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From the Pastor’s Heart — March 2023
~ Obey God and watch Him work.
I’d been serving at a church in Bartow, Florida, for only 11 months when the Lord began speaking to me about coming to Atlanta. That request seemed extremely illogical to me at the time.
I’d been taught that to be an effective pastor, you go somewhere and stay a good long while. Yet I knew God was telling me to leave.
For about four months I gave God lots of reasons why I couldn’t do it: It wasn’t reasonable. It wasn’t the way I was trained. It wasn’t what I wanted to do. My fellow pastors might think poorly of me. But He wasn’t persuaded at all. He just kept pressing my heart to do what He said to do.
Eventually, I ran out of excuses and accepted His call to move to Atlanta. Now, I often think about what I would have missed if I hadn’t taken that step of blind obedience.
God’s requests are often steppingstones to the most fantastic blessings and incredible experiences of our lives.
We sometimes don’t take the first step, however, thinking that what He’s asking isn’t really all that important. But to God, that first step is often a big leap toward life-changing blessings and growth for us.
One of the most interesting examples of this can be seen in the life of Peter, a fisherman by trade.
In Luke 5, we read about a morning when Peter was doing a routine task related to his work: cleaning the nets after a night of fishing. Jesus was standing nearby teaching, but as the crowd grew, the people pressed around Him at the edge of the lake. So Jesus got into Simon Peter’s boat and asked the fisherman to take Him out on the water.
It was a simple request and Peter obeyed, stopping what he was doing and taking Jesus a little way out from shore.
But the result of Peter’s obedience is what interests me most.
After Jesus finished preaching, He asked Peter to put out his nets. Peter had just been out there the night before and had come home empty-handed. But he did what Jesus said anyway.
Suddenly Peter had two boat-sinking loads of fish. He was so amazed that when he got to shore, he left everything and followed Jesus.
Peter’s story has a lot to teach us about obedience, especially the importance of taking the first step.
Obeying God in small or seemingly irrelevant matters is an essential movement toward His greatest blessings (Matthew 25:14-29). Often those blessings come as a result of our willingness to do something that appears very insignificant and unimportant.
When God says to do something, responding by saying to yourself, “I’ll pray about it” or “Well, I need to get some counsel” is not the answer. When God says, specifically, “Here’s what I want you to do,” the only right answer is "Yes, Lord".
I’m not saying you should never pray about God’s requests. Seeking godly counsel or biblical confirmation is a helpful and important step when we’re not sure we’ve heard Him correctly. But oftentimes we already know exactly what He’s saying.
When it’s very clear to us, the right response is yes, yes, yes to whatever He requires.
Peter’s story teaches us something else, too. God’s blessings for obedience will often be unexpected, like Peter’s amazing surplus of fish — and his transformed life. What’s more, the rewards spilled over to those around him.
Think of the other fishermen who shared in the catch. They went home that day with a very unexpected gift from the Lord. They were not only provided for but, most likely, also greatly encouraged.
Even the crowd, who could probably hear Jesus better when Peter did as he was told, was blessed that day. The Lord continued to teach them from Peter’s boat, and they continued to listen.
When you obey God, He’ll make you a blessing to other people (Deuteronomy 7:9).
For example, a parent’s obedience will improve the lives of the children. A pastor’s obedience will help his congregation thrive. A godly neighbor brings blessings that the whole community enjoys. And when one person in a business is heeding the Father, the others also benefit.
If you and I are obedient to God in whatever He calls us to do, that blessing is going to extend to people around us.
Finally, obeying God allows Him to demonstrate His power in our lives.
Just think: That one simple act of obedience by Peter led to a miracle right there on the boat. He’d never seen so many fish in his life! What he witnessed made Peter’s faith skyrocket — and was the beginning of the most exciting three years anybody could possibly live, walking with the Lord Jesus Christ every day.
It was Peter who later made one of the greatest statements of faith recorded in Scripture when he answered a question from Jesus by saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). And Jesus declared that Peter had been blessed by the Father in heaven with this essential knowledge.
Do you want to be blessed, my friend? Obey God in the simple things in life, as well as the challenging ones.
You and I will be absolutely amazed at what God will do if we obey Him.
Even when it’s unreasonable or uncomfortable, even when it’s extremely inconvenient, even when we don’t want to and we don’t like it — obey Him anyway. It will always be worth it.
Prayerfully yours,
Charles F. Stanley
P.S. Obeying God sometimes results in dramatic changes in our lives. In Touch Ministries wants to help you navigate all that God is calling you to do, both now and in the future. We have a variety of resources to help you walk through each season of life in obedience. Just let us know how we can help.
https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/march-2023
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"Holding Patterns"
Background Scripture Reading: Jonah 1
Many times, God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in our life to "swallow us up." This season in our spiritual growth is a "holding pattern". We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit, like Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided attention and speak to us.
God put Jonah in a "holding pattern" because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was all alone. There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat, no interferences, and no interruptions. He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and pray.
When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen.
A few of God's holding patterns:
• When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed but you are not yet healed, you are in a holding pattern.
• When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding pattern.
• When you have been praying for a loved one to return to God, and they have not come back yet, you are in a holding pattern.
• When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God, but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern.
• When the doors slam shut before you can even knock on them, you are in a holding pattern.
When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit, think, meditate, and pray. Like Jonah, we cannot run from God, because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places that are hidden from Him.
