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Breaking Down Faith Barriers
~ As you seek to follow God, He will help you overcome each obstacle you encounter.
Scripture Reading: Exodus 4:1-17
Yesterday, we discussed how Moses doubted God’s calling to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. But the Lord graciously provided reassurance through wondrous signs and promised to help His servant accomplish everything, no matter how impossible it might seem.
Moses wasn’t eloquent, and his inability to speak well left him feeling inadequate. So God reassured him by saying, “I Myself will be with your mouth, and instruct you in what you are to say”. Remember, the Lord looks at the heart, not human qualifications (1 Samual 16:7), which is why the people He chooses to carry out His plan often seem unlikely. What’s more, God can also overcome all our inadequacies. That’s what He did by calling Moses’ brother Aaron to go along and proclaim the God-given message.
The Lord had an answer for each one of Moses’ concerns, and He will likewise help us overcome obstacles when we follow Him. As we step out in obedience, our trust in God grows, and we are able to leave the outcome — whatever it may be — to Him. Then, as the faith barriers in our life are demolished, we’ll be able to see the evidence of God’s presence and power. Not only that, but we will also experience the joy of submitting to His perfect will.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/breaking-down-faith-barriers
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Overcoming Faith Barriers
~ Don't let your doubts and insecurities rob you of the joy that comes from following God into your calling.
Scripture Reading: Exodus 3:10-17
Sometimes, God gives us seemingly impossible tasks. In those moments, it’s important not to offer excuses but to instead focus on the One who has called us. Why? Because looking for a way out creates a faith barrier. Take Moses in today’s passage, for example. He experienced a barrier due to ...
• Poor self-image:
When God gave the command to go to Pharaoh, Moses asked, “Who am I?” Perhaps he was thinking of his occupation as a lowly shepherd or the fact that he’d killed an Egyptian and had to flee decades before (Exodus 2:12). The Lord answered Moses’ objection with a wonderful promise: “I will be with you”.
• Ignorance:
To carry out God’s plan, we need to understand just how powerful God is. When Moses questioned his assignment, the Lord answered by revealing Himself as the great “I AM,” the One who had promised to rescue the Israelites.
Faith barriers can keep us from experiencing the joy of walking closely with our heavenly Father. So whenever we’re tempted to back away from our calling, it’s important to remember both who He is and who we are in Him.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/overcoming-faith-barriers
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Unexpected Blessings
"We know that God works together in all things for the ultimate good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28
During World War II, a man in Sussex, England, sent some money to the Scripture Gift Mission. He enclosed a letter saying that he longed to give more, but the harvest on his farm had been very disappointing because of a lack of water. He was also fearful because German bombs were being dropped in the area, and his family and farm were at risk. He asked the workers of Scripture Gift Mission to pray that no bombs would fall on his land.
Mr. Ashley Baker wrote back from the mission and said that while he didn't feel led to pray that exact prayer, he had prayed that God's will for their lives would prevail. Shortly after, a huge German missile crashed down on the farm. None of the man's family or livestock were harmed, but the bombshell went so far into the ground that it liberated a submerged stream. The stream yielded enough water to irrigate the man's farm as well as neighboring farms. The next year, due to a bountiful harvest, the man was able to send a large offering to the mission.
Sometimes even "bombs" are blessings. They fall from heaven, make a lot of noise, and liberate something wonderful within us - streams of living water that refresh us and draw us closer to Christ.
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~ by David Jeremiah (www.davidjeremiah.org)
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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You Have Circled This Mountain Long Enough
"The Lord then said to me, ‘You’ve been traveling around this hill country long enough; turn north." ~ Deuteronomy 2:3
Will the second half of 2023 be any different than first half? Will you "press on" in your faith this year or will you continue to wallow in self-pity or live in the "Land of What If" or the "Land of If Only"? Will you focus on what lies ahead or will you continue to focus on your past?
Listen to this wonderful challenge from Ruth Graham:
"Either we can be victimized and become victims, or we can be victimized and rise above it. Often it is easier to play the victim than take off our masks and ask for help. We get comfortable with our victim status. It becomes our identity and is hard to give up. The Israelites often played the victim card, and I love what God finally tells them, 'You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north' (Deuteronomy 2:3). Turn north! It's time to move on! Self-pity, fear, pride, and negativity paralyze us. Taking off our masks takes courage, but if we don't do it, we will remain in our victim status and end up stunted."
What about you?
• Do you keep talking and talking and talking about something you just can't get over?
• Are you living in the past because you just can't "let it go"?
• Do you keep wallowing in self-pity wondering what "could have been"?
• Have you discussed it over and over with different people, but you've never taken action?
• Have you worried and worried about it, but you've never done anything?
• Are you still living in misery because it's something you can't forgive or forget?
Have you circled and circled and circled this issue all of your life?
The time has come!!! You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north!!!
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~ by David Langerfeld
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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God Promises His Return
~ The suffering and pain we’re experiencing right now is not for forever. There is a conclusion to this story, to all of our stories. And that conclusion is being written by a God so good, so loving, and so powerful, that we know this story of humanity ends triumphantly.
The second coming of Christ will mark the end of this age with resounding and final punctuation. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.” Jesus promises that He is coming back for you and me. He’s returning to make His lordship known to all the earth. Upon His return, He will destroy once and for all the destructive works of the enemy. He’s going to rid the earth of the damage sin has caused, and bring about the final restoration of all things to Himself.
Jesus’ return will be both powerful and triumphant. It will be a time of sorrow for those who did not believe in Him and a time of rejoicing for us, His Bride. Jesus is coming back in all His glory, lovesick for those who have been brought into His fold by faith. You see, He’s coming back for you because He loves you. He longs for the day when you can be with Him, face to face, held back by nothing. He’s so overjoyed to walk in relationship with you right now, but like you, He longs for something greater. Like a bridegroom patiently awaits the marriage ceremony, He’s waiting, expectant for what is to come.
It’s His love that is our source of hope. It’s His desire for our final restoration to Him that is meant to give us cause for joy here on the earth. What you’ve known of life thus far is not all there is. What you’ve experienced of God is just a drop in the vast ocean of His loving kindness. Jesus says in John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.” He desperately wants you to be where He is. If you are a believer, He’s promised that you have a place in His kingdom. You can have hope here that all the suffering, trials, temptations and heartache you’ve experienced on earth will pass away with His return. Written within His promise to return is His promise of a life lived free from all the destruction sin has caused.
We’re meant for relationship with our Savior both here and in the age to come. He’s made a way for us to experience Him both now and forever by His death and resurrection. Your greatest joy should come from this truth. Your highest calling is meant to be drawn from His promise of relationship. All of eternity hinges on His promise to return. And He who gave up His life for you will return to lead you to the Father. Spend time in His presence today. Experience the very God who will return in all His glory. Live today in light of His promise, and experience the love and hope of your God who is faithful to bring to fruition all that He’s promised you.
Looking toward the day of final restoration is meant to give you fuel to live in light of eternity. This life on earth is but a vapor in the scope of your eternal life. It’s a dust blowing in the wind. It doesn’t mean today doesn’t matter. What it does mean is that you know how your life will turn out. You know how the story ends. May the glorious, triumphant ending of your story produce steadfastness and hope in your heart today.
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~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/god-promises-his-return-2023/
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God Promises His Presence
~ The nearness of God is always to our good. In every situation, good or bad, challenging or easy, it’s so good to be near to God. So, wherever you are today, lay down every other pursuit, just for the next few minutes, and focus simply on resting on God’s presence.
One of the most life-giving promises God makes to us as His children is His promise to be near. David wrote in Psalm 139:9-10, “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.” What an incredible image David paints of the nearness of God! If we were to explore the ends of the earth, God would still be there. If we were to dive to the depths of the ocean, God would still be there. If we descend into the darkest places of our inner being, we will still find God. There’s no place we can go that He isn’t present. God’s presence floods the earth like the early morning fog, saturating everything with its haze. His presence is His promise.
So, what do we do with the knowledge of God’s nearness? What does it mean for us? In Deuteronomy 31:6 we’re told, “He will not leave You or forsake You.” And in Psalm 23:4 David exemplifies this command in saying, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 46:1 says it this way: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
God’s nearness is meant to be our source of courage and strength. We are to find refuge in the knowledge and experience of His presence. His presence means everything for us. It means we’re not alone anymore. It means He will guide and shepherd us through the various situations we may find ourselves in: “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” When you wake up in the morning, God is there to love and prepare you. When you go about your day, God is there for you, desiring to empower you. When you lie down at night, God is there to give you rest and peace. God’s presence is the foundation on which so many of His other promises are fulfilled.
So, if He’s truly present always, why is it that we don’t feel Him? Why is it that we at times feel lonely, dissatisfied, weary, and weak? Encountering God’s presence starts with having faith in what Scripture says. Feeling God’s nearness starts with trusting that He’s right next to you and wants you to know Him. God doesn’t force Himself on us. He doesn’t occupy space in our hearts that we fill with other things. So simply make space for God today, trust in His Word that “He will not leave you or forsake you,” and encounter the nearness of your heavenly Father. Don’t worry if you aren’t feeling Him. Your only job is to make space in your heart and trust Him. He’ll take care of the rest. Spend time today in prayer renewing your mind to the promise of God’s presence and letting His nearness become your source of courage, strength, and rest.
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~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/god-promises-his-presence-2023/
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Hey all! Below is some fun I created with my site: MobileSavior.com... Lord Jesus Bless All!!
http://mobilesavior.com/brb/
http://mobilesavior.com/check_box_Jesus/
http://mobilesavior.com/#music
http://mobilesavior.com/certificate/
Below is a page I made after I went to the Harvest Festival in Phoenix, AZ back in 2017 :)
http://mobilesavior.com/harvest-america2017/
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jesus loves all! Love to you all that ever sees this! Just gotta keep moving forward no matter what, trusting in Jesus!
The Bigger Picture
~ To avoid error and understand the truth of Scripture, we must read verses in context.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 37:1-40
When studying a Bible verse, it’s important to consider the surrounding scriptures. Without understanding the context, we might get the wrong idea.
Psalm 37 is a great example. In verse 4, David writes that God “will give you the desires of your heart.” By itself, this phrase makes the Lord sound like a genie. The full verse, however, reveals that our desires are met when we delight ourselves in the Lord. What this means is, when we take pleasure in spending time with the Father — learning what pleases Him and praying for discernment — our heart aligns with His.
