes of it. Success is not about achievement or what we make of ourselves. It's about placement, or what God makes of us. We take the lesson from the Persecuted Church that it is okay to die quite unaware of our life's meaning. We can rest in trust that God, in His mercy, has used us to help build His eternal kingdom.
-Paul Estabrooks-
Have His Way
“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” ~ Isaiah 55:9
When we approach God solely as The Giver of gifts and the provider of solutions to our problems (as we perceive them), we are trying to turn Him into a Cosmic Vending Machine. We want Him to give us exactly what we ask for.
God does not need more of our perspective. We need more of His. When we aren’t ignoring Him, we spend so much time trying to explain ourselves to God, making a pitch for the longings of our flesh to be fulfilled.
The problem is we do not really know what to ask for. We need to ask Him what we ought to ask for. God does not exist to hear from us and provide resources so we might have our way. He exists so we might hear from Him and be resourced to participate in His Way.
The issue is not that we ask too much of God (or even that we are asking Him for things). The issue is we are asking too little of Him. We are asking for our perspective to be validated through changed circumstances.
But what if God wants to redeem our circumstances through changed perspective?
Scripture is full of pleas for us to die to our false perceptions, to see past our superficial desires, and to discover The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Being Super
“As each has received a special gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” ~ 1 Peter 4:10
The weight of responsibility is an integral part of being super. And it becomes very difficult for others to understand how we are stewarding our gifts and passions. We can never please them all. And the slightest hint of rejection is enough to knock us off our perch.
The faith that angels observe with fascination is our strongest power. And it is longing to get out, to make itself known, to serve responsibly. Faith is inside of us. We are filled with potential energy waiting to go kinetic. To be something is only half of the equation of humanity. It is how we steward who we are that determines the depth of richness we will experience in this world.
God is cheering for us, wanting the most good for us. He wants us to be who we truly are, no matter the risks involved or how the world might respond. He wants us to live the extraordinary life prepared for us.
Being super is not about fame and fortune and power. It is more subtle than all that. Being super is about living well. Being who we are. Worshipping God through a life well-lived, a life of joy and of service.
____________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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From the Pastor’s Heart – May 2024
~ Choose to lean on your kind and patient heavenly Father, who sees your struggle.
The Christian life isn’t always easy, but as children of God, we have special help for both good days and bad. Dr. Stanley faced discouragement as much as any of us, and he knew how to reach for spiritual sustenance.
We at In Touch care about how you’re doing. This month we’d like to share with you some words from Dr. Stanley about our “Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Remember the grace of Jesus whenever your heart needs uplifting.
_________________
At some point, discouragement comes to everyone — through bad news, worldly sorrows, or distressing circumstances. In those moments we can convince ourselves that we’ll be undone by our troubles. Or we can choose to lean on our kind and patient heavenly Father, who sees our struggle. He will never leave us to cope on our own. Instead, He comforts and strengthens us through the Holy Spirit.
When I need encouragement, I turn to one of my favorite Bible passages — Romans 15:4-5:
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus.”
Perseverance is the determination to keep going and not give up. If you’ll look carefully at verse 5, what do you see? It’s God Himself who gives us that determination. Doesn’t that give you hope today?
Let’s look at how He does this:
1. The Spirit of God encourages us with the Word of God.
In Scripture, we discover what kind of God He is. Psalm 119:68 says the Lord is good. He’s not only good in character and the giver of good things, but He’s also the one who determines what is good. He knows what’s best for us at each point in our life and can guide us wisely in every situation. When we understand that God allows difficulties because they are ultimately beneficial for us, we don’t need to be discouraged by them. In time we’ll look back and thank Him for the way He brought us through.
2. God’s Spirit comforts us through prayer.
The Lord doesn’t want us to be anxious but to come to Him with every concern (Philippians 4:6). When my granddaughter was 7 years old, she taught me one of the simplest and most effective prayers we can offer to the Lord in times of need. We were horseback riding while visiting a ranch, and suddenly her horse galloped away from the group. After we caught up with her, she told me she was afraid but kept praying, “Jesus, help me!”
Remember this short prayer next time you feel helpless in the face of trouble. No problem — not even yours — is bigger than our omniscient, omnipotent God, and nothing is too small, worldly, or ordinary for Him to get involved and reveal His love.
3. God also encourages us through Christian music.
I have some favorite hymns that remind me of God’s faithfulness and His purpose for trials. Think about the lyrics from old hymns, like this verse from “How Firm a Foundation”:
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”
There is great comfort in knowing and trusting God’s grace to sustain us in trials.