We must remember to praise Him while we're waiting, and remember three things:
1. The pattern has a purpose.
2. The pattern has a plan.
3. The pattern has a process.
So stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love you."
_______________
~ 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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The Leading of the Holy Spirit
~ May He reveal Himself to each of us in real and fresh ways this week.
• Where do you need leadership in your life?
• What challenge, decision, or circumstance is weighing on you?
• Where do you need a word from God today?
We have available to us the most perfect guide to lead us throughout the twists, turns, and challenges of this adventurous life. The Bible says in Romans 8:14, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God.” As children of the Most-High God, we are granted full access to the leadership of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. No child of God is exempt from the leadership of the Spirit. We don’t earn access by our own merit. We don’t gain more favor to receive more leadership. God has given us all the gift of the Holy Spirit because He loves us. He has filled us with His Spirit because He longs to lead us into the abundant life He has planned for us. So, let’s learn today how we can better discover and follow this gift of leadership we’ve all been granted through Christ in the Holy Spirit.
First, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the Holy Spirit and the Word work perfectly together. One does not contradict the other. Both the Holy Spirit and the Word He inspired are vital in living the Christian life. And God’s Word says in Galatians 5:16-18:
“I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
The leadership of the Spirit is in direct opposition to the lifestyle of the world. His desire is always to lead us away from sin that entangles us in the perspectives and pressures of the world toward a lifestyle of peace, joy, and intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. All of His leadership is purposed toward the goal of abundant life in God, of the fullness of satisfaction in God rather than the weak and fleeting pleasure in things of the world.
So how do we follow this person of the Holy Spirit toward that abundant life? Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
How do we “keep in step with the Spirit”?
It all starts with spending time getting to know what the Holy Spirit is like. He has a personality. He has a voice. His leadership feels a certain way. Just as you get to know a person, you can get to know the Holy Spirit. And the absolute best way to learn about Him is one-on-one. Often, we wait until we are in public, or right before a highly stressful situation, to ask for the guidance of the Spirit. But it’s in the secret place that we learn what His voice and leading sounds and feels like so that we can discern His guidance out in the rush and stress of the world. It’s in the secret place that we grow in relationship with the Holy Spirit so that we can follow His steps throughout the twists and turns of our day.
John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.” The Holy Spirit is excited to speak to you what He hears from the heavenly Father. He longs to declare to you God’s plans to love you, provide for you, heal you, transform you, and deliver you. He longs to lead you to the fullness of life available to you here. Spend time getting to know the Holy Spirit in the secret place today. As you pray ask God to reveal Himself to you. Spend time in prayer resting in the presence of the God who dwells within you, who is nearer to you than the very ground beneath your feet.
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~ published by: First 15
https://first15.org/devotionals/the-leading-of-the-holy-spirit/
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The Walk to Emmaus
"Now that same day [day of Jesus' resurrection] two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them." ~ Luke 24:13-15
Wouldn't that be the coolest thing ever - to be able to walk and talk with Jesus? He has given to us that very opportunity - He is with us every step of the way (we accept this fact by faith), and He speaks directly to our hearts - if we are willing to tune-out the world and learn to be still and quiet and to listen.
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The Word of God
The spirit of the antichrist has deceived so many people down through the 1000’s of years that human beings have walked the earth with the same deceptive lie: “Did God really say that?”
And it’s still working today for a vast amount of the population.
There are only two groups of people in the world – a Biblical Christian, or a non-Christian; that’s it – individually we are either in one group or the other. The first group strives daily to live by the Word of God. Their desires are in alignment with God’s desires, and although we struggle while in the flesh – we keep our eyes and faith upon Jesus; who is the Word of God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” ~ John 1:1-2
Ever wonder why the Bible has survived through the thousands of years since it has been recorded? God tells us this about His Word:
“…My Word that comes from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” ~ Isaiah 55:11
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth which proclaims the Word of God to all who have accepted God’s free gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The second group of people are the “non-Christians” – this group is comprised of the multitude of people who either have never accepted God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, or, the ones who are living their life under the deception of being a Christian, but are not Biblical Christians, and at the Day of Judgement will be found amongst those that the Lord Jesus declares that He never knew:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’” ~ Matthew 7:21-23
The ones who “work lawlessness” are those that do not adhere to the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and the whole Bible – from Genesis to Revelation is the written Word of God.
The arguments that we hear daily from those that have been deceived by the spirit of the antichrist are all the same:
• The Bible is not applicable to the 21st century.
• There are discrepancies in it.
• It was written by man.
• Etc., etc.
Or, they twist the Words from the Bible in an attempt to convince themselves, and the world, that their unbiblical lifestyle is acceptable:
• God is love.
• Do not judge.
• Love the sinner – not the sin.
• God made us this way.
The list goes on and on.
Satan – who is the spirit of the antichrist – knows the Word of God better than any human being ever born – except the Word of God Himself; Jesus. And Satan has been twisting the Word ever since the first man and woman lived and walked upon the face of the earth:
“Did God really say…” ~ Genesis 3:1
The bottom line is this: If you are not living your life by the Word of God (all of it – not just the parts that you are in agreement with), then you have no right claiming to be a “Christian” and going to heaven/paradise. The truth of the matter is that you are not. Pray that God will remove the deceptive blinders from your eyes and heart to reveal His desires for your life, then repent and start walking in it.
The days are short, and we never know when our last breath on this earth will be. Afterwards comes the judgement and the 2 destinations that follow that: eternal life with God, or, eternal death in hell. We have a choice to make while we are still alive and breathing. Keep in mind that by NOT making the choice, is indeed making a choice.