In verse 5 of the same psalm, we’re promised the desires of our heart again when we commit our way to the Lord. Then in verse 7, David writes, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” The kind of desires David is referring to come from a heart committed to God and His perfect timing. Jesus confirmed this truth when He promised, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you” (Matthew 6:33).
In the broader context, we see that God is not a source of instant gratification, but instead — and even better — He is a wise and loving Father. The full, true picture of Scripture is always the best one.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-bigger-picture
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What Am I Doing That Irritates Others?
I heard a story about a student named Donald MacDonald from the Isle of Skye (in Scotland), who was admitted into the prestigious Oxford University, and was living in the hall of residence in his first year there. His clan was so excited that one of their own had made it into the upper class of education, but they were concerned how he would do in "that strange land." After the first month, his mother came to visit.
"And how do you find the English students, Donald?" she asked.
"Mother," he replied in his thick brogue. "They're such terrible, noisy people. The one on that side keeps banging his head against the wall, and won't stop. The one on the other side screams and screams and screams, away into the night."
"Oh Donald! How do you manage to put up with these awful noisy English neighbors?"
"Mother, I do nothing. I just ignore them. I just stay here quietly... playing my bagpipes..."
Sometimes it helps to realize that when we find people to be so irritating, it may well be that they find us to be the same (and perhaps for better reason). Even deeds done with the best of intentions can be irritating, Solomon said, "If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him" (Proverbs 27:14)
I suppose we could ask ourselves the question, "What am I doing that may be irritating others around me?" But I think we would be better served to ask it in a more positive way: "What am I doing to be a blessing to others around me?"
"Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!" (Proverbs 15:23)
________________
~ Author Unknown
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Are You In The Way?
It sure was frustrating, but it turned out to be my own fault. Let me explain. I was standing in front of the television set trying to get a new DVD to play. The DVD began to play, but when I would walk away, it would abruptly stop playing. The power to the DVD player would turn itself off and the entire screen would go blank.
I walked back to the silly thing and tried it again. And again the process repeated itself. It worked fine for a while, and when I walked away - it shut down once more.
Finally, I was determined to get the thing working right. I stood there and turned the thing on again. (I was getting pretty good at it by now) I watched the FBI copyright warning scroll across the screen. The Menu Window appeared. I selected a scene. I pressed the Play button. And I watched for a full 30 seconds to make certain it really was going to work this time. The movie was now in full swing, so I walked away.
And the power shut itself off and the screen went blank once again! Aaaaaaaaaaaaah! If I had any hair left, I'd pull it out. I looked at my wife -- who by now was bent over laughing herself silly -- and then I looked over at my desk. And then I saw it. I had inadvertently laid my laptop down on top of the DVD remote control. And it was pushing the OFF button. When I walked to the television set to turn the DVD player on, I walked into the path of the remote control, thereby blocking the OFF signal it was sending. Everything worked fine until I moved out of the signal path and the OFF message was once again transmitted. I had gotten in the way -- and that caused my frustration.
You know, sometimes we get in the way of God, don't we? We do it when we have a lack of faith.
In the Bible, we read of a specific incident where the people doubted the power and authority and position of Jesus Christ. And the Word tells us "And He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:58)
I think that happens a lot in our lives today. God wants to do mighty works in, through and around us - but we get in His way by doubting. Think about it. How many times have you heard this... "We've never done it that way before" or "This is how we've always done it in the past." That's another way of saying "We're going to limit what we allow God to do by putting guidelines on how He can work - He's got to do things like we've always done before." Or, how many times have you felt the Lord leading you to do something, but you don't do it because reason says it's illogical and doesn't make any sense at all to us. That's another way of saying "We're going to limit what we allow God to do by only attempting man-sized tasks that make sense to man's logic and can be accomplished by man's ways."
God is a great big God and He wants to do "mighty works" -- but sometimes we get in the way. We think in terms of the traditions we've gotten accustomed to, or we analyze things by man's abilities instead of God's. And then we wonder why the screen goes blank and the power shuts off. Maybe it's because we stopped believing that God can accomplish the miraculous.
Christian, our God is an awesome God. And I believe He wants to do "mighty works" in our midst even today. What about you and me? Will we put our complete faith in Him and see what He will do... or will we get in the way?
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~ Author Unknown
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Leaving a Legacy
"Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites: “This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the command of your ancestor Jonadab and have kept all his commands and have done all that he commanded you, this is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to always stand before Me.’” ~ Jeremiah 35:18-19
Imagine being part of a family in which every generation has served the Lord going back thousands of years! Such is the case of Jehonadab's family. He is first mentioned in 2 Kings 10 and a second time in the book of Jeremiah chapter 35. We know little to nothing of his ancestry and even less about his descendants — except for one very important detail: "… Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me." Every generation from that day forward would serve the Lord. This is the desire of every godly family ever! Because his sons obeyed their fathers' instructions faithfully, God blessed them with this enormous detail.
Today, it is very common to hear young people speak of their ancestral customs as old-fashioned; how they lived has no place in today's world. Today's young men and women have strayed from churches, and from God, because that was their parents' religion and, therefore, not for them. It is disheartening to see churches emptied of youth because serving the Lord is outdated. I would love to meet a descendant of Jehonadab today and ask them how they are doing it!
In my family, serving the Lord began with my parents. My siblings and I have carried the torch for a second generation. Our greatest desire is that our children, too, will serve the Lord; not because we did it, but because we instilled in them a love for their Lord and Savior.
I don't think that Jonadab was looking to leave a legacy for his children, rather he wanted his children to obey the Lord's commandments. I am positive that he led by example and that is why his children had no problem doing the same. He left a legacy of obedience and love for the Lord - and that is the very best thing we could do for our children, and their children…
Suggested Prayer:
Dear Father God, may my children love you better than I do, and may their love for you carry on for generations to come! Let your name be proclaimed in my family forever. In Jesus' name, Amen
_______________
~ Author Unknown
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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American Churches Are Eerily Silent When the Country Needs Them Most
I had a relatively marginal Christian upbringing as a child and really didn’t become interested in questions of a metaphysical nature until later in life. My relationship to organized religion has always been to meet it with skepticism. I appreciate the fundamental moral messages and the aspirations to care for your fellow man, but I often wonder if a theocratic system would just end up becoming another form of tyranny. There are so many elements of organized religion that can be exploited by evil people who want to use it for their own ends. Collectivism is collectivism, is it not?
I don’t think I became truly immersed in the concept of a creatively engineered universe until I started studying quantum physics and Jungian psychology – Then I realized, there was FAR too much synchronicity in the world, far too much evidence that there is some kind of design, some kind of plan to life. I might not understand what the plan is, but I can see the mathematical and psychological fingerprints of what one might call “God”.
It’s the reason I could never take atheism seriously. The claim of atheism has long been that the philosophy has nothing to do with faith and everything to do with evidence. Yet, every time I see an atheist confronted with evidence of creative design, they dismiss it blindly. This kind of ignorance has always been more horrifying to me that anything else – The notion of “scientific cultism” and tyranny hiding behind false claims of logic and rationalism.
I’m explaining my position on this issue to drive home the fact that I do not hold any affiliation to any particular church or religious group. I will defend Christianity when I feel it deserves to be defended, and I will criticize Christianity when I feel certain groups or church leaders have gone astray. For example, anyone who reads my work knows I have outlined evidence that the Pope is an utter fraud and a globalist puppet. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing within every belief system.
So, when I say I hear a deafening silence among Christian churches when it comes to the political and social climate today, this is coming from someone who is NOT quick to call for theocratic intervention. Even I find the lack of faith…disturbing.
But maybe I need to qualify my concerns a little more? How about the sudden rise of Unitarian and progressive groups making a mockery of churches and co-opting Christian ceremonies to include woke propaganda, LGBT Marxism and moral relativism? Where is the organized response from Christians on this development?
These are not isolated incidents – The woke cult is creating their own religion by hijacking the religions of others. Not because they want to find inner peace, but because they see the church as a center of power and they want a piece of that action.
Why isn’t there a mass call for Christian churches to reject the woke invasion? Why isn’t there a consortium of Christian leaders moving to denounce these fake churches, making sure that the public knows they do not associate with these groups? Where is the call to action? If it exists, I’m not seeing it anywhere. And let’s be clear – If there was ever a time for the Christian community to gain a wider membership, it would be now as the world enters a state of perpetual chaos. Yet, their response is muted and scattered.
Consider for a moment the proliferation in the western world of ideals which I can only describe as luciferin in nature – The notion that pride and narcissism are virtues and that human beings are meant to be gods. The notion that children’s bodies are a gender fluid laboratory for insane medical practitioners that deny the unassailable laws of biology and engage in mass sterilization. The notion that humanity must one day be replaced by machine thinking that disregards reason and moral compass for the sake of cold and sociopathic “efficiency.”
Woke is a vehicle, a mask for a greater monster, and it is being forced into the public consciousness. There has been an active and violent attempt to condition the populace to far-left ideology, and this ideology is deeply hostile to Christianity. You would think there would be a nationwide effort to take a stand on the part of the various denominations to ensure that this cult does not continue to gain ground.
I’ll be the first to argue that the liberty movement (as we sometimes refer to it) is an array of different movements joined together by a singular value – basic freedom.
Not the hedonistic freedom that the political left promotes, which asserts that conscience and reality are subjective; making all behaviors no matter how evil acceptable. No, natural freedoms are what we value, along with the non-aggression principle which dictates that you cannot harm me or take my freedoms unless my behavior is directly damaging the life and liberty of other people.
But what if the love of freedom alone is not enough to rally humanity together to fight the darkness we face today? What about the love of future generations? What if you and I have to fight and die for a freedom we will never personally enjoy? What if what we do today does not benefit us, but it benefits the next generation? What about the act of struggle and sacrifice for a greater cause, even a divine cause? Maybe the liberty movement needs a guiding hand – Maybe we need more Christian groups to step into the fray?
Let’s be honest, Christians have never been the cool kids, but it’s hard to deny that Christians and conservatives are swiftly becoming the new punk rock in the face of a wave of leftist authoritarianism that seeks to control how we think, how we feel, what we can say, who we can associate with, where we can work and how we participate in the economy. Only a couple years ago these people were trying to tell us they have the right to destroy us if we refused to take a pointless vaccine that doesn’t stop transmission or stop infection for a virus that 99.8% of people will easily survive.