4. God’s people are another means by which He encourages us.
In closing his letter to the Colossians, Paul listed the friends who worked together with him for the kingdom of God. What he wrote about them was, “They have proved to be an encouragement to me” (Colossians 4:11). A godly friend can lift you up when you’re down. This is just one of the many reasons to join a local church where you can participate in the body of Christ in a direct and personal way. Not only will you find courage for your own difficult times, but you’ll be there for others when they’re in need.
5. Finally, the Holy Spirit will help you to notice God’s daily blessings.
Discouragement keeps us from seeing all the good He provides. But when we consider His endless gifts, our attitude is transformed. Sometimes we need to take our focus away from the troubles of life and shift it to the awesome creation that surrounds us. The wonder of the seasons, for example, or the perfect order of the universe will always remind us that God is great and He has everything under control.
What a comfort to know that the Lord is present and living within you!
Actively look for Him and His comfort, and you’ll recognize His love, mercy, and goodness in every situation.
_________________
Dr. Stanley’s words above are a reminder of the truth found in John 14:27, that the Lord gives to us “not as the world gives.” The peace of God is mysterious, remarkable, and effective. It holds us together in a way that nothing else can. We hope you’ll lean on His encouragement more every day. Till next time, God bless you.
For His Glory,
Your Friends at In Touch Ministries
P.S. This month we recognize Mother’s Day, a celebration that was dear to Dr. Stanley. His own mother had a strong influence on him, one that ripples out to each of us who benefit from his ministry. We’re grateful for godly women who impact their neighbors, friends, and family with Christ’s love.
Happy Mother’s Day.
https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/may-2024
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God Cares About the Vulnerable
~ God considers justice and compassion important for those who need help — and we should as well.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:1-17
Matthew mentions only five women in Jesus’ genealogy. That alone makes them remarkable, but their stories are more than mere curiosities. They reorient how we see and value the women among us.
Tamar was the mother of Judah’s sons Perez and Zerah. But Judah wasn’t Tamar’s husband; his son Er was. Er, however, was “evil in the sight of the Lord,” so his life was taken from him (Genesis 38:7). Tamar then married Er’s brother Onan, who also displeased God and died. Though Hebrew custom (and, later, the law) protected a widow by requiring a relative of the deceased to marry her, Judah denied Tamar because he was afraid to lose another son (Genesis 38:11). So she took matters into her own hands (see Genesis 38).
Justice for widows is important in God’s eyes. The psalmist, in fact, calls Him “a father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows” (Psalm 68:5). And God’s ultimate judgment of Tamar is in her favor. She gave birth to Perez and Zerah — the twins Judah fathered and direct-line ancestors of Christ.
Psalm 68 also says God “makes a home for the lonely” (Psalm 68:6). We should participate in caring for those who are grieving or vulnerable. This is confirmed in James’ epistle when he calls the care of widows “pure religion” (James 1:27). So let us make our churches and homes welcoming places for those who need help.
__________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/god-cares-about-the-vulnerable
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Jesus bless you!!! 💗
As we know...and its a little hard for me to wrap my head around this...but...there was no beginning to God the Father...God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity....three Persons...One God. They have always existed. Then at some point God decided to create angels...and at another point...God decided to create the heavens and earth and all creation including humans. God is Omnipotence...He has the power to do anything He desires and in complete control of everything. Omnipresence...He is in all places all the time.....Omniscience...He knows all things....everything. Even before you and myself were born...God knew us....again...its kinda hard in some ways to wrap my brain around all this. God knew every thought every word every action or deed we were ever going to do...even before we were born. Sovereign almighty all powerful loving God....and He created us anyway....why? The word is relationship! You see...Jesus left heaven and came to earth born a baby to the virgin Mary and just like all male babies grew to be a man and lived among humans for 33 years. He did that to walk among His children...to be face to face with them...and most importantly to provide a way to heaven by his death on the cross and His resurrection. Jesus was fully man and still fully God. And as much as our heavenly Father cares about our salvation...desiring that we be born-again...become a new creation...He also places high priority on another aspect of our life...He is interested in building a relationship with you and me...yes...the same kind that Jesus built with His disciples. You see folks...being a born-again believer is not just about getting our ticket punched to heaven...just as important is having a close personal relationship with our creator...our Lord and Savior...our heavenly Father...while we continue to walk this journey here on planet earth! Can you think of a higher compliment than for the God of the universe to say...I want a personal...intimate relationship with you! What this means is...He is interested in real conversation with us and listening to us as we listen to Him. He truly longs to spend time with us. He desires us to put our faith and trust and dependence in Him so that He can provide for us and bless us and meet our daily needs. And the fact of the matter is that we truly do owe Him everything including our time...right! How awesome is it that here we are... two thousand years later sense Jesus died and rose again..in this wicked and sin filled world...and Father God desires to build a intimate relationship with us just as Jesus did when He walked this earth with the disiples. And that relationship is going to last for forever...because we are going to spend forever with Him in heaven. So i guess my question or thought...how much time each day do we actually spend talking to...worshiping...giving praise...learning about...with the very Person....God... that created us...the very Person...God that we are going to spend eternity with? Think about it!