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Evangelism – Sharing God's Heart
The idea of evangelism has always been terrifying to me. Going up to someone and interrupting their day to tell them about Jesus, no matter how real and good I know Him to be, has never been comfortable for me. But you can’t read Scripture and escape God’s command to share the gospel. You can’t read through the New Testament and discount the reality that the disciples gave themselves entirely — to the point of death — that the world might come to know Jesus.
Verses like Mark 16:15-16 couldn’t be more clear. Jesus commands us, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Evangelism is meant to be a part of our normal lives. It’s not just for the few. It’s not just for pastors or the intensely extroverted. It’s for you and me.
When I assess my own heart, I discover that my fears related to evangelism are entirely selfish. In fact, I don’t know if I could do something more selfish than hold back the one hope for the world just to protect my own image. Jesus is clear in Mark 16:16 that those who don’t believe in Him will be condemned. It’s like I contain the cure for a deadly disease and rather than sacrificing my image to love them by sharing the one cure, I just let them continue to suffer.
In pondering my own heart, I realize that the way to engage in evangelism isn’t fixing myself; it’s getting over myself. Is my image really so important that it’s worth condemnation for another? Are the opinions of others really so important to me that I would withhold from them eternal, abundant life with a God who loves them relentlessly and perfectly?
I am made to share God’s light. I have been commissioned by my King to go out and share His heart. It’s time that we obey God’s command in Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Sure, people might think I’m weird. Sure, it might be a little awkward. But God is after the hearts of His creation, and He’s called me to help. May we be those who set aside our pride, seek humility, and love others whatever the cost. May we be so bold as to set our eyes on heaven and sacrifice this life for the sake of eternity. And may the world change around us as we humbly and courageously proclaim the goodness of our heavenly Father.
______________
~ published by: First 15
https://first15.org/devotionals/evangelism-2023/
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Getting Nowhere Fast
"Meanwhile, Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there..." ~ Ruth 4:1
The town gate was the place in town where many legal transactions took place. Boaz wanted approval from the elders to marry Ruth, but he first had to clear any prior claims to her estate. Instead of running around, making things happen, Boaz went to the gate, sat and waited until the people he needed to speak with came by the gate. Boaz was secure in his purpose and knew he was in God's will, so he trusted God's plans to unfold.
Are you rushing around trying to make things happen or are you waiting on God to lead the way? Relax, regroup, and let God lead the way.
Suggested Prayer:
Lord, let me learn to wait. Show me your plan for my life and give me the patience and the trust to let it unfold in Your way. Stop me from running around, trying to make things happen and let me rest in your peace.
______________
~ by Sheree Motola
~ 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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A Good Steward
How well do we manage the God-given resources that we have?
When asked that question perhaps most people would respond about tithing, giving to missions, charitable organizations, the poor, etc. And these actions are good and pleasing to God; however, God has given to us many more resources to learn to manage and become good stewards of as well.
As children of God – saved by His grace – we have been given the Fruit of God’s Spirit:
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23
How well are we stewarding the fruit resources?
We are also given Gifts of the Spirit:
“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice [gives a word of wisdom]; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge [gives a word of knowledge]. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages [in various tongues], while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” ~ 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Time is another valuable God-given resource that we need to become effective stewards of:
“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk — not as unwise people but as wise — making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” ~ Ephesians 5:15-17
The evil one is well-aware of the God-given resources that we have, and as long as he can make us believe that those don’t really apply to us – the less effective we will be for glory of God and His kingdom-building.
Pray today for the Lord to fill us with the wisdom, knowledge, courage and strength to walk boldly in all the resource’s He has given to us, and to help us become better stewards of them.
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Only One Thing is Necessary...
...The Lord is my Shepherd - and He is all that I need.
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Do You Know Jesus?
Many people have heard about Jesus, but not many people know Jesus. It’s one thing to know about Jesus, and an entirely different thing to know Jesus on a personal relationship level. We can consider the first group has having a “head knowledge” of Christ, while the second group has a “heart knowledge” of Christ. While a mind knowledge of who Jesus Christ is could lead to a repentant heart, that leads to salvation; this is not always the case. Salvation begins the lifelong process of becoming more Christlike. We desire to know more about God, the Father, and Jesus, our Savior, and to develop a personal relationship with them. Once we accept God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, our hearts, minds and souls begin to sense the presence of God’s Spirit interacting with our spirit – God is opening our senses to Him. The Apostle Peter describes it as follows:
“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, receiving as the result [the outcome, the consummation] of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” ~ 1 Peter 1:8-9 (AMP)
To know Jesus and to love Jesus is to obey Jesus:
In John 14:15 Jesus tells us, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” And the Apostle John explains it in this manner: “Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” ~ 1 John 5:3-4
Through the lifelong process of loving God, we slowly will become more like Jesus in our thoughts, words, actions/reactions, and deeds. Don’t allow the evil one to defeat you when you stumble and fall along the way – this world is out to steal the joy that you have obtained access to through the salvation of your soul. When we stumble/fall, we ask God to forgive us, and in the power of His Holy Spirit we learn to avoid that pitfall again.
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Breath Prayers
What is Breath Prayer?