In my mind the millions of people who fought back against that agenda are rebel heroes. However, we need to be doing more, a lot more, and that requires organization. Christian churches already have the fundamental structures to make that happen, but they aren’t working together. I see more organized actions from Muslim groups in the US than I do from Christians, and they’re only 1% of the population.
The elephant in the room is, of course, 501C3 status that churches use to remain free from federal taxes, but it’s a devil’s bargain. Specifically, 501C3 pertains to political advocacy or “issue advocacy” and churches risk losing their coveted tax-exempt status if they are determined to be “influencing” legislation or elections in a partisan manner. Well, who gets to determine if a church is acting partisan? The IRS does, of course. In other words, the IRS can act arbitrarily to punish churches it views as a political threat to the prevailing agenda.
The only real solution is for churches to abandon 501C3 status en masse, or possibly form a peripheral organization outside of their respective houses of worship that they encourage their members to join – an organization that can act politically and does not rely on tax exemption to function.
It’s make or break time for Christians, I know that much. And even among those who are evangelical or prone to notions of Apocalypse, the people who argue that they will be whisked away by God’s hand in a rapture before the conflict ever reaches them, consider this:
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics [schemes, or tricks] of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace [to go tell others about the gospel].” ~ Ephesians 6:10-15
_________________
~ by Brandon Smith
https://alt-market.us/american-churches-are-eerily-silent-when-the-country-needs-them-most/
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The Daily Article – July 7, 2023
~ Indiana Jones, the power of artificial intelligence, and the future of our nation.
My wife and I saw Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny yesterday. I won’t give away the plot, but I can comment on a feature of the movie that is getting a great deal of attention: the filmmakers’ ability to de-age Harrison Ford. For part of the film, his character is decades younger than his age today (which is the age of his character for most of the movie). I kept wondering how his “younger” self was so incredibly realistic.
It turns out, artificial intelligence is the secret. Ford explained: “They have this artificial intelligence program that can go through every foot of film that Lucasfilm owns. Because I did a bunch of movies for them, they have all this footage, including film that wasn’t printed. So they can mine it from where the light is coming from, from the expression. I don’t know how they do it. But that’s my actual face. Then I put little dots on my face and I say the words and they make [it]. It’s fantastic.”
Using AI to generate lifelike video is now available to nearly anyone who can download and use a computer program. Consequently, it’s getting harder than ever to spot “deepfake” videos. Many are worried that the proliferation of what’s known as “generative AI” will escalate propaganda and campaigns by bad actors.
For example, a right-wing activist recently created a fake video of President Biden announcing a draft to send American soldiers to Ukraine. The video is so lifelike that I would have assumed it was genuine if I didn’t know otherwise. An AI-generated photo faking Donald Trump’s possible arrest circulated on Twitter and was soon viewed 2.2 million times.
Scammers are using AI to create audio that sounds like family members in distress asking for money, stealing thousands of dollars from their victims. “It’s terrifying,” said Hany Farid, a professor of digital forensics at the University of California at Berkeley. “It’s sort of the perfect storm . . . [with] all the ingredients you need to create chaos.”
Like a hammer that can repair a house or crush a skull, the issue is not the tool but the one using it.
For example, AI is being used to detect cancer that humans might not find, revolutionize the development and testing of life-saving drugs, and translate the Bible into rare languages. But it is also being used to develop more advanced cyberattacks, bypass security measures, displace jobs, develop advanced weapons, and spread disinformation across the internet.
We see the same bipolarity in every dimension of human experience: cameras can capture priceless family memories or generate child pornography; cars can speed an expectant mother to a hospital to deliver her baby or kill her and her baby in a crash; palliative medications can be used to ease pain or enable suicides.
Ours is a microcosm of the cosmic story: God creates for good, then Satan seeks to use God’s creation for evil. From the Garden of Eden to today, humans cast the deciding vote.
A grandfather was discussing morality with his grandson. “There are two wolves fighting inside you,” he said. “One wants you to do what is right, but the other wants you to do what is wrong.”
“Which one wins?” his grandson asked.
The grandfather replied, “The one you feed.”
To forget God is to seal our own doom:
As we close our weeklong Independence Day series on America, let’s apply today’s theme to our country’s future.
Because “God is love” (1 John 4:8), He can only want the best for us and our nation. But because He is “holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8), He cannot tolerate sin.
Consequently, our future as a nation is in our hands.
The King who “rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28) will rule us as gently as He can or as harshly as He must. The binary choice is ours: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
The path to our best future is clear: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 33:12).
But so is the path to our demise: “The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). Commenting on this verse, the longtime pastor and statesman Paul Powell warned: “To forget God is to seal our own doom as a nation.”
To stand neutral is to stand for nothing.
Here’s America’s great problem: most secular Americans don’t know the peril they face.
They don’t know that their sins have separated them from God and His best for them: "It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore." (Isaiah 59:2).
They don’t know that their rejection of biblical morality is poisoning their minds and corrupting their souls: "We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind." (Isaiah 64:6).
They don’t know that they are one day closer to divine judgment than ever before: “While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
This is why we owe it to them to tell them. A person with the only cure for a deadly pandemic has a moral obligation to share it with everyone they can. Whatever it takes for America’s Christians to lead Americans to Christ will be worth it for all eternity.
Dr. Powell’s words are prophetic:
“America needs you standing courageously before evil. The sin of silence is all about us. Our generation needs to remember that silence is often golden; but at times it may be yellow. To stand neutral is to stand for nothing.”
Will you pray, live, and witness for Christ as if America’s future depended on it?
It Does.
______________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/indiana-jones-deaged-by-artificial-intelligence/
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Sermon on the Mount Part Four: Heavenly Reward
"Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." ~ Matthew 6:19-21
When it comes right down to it, humans are willing to do things for one reason: we perceive it to be in our self-interest. We will willingly (sometime eagerly) endure hardship or defer pleasure so that we can obtain good rewards. This is actually very Biblical. God created and designed us to seek and pursue our own benefit. Jesus acknowledges this reality in setting the standard by which we should love others “as we love ourselves.” However, our perspective about what is truly in our self-interest is often skewed.
Jesus clarifies exactly what is in our best interest – the rewards of His Kingdom. Jesus encourages His disciples to seek the best (truest) rewards. Treasures that will endure. Nothing on earth can match the rewards of our Father in Heaven.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presents this as a binary choice. We can either seek a reward from our Father who is in heaven or we can seek reward in the world’s systems and the approval of man. We can’t do both, we must pick one or the other. We can’t serve God and money.
Matthew 6 talks about how we give, how we pray, and how we fast. Just three examples of the way we encounter this choice: do we fast, pray, or give of our time/resources to impress others and receive the reward of their approval, or, to seek God and trust His reward in His time?
Our hearts always follow where we invest our treasure. The extent to which our finances are investing in family, neighbors, and the various communities in which we reside are a clue to where our heart is focused.
If we rely upon earthly riches, we are certain to not only lose our treasure, we also fill our heart with the things of a world that will one day be no more. By choosing the treasures of heaven, we elect to pursue real and lasting reward. That is how our true self-interest is best served.
______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/part-four-heavenly-reward/
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Understanding
~ May you find the understanding you need for your situation today as you learn to trust the Father and lean into Him.
True understanding about ourselves, others, and this life only comes through trust in God. God alone has perspective and truth. God alone has understanding about what matters, who we are, and what will happen. And the good news for you and me today is that our heavenly Father is absolutely longing to share His understanding. God yearns for us to think and see through the lens of the Holy Spirit and His Word.
Proverbs 3:5-8 says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Don’t consider yourself to be wise; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones.”
• Why is it that when Scripture promises us God’s understanding we still do life apart from His wisdom?
• Why do we look to our own minds and go our own ways when God makes His understanding and will so available?
You and I are only capable of looking for understanding in that which we fully trust. If we don’t trust that God’s wisdom and will are truly the best path laid before us, we will go our own ways. If we don’t trust that God’s commands will actually produce the most abundant life, we will choose the ways of the world. To live with godly understanding and wisdom is to look to God alone as our Truth.
Proverbs 3:13-18 stirs my heart to lean on God for my understanding. Scripture says:
“Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.”
While all the world is declaring to you its understanding of truth, I pray that you will look to its One, True Source today. I pray that you will lean on your loving heavenly Father for understanding about yourself, your life, and others. May today be marked by a continual overflow of revelation. May you know how God feels about you and base your image off His understanding. May you experience to greater depths the perfect mind of Jesus. And may God’s Word transform your life as it plants seeds of wisdom that grow into beautiful, plentiful trees of peace and life.
Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9-10 is my prayer for you. May your life bear the fruit of heavenly understanding today:
“For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.”
_______________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/understanding-2023-1/
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Lord of All
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." ~ Psalm 46:1
Stress. Discouragement. Sadness. Fear. These and many more have the power to make us feel as if God has completely abandoned us to our own fates. They attack our joy, our home, and our self-esteem, BUT, God is present in every one of our darkest circumstances; leaning in to comfort us and be our strength. As we seek God's face and learn to rely on Him, we have but to look up and see Him in all His wondrous Creation!
Uncertainty has been the new stress in many of our lives in the last few years as we have seen an increase in pandemics and natural disasters. I have heard more "end time" conversations out of church than ever before. Christians and non-Christians alike are fearful of what disaster may come next. They nervously watch the news wondering if our country will be struck with the next devastating earthquake, or tornado, or if the tsunami waves across the pacific would be strong enough to reach our shores. I, too, have been among that audience and have found myself drawn into the worry of unpredictable weather and precarious illnesses. If you find yourself among the fearful and uncertain, then I pray that Psalm 46 can be a source of encouragement for you today.
This Psalm is a song praising the Almighty; God in all His glory! Our Lord who controls the wind and the seas obey His voice; our God who moves the mountains with His mighty hand says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." I believe that all that is happening in our world today is God trying to call us back to Him; that we might allow Him to be our refuge in times of trouble. Know that our God, in all His power, wisdom, and love, is the Lord of all and He will give you the strength you need to face all the uncertainty today might bring.
Suggested Prayer:
Lord Almighty, you are with me in the ugliness of this world just as you are with me in the beauty of your creation. Walk with me through the uncertainty and be my strength. Make my heart be still and know that you are in control. In Jesus' name, Amen.