I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
“What is the meaning of “To God be the glory?” God is the Supreme Being and Creator of all. To glorify Him means that we are to acknowledge the greatness and splendor of His Majesty through honor, worship and praise of which He alone is worthy because He is God of all.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:6
"Then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity."
Proverbs 2:5-6
Consider Him Who Endured
"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” ~ Hebrews 3:13
Jesus endured ridicule and humiliation from His accusers, and overwhelming pain on the cross, simply because He dearly loved us. The joy of seeing our restored relationship with the Father allowed Him to persevere through unbelievable hardship. His sacrifice brought us Salvation – His perseverance should bring us strength and a renewed hope.
"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.” ~ Hebrews 12:3
There are going to be days when the burden seems extra heavy – days when the attacks come fast and furious and feel like they will never end. It may bring temporary relief for someone to agree and confirm the difficulty of our situation, but the only way to truly ease the load is to focus our heart back to Christ and pray for His strength;
"May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance [perseverance] that comes from Christ.” ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:5
We must persevere... because He first persevered for us!
There is definitely a place within the Body [of Christ] for compassion and the sharing of one another's sorrows; but when our burdens become seemingly unbearable, we must also encourage one another to simply put one foot in front of the other and boldly continue down His path. His grace and His strength WILL be sufficient! We will not lose heart if we focus on His love. We will persevere and not grow weary if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and consider Him who endured.
Have a Christ Centered Day!
______________
~ by Steve Troxel, "God's Daily Word Ministries”
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
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Amen brother!
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"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" is a verse from
Psalm 118:24
Answering the Call
~ As we pursue God’s will, He will provide the wisdom and strength needed to face any opposition.
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:9-13
When we submit to God and allow Him to rebuild our broken places, we can expect opposition. Nehemiah’s efforts to restore Jerusalem were threatened by Sanballat and others. In a similar way, we have an enemy who opposes the work God is doing in our life — an antagonist who does everything possible to discourage and distract us. When that happens, we can echo Nehemiah’s prayer: “Now, God, strengthen my hands” (Nehemiah 6:9).
Today’s passage tells of a hindrance involving Shemaiah — an Israelite who advised Nehemiah to preserve his life by hiding from his enemies (v. 10). This incident suggests that even people from whom we seek wisdom might at times obey the voice of fear and ignore the bigger picture. Once Nehemiah refused to listen to the anxiety-driven advice, his eyes were opened. Then he saw Shemaiah for who he was: a false friend hired by Sanballat.
When answering the call to partner with God in the work of renewal, we have a choice: Give in to distress, or heed the voice that promises, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5). The Lord wants us to say “no” to fear. Although we may be tempted to despair at the brokenness around and within us, we can cling to God’s promise of restoration and entrust our life to the One who makes all things new.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/answering-the-call
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Assessing What Is Left
~ There is always hope when we look to the Lord for our next step.
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 2:11-18
Navigating loss is a complex process; there is no straightforward path through grief. Yet Nehemiah’s journey from lamenting the broken walls of Jerusalem to rebuilding them offers us insight as we partner with God to put life’s shattered places back together.
After grieving the destruction of Jerusalem’s fortifications, Nehemiah asked King Artaxerxes for permission to return to that city and rebuild its protective wall.
Taking stock of what remains after loss is an important step as we move from grieving to rebuilding. It can be difficult to find glimmers of hope while surveying the ruins of broken lives, dreams, or relationships, but we are never without the one thing that matters most — God’s presence. Nehemiah knew this to be true, which is why he toured Jerusalem to inspect its walls and learn what was needed to repair the damage. In doing so, he oriented himself towards hope — that is, he looked for what could be accomplished with God’s help.
As the Lord did with Nehemiah, He also invites us to view rubble in our life with eyes of faith. So let’s dare to look beyond our present circumstances toward the joy of future restoration.