It was nearly 2 AM when they wheeled my daughter from the emergency room to her inpatient room on the fourth floor of a children’s hospital in Atlanta. Outside the small window, city lights poked holes against the black veil of night and cast shadows on the wall above the bed. A too-big hospital gown fell loosely over her tired body, and wires strung from her chest to the monitors beside her bed, blinking with the rhythm of her heart as I held her hand and she drifted off to sleep. A hard vinyl couch beside the wall would be my bed as a nurse sat with us, checking in every fifteen minutes. My precious girl looked so small and frail in that hospital bed. She was sicker than we’d realized, and this latest crisis had left me overwhelmed and unsteady.
As I lay there in the darkness of that hospital room, my eyes welled with an overflow of pain and helplessness. The familiar signs of anxiety began to flood through my body. My chest grew tight and heavy, and my hands began to tremble as I struggled to catch my breath. I felt small and scared and so very alone. I tried to pray, but my mind was only filled with worry and fear. I lost my words. I had nothing left to say, nothing left to pray.
As I grasped for hope and gasped for breath, I remembered: There are words I can pray when I have no words to pray, when all I have to offer is my trembling breath. A few months earlier, I had read about breath prayers for the first time and was captivated. I wrote a few down and tucked them in my heart. And now, months later, the words of one of those prayers suddenly came to my mind. It was just a handful of words from Psalm 23, broken into two small lines. I took a deep breath, and as I inhaled, I tried to focus my mind on the words, “The Lord is my shepherd,” and as I exhaled, I whispered, “I have all that I need.” And again, breathing in deeply, I focused my thoughts on “The Lord is my shepherd,” and then breathed out “I have all that I need.” As I focused on my breathing and the words of Scripture, my body calmed and my soul was reminded of a truth that will never change, no matter my circumstances: “The Lord is my shepherd” — even here in this hospital, next to my daughter hooked up to monitors. And “I have all that I need” — because even here, in the dark, I have Him. The good shepherd. The one who tenderly guides us and holds us when we’re wounded and weary, the One who keeps watch over us through the night. He is all that I need. That simple prayer helped quiet my worries and fears. The deep breathing helped to calm the physical symptoms of my anxiety, and the prayer helped me to recenter my thoughts on Christ and His love for me.
In the weeks that followed, as I sat by my daughter’s side day and night in that little room, I kept repeating short passages of Scripture to myself as I intentionally slowed my breathing, inhaling and exhaling to the rhythm of the Word. Breath prayers filled my days. Sometimes I’d walk the halls of the hospital when I was feeling overwhelmed and anxiety was tugging hard at my heart, and I’d breathe slowly as I walked, repeating the words of a short prayer over and over like a steady rhythm of grace until my body calmed and peace once again returned. Breath prayers changed me during those weeks. And they’ve continued to be a lifeline as I’ve walked through dark and difficult days since. They’ve become a comfort to me, not just in times of high anxiety but on any day, strengthening both my body and soul by helping me tuck important truths in my heart and paving paths of peace in my mind.
I humbly offer these words from my own anxiety-prone soul to yours, as a friendly and compassionate guide to the simple but powerful technique of breath prayers. No matter what condition your mind and body are in right now, no matter the reason you’re here, I hope you will find grace in these words and that breath prayer will open a door to an even deeper connection with the God who made you and loves you, the One who rescues you and redeems you, the One who is with you always, no matter what you are feeling.
______________
~ by Jennifer Tucker, author of "Breath As Prayer"
Understanding Breath Prayers:
Breath prayers are:
• Short, mostly one-sentence prayers
• Rooted in Scripture
• Repeated several times for the purpose of meditating on God's Word by actively processing the words and reflecting on them
• Mind-FULL: focusing the mind on Christ and filling the mind with His Word
• Directed upward, to God
Breath prayers are NOT:
• A new-age, humanistic, self-healing practice
• Rooted in eastern spirituality or pagan practices
• "Mantra Meditation" with the purpose of blotting out thoughts or repeating a word or phrase over and over until even that phrase loses all meaning
• Mindless: focused on emptying the mind to obtain inner peace
• Directed inward, to self
Today's Breath Prayer:
Inhale: The Lord is My Shepherd
Exhale: I Have All That I Need
______________
~ excerpt from: Calm Your Anxiety and Restore Your Soul: 7 Days of Breath Prayers
https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/31075-calm-your-anxiety-and-restore-your-soul-7-days-of
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Surrender
~ May you be encouraged instead of burdened and take whatever next steps necessary to give Jesus your all.
Jesus makes an important and paradoxical statement in Matthew 10:39: “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” What does it look like to lose your life for His sake? How is it possible to find life as the result of losing it? You and I are only truly living to the degree that we’ve surrendered our lives to Jesus. True life is eternal, kingdom-based, and fueled by the love of God. Life apart from God is fleeting and meaningless. It’s for this reason Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:14 says, “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless — like chasing the wind.”
We have opportunity every day to lay our lives down at the feet of Jesus in response to His great love that we might experience the abundant life only He can give. Surrender positions our hearts to receive the incredible reward of being fully God’s. God won’t force His blessings on us. He won’t force His presence or His love. He patiently draws us near, hoping that in response to His overwhelming affections we will lay down our lives that we might experience all the wonders He has in store for us.
Humbling ourselves before God as our King, Creator, and Sustainer is absolutely vital in going deeper. Pride so often stands in the way of God’s conditional promises. Scripture is clear in James 4:6, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Promises like “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” found in Matthew 6:33 require a level of humility and surrender most aren’t willing to give.