______________
~ by Veronica B. (www.actsweb.org)
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Freedom from Sin and Hell
America’s moral compass has shifted by 180 degrees over the course of the last 60 years – what was once considered, and strongly believed, to be unmoral is now completely accepted by our society. And what is equally disturbing, is that many professing “Christians” have accepted the same unmoral lifestyles. Much of this shift is due to not understanding, or believing in, Biblical principles. The Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. Within the penned works of the Bible, we find God’s plan, put into action, for the salvation of those that are “called by His Name”. God sent His Son – Jesus Christ of Nazareth – to teach us by example how to live Spirit-filled moral lives, and to free us from the bondage of sin and eternal damnation (hell). For those that have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice, and strive to understand and live by the Biblical principles taught by Him and the Holy Spirit, there is freedom from sin and hell.
Conclusion:
1. God sent His Son to die with all of mankind’s sin upon His shoulders – the perfect unblemished Lamb of God for the sacrificial slaughter, in order to free us from sin’s grasp upon us.
2. We must seek to know, and do, God’s will for our lives as taught in the principles of His Word – the Bible.
3. For those that do not accept God’s free gift of sacrifice and instruction, there remains for them an eternal destination called hell. Hell is very real, but so is the freedom found in God’s will through Jesus Christ.
Will you choose freedom in Christ today, or, eternal separation from God?
____________
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God's Heart to Meet with Man John on Patmos
~ Right when we think we’re unusable, a season is too dry or we’re past our prime, God comes and speaks fresh life and vision. If you find yourself like John on Patmos today, I pray God brings a new word of courage and life to you despite your season.
The story of John receiving the book of Revelation from Jesus brings tears to my eyes. I imagine an isolated, weary, and lonely John on Patmos spending his days waiting until he gets to be with his beloved Jesus again. I imagine his heart yearning just to see his friend and Savior. And suddenly, after years of serving Jesus, He appears to John once again, his Lord and King standing before him, speaking to him that which will be the final words of Scripture.
In Revelation 1:12-20, John records Jesus coming to meet with him, saying:
“I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands, and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool — white as snow — and His eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters. He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth, and His face was shining like the sun at midday.”
“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. Therefore, write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. The secret of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven gold lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
Imagine the joy and awe in John’s heart as his Rabbi Jesus reveals himself in glory to once again share with him history-altering revelation. Imagine the passion John would feel as his last days, which he thought he would spend alone in exile, are interrupted by a final chapter of kingdom work delivered straight from the mouth of his Savior.
God loves to interrupt the seasons of our lives in which we feel most lost with glorious encounters with Him. He loves to repurpose us for incredible kingdom work just where we thought we were most useless. He longs to meet with us and envision us for His plans to bring His kingdom to earth. No matter where you are or how old you are, God has tremendous plans in store for all those who will serve Him. There is no work He gives us too small. There is no time in our lives that we are unusable. There is no age in which we are to stop being used by our Savior. Jesus longs to meet with you today and tell you of His plans for salvation. He longs to empower you to do a mighty work for His kingdom. He longs for you to see His kingdom come to earth all the days of your life until you take your final breath here and wake up with Him. May you receive and share the revelation Jesus gives you today with a world that desperately needs to know Him.
What an incredible gift that God would choose to use us for His kingdom purposes. You and I can have a real, eternal impact on the earth. No matter what our age or past failures, God longs to use us. And through the coming of the Holy Spirit, we have God dwelling within us. The same God who raised Christ Jesus from the grave, empowered the disciples for miraculous works, and has been at the root of every great spiritual awakening dwells within us. May you allow God to use you in mighty and powerful ways today to spread the gospel of love everywhere you go.
________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/god's-heart-to-meet-with-man-john-on-patmos-2023/
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Sermon on the Mount Part Three: The Spirit and The Letter
“Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished.” ~ Matthew 5:17-18
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells His disciples that seeking righteousness with mercy is the core essence of His Kingdom. He further instructs His disciples that they must surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees in order to live up to Kingdom standards.
The Pharisees were meticulous rule-followers. But Kingdom righteousness flows from a heart of mercy toward others.
It is anger with a brother that is the root violation of righteousness (social harmony). Murder is the effect. Anger is the cause. Jesus shows this to be true in the way we perceive adultery, taking oaths (making promises), divorce, and our ideas of justice/judging one another.
Righteousness is primarily about our inner perspective (spirit of the law) rather than what we do when we know we are being watched, our outward actions (letter of the law).
Being hyper-focused on the letter of the law (like the Pharisees) misses the deep truth about the way our motivations and perspective shape our attitude, and ultimately our actions toward others.
Jesus wasn’t trying to measure up to His disciples’ expectations. In fact, they were astonished at the authority with which He taught. Jesus was seeking to pull them to a higher plane of living, so they could be blessed (Makarios, fulfilled in life).
If we want to seek the fulfillment Jesus promises by mercifully seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness, a good starting point is to shift our self-talk from “What do they think of me” to “How can I pull those around me towards a more fruitful life?”
This is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. The law Jesus came to embody and fulfill. A law of love, the inner workings of the heart.
______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/part-three-the-spirit-and-the-letter/
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1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Sermon on the Mount Part Two: Blessed By Mercy
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” ~ Matthew 5:6-7
The Greek word translated “Blessed” is Makarios. Makarios describes a complete fulfillment in life. It is an enduring condition rather than a fleeting happiness.
As Jesus launches into The Beatitudes to tell us how to be “blessed” (Makarios), it is important for us to know that He is using a literary device called a chiasm – wherein the most important elements are found in the middle. These verses (6 and 7) are the center of the Beatitudes and the main message of the chiasm: Blessed (Makarios) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Blessed (Makarios) are the merciful. Jesus is establishing HIs Kingdom on a foundation of both righteousness and mercy. They are two sides of the Kingdom coin.
The righteousness that Jesus describes is a social harmony, like a championship team. A “right way” that is chosen rather than imposed. “Righteousness” can also be translated “justice”.
We tend to desire justice for others and mercy for ourselves. But in Jesus’ kingdom platform, when someone is merciful, they enter into blessing (makarios) because they too shall receive mercy (from the King). Mercy is a compliment to - rather than a substitute for righteousness. Righteousness (harmony) comes about because we are merciful and seek to lead others to follow God’s ways, for their own benefit.
The social harmony His Kingdom provides is unlike anything the world offers. It is the byproduct of truth and grace. We don’t compromise standards. The standards are for the benefit of the community. Righteousness is a focus on God and mercy a focus on others. Offense is a focus on self.
The kingdoms of the earth focus on dominion and control over others. Those who inhabit the Kingdom of Heaven find the good life through serving one another in love.
_________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/part-two-blessed-by-mercy/
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Sermon on the Mount Part One: His Own Authority
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…….When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” ~ Matthew 5:1-2; 7:28-29
Considered one of Jesus’ earliest and most quintessential collection of teachings, The Sermon on the Mount includes The Lord’s Prayer, The Beatitudes, and a host of other familiar sayings and parables.
But the most important part of The Sermon on The Mount is not what is being said but Who is saying it. We take this for granted today, but Matthew notes that the first reaction to this set of teachings was an amazement that Jesus was saying these things on His Own Authority.
Whenever the scribes taught, they appealed to the highest authority they could to substantiate the truth of what they said. Rabbi’s would often provide lengthy rabbinic genealogies to support what they taught. Throughout this sermon Jesus appeals to the Highest authority there was – Himself. Every single time (fourteen total) He said “But I say to you…”, it was a theological thunderclap. This is God made flesh, divinity in human form.
Jesus enters the scene as a type of Moses. He was a Second Moses like He was a Second Adam. He is teaching on a mountain, just like Moses got the tablets on Mount Sinai. But Moses was an intermediary between God and man while Jesus was both a human intermediary as well as God Himself. Instead of writing on a tablet of stone, He writes His word in our hearts.
As you consider the teachings of The Sermon on The Mount, do not forget the incredible claim Jesus is making concerning His own authority. If it is true in this sermon, it is true in our lives. He is not just the messenger behind these teachings. He is the author. The Authority who humbled Himself and became a man so we might know what is true.
______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/part-one-his-own-authority/
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Baptism at the Red Sea
"Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life." ~ Romans 6:4
When Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, he took them to the edge of the Red Sea. The people saw the sea before them and heard the chariots of the Egyptians behind them. They knew they were trapped - and they lost their faith in God. They thought God was no longer at work in their lives. In panic and despair, they turned on Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out into the desert to die? When we were slaves in Egypt, didn't we tell you, 'Just leave us alone and let us continue serving the Egyptians.' Better to live as slaves than to die out here!"
They couldn't imagine that God's path to freedom actually led straight into and through the deep waters! The waters of the Red Sea, like the New Testament sacrament of baptism, are a symbol of death. When Moses parted the Red Sea, the people of Israel walked upon the dry seabed with walls of water on either side. They descended into the depths of the sea. They died to their old selves and rose to a new life that led to the Promised Land.
Like the people of Israel in their journey, we panic and cry out to God, "Did You bring me out into this desert of adversity to die?" We would rather live as slaves than die to self and yield control of our lives to God. But God takes us through the depths so that we can emerge as new people, ready to enter the Promised Land.
________________
~ by Os Hillman (TGIF - Today God Is First)
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Cast Out the Net
Very early in life (almost from birth) we are trained to be successful according to the world's definition of success. We are driven by goals and accomplishments from the day we take our first steps and ride our first bike. As we grow older, we are pressured to accumulate knowledge and "things" in order to prove our success.
In our Christian walk, Jesus calls us to a new definition of success - one determined not by what we accomplish, but by our obedience. The disciples walked and talked with Jesus, but they still faced many challenges with faith and obedience. One morning after fishing all night without a catch, Jesus called from the shore. John 21:6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish."
The disciples were successful that morning. But we must understand that the large number of fish did not define their success. They would have been successful even if the nets remained empty. They were successful the moment they were obedient and threw out the net. One thousand years earlier, King Saul was told to "Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have." (1 Samuel 15:3). But Saul allowed the Amalekite king and the best livestock to survive. He tried to cover His disobedience by saying the calves and lambs were for a sacrifice to God. "Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22).
In any task we undertake for God, it's easy to become discouraged by our apparent lack of success. We often feel inadequate - and those feelings increase when our goals seem to be elusive. But we must remember, the outcome of the task is secondary to our obedience. God doesn't need our "fish" - He wants our devotion and trust. He desires that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let's take our eyes off the accomplishment of the "catch" and what we can produce. Rather, let's focus on walking each step according to His leading. Let's concentrate all our effort on obeying His call to cast out the net.