_____________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/assessing-what-is-left
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...i got my first motorcycle when i was 14...that was 1970. The reason i got it....was to be able to get around from farm to farm and make more money helping other farmers when i had the time in place of a bycycle getting around. That was my first year at SGHS. That was also the year that i started sippin on a little beer and smoking a little weed. That was the first year that i started listening to rock n roll. And probably the first year that i was smoking cigarettes regularly. That was the year that life started to change in so many ways for this simple country boy that had had a regular normal life up to this point in time...living in farm country here in Greene County TN...down at the foot of the mountain in the St. James...Cedar Creek area. And in those first fifteen years...Sunday morning and Sunday night...most Wednesday nights...we were in church. Now dont get me wrong...i didnt jump off the cliff all at once...even in my progressive helter-skelter life thru high school...the craziness came by bits and pieces. Me and my close friends we put money in our pockets in the hay fields and tobacco patches of family and most every farmer around...we worked hard. However...and as i said...we started with the beer and weed...and each year thru high school...got a little more intense with what we were doing. And by my junior year and that senior year...i guess you could say that i majored in drugs and minored in booze...or...vise versa! I had grown my hair long...doing uppers and downers...acid...angel dust...PCP...every drug under the sun to get high on...all the way to sticking needles in my arm. I dont remember ever taking part in school activities...never going to football...basketball games...my life at that early age was centered around getting high...the "Age of Aquarius". I was still living at home and working on the farm...but...was flying high most of the time from dope during the day and dope and booze at night. So think about that....i was a normal kid...so to speak...up until the age of 15....then...i jumped off the cliff and traveled a road of drugs and booze and the insanity of that lifestyle for the next 25 years...how does that happen? So my point this morning...never say never in the arena of drugs and booze. Think you cant get hooked...addiction is a monster that takes no prisoners...addiction will grab you up and swallow you whole and spit you out and you may...or may not survive...why take that chance! Ive been clean and sobor for 28 years now...and how did i do that....ill give myself a little pat on the back because ive struggled from time to time but thru the power of the Holy Spirit living in me and my walk with Jesus....ive been totally free of all the stuff and lifestyle...as i said for 28 years...and...i give Him all the credit and glory....because....like all things in life....it is that relationship with Jesus that makes all the difference! BUT....i have to say this...ive known a good many people that i have no doubt have been born-again...and at some point in time slipped back into the grasp of the demon of addiction...that is just how powerful it is....no...i did NOT say that it is more powerful than God the Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit....what im saying is that in our humanness...our flesh...our sin nature....addiction and satan and his demons and the world can push those buttons and drag us back into that dark mary clay of addiction in the blink of the eye....wrong place at the wrong time....right place at the right time....yes...i totally believe...that once a alcoholic or druggy always a alcoholic or druggy....but with a relationship with Jesus...we can conquer that demon....im living proof of that!
I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!.....
Rick j Sane
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18-19
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Lamenting What Is Lost
~ Offering our tears to God requires faith that He is able and willing.
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1:3-11
Is it possible for grieving to be an act of worship?
Consider today’s passage about Nehemiah, an Israelite who served as cupbearer to the king of Babylon. Nehemiah sat down and wept for days when he learned Jerusalem’s walls had been destroyed, leaving his people defenseless. Yet his tears weren’t just a simple outpouring of strong emotion. Through weeping, fasting, and prayer, Nehemiah allowed his distress to lead him into deeper communion with God.
Shedding tears over what was lost — giving full expression to his pain — was an essential component of Nehemiah’s prayerful turning toward God. His bold display of sorrow was an affirmation of his belief that God alone was capable of restoring Jerusalem and her people to their former glory. As he prayed, Nehemiah reminded God of His promise to gather the exiles and dwell permanently among His people (vv. 8-9).
As Christians, we can sometimes interpret another person’s outward display of grief as a lack of faith. Why are they crying, we may wonder, if they truly trust God? But Nehemiah’s example shows us that taking time to lament what we have lost can be an act of worship.
When we are in pain, God invites us to cling to His promises and offer our tears to Him as devotion — even if they are all we have to give.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/lamenting-what-is-lost
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The Daily Article — May 3, 2024
How can you find meaning in life? Have you considered beekeeping?
Unless you live in Phoenix, Arizona, and have needed pest control, you likely had not heard of Matt Hilton before last Tuesday. That was when a swarm of bees along the netting behind home plate delayed the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt got the call and came to the rescue, vacuuming the bees into a container and transporting them safely off-site.
The stadium played “Holding Out for a Hero” while he worked and fans chanted “MVP” when he was done.
Here’s another option: you could make hats for the Kentucky Derby.
From its inception, the oldest continuous sporting event in America was intended to provide a spectacle both on the track and among the spectators. As jockeys and horses prepare for the Kentucky Derby’s 150th running tomorrow, hat makers have been preparing spectacularly colorful designs for women in the stands.