We often associate humility with weakness when in reality declaring our weakness before an Almighty God is the only posture of strength we can take. It’s for this reason that Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:30, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” When we humble ourselves before God and surrender, we position ourselves to receive all the abundance of help, power, guidance, and love we could ever need.
God is an endless ocean of love, help, healing, and power. The Holy Spirit who dwells within you longs to empower you with everything you need to truly live in the fullness of life available to you. If you will choose to lay down your life in surrender to God’s plans, purposes, truth, and perfect will, you will experience a life unlike anything you’ve known. Take time today to lose your life that you may find it in God. Cast aside all pride and selfish ambition that you might pursue the wonderful, abundant life of one submitted to an Almighty, omnipotent, omnipresent, and fully loving Father.
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~ published by: First 15
https://first15.org/devotionals/surrender-23/
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Daily Article — February 22, 2023
Ukraine and Russia are fighting two different wars:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Moscow would step back from its last remaining major nuclear-arms-control treaty with the US. He also vowed to continue his military campaign in Ukraine. US President Joe Biden responded: “Our support for Ukraine will not waver, NATO will not be divided, and we will not tire. President Putin’s craven lust for land and power will fail.”
As the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine comes this Friday, many are asking if this is a new Cold War or even the beginning of World War III. After a year, what do we now know about the conflict? What can we predict for the future?
One of the most insightful responses to these questions I have found was written for Foreign Affairs by Sir Lawrence Freedman (DPhil, Oxford University), the Emeritus Professor of War Studies at Kings’ College London. Dr. Freedman notes that Russia and Ukraine have been pursuing two very different war strategies and shows how this fact explains much about the conflict.
In reading his article, I was struck by the degree to which it is also relevant to our cultural challenges in America and to the urgency and promise of spiritual awakening.
“Classic warfare” vs. “total warfare”:
According to Dr. Freedman, Ukraine has employed the “classic warfare” approach, while Russia has adopted the “total warfare” strategy. In the former, “victory decided by which army occupied the battlefield, the number of enemy soldiers killed or captured, and the amount of equipment destroyed.” In this approach, “battles determined the outcome of wars.”
The latter views the opposing nation as an appropriate battlefield, not just its army. The rationale for targeting population centers is that armies draw on civilian infrastructure to fight. In addition, munitions factories depend on a civilian workforce. Citizens suffering under incessant bombardment might be turned against the war to the point where they demand their nation’s capitulation. To many strategists, bombing cities is a far simpler route to victory than winning battles.
In the decades after the Cold War, Russia has continued to follow the “total warfare” strategy. For example, they deliberately attacked rebel hospitals in Syria and applied brute force to civilian areas and cities in the Chechen Wars.
Ukraine, by contrast, has understandably avoided civilian areas and infrastructure in the present conflict since the war has been waged on Ukrainian soil.
One might think that, given Russia’s enormous size and resource advantage (it is about twenty-eight times larger than Ukraine), its “total warfare” strategy would overwhelm Ukraine and force it to capitulate. However, the opposite has been the case. Once Ukraine survived Russia’s initial onslaught, Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians have made Ukraine all the more determined to liberate its areas and cede none to Russia. The humanitarian consequences of Russia’s brutality have also strengthened Western support for Ukraine.
In addition, Russia’s total-war aims have reinforced Ukraine’s belief that there is no obvious “compromise peace” available. Nor have Russia’s total-war tactics impeded Ukraine’s military operations.
“A car is made to run on petrol”:
As evangelical Christians view our secularized society, it seems that our cultural opponents are following a “total warfare” strategy. Every dimension of our lives is now dominated by relativistic ethics and postmodern subjectivism. Popular media constantly reinforces LGBTQ ideology and unbiblical morality. It is easy to feel like Ukraine standing up to Russia’s overwhelming size and force.
But the opposite is actually the case.
We have been discussing recently the outbreaks of revival on college campuses now reaching historic proportions. They are occurring among a population group for whom unbiblical morality is assumed to be especially popular and pervasive.
But we should not be surprised.
The psalmist spoke for us all when he testified, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1). “Pants” translates a Hebrew word meaning to yearn passionately and deeply. The author added, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (v. 2). “Appear before God” translates the Hebrew which literally means “see the face of God.”
We were made by our Maker for a personal, intimate relationship with him. No amount of cultural secularizing can fill the God-shaped emptiness that resides in our souls.
In one of my favorite statements in Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis observed: “God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on himself. He himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from himself, because it is not there.”
“God’s sudden, calming presence”:
You and I can capitulate to the culture’s “total warfare” aggression against our faith. Or, like the Ukrainians, we can double down on our resolve to stand fast with courage. For believers, this means that we live in the power of the Spirit, manifest the character of Christ (Galatians 5:22–23), and trust that our King will win the victory for all of eternity (Revelation 19:16).
In his inspirational book In the "Eye of the Storm: Jesus Knows How You Feel", Max Lucado writes: “The supreme force in salvation is God’s grace. Not our works, nor our talents, not our feelings, nor our strength. Faith is not born at the negotiating table where we barter our gifts in exchange for God’s goodness. Faith is not an award given to the most learned. It’s not a prize given to the most disciplined.”
The fact is, “We are great sinners, and we need a great Savior. Salvation is God’s sudden, calming presence during the stormy seas of our lives. Death is disarmed, failures are forgiven, and life has real purpose. And God is not only within sight, he is within reach.”
Why do you need such grace today?