________________
~ 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
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Fireworks
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." ~ Colossians 3:1-2
A week before Independence Day, I noticed a fireworks stand in a parking lot in our city. It reminded me of the many wonderful fireworks shows I've attended with my family. There's something magical about those brilliant colors exploding against the dark sky.
But there's a problem with fireworks. They don't last. The same is true of many of the "fireworks" experiences in our lives. We fight and struggle for things that seem beautiful and alluring, but after we get them, their appeal disappears, just like fireworks. Maybe it's a shiny new car or dream vacation. Maybe it's a big, impressive house. It might even be a promotion at work or a prestigious career.
So many of the things of this world are like fireworks. They promise happiness and fulfillment but can't deliver. Advertisements play on our emotions, making us believe that if we drive a certain kind of SUV or clean our floors with their super-efficient mop, we'll be happy at last. More often than not, all we feel is disillusioned.
If you've had enough of these "fireworks" experiences and the letdowns that follow, I challenge you to pursue the only thing in life that doesn't disappoint: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The astounding thing about loving God is that it actually gets better every day. Once you give your heart to Jesus, you'll have happiness and fulfillment that lasts into eternity, and you'll never want to go back to "fireworks" experiences again.
________________
~ 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
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Encountering God Through Others
~ May your wounds be healed, and your heart be opened to how God wants to use others to lead you to Him.
One of the most impactful ways God reveals himself is through others. Jesus taught us in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” We can learn aspects of God’s heart through others that we simply can’t learn alone. In relationship with others, we learn about God’s heart for unity, grace, humility, and love in new and powerful ways. In fellowship we encounter people with various giftings, perspectives, and past experiences that are different than our own. And in community we discover God’s heart to use others for the building up, healing, and sharpening of ourselves. James 5:13-16 says,
“Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
God longs for you to give yourself fully to the community around you. He longs to use you for the healing and building up of others. And He longs for you to embrace humility and receive help and sharpening from others around you.
Ephesians 4:16 says, “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Investing in community gives you the opportunity to be used by God to be built up in love with a group of believers. It positions you to receive help from fellow believers who are pursuing Jesus. And it equips you to pursue freedom and life in areas where you might not have gotten victory without the help of others.
Pursue wholehearted community today, not because fellow believers are perfect, but because you, as an imperfect child of God, need help from fellow imperfect children to encounter the fullness of abundant life God intends for you. Have grace for others. Love when you are unloved. Help when no one else will. Build up the body that Jesus loves that the world might better know the loving and available God we serve.
__________________
~ by Craig Denison
I believe that the Lord has a few people for each of us that we are called to be totally open with. Oftentimes healing for our sin comes through confession and repentance to God and to fellow believers. When our sin is truly brought into the light in front of believers, we can better see it for what it is and gain help and accountability. May Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 encourage you today as you seek to develop much needed community with fellow believers:
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/encountering-god-through-others-2023/
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The Daily Article – June 23, 2023
~ A year after the end of Roe v. Wade, how much has really changed?
June 24, 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of when the Supreme Court officially overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the issue of abortion law to the states. Christian leaders described the decision as "the day we have all been waiting for" and "one of the most important days in American history."
However, Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the Court's majority decision, cautioned that "we do not pretend to know how our political system or society will respond to today's decision. We can only do our job."
And, as the last twelve months have shown, America remains as divided as ever on this issue.
Abortions are down but still occurring.
After Roe v. Wade was originally passed in 1973, forty-six state legislatures had to rewrite their abortion laws, "bringing them into line with what had been, until then, the most liberal abortion laws in the nation."
The response to the Court's decision last year was not nearly so uniform.
Currently, thirteen states have what could be described as a total ban on abortion — though differences exist even within that grouping on how to treat issues related to incest, rape, and the health of the mother. By contrast, six states have no restrictions at all, allowing abortions up to the moment of birth. The remaining thirty-one states fall somewhere in the middle, with the majority drawing the line around the time that the fetus becomes viable.
The net result has been an estimated 24,290 fewer legal abortions from July 2022 to March 2023, the most recent month for which such data is available. The stipulation of "legal" abortions is important, however, as recent months have seen a dramatic increase in the availability and use of abortion pills, even in states where such an action is against the law. For example, Hey Jane — one of many telemedicine abortion providers — has seen a 164 percent increase in patients over the last year.
One of the newer developments in this area has been the increased frequency of international providers of abortifacients shipping the drugs to doctors and clinics in states with "shield laws," which allow them to then distribute the pills to states with abortion bans without worrying about the repercussions of those laws.
The increased reliance on medicinal abortions is why the case over the legality of one of the most commonly used abortifacients, mifepristone, is so significant for the future of the abortion issue in America. The pill is currently part of the regimen used in more than half of all abortions across the country. A case that could revoke its government approval is likely to come before the Supreme Court for a second time in the coming months or years.
Regardless of how that case plays out, however, the fight to protect the lives of the unborn is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, and current trends indicate that it is only going to get more difficult.
The best way to protect the unborn:
While more states appear willing to pass laws that protect children later in pregnancy, public opinion has actually shifted over the last year to favor greater access to abortion.
Of Americans, 69 percent now support the right to first-trimester abortions, an increase of 2 percent from before Roe v. Wade was overturned. A similar trend exists for second- and third-trimester abortions as well, with almost a third and a quarter of the population supporting each, respectively.
Clearly, changing laws is not enough to change hearts on this issue. So where do we go from here?
Ultimately, this is not a fight that can be won in the political sphere. Whether it's ordering pills through the mail, traveling out of state, or any number of other avenues, people who see abortion as their only option — or even just continue to see it as a viable option — will find a way to kill their unborn children. As such, the solution is to worry less about making it harder for people to attain an abortion and instead focus more on reducing their perceived need to seek it out in the first place.
And, as former NFL tight end and longtime advocate for the pro-life movement Benjamin Watson recently pointed out, roughly 76 percent of women say that "they would prefer to parent their child if their circumstances [were] different."
As such, he argues that the best way to protect the unborn is to "widen our view on what might be a pro-life issue, meaning that it helps human flourishing as opposed to strictly legislation," adding that he longs for the day when abortion is both "unthinkable and unnecessary."
However, until the day that it becomes "unnecessary," there is little we can do to make abortion "unthinkable" to those who are frightened by the prospect of adding a child to their lives.
Fortunately, there are quite a few ways we can help with that.
3 pro-life actions you can take today:
While there are a number of ways that we can — and should — engage with the issue of helping to meet the needs that often lead people to consider abortion, a few basic steps can make a big difference in that struggle.
To start, we must understand that the vast majority of women facing the decision to terminate their pregnancy are not bad people. As Watson pointed out, more than three-quarters of them would prefer to keep their baby if they could see a realistic way to do so. As such, a little bit of empathy can go a long way toward helping them feel less trapped and more open to choosing life for their child.
Second, ask God to point you toward ministries and groups that make it a point to reach out to women in need. Whether it's crisis pregnancy centers, local food banks, or any number of other organizations that do similar work, joining or supporting such groups as the Lord leads can help to fill in the gaps that make it difficult for people to consider adding a child to their lives.
Lastly, pray about whether the Lord might be calling you to consider adoption. It's not for everyone, but let God be the one to make that call. And if His will for your life is not to take in a child who needs a home, ask Him to show you ways that you can help support those He is calling to take such a step.
Whether it's providing financial support, emotional support, or even just going through the process of gaining clearance to babysit for kids in foster care, or for parents in desperate need of a night out, each of us can do something to help support those who have chosen to give their children the chance to live.
How is God calling you to help?
_________________
~ published by: The Denison Forum
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/roe-v-wade-one-year-later/
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Unusual Kindness
"Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness." ~ Acts 28:1-2
A new study from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that small gifts, coming as a surprise, have a big impact on the recipient. So do unexpected notes, calls, or texts of encouragement. Have you ever received an unexpected gift — a bouquet of flowers, a box of your favorite tea, a tray of cookies, or some curious item for your kitchen? Someone saw something nice and thought of you.
Here’s a helpful tip learned from generous people. Whenever you’re with a friend and they’re without some small thing, make a mental note of it and send it to them the next day. Suppose someone says, “I’ve thought about trying that new hand cream” or “What book would you recommend?” Imagine their surprise and pleasure to have that item delivered to their house later in the week!
The islanders on Malta had little, yet they showed Paul unusual kindness. Being generous doesn’t depend on how much we have to give. God uses even our small acts of generosity to encourage others and bring honor to Him.
Be generous to someone today!
__________________
~ by David Jeremiah (www.davidjeremiah.org)
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Encountering God Through Thanksgiving
~ May you take away from our time today, timeless principles that quickly get your heart in the right place despite your season or circumstances.
Thanksgiving is a gift given to us by the good and loving nature of our heavenly Father. In and out of every season of life, we have a reason to give thanks because we serve a wholly faithful, good, and loving God. We serve the only King who would lay down His life for His unworthy, rebellious servants. We serve a God perfectly worthy of all the thanksgiving and praise we could possibly give.
In using the incredible gift of thanksgiving, we remind ourselves of how truly good our Father is. In thanksgiving, we experience the joy of a proper perspective and have our hearts stirred by the renewing of our minds.
Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His Name!”
When we come before God with thanksgiving, we seek the face of our Father while grounding ourselves firmly in the truth of His perfect nature. When we begin our days, prayers, worship, reading, and fellowship with a heart of thanksgiving, we live out of a place of faith and reality found in the kingdom of God come to earth.
Our God is bigger and better than our circumstances, fears, wounds, misconceptions, and past failures. There is security and joy in declaring the goodness, kindness, loving, and eternal nature of our Father. We dictate the emotions we feel by what we choose to dwell on and believe. Our minds are the battleground for our emotions, actions, and desire to dwell in communion with our good God.
Ephesians 5:20 says we are to be “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And Psalm 92:1-5 says:
“It is good to praise Yahweh, to sing praise to Your name, Most High, to declare Your faithful love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night, with a ten-stringed harp and the music of a lyre. For You have made me rejoice, Lord, by what You have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of Your hands. How magnificent are Your works, Lord, how profound Your thoughts!”
Our hearts become glad when we offer continual thanksgiving. Five minutes of thanksgiving and praise has the power to change the direction of each day. It has the power to stir our hearts and make us open to and aware of God’s will for us in every situation. It fills us with an atmosphere of joy and of the Spirit. And it can greatly assist us in choosing the life of communion with the Father over the pursuits of the world as temptations and situations arise. May you be empowered and filled with transcendent joy as you engage in continual thanksgiving.