Here’s yet a third approach: you could join fans the world over who will take part in Star Wars Day tomorrow. The date is special to them because it is May 4. Consequently, they can recite the litany, “May the fourth be with you.”
Leo Tolstoy’s advice seems ironically appropriate in this context:
“The meaning of life is to serve the force that sent you into the world.”
How can Christians experience such meaning?
Why 40 percent of Texas churches left their denomination:
This week we’ve been focusing on foundational cultural issues in light of the fact that Jesus is “the light of men” whose “light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4–5).
One way we can continue Jesus’ ministry as the “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27) in the world today is to focus our light where the room is darkest. Our Lord came to “those dwelling in the region and shadow of death” (Matthew 4:16). You and I dwell in such a “region” in ways that are unprecedented in American history.
For example, another denomination — this time the United Methodist Church — has rejected biblical sexuality by embracing LGBTQ ideology. In anticipation of this decision, churches who affirm biblical morality have been leaving in droves. More than 40 percent of Methodist churches in Texas have abandoned the denomination, for instance.
I could go on, with campus demonstrations, the Middle East conflict, AI-related and climate-related fears, and economic anxiety all dominating this morning’s headlines. The fact that bad news is not surprising is itself unsurprising.
A Wall Street Journal article recounts our recent history: “The 9/11 attacks, costly wars in the Middle East, the loss of more than five million manufacturing jobs between 2000 and 2010, the financial collapse and the Great Recession, intensified racial strife, the pandemic and various polarizing responses to it.”
Consequently, “As mishaps multiplied, Americans became divided to an extent not seen in generations. Because the sides were closely divided numerically, neither party could gain a lasting governing majority. As gridlock continued, America’s confidence in its capacity for self-government plunged.”
You and I are not to be cultural warriors but cultural missionaries. God has called both to where we are and to when we are. If He could not use us at this pivotal moment in American history, we would not be alive at this pivotal moment in American history.
How can we make a difference that matters?
When the book of Acts opens, a small group of believers is gathered in Jerusalem; when it closes, they have penetrated Rome itself, “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:31). The Scottish biblical scholar James Stewart contrasted their witness with ours:
"It is a tragedy that the Christian religion is in many minds identified merely with pious ethical behavior and vague theistic beliefs, suffused with aesthetic emotionalism and a mild glow of humanitarian benevolence. This is not the faith which first awakened the world like a thousand trumpets and made people feel it bliss in such a dawn to be alive. Men knew what Christianity really was — the entrance into history of a force of immeasurable range."
Early Christians were empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Jesus’ witnesses (Acts 1:8), but they were also empowered by the Holy Spirit when they acted as His witnesses (Acts 4:5-12).
Like them, we find meaning by sharing meaning. We experience the light by sharing the light. When we strive to imitate Jesus with our works and to share Him with our words, the Spirit leads us where we can best impact others (Acts 8:26-40) and speaks through us to convict sinners (Acts 2:37-38) and save souls (Acts 2:41).
Hear Tolstoy again:
“The meaning of life is to serve the force that sent you into the world.”
Will you experience such meaning today?
_____________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/beekeeping-at-a-baseball-game-and-kentucky-derby-hats-on-star-wars-day/
•
Killing Off the Coyotes
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will they also reap.” ~ Galatians 6:7
In his book, "Rewriting the Family Script", Roger Hillerstrom shares how a small, Midwestern town once sponsored a coyote hunt because so many farmers were losing chickens to the predators. Fifteen hundred coyotes were killed over a single weekend.
However, within a few months the entire community was overrun with rodents, because their natural enemy, the coyote, had been eliminated. A year after that, the rodents weren't much of a problem, but the rattlesnakes were! Because there were so many rats and mice for them to eat, the poisonous snakes had reproduced rapidly.
At that point, the chickens were safe, but the humans were in danger! You see, the coyotes had been an important part of the environmental system - the food chain. When one part of that system changed, other parts adapted to the new reality.
When we, as individuals, groups, or societies and even some churches get rid of God's Word, and overthrow God's standards to do as we please, and seek to throw out God Himself, the seeds of our ultimate destruction are sown. God is not mocked. We will reap what we have sown.
As the Apostle Paul exhorted the Christians in Corinth: "Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).
Suggested Prayer:
"Dear God, amid the ever increasing pressure in our society to get rid of anything to do with the Bible and with You, please help me to be on my guard, be strong, and stand firm in my Christian faith. Help me to so live that others seeing Jesus in me will want Him for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
________________
~ published by: The. Daily Encourager
To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
•
Giving Thanks for Fleas
"And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” ~ Colossians 3:17
Corrie Ten Boom, in "The Hiding Place", relates an incident that taught her an important principle. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck.
Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded, and flea infested. Their Scripture reading that morning in 1 Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted. She finally succumbed.
During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without guard interference. It was several months later when they learned that the guards would not enter the barracks because of the fleas.
There are times in our lives when we refuse to be thankful, especially when something is uncomfortable or causing us pain. We rarely feel inclined to thank God for the traffic on the freeway, the unhappy clients at work, the tantrums our toddlers have, or the unexpected illnesses that keep us from doing all the things we need to do. However, I have learned to sit and listen in the discomfort, because even there, God is present. Just like the fleas allowed Corrie and Betsy to freely share the Gospel and worship with others, our uncomfortable circumstances could also lead to something greater.
The tantrums my two-year-old throws is developing patience and love in me, and also teaching me how to discipline effectively. Common illnesses have forced me to slow down and spend time with God. The difficult client at work has led me to prayer. Listening to worship songs in the traffic has allowed me to have the most meaningful times with my Heavenly Father.
The next time you find yourself in unpleasant circumstances, thank God for that and ask Him to draw near and show you His will. Everything in the life of a Christian has a purpose. Let's take a moment to thank God for the "fleas" today.
Suggested Prayer:
Lord, in every moment you are there. Every feeling I experience, you see and want me to tell you all about it. Thank you for all the nuisances I encounter every day. Instead of complaining, help me be thankful for all that you are doing in the middle of it. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' name, amen.
_________________
~ by Crystal B
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
•
The Daily Article — April 29, 2024
~ Are campus protests a picture of our cultural future?
Nearly nine hundred protesters have been arrested on US campuses in recent days, about 275 of them on Saturday. Activists staged a large event outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday night, part of a wave of protests that has spread across the country and could continue through the summer at political conventions.
Columbia University became the epicenter of the movement due to its proximity to national media in New York and its status as an Ivy League institution. The campus is also home to a large Jewish student population, many of whom have faced harassment or attacks from protesters, fueling more media coverage and political scrutiny.
Columbia made more news when it banned a student protest leader who declared that “Zionists don’t deserve to live.” He said with regard to fighting a Zionist (someone such as myself who believes the Jews deserve a homeland in Israel), “I don’t fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill.”
He added, “Be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.”
Tragically, that’s already been done.
In the new edition of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli historian Tom Segev offers a brilliant overview of the modern history of the nation. He begins:
"To Israelis, October 7, 2023, is the worst day in their country’s seventy-five-year history. Never before have so many of them been massacred and taken hostage on a single day. Thousands of heavily armed Hamas fighters managed to break through the Gaza Strip’s fortified border and into Israel, rampaging unimpeded for hours, destroying several villages and committing gruesome acts of brutality before Israeli forces could regain control."
Hamas leaders have vowed to repeat these attacks until Israel is destroyed. Consequently, Israel had no choice but to send the IDF into Gaza to destroy Hamas.
More than thirty-one thousand Palestinians have died since the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza began, a tragic fact that is a primary reason for pro-Palestinian protests across our country. In their rhetoric, Israel is completely at fault for these deaths.
However, American legal theory distinguishes between a “proximate” cause and an “actual” cause. The latter is the direct cause of an event, such as the car that runs a red light and crashes into your vehicle. The former is the event that caused the latter, such as the large truck that rams into a car, shoving it into the intersection so that it crashes into your car.
Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7 is the uncontestable proximate cause of all that has happened since. If Hamas had not launched its invasion and then used Palestinian civilians as human shields, not a single casualty resulting from Israel’s response in Gaza would have been harmed. It is therefore also a fact that, as the Wall Street Journal recently noted, “Those who genuinely care about the Palestinians should hope for Hamas’s defeat.”
The US Army liberated the Dachau concentration camp on this day in 1945. With this sober fact as a historical backdrop, consider a letter written by the chairman of the World Holocaust Remembrance Center to the president of Columbia University. In it, Dani Dayan warns that the ongoing anti-Israel demonstrations at elite US colleges and universities are exactly what happened in Germany in the 1920s, just years before Nazis took over the country.
He therefore called on the president to “take a stand” as “thousands of Columbia faculty, staff, and students call for the elimination of the State of Israel and the abolition of Zionism.” He added: “Not a political stand. A moral stand. When it becomes crystal clear that abolishing the existence of the Jewish State is a prevalent ideology in Columbia, the president of the institution cannot remain silent.”
He then cited the Talmud’s teaching, “Silence is admission,” and reiterated, “Silence inevitably will be interpreted as tolerance or, even worse, consent.” He quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as saying that “the hottest place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.”