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https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/ukraine-russia-two-different-wars/
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Love to all!!Prayers for all!! In Jesus name!! :) Amen
Concerns of The Heart
"I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers." ~ Isaiah 65:24
Literally, I had no agenda. Many things had been on my mind, though. Several situations I’d been mulling over. A few people that had been especially on my heart. Some unresolved issues stewing in the back corners of my brain.
So, I had no agenda when we went to church for an evening service of refreshing and renewing. I just knew that there would be a time to be quiet and be still before the Lord.
With beautiful music in the background, I began to zone out, let my mind wander. As I was still, sitting there, I felt so thankful to be in the presence of the Lord. God began to whisper softly to me, not in an audible voice, but ever so gently. He began addressing one by one the concerns of my heart. Gradually I began to be aware that He was sharing with me direction and answers to these unspoken concerns.
Later, I thought about how amazing God is. Amazing God! Amazing grace! How good to remember that God knows our deepest needs and desires before they are even fully formed in our minds, or on our lips. And, that in His time, the perfect time, He will answer the concerns of our hearts. Even if we have ‘no agenda’.
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~ by Sally I. Kennedy (http://www.sallyikennedy.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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The Lord is my Shepherd - and He is all that I need.
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It Seems to be Taking Forever
"Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear or see you." ~ 1 Timothy 4:16
"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." ~ James 1:12
A sort of "mini-crash" is what I termed it. After an unknown computer error, the address book contacts, names and email addresses, were no longer there. I thought of just scrapping the whole project looming in front of me. But then, it seemed the right thing to begin the arduous task of re-entering data.
It was painstakingly slow. I seemed to be getting nowhere fast. It wasn't the computer's fault, and not really mine either. It was something that just happened.
In life, things happen. The computer scenario seemed to take forever; in actuality it did not. It made me think of the real desert times, experiences of the 'dark night of the soul'. Those times in our lives when we are waiting, hoping, praying.... and things seems to be taking forever.
If by any chance, you are in one of those places, you can know that it will not last forever. We have to hang in there and hold onto the promises that God has given us in the Bible. We have to do our part and stay faithful and allow God to work on His timetable. He is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
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~ 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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Living Honestly
~ Let’s open up our hearts in real, intentional ways today, as we experience the power and love of our heavenly Father.
There is no substitute for the peace and joy of living honestly. When you find courage from the unconditional love of your heavenly Father to truly be yourself, you alleviate yourself of the pressure and stress of keeping up appearances. And when you’re free from keeping up appearances you have time and energy to devote to that which is real — that which is eternal.
James 1:26 says, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” Did you know you were capable of deceiving your own heart? James makes an incredibly strong statement here. How could my religion be worthless if I simply tell a small lie here or there? How could a little deception in my heart make my religion null and void?
This verse illustrates just how important our hearts are to God. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Your religion is only as valuable as it is true. The parts of you that are outward, e.g., your words, actions, and appearance, are only as valuable as they are a true reflection of your heart.
James is speaking here to those who think that what they say and do defines them. He’s speaking to those who believe their value and identity are wrapped up in their good works. But God flips our worldly paradigm on its head. He values actions done from the heart. He values appearances that are a reflection of the beauty in our hearts. He values words that come from a place of deep honesty and vulnerability. He values religion that is the fruit of His Spirit loving, leading, and filling our spirits.
As we close out this week on honesty, take time to truly assess whether you’re deceiving your own heart:
• Are you looking to that which is outward to define you?
• Do you see yourself related to what you do, or are your actions the result of who you are in Christ?
May your time be filled with the loving-kindness of your heavenly Father and clear revelation from the Holy Spirit.
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~ published by: First 15
https://first15.org/devotionals/living-honestly-2023/
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What is Your Reaction?
Look at how Mary and Zechariah reacted to God's work in their lives, they immediately praised God. You may think that was the natural thing to do, but take a closer look.
Mary knew she would be ridiculed for being pregnant and unmarried. . . she faced the reality that her fiance, Joseph, could break their engagement. . . and she understood that the penalty if she was found guilty of adultery was death. And yet in the midst of that, out of her heart came praises to her Lord:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior" ~ Luke 1:46
Zechariah had just regained his ability to speak after being mute for over 9 months. He didn't express bitterness against God. . . nor did he question God's methods. . . he immediately began praising His Lord, the God of Israel:
“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people." ~ Luke 1:68
Think About It:
What is your reaction to difficult situations?
• Do you complain?
• Question God?
• Become bitter?
• Withdraw from people?
• Try to escape from your problems?
The next time you're in a predicament, try following Mary and Zechariah's example. . . turn your eyes toward God and praise Him for who He is!
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~ 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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Sunday Reflection: We All Win Together
~ Are you working to build your kingdom or God's?
Church should be a place where Christians shed the world’s competitive spirit. But instead, it’s sometimes yet another arena where people strive for personal glory.
When we treat our sanctuaries like stages, chasing the spotlight, we end up building our own kingdoms instead of God’s. And our brothers and sisters in Christ can become stepping stones or, worse, collateral damage.
This problem isn’t new, nor is its solution. What Jesus taught the disciples to abandon was not the pursuit of excellence but the path of self-exaltation. In other words, if we’re competing for anything, it should be for last place — so that we might all triumph together in becoming a true reflection of Christ.
Think About It:
Do you see something of yourself in these descriptions? If so, ask the Holy Spirit for help correcting course and aligning your heart with His.
Read Romans 12:10-21 and Matthew 20:1-15.