Take time today to practice thanksgiving and enjoy the fruits of a renewed mind and a heart filled with joy and truth.
________________
~ by Craig Denison
We are continually commanded by Scripture to remember the deeds of our God. When the world comes crashing down around us, it’s hard sometimes to remember how faithful God has been and will be. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the fleeting cares and problems of this life and forget how perfect and never-ending the next life will be.
Psalm 103:2 says, “My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits.”
May you be quick to remember the benefits of restored relationship with your heavenly Father today as you take time to bless and thank the Lord for all the wonderful things He’s given you.
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/encountering-god-through-thanksgiving-2023/
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The Hawk
"Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour." ~ 1 Peter 5:8
I've often watched way above my head as a hawk apparently had it's prey in it's grip. One or two smaller birds would dive bomb the hawk as he soared out of sight. The smaller birds would give up and disappear.
We had a block party yesterday down the hill from our house. We were sitting around chatting in the shade with a cool breeze after a delicious meal centered on a succulent pig that was roasted in one of the neighbor's front yards. For a brief time, all was right in the universe.
Out of nowhere, birds were screeching and there was a tremendous commotion about 15 feet in the air across the street There was a lone hawk that dwarfed the ten or twelve small birds that were squawking and taking their shots at the him. Suddenly, he released the little bird from his talons and flew away from his attackers.
The little bird dropped with a thud but sprang up and flew away and joined his rescuers. Two hawks continued circling high in the sky as we broke up our party a couple of hours later.
I thought on this all evening thinking how Satan is always circling, always on the prowl. He's usually looking for the most vulnerable. When Christians see one fall into Satan's grip they usually pray for a season and, for whatever reason, acknowledge defeat and move on with their lives. But for Christians who see that one taken, and pray persistently for him/her, not giving up, victory is theirs in Christ. He is our ultimate Rescuer, but we are His warriors.
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" ~ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
________________
~ Author Unknown
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Shouts Of Joy In Hard Times
God often speaks to me early in the mornings in a word, a phrase, or at most one sentence. One morning my impression was simply “Psalm 30”. These promptings are always jewels to pursue.
The first time I read the psalm, what jumped out at me is who God is in the verbs telling what he does:
v 1 - lifter and deliverer
v 2 - answerer of prayer and healer
v 3 - preserver and life-giver
v 4 - holy name
v 5 - favor, comforter, and joy
v 6 - provider, prosperity, and security
v 7 - protector and strength
v10 - One who hears, has mercy, and helps
v11 - One who turns mourning into dancing and sackcloth to joy
But in the midst of these wonderful attributes, David referred to enemies, sickness, near-death experiences. He had real emotions of depression, weeping, desperation, dismay at unanswered prayer, mourning, and the sackcloth of fasting.
Notice that David began the psalm with praise, praised God and gave thanks in the middle, and ended with praise and thanksgiving. In all his trials and adversity he kept his eyes on God. None of the “bad” was bigger than God.
And that’s the point. When God delivers us, He brings us through life circumstances, not necessarily around them. And that’s worth a shout of joy.
________________
~ by Sylvia Gunter (www.thefathersbusiness.com)
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Psalm 23 - Defined
The Lord is my Shepherd - That’s Relationship!
I shall not want - That’s Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - That’s Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters - That’s Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul - That’s Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - That’s Guidance!
For His name sake - That’s Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That’s Testing!
I will fear no evil - That’s Protection!
For Thou art with me - That’s Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - That's Discipline!
Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - That’s Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil - That’s Consecration!
My cup runneth over - That’s Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That’s Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord - That’s Security!
Forever - That’s Eternity!
__________________
~ Author Unknown
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Noah — A Trusting Father
~ When God calls us to step into the unknown, we don't have to fear — He is there with us.
Scripture Reading: Genesis 7:1-7
We sometimes feel bewildered by all the evil we see in the world, but nothing surprises our heavenly Father. Scripture tells us that thousands of years ago, in Noah’s time, the hearts of humans were inclined toward wickedness, and this grieved the Lord — to the point that He wanted to wipe the slate clean and start over (Genesis 6:5-7).
Noah alone stood out as a God-fearing man; he is described as “a righteous man, blameless in his generation” (Genesis 6:9). This righteousness saved him and his entire family — but first he had a big job to do. God told him to build an ark big enough to house his family and two animals of every kind, a project that took over 100 years to complete. We read about many faithful believers in the Bible, but Noah proved his trust in God over the course of a century. He persevered in his obedience even though he had never experienced rain and faced the ridicule of those around him.
Noah and his loved ones survived the great flood and became the ancestors of the billions of people alive today. Consider the impact his obedience had on all the generations that followed — and all the goodness and love since. All because Noah trusted and said yes to God.
Will you?
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/noah-a-trusting-father
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Living in Harmony
~ May God give us wisdom, and empower us to walk the path of humility and love as we seek to live in harmony today.
Harmony in music is this beautiful, fleeting occurrence that most singers and musicians work their entire lives to continuously experience. It requires diligence, patience, humility, and unity between people pursuing the same goal of making beautiful music. And when musical harmony is achieved, it touches not only those singing or playing, but everyone listening as well. Living in harmony with one another in everyday life isn’t too different than musical harmony. For most of us it’s a target just as elusive and fleeting. But like musical harmony, it’s worth fighting for. Like musical harmony, it produces joy and life in those who pursue it and touches those around them. All throughout the New Testament, we find exhortations to live life in unified, harmonious community. Scripture is clear that unity in the body is foundational to the Christian life. So, let’s look more deeply today at how we can grow in unity and open our hearts to the Spirit’s work to fill us with the desire and ability to pursue harmony with one another.
Romans 12:16-20 says:
“Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
Not only does Paul offer us the important exhortation to live in harmony, but He also provides practical ways to achieve harmony. Romans 12 teaches us that harmony requires humility, grace, the pursuit of peace, not fighting for our own justice, and blessing those who hurt us. What would our communities, churches, and families look like if we all committed ourselves to these virtues? What would your relationships look like if you strived to obey these commands? God doesn’t ask you and me to pursue these virtues; He commands us. It is a command because God knows that pursuing a life lived in harmony with one another will lead us to the abundance of joy, peace, and purpose we are created to experience. As our good Father, He wants His children to experience the peace that can only come from living in harmony with one another.
Not only do unity and harmony provide a better life for all involved, but they also glorify Jesus.
Romans 15:5-6 says:
“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
When we love each other well and offer grace and forgiveness, we demonstrate Christ’s power to change hearts to the world. When we live in harmony together, we worship with our lives in one beautiful, unified voice. The power of the gospel is that God will always love us in our pride and transgressions, but He doesn’t intend to leave us there. God works in the hearts of His people, knitting them together in harmony like a beautiful tapestry of transformed lives. You and I are written into the pages of God’s beautiful narrative. We have an important place in His eternal story of redemption. Spend time in God’s presence today allowing Him to fill you with the desire and ability to pursue harmony with others. Pursue unity with the people God’s placed in your life. And experience transformation in your relationships as God works through you to produce unity and joy.
______________
~ by Craig Denison
When you remove from yourself the burden of appearances, you will experience a joy and peace that cannot be found in any other lifestyle than humility. Caring what people think is exhausting! Climbing the ladder in your work, society or relationships will never lead you to more satisfaction. There will always be another step to take, always another person to surpass. Choose to pursue harmony, unity and love with those around you. Count them as more significant than yourself. If you will live your life in the pursuit of glorifying God instead of yourself, you will gain more satisfaction in this life.
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/living-in-harmony-2023/
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My devotion from the Lord this morning fits right in with your Word from the Lord. Have a blessed weekend!
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Love ya! “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Romans 15:13
The Daily Article – June 15, 2023
~ Social conservatism in US rises to highest levels since 2012.
According to a new Gallup survey, more Americans say they are conservative on social issues (38 percent) than say they are liberal (29 percent) or moderate (31 percent). The last time this many Americans said they were socially conservative was 2012. This despite the cultural forces so prominently and powerfully aligned on the other side.
In light of this surprising good news, what can we learn that will help us make a transforming impact on our lost culture?
“Our opponents had everything going for them”:
Acclaimed Princeton professor Robert George recently described the resources supporting Roe v. Wade before it was overturned: “Our opponents had everything going for them: power, money, prestige, control of the leading institutions of education, culture, philanthropy, entertainment, the economy, and, of course, the news media. We had, and have, none of those things.” His words describe our cultural position with regard to biblical morality more generally as well.
For example, as the Colson Center’s John Stonestreet and Shane Morris note, “Each year, the four-week season of corporate and political virtue signaling known as ‘pride month’ becomes more aggressive and in-your-face, and those who promote it more insistent that everybody participates. For a while now, it has seemed as if there is no limit to how saturated programming, shelves, and corporate messaging could become with pride imagery each June.”
And yet they report that Bud Light, after featuring transgender celebrity Dylan Mulvaney on commemorative cans, has lost over $15 billion in market value. After prominently stocking pride merchandise designed by a self-proclaimed Satanist, Target’s cap is down $13 billion.
According to Gallup, 69 percent of Americans now say transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete on sports teams that conform to their birth gender. This is up from 62 percent in 2021, despite the fact that 39 percent say they know someone who is transgender, up from 31 percent two years ago.
In more good news, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that religious participation is correlated to significant positive health outcomes. In one study, those who attended religious services at least once a week had 33 percent lower mortality over a sixteen-year period. Such religious engagement also lowered the study participants’ suicide rate by 80 percent. Attending services at least weekly or meditating regularly also reduces feelings of depression and increases feelings of life satisfaction and purpose.
“The happiest state of a Christian”:
Here’s the problem: skeptics can discount evidence for our faith from virtually any source. They can dismiss opposition to Pride Month indoctrination as homophobia and to transgender athletes as transphobia. They can explain positive health outcomes from religious engagement as Freudian wish fulfillment. They can even reject miracles if miracles threaten their social status and power.
Here’s the source of evidence they have the hardest time dismissing: our changed lives.
Charles Spurgeon observed, “God neither chose [His people] 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.” He added: “The happiest state of a Christian is the holiest state. As there is the most heat nearest to the sun, so there is the most happiness nearest to Christ.”
Oswald Chambers showed us the way to such happiness: “There is only one thing you can consecrate to God, and that is your right to yourself. If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you.” Others will take note: “If you abandon to Jesus, and come when He says ‘Come,’ He will continue to say ‘Come’ through you; you will go out into life reproducing the echo of Christ’s ‘Come.’ That is the result in every soul who has abandoned and come to Jesus.”