Dayan concluded his letter with a quote from Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace laureate who called indifference “the most insidious danger of all.”
If the faculty and students at America’s elite intellectual institutions cannot stand unequivocally against the genocide of the Jewish people, what does this say about our culture?
Has our “post-truth” society become so confused and corrupted that it cannot condemn the rape, murder, and mutilation of innocent civilians at the hand of terrorist invaders pledged to their annihilation?
If so, is Dani Dayan right in warning that we are on the road to an unthinkable and horrific future?
I believe these are truly precarious days for our nation. Let’s respond with the hope-filled reality that Jesus is “the Light of men” (John 1:4), now and always.
For today, let’s embrace and share this fact:
“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” ~ John 1:5
It never will.
_______________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/zionists-dont-deserve-to-live/
•
Gaining Better Vision
~ If you want to see clearly, ask God to help you see from His perspective.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:1-8
You may have seen videos on the internet of babies receiving their first pair of glasses. They fuss and fight a little as the frames are being put on, but almost instantly, they stop and stare. Things that were previously blobs of color suddenly have defined shapes. Their parents’ faces, once fuzzy, become clear. Their smiles tell you everything you need to know about the gift of vision.
In a similar way, clear spiritual sight is vital for believers, and it involves learning to see as the Lord sees. This requires a shift in our perspective, and today’s passage provides a practical blueprint for learning to discern with the eyes of Christ: “Do not judge” (v. 1). True understanding begins with an awareness of our sins so we can “take the log out” (v. 5) from our own eye and see ourselves and others for what we truly are — forgiven and beloved sons and daughters.
1 Samuel 16:7 tells us that God doesn’t see as man does. Seeing with the eyes of Christ means searching beyond surface appearances and asking the Spirit to help us look more deeply into the heart of things. Jesus truly saw people — He recognized their brokenness and compassionately sought their good. May we be willing to do the same. Learning to view others as God does is the joyous labor of a lifetime, and the rewards for doing so are great.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/gaining-better-vision
•
If you have came across this board this morning and you are reading a few post out of curiosity because you are searching for something ...maybe you have no ideal what you are looking for...Maybe you have lost all hope....Are you strung out on booze or drugs...Is someone in your life mistreating you...Maybe you have no friends or family...Have you thought about ending your life?
Or...maybe you have everything in this life that a person could want or need when it comes to money and stuff or maybe all that money and stuff just dont seem to tickle that itch like you once thought it did. Maybe you dont have a clue why your are sitting here reading this stuff yet here you are. Whatever the case... as bad off or as well off as you might be as far as earthly things and your life goes...You know there is something missing...you are searching for something...Well let me say to you...you have come to the right place...you are not here by mistake...it is all part of Gods plan for you to find the Joy...Hope...Peace and Contentment that is lacking in your life. If you could only know the earthly hell that i was living just 28 years ago with 25 years of self inflected hell from booze and drugs under my belt until age 40 and all the difference that has been made in my life since i saw the error of my ways and responded to a light that shined on my path. Nothing that i have done myself....I owe everything...including my very life....to the same person that could and can very well change and save you. That person is JESUS.
However i dont want you to just sit there and say a few words or pray a short prayer just for the sake of trying to grasp ahold of something....Yes...salvation is free and JESUS is more than willing to give it to you right now...Yes...right this very minute. But you cant just pray a prayer from your mouth and hope for the best. You have to prayer a prayer from your heart...and mean it like nothing you have ever said to anyone before. JESUS is always there...just waiting for you to ask for forgiveness of your sins and wicked lifestyle....But to receive salvation full and free...you must ask from the bottom of your heart with true repentance....then JESUS will come into your life and heart and soul and make changes in you that you also will not be able to believe....im not saying that all these things will happen all at once...it will take time...and im not saying that all your problems will disappear like right now....But the Peace and Joy and Contentment and Love that will come into your life...you will know it...and as time passes...you will know it more and more....JESUS is Love and He is everything you need to help you find all the things that are lacking in your life at this very moment!
In John 14:6, JESUS said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”
To reach God and live in heaven after you die, you must accept JESUS as your personal Savior and Lord.
If you feel like you are ready to accept JESUS into your life right now...just pray this simple little prayer from your heart...and he will start you on that narrow road that leads to your heavenly home some day!