• Are there any specific areas of your life that need to be reoriented so that they align with these verses?
• With whom are you competing?
• How can you shift toward honoring and serving them instead?
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~ published by: InTouch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/sunday-reflection-we-all-win-together
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Tearing Down Walls
~ Let’s come before God today with courage, trust, and humility.
As believers, we were made to connect with God. But there are a lot of obstacles that get in the way of truly abiding with our Creator every day.
In order to protect our hearts from the pain and wounds of the world we both consciously and subconsciously build walls. These walls take all sorts of forms. Some walls are built for appearance so that outward beauty covers up inward brokenness. Some walls are built to be strong and tough so that pride and strength cover up inward vulnerability and self-consciousness. Some walls are built in order to blend in so that people pass us by altogether and never try to know us. Whatever wall we choose to build, one thing's for certain: the walls might guard us from harm, but they also keep us from ever experiencing true life.
Abundant life comes from being both fully known and then fully loved. We can’t experience the love of God and others if we don’t allow ourselves to be known. We can’t experience God’s grace and affection for us if we shield ourselves from Him out of fear that He will see us and reject us. And whenever someone tries to love us fully, we will always reject their love by saying, “If you truly knew me, you wouldn’t love me.” Living with walls up isn’t really living; it’s surviving.
God knows our pains. He knows our wounds. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” God is for you. He longs to be near to you and save you. But in order for you to experience the fullness of His love and healing you have to let Him in. And in order for you to experience true life you have to stop trusting in your walls to protect you and start trusting in the powerful, capable hands of your loving Father.
In Psalm 57:7 David writes, “My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident”. God is the one who protects our hearts. There is nothing we can do to fully shield ourselves from the wounds this world causes except allow our hearts to be fully open to God. Only in God can we have confidence. Only in God can we trust. And only in God will we experience true, abundant life.
Take time today to tear down your walls brick by brick. Stop placing your hope in that which can’t ever truly protect you. And look to God as your great protector that you might be fully known and fully loved today. May your time of guided prayer be marked by freedom and deliverance in the Holy Spirit.
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~ published by: First 15
https://first15.org/devotionals/tearing-down-walls-2023/
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A great way to reach out to others about the love of Christ! God bless!
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Love to all! Jesus Loves us! Maybe check out my website I made like back in 2013-2014-ish to praise our Lord and help others to be saved and be encouraged?? :) MobileSavior.com
The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
"This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ [the Messiah] has come in the flesh is from God. But every spirit who does not confess Jesus [as God's Messiah] is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now."
"You are from God, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception."
~ 1 John 4:1-6
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The Spirit versus the Flesh
“I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
“Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance — as I told you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
~ Galatians 5:16-26
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From the Pastor’s Heart — February 2023
~ Choose to follow the Lord and experience abundant blessings.
Once, on a wilderness photography trip, we had traveled up a trail for about three hours when I suspected we were lost. The guide assured me we were on the correct path, but my uncertainty didn’t go away. I pulled out my compass to check, showed it to the guide, and he finally agreed — somehow we had veered off course.
By the time we reached our destination, the light was fading as evening approached. I was disappointed because I probably missed some great shots.
Maybe you’ve sometimes wondered if you were going the right way. If having the right guide was that important for a photography trip, imagine how much more important it is in daily life.
It’s a complex world full of obstacles and deceptive ideas along the way. Even your own desires, dreams, and plans might cause you to veer from God’s course. How much better it is to trust and follow your Savior, who died to rescue you from sin and give you abundant life (John 10:10).
Are you on the path the Lord has prepared for you today, or have you decided to direct yourself?
One of my favorite passages about divine guidance is Psalm 32:8-9. It contains a promise and a warning:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you.”
Sometimes it may feel as if the path ahead is uncharted — after all, you’ve never been alive before. You have your own calling and you’re uniquely made in God’s image, as all His children are. However, you’re not the first person to walk with the Lord. And though the world has changed, the human condition hasn’t.
Many faithful believers have gone before you, and there’s much to learn from their examples (Hebrews 12:1-2). I’ve always found it to be a tremendous comfort knowing the Lord is always with us on this journey, and that He gives us the company of His saints as we go.
For as long as you and I are on earth, He’ll be there to faithfully guide us, taking us by the hand through every circumstance. And afterward, He’ll receive each of us with open arms into His glory (Psalm 73:23-24).
To appreciate what a blessing this is, let’s look at how He’ll lovingly guide your life — if you follow.
1. God carefully watches over you:
“Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways.” ~ Psalm 139:1-3
God knows you better than you know yourself, which means He’s more qualified than you to guide your life. He understands all your weaknesses, is familiar with every facet of your personality, and takes all these things into account as He directs your steps.
2. The Lord always chooses the best path for you:
We know this in our minds, but sometimes we look around and doubt that the path we’re on could possibly be the best. Suffering, illness, loss, trouble, unfairness, and hardship certainly don’t seem good to us. That’s when we need to remember the words of the psalmist, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, so that I may learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). Even when times are hard, God’s plan is still good. He hasn’t failed you.
The Lord chooses experiences for us that work for His eternal purpose of making us more like Christ. The question isn’t whether His is the right path, but whether you’ll trust Him in the midst of dark valleys, dangerous passages, and rough terrain.
Wherever you are in life right now, the Lord is right there with you, guiding and strengthening you to walk through it.