Peter agreed: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
The closer we are to Jesus, the holier we become. The more countercultural our holiness, the more obvious our witness. The darker the room, the more powerful the light.
“The world despises them as useless pieces of straw”:
St. Anthony of Padua (1195–1231) was a personal friend of St. Francis of Assisi and one of the greatest preachers and intellectuals of his day. He encouraged us to be countercultural in our faith and values: “O religious soul, dove beloved of Christ, behold those little pieces of straw which the world tramples under its feet! They are the virtues practiced by thy Savior . . . of which He Himself has set thee an example — humility, meekness, poverty, penance, patience, and mortification. The world despises them as useless pieces of straw; nevertheless, they will be for thee the material wherewith to construct thy dwelling place forever in the profound hollow of the rock — in the heart of Jesus.”
When we practice these virtues in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can then “speak as the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of speech.” Consequently, “Our humble and sincere request to the Spirit for ourselves should be that we may bring the day of Pentecost to fulfillment, insofar as He infuses us with His grace, by using our bodily senses in a perfect manner and by keeping the commandments. Likewise, we shall request that we may be filled with a keen sense of sorrow and with fiery tongues for confessing the truth, so that our deserved reward may be to stand in the blazing splendor of the saints and to look upon the triune God.”
Will you ask the Spirit to help you “bring the day of Pentecost to fulfillment” today?
_______________
~ published by: The Denison Forum
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/social-conservatism-us-rising/
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God Deserves Our Reverence
~ Have you forgotten just how amazing our great God is? Spend time remembering today.
Scripture Reading: Galatians 4:4-7
“My daddy is stronger than your daddy!” “My mom makes the best food in the whole world!” Have you ever noticed little children instinctively trust their mother and father and often speak of them with pride? To an innocent toddler, no one is smarter, prettier, or funnier than his or her parents.
But at some point, things start to change. As children grow up and observe the world around them, the unwavering admiration they once had begins to falter — especially by the teenage years. Then, perceptions of parents can shift, causing indifference and ingratitude. What happened? Teens naturally want to feel independent, which leads to questioning parental views and discovering that Mom and Dad are fallible human beings.
Take a moment to check your heart right now. Jesus said that we should be like little children (Matthew 18:3). Do you adore and admire your heavenly Father? Do you talk to others about Him with the same reverence and joy as when you first believed? If any of that delight has faded, ask Him to help you rediscover it. Then spend time in His Word, watching for His personal encouragement to you.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/god-deserves-our-reverence
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Be Fervent in Spirit
~ May God fill all our hearts with His love in a meaningful, authentic way. And may we find the courage in Him to live our faith passionately.
God shares with us, His disciples, an important command in Romans 12:11. Scripture says:
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Do you ever feel slothful in zeal? Here, Paul is talking about feeling sluggish in your relationship with God. He’s describing a feeling of laziness, a lack of desire. Do you ever feel like your spirit is anything but fervent? The word fervent here is better translated as “boiling over.” Do you ever feel like your spirit is more like stagnant water? Let’s look today at how we as followers of God can stir up our affections for the Lord. Let’s make space for God to put fire under any area of our spiritual life that feels stagnant that it might boil over in Him.
Foundational to understanding Romans 12:11 is the knowledge that God will never ask you to do something or be something without His help. You are never alone in your spiritual growth. Your job is simply to create space in your heart for God to mold and shape you. Your job is to engage with Him and let the Spirit teach, lead, and fill you. Your heavenly Father is near to you. He has a perfect plan to guide you into spiritual growth and fervor. So, in light of that understanding, how can you engage with God and allow Him to mold and shape you into a person of greater fervor and zeal?
Psalm 19:7 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” And Psalm 19:8 says, “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.” Scripture makes clear that to be zealous and fervent in your service to God, you must spend time allowing His Word to inflame your spiritual fire. Spending time reading about the depths of God’s love for His people, the length He will go for you as His child, and the example of lives empowered by the Spirit will assuredly fill you with passion and zeal. When you spend time in God’s Word, you are not only reading incredible stories, but hearing the voice of your living and active heavenly Father. Spend time with His Word, allowing the voice of God to direct your soul to finding its rest and passion in Him.
When you spend time with God, you will naturally be filled with a desire and passion to serve Him. Reflect for a moment on how different you feel when you are inflamed with passion in comparison to feeling slothful. You have the power to choose how you will live life every day. You have the choice to engage with God, read His Word, spend time in His presence, and allow Him to mold and shape you. You also have the power to live a passionless life. The choice is yours. But know God is faithful to fill you with His Spirit every day if you will make space for Him to do so. He has total grace for the times you feel sluggish; at the same time, He has a perfect plan to lead you out of that state into being “fervent in spirit.” Engage with God today in prayer. Meditate on His Word. Let Him fill you with the power and anointing of His Holy Spirit.
The Message translates Romans 12:11 as saying, “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant.”
May you experience today the life of a “cheerfully expectant” person “fueled” and set “aflame” by the love and leading of God.
__________________
~ by Craig Denison
Finish up the time you spend alone with God today by simply asking His presence to linger with you. Ask Him to continually fill you with the flame of His love. Know that wherever you go today He will be there. Whenever you feel sluggish in spirit, He is there to fill you up. Continually engage with Him and live today with His grace and love as your foundation and fuel.
•
Clean-up Time
"For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God." ~ Romans 3:23
Have you ever used hydrogen peroxide to clean an open wound? I have, and I always thought it was cool that you could see it working by the foaming action. You see, what the hydrogen peroxide does is to draw out the impurities that might otherwise infect your open wound. It could be a paper cut or a scraped knee, but it still serves the same function: to draw the impurities and to clean up the wound so that any further damage or infection can be spared.
In the same way, when we accept God into our lives, a change or "drawing out" or "drawing away" from impurities must take place. God knows what's best for us, and we should accept His help. His help includes drawing out our impurities or sin that causes destruction and damage in our lives. Romans chapter 6, verse 23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
• How long are you going to wait to put hydrogen peroxide on your wounds?
• Will you wait until the infection of sin has become advanced, like an infected open wound, or will you accept the help and gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and let Him take care of your impurities?
Stop sin from infecting and standing in the way of your relationship with God and a better life today. Ask Jesus to be your "spiritual hydrogen peroxide", and He will clean up the sin in your life to prevent further damage and infection to your soul.
_______________
~ by Rachel Garrett
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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We are to share the gospel message with all that we come into contact with, and - if necessary - to use words.
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Standing Before God’s Open Door:
~ How is God leading you to share His love with others?
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 16:5-9
The apostle Paul had passion and vision to reach the world with the truth of salvation. As he followed the Holy Spirit’s leading, traveling more than 10,000 miles in a few short years, he managed to share the gospel with people all the way from Jerusalem to Rome. There’s no telling how many lives the Lord has (and will continue to) transform through that one man.
Paul was faced with a big task in a time when there was no mass communication. He could teach only a few thousand people at a time, and his letters, which were widely shared in the early church, could reach thousands more.
Compared to the apostle, we have far more ways to communicate — radio, television, print resources, and the internet — and through them, we can reach millions of people around the world. Even countries closed to the gospel are within reach. How can you play a part in the Great Commission and encourage others to join in doing the work? The door of opportunity is wide open for us to share the good news. We just need to step through it and see all the amazing things God has in store.
______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/sunday-check-in-with-dr-stanley-standing-before-god-s-open-door
•
Full of Justice and Mercy
~ Because of His great love for us, God made a way for us to know Him personally.
Scripture Reading: Romans 3:21-26
Today’s verses and many other Bible passages tell us that God is just. What this communicates is that He’s true to His own principles. It also means that God, who is holy and perfect, cannot be one with a sinner. Instead, “the soul who sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). It’s a frightening thought for imperfect people like us, isn’t it?
That’s why our heavenly Father provided a solution for all mankind. Jesus Christ, who was sinless, took our sin upon Himself and died in our place — so that we could be reunited with our Creator. The Lord continues to be just and holy, and we are declared a righteous child of God. As Paul wrote to the Romans, our Father is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).
Notice that our righteousness and unity with God has nothing to do with our efforts — it was a gracious and merciful decision made by the Lord. Our good works will not earn the Lord’s favor, because every person inevitably sins. But Jesus’ death made it possible for those who believe in Him to have a relationship with the Creator. In the end, it’s because of God’s justice and mercy that we could be reunited with Him.
________________
~ by In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/full-of-justice-and-mercy
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A Biblical Christian
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell [road that leads to destruction] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” ~ Matthew 7:13-14
There are many professing “Christians” throughout the world. I believe that a majority of those professing Christianity truly believe that they are Christians, but in reality, are being deceived by the evil one. There is only one true type of Christian in the world – and that is a “Biblical Christian”.
A Biblical Christian believes that the Bible (Old and New Testament) is the divine Word of God, and is the roadmap to salvation and our daily walk to living the Christ-centered life that God, the Father, requires of His children. By faith, a born-again child of God accepts this truth, and endeavors to live out their lives accordingly. It is a lifelong process, and we will never truly obtain the goal of becoming like Christ until we receive the “life eternal” promised to those who do believe and walk by God’s instructions as found in the Holy Scriptures.
To Summarize:
1. Christians must believe that the Bible (Word) was written by the divine inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
2. Professing Christians must daily die to self-will, and strive to live by the God-given direction as found in His Word.
3. God’s Laws are recorded within the whole Bible (Old and New Testament).
4. Biblical Christianity is the only way to eternal life with God.
If you are not in agreement with the 4 summarization bullets, then you are being deceived by the evil one, and will not be counted among those whom God calls "His own" on judgement day.
“…it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment” ~ Hebrews 9:27
“Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’” ~ Matthew 7:21-23
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Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Living By Faith
~ May you find the strength and courage to trust in Him today with all that you are.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7
Living by faith is the key that unlocks the door to the fullness of God’s promises. There is no doubt that God will always be faithful to His promises. Scripture is clear in 2 Timothy 2:13 that “if we are faithless, He remains faithful — for He cannot deny Himself.” Faithfulness is within God’s nature. But, without faith we will not experience the fullness of what is available to us in God’s promises. God does not force emotion on us. He does not force us to receive the joy and peace that comes through trusting Him. He does not force us into the fullness of relationship available to us in faith. And He does not force His purposes on us. Faith is the vehicle by which we experience all that God longs to give us. Specifically, faith is the avenue on which we experience the fullness of God’s promises for intimacy with Him, purpose in this life, and freedom from sin.