Dear God, I know that I’m a sinner and that my sin separates me from You. I realize that I can’t do anything to earn my way into heaven. I believe that JESUS took the punishment for my sins by dying on the cross and coming back to life. I accept You JESUS as my Savior and Lord. And I will try my best to please You all the days of my life. Forgive me of my sins and fill me Holy Spirit to help me and guide me thru the rest of my life here on earth. Thank You for forgiving me and saving me now. In JESUS name i praise You.... Amen.
If you accepted JESUS CHRIST as your Savior, then you can be sure He heard you. The Bible says,
“Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
You have just begun a relationship with God and you will definitely spend eternity in heaven with Him!
If you dont have a church...find a good Bible preaching and teaching church and go.....Talk to the preacher and tell him what you have done....that you are a new born-again believer. As a matter of fact....go and tell everyone!
Send me a PM here at I-hub
If you like ill be more than happy to call you by phone and we can talk about your NEW life in Christ!
JESUS Saves!
In a World of Quick, Slow Is Good
~ Let's give others — and ourselves — time to learn and grow.
Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:11-16
Have you ever gotten into the far left lane on the highway so you can move just a little faster — only to have the cars in front of you slow down? Then you’re stuck between a divider wall on your left and even slower traffic on your right, feeling frustrated and annoyed.
Sometimes we want to treat our spiritual growth like that — jumping into that fast lane to “beat” everyone else to the goal and reach our destination sooner. We think that by reading a specific book or praying a certain way, we’ll grow more quickly and get to the next thing. But then the trials of life come, and without a strong foundation — one that’s built over time and with diligence — we quickly become overwhelmed and disillusioned.
In a world of quick, remember that slow growth is a good thing.
Consider today’s passage, where Paul describes believers as children who must “grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ” (v. 15). We don’t expect children to do everything like adults. It takes time for them to develop the strength, coordination, and intelligence required for “adult” tasks. When we become Christians, the process is similar. No one becomes a fully mature believer overnight — nor does God expect us to.
So, let’s be patient with ourselves, take the time required to “grow up,” and celebrate when we see progress in ourselves.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/in-a-world-of-quick-slow-is-good
•
If you are reading this and you are a born-again believer....id like to ask you a question. How many people do you know that are what we call "unsaved". And if you are reading this and aint sure what that means...unsaved...(because you are unsaved)...let me clarify what that means. Unsaved...you have not believed in who Jesus says He is and have not invited Jesus into you heart by asking Him for forgiveness of your sins up to this point in time. And as a believer...in the daily life that you live...how many people do you see...walk by...work with...that most likely are also unsaved. I have heard it estimated that here in the United States...that only maybe 20% of the population is saved...they have a personal relationship with Jesus. That means that 80% is headed to hell. Remember...there is a big difference in calling oneself a christian and actually being born-again. It is also estimated that the earth as a whole maybe 10% is saved. That means that 90% is headed to hell. So...lets look at that. As believers we have the blessed assurance that when we die...in the twinkle of the eye...we will be in the presence of God...and...Jesus...in heaven. And...we have a "pretty good" idea what hell is going to be like and just how bad and tragic its going to be...right? Lets refresh our memory. Right now....somewhere...there is a person that is unsaved that has just died...each day on planet earth 150,000 people die....90% of those are headed to hell...do the math...every day....remember...the road to hell is wide and the road to heaven is narrow. So...when a unsaved person dies...in that moment they are taken to Hades...in torment...awaiting judgement day to be cast into Hell...the lake of fire...for...Forever! What is Hell...Hell will be a dark place...cant see your hand in front of your face...but there will be a lake of fire...fire consumed all around...but no light...thats the way God created it....and that person will burn in Hell...in complete pain and agony...for...Forever. They will have a supernatural body that will NOT burn up. And for forever they will hear billions of people....there with them....screaming in torment...for Forever. Remember...Forever never ends...Got that? But even worse than that i believe...is that they are going to be separated from God and his love...for...Forever. So every moment they are going to be in total despair...depression...sadness...to the point of suicide...but suicide is not a option...wishing they had surrendered their life to Jesus before it was to late...because...there are no do-overs. So...how many unsaved people do you know...and knowing the reality of hell and that all these people are headed there...When did you last tell someone about Jesus? Remember...as believers we have job...so to speak...a responsibility to do what....to go unto all the world....(and that can be just our home town)....and make disciples...to tell others about Jesus and satan...right and wrong...heaven and hell....right? Remember...as believers....the sin of omission is just as sinful as the sin of commission. What if we told just one person each week about Jesus...what if we told just one person everyday about Jesus....90% of the worlds 7.6 billion people are unsaved...the majority of folks in your hometown are unsaved.....we dont have to look far....Soooooooooooooooooo???
https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-of-commission.html
https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-of-omission.html
I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!.....
-Rick j Sane-
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