Hebrews 10:19-22 says:
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
By faith we walk into God’s presence. In faith we believe God desires to be with us.
Experiencing the fullness of restored relationship with our heavenly Father requires a heart full of faith and trust that God longs to tangibly be with us, His children. Without faith we will live solely for the pleasures this world has to offer and miss out on all the satisfaction of living this life for and with God above all else. In faith we can experience all the intimacy available to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Hebrews 11:32-34 says:
“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets — who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”
We’ve been sent out by Jesus to make disciples of all nations. We’ve been given a command to bring light into the darkness everywhere we go. You and I have been given a purpose of eternal value and of great importance to our Lord and King. And Hebrews 11 is clear that it is by faith that the works of God are done.
• When we live by faith, we bring the kingdom of God into every dark corner around us.
• When we live by faith, we invite the Holy Spirit to work in and through every situation to draw others to Himself.
It’s in faith that we find our purpose.
And finally, Ephesians 6:16 says:
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”
It is through faith that we walk in the freedom from sin available to us by the promise of God. As children of God wrapped up in the finished work of Christ, we have been set free from the bondage of sin. By the power of Jesus’ death on the cross, you and I never have to sin again. But Paul teaches us in Ephesians that it is through faith that we extinguish the flaming darts of the evil one. If we don’t trust God at His Word that we who were completely entangled to the schemes of the enemy by sin are now considered the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), we will not walk in freedom. It is through faith that we renew our mind and experience the wonderful freedom from sin available to us.
We all need a greater measure of intimacy with God, purpose, and freedom from sin. Not one of us has experienced all that is available to us through faith. May you seek out all that God has in store for you if you will take Him at His Word and trust Him in response to His faithfulness. Spend time in prayer receiving all that God longs to give you by faith.
________________
~ by Craig Denison
May you be filled with hunger for the deeper things of God today. And may you have the courage and tenacity to seek out everything God has in store for you. If you will pursue Him with all your heart in faith you will discover all that your heart has been searching for. He has adventure, excitement, joy, fulfillment, and love for all who live by faith. Today is the day to live in the newness of life Jesus died for you to have.
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/living-by-faith-2023/
•
From the Pastor’s Heart – June 2023
~ God has only just begun working through His servant’s legacy.
As you know, our beloved pastor and friend, Charles F. Stanley, went to be with the Lord on April 18, 2023. We grieve at his absence, but we also rejoice. Dr. Stanley was one of the greatest examples I’ve ever known of a man who loved God with all his heart. And today, he is with God and adoring his Savior in person. What a reason for joy!
Dr. Stanley was devoted, not only to sharing the good news of salvation to every corner of the globe, as Christ commanded, but also to helping believers walk more closely with the Lord every day. As a recipient of his From the Pastor’s Heart letter, you read his teaching from the Word of God each month. His letters contained biblical truths he’d seen proven on his own journey with the Lord, and spiritual guidance to help you grow in faith.
It was Dr. Stanley’s hope that we’d all stay the course of lifelong discipleship.
He entrusted to us a vast collection of sermons, notes, books, and recordings from his more than 60 years of ministry. This extraordinary wealth of Spirit-led teaching and encouragement is part of an incredible legacy.
Throughout his time at the helm of In Touch Ministries, Dr. Stanley gave us a mandate to steward this material for future generations.
He had a calling from God to hear the Spirit and minister to the body of Christ. And he often reminded us at In Touch that we also have a calling — to keep on sharing the gospel and Bible-based discipleship around the world.
All of us here at the ministry, myself included, accepted this calling through the years with a sense of deep gratitude. Now we’re ready to move forward with our mission.
With that in mind, I’d like to invite you to continue receiving From the Pastor’s Heart — in a new format.
Each month, our staff will select something to share with you from Dr. Stanley’s work. We’ll do this prayerfully, as he did, seeking words relevant to each moment. We’ll share his teaching on topics like the importance of obedience, the power of the Holy Spirit, living in Christlikeness, and the love of the Father, all with his faithful adherence to Scripture as a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). Perhaps you, like us, loved and appreciated Dr. Stanley’s passionate wisdom and pastor’s heart.
Well, God has only just begun working through His servant’s legacy. We believe it will keep blessing you for many years to come.
For now, I’d like to share some words from Dr. Stanley about living for the Lord. I think it describes his own example very well, and I hope it inspires you to think with hope and confidence about your own life in Christ:
“Our intimacy with God — His highest priority for our lives — determines the impact of our lives. You aren’t supposed to live the Christian life; it’s impossible. Rather, you must let Christ live it through you — that’s when you discover true power in your faith and witness for Him. You’ll only see such fruit by living deeply in intimacy with God. Prayer, obedience, trust, fellowshipping with Jesus — that’s how you abide in Him. Live this way and your life will become a powerhouse for God.”
What an incredible impact Dr. Stanley’s life has already had. Millions of people around the world have heard about Jesus and grown in Him through this one pastor’s devotion. And his obedience and commitment to God will pay eternal dividends for generations to come. When I think of Dr. Stanley, I’m reminded of these words from Scripture:
“Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” ~ Daniel 12:3
I’m profoundly grateful for Dr. Stanley’s life of faithful service. He helped us all draw closer to God and love each other as the church. It was a priceless honor to have been his friend and co-laborer in Christ. Along with everyone at In Touch Ministries, I’m humbled and blessed to carry his legacy into the future.
Thank you for allowing us to continue Dr. Stanley’s ministry to you.
Until next time, may you live in intimacy with God, be filled by His Spirit, and adore Jesus at every moment.
__________________
Prayerfully yours,
C. Phillip Bowen, CEO
In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/june-2023
__________________
Ranb2khz: Dependent upon the future content of this monthly publication, I may or may not continue to share it on this forum.
•
When God Wants Our Attention
~ When you feel restless, spend extra time with God in prayer; He may be leading you to something new.
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-21
Have you ever felt restless, as if something’s not quite right? At times God will use that feeling to get our attention. Take Samuel, for example. He literally couldn’t rest because a voice kept calling his name in the dark, and he assumed it was Eli the priest calling out. Finally, after the third interruption, Eli realized the boy was hearing God’s voice.
For Samuel, the sense of restlessness was physical, but it can also manifest as a mental or emotional feeling. This can be something God uses to guide us toward new insights, as He did in revealing Samuel would become a prophet. At first, this information made Samuel anxious — he was afraid to tell Eli about God’s judgment and didn’t sleep that night. He might even have wished he’d ignored that feeling of uneasiness. Ultimately, though, the distress proved worthwhile: Scripture tells us that “Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and He let none of his words fail” (1 Samuel 3:19).
No matter how or why God lets us feel unsettled, His purpose is always good. So we can trust the Lord and safely investigate our feelings of restlessness without fear. Seek to listen and obey. Then even if you, like Samuel, aren’t sure where the uneasiness is coming from, God won’t let you miss out. He is in control and His plans cannot be thwarted.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/when-god-wants-our-attention
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God Shows Us His Will
~ Our heavenly Father is not the author of confusion, and He will provide the answers you seek.
Scripture Reading:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6
When we believe we have heard from the Lord, it is important to ask clarifying questions:
• Is the message consistent with Scripture?
God will never tell you to do something that goes against His perfect, unchanging Word. If you feel called to take an action that is contrary to Scripture, you can be certain that it isn’t the Lord urging you.
• Can you confidently ask God to enable you to do this?
If you feel uneasy about asking for the Lord’s help and empowerment, that may be a sign the voice wasn’t God’s. We should be honored — not ashamed — to ask the Lord to equip us.
• Does it fit with your identity in Christ?
We are the children of God, who are being conformed into the likeness of Christ. If you feel led to do something that doesn’t reflect the image of Jesus, then you can be sure God hasn’t called you to do it.
Our heavenly Father will never leave His children on their own (Deuteronomy 31:6) — He is with each believer right now. Know that the Holy Spirit is present, enabling you to hear, and His voice will remain clear, no matter what questions you may have. There is no rush; when the Lord speaks, take your time listening to be certain you’re hearing from Him.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/sunday-check-in-with-dr-stanley-god-shows-us-his-will
•
Love Wins
~ As God’s people, He’s inviting us into His victory, a victory we so desperately need. May God establish us in His power today, and may chains fall off us and others as God guides us into a lifestyle of victory in Him.
Through Jesus, God has obtained victory in the earth. The dominion the devil had over humanity was crushed by the cross of Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:13-15 says:
“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, He disarmed the spiritual [demonic] rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross.”
Jesus has triumphed over everything that stood between us and a life lived in relationship with God.
One of my favorite chapters in all of Scripture, Romans 8, tells us:
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:37-39
We’ve been given victory over the enemy and all his schemes. But even though we have obtained victory in Jesus, the devil still works to lead you and me back into our former ways. Even though Jesus has defeated the enemy, we still must live out that victory every day and help others around us do the same. Even though love has won, we still must fight for the victory in others.
We need each other to experience the freedom available to us in Christ. Scripture admonishes us to engage in confession, community, worship, and spiritual battle together:
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
James 5:13-16 says, “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
We must engage with one another and fight for a life lived victoriously in Christ together. The Bible is clear that sanctification is a process worked out, and it’s a process meant to be worked out together.
We must call out the greatness in each other. If you see a brother or sister struggling with temptation, fight for them through prayer. Speak life into them. Encourage them in who God has made them to be. Stand with them through whatever circumstances and consequences come their way. See them through the fight until they experience victory over the power of sin and darkness in their life. Open up to those around you and ask for their help in your own life! You don’t have to fight spiritual battles alone. There are people around you who will fight for victory in your own life.
Through Christ, love has won. He has paved the way of victory for you and me. We are the world’s no longer. Ephesians 2:10 says:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Walk in the works God intends for you today and, in love, fight for those around you to do the same. You and I are meant for more in this life than the struggle with sin. Let’s fight for the victory in each other.
_________________
~ by Craig Denison
You don’t have to be perfect before you can fight for the victory in someone else’s life. You don’t have to be fully experiencing freedom before your Father would use you to help someone else. If the only people that could engage in ministry had to be perfect, the movement of Christianity would have died long ago. You are equipped to help right now exactly as you are. Engage in community with fellow believers as God intends and experience more life together as you walk in the victory laid out before you by the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/love-wins-2023/
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