3. God provides everything you’ll need as you follow Him:
“As His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and goodness.” ~ 2 Peter 1:3
The Lord gives strength when you’re weary, hope when you’re discouraged, comfort in loneliness, and wisdom when you lack understanding. No other guide can do all this, and you’ll find it on no path but His. God’s grace is sufficient for every need and situation.
4. God guides you with His Word:
“Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” ~ Psalm 119:105
Perhaps the reason we don’t sense the Lord’s guidance is because we aren’t looking for it. Or maybe we’re looking in the wrong place. The best way to recognize His direction is through consistent reading of His Word. That’s where you’ll find His voice, as well as exemplary stories of saints who’ve gone before you.
The more familiar you become with the Bible, the better you’ll be able to perceive His leading.
The Lord is willing and able to guide you on the best path if you’ll heed His directions and follow where He leads, but a stubborn spirit only makes the journey harder for you. The key to following your Lord is developing a humble, teachable spirit that’s willing to submit to Him at every stage of the journey.
Remember, He alone knows the trail. And He’ll never, ever lead you astray.
Prayerfully yours,
Charles F. Stanley
P.S. A new year offers a fresh opportunity for resolving to grow in your knowledge and understanding of the Lord. In Touch Ministries’ continuing goal is to help believers grow strong in their faith. If you’ll contact us, we can help find resources to support you as you discover the greatness of our amazing God and Savior.
https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/february-2023
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Reaping and Sowing
“Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man/woman sows he/she will also reap.” ~ Galatians 6:7
We reap what we sow – later than we sow, and more than we sow. This statement is true for every human being that was born. From the eternal perspective, mankind was born into sin, and if we do not accept God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, then we will reap the consequences of that decision with eternal death in hell. By accepting Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we will reap eternal life in heaven:
“Because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” ~ Galatians 6:8
There are also consequences for our actions while still alive on earth. Think about what you are currently reaping in your life: physical and non-physical aspects, relational and non-relational, self and others – including family members. Now take a look back in time and consider what was sown in order to reap what is currently being harvested. If we are honest with ourselves, then we will be able to recognize what seed we were planting – compared to what seed we should have been planting.
There are people that are reaping Godly harvests due to planting obedient seed according to Biblical principles. To those persons I say: do not let your guard down – the evil one continually lies in wait to ponce and cause the possibility of planting seeds of disobedience. Stay strong in the Word my friends.
There are many that have either never had a personal relationship with the Lord, or, had ventured away – that are reaping a harvest of previously sown seeds that is not a good harvest. What can we do about it now, you may ask? Begin today – this very minute – to start planting the seed of the harvest that you desire to reap. For some, that will include the acceptance of God's free gift of salvation first, then seek to know and do His will for your life. Only then will you have God's Spirit to guide and lead you along the correct pathways to walk. We must also remember to work the garden of the seeds that we planted: shower it with the fruits of the Spirit, and watch it grow into a beautiful harvest.
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God Has Need of Your Donkey
Jesus instructed them to "Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them.” ~ Matthew 21:2-3
In Bible times, donkeys were a primary means for distributing goods and services. They represented commerce in the scriptures. Jesus told the disciples He had need of someone's donkey to ride into Jerusalem, the religious and spiritual center of their society. It would become known as Jesus' triumphal entry.
A friend and I were attending a Christian business conference in Singapore. It was the night before I was to speak a second time when I was prompted to add a teaching segment on the above passage of scripture.
I am sure the disciples must have been uneasy with their master's request to untie a perfect stranger's donkey and take it. After all, He was asking them to take what was the equivalent to a man's "truck." And men love their trucks! Jesus was illustrating that He wanted to use that man's donkey, or that which represented their work, to bring glory to the Father.
The next morning my friend and I went to breakfast. While we were eating, a lady named Maggie joined us. Maggie was from Malaysia and was an intercessor for the conference. She fasted 40 days in preparation for the event. "So, Maggie, has the Lord spoken to you about this conference?" I said. "Oh yes," she said, very excitedly. "On September 17 the Lord said that the Singapore business people needed to give their donkeys to the Lord." My friend and I looked at one another in amazement. God was confirming His Word to me from the night before.
That day the focus of our conference became the need for the Singapore business people to "give their donkeys" to the Lord.
Friend, have you ever dedicated your work life to the Lord?
Today, why not commit your donkey to the Lord. He will use it to bring glory to Himself and fulfill your life more than you could ever imagine.
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~ by Os Hillman
~ 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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The Law of Moses
The Old Testament Law (a.k.a. Law of Moses) was never given to save people from their sins – it was given to show the people that no matter how many “religious” rules they adhered to, or no matter how good of a person they lived their lives to be – they could never, ever do enough or be enough to inherit eternal life, and escape from hell, and the sinful nature.
In the beginning Adam and Eve committed the first human sin – and it caused every human being born since then to be marred by a sinful nature, and even the earth itself to be cursed and marred by sin. God already had the plan in place that would redeem us from our sinful nature, and allow us the opportunity to be “declared” righteous – not deserving, but freely given – by the way of salvation and reconciliation to Himself through the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf.
God loves us that much!
Turn to Him today – and be saved from the penalties of our sins, and start to walk in the freedom from our sinful nature by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ living in and through us.
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Jesus Gives Us a New Command
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ John 13:34-35
Jesus Indeed Does "Get Us" — He Became One of Us!
God sent Jesus to the world in human flesh; to dwell among us, and to experience the same human emotions with life's ups and downs like we do. Reach out to Jesus today — and accept His free gift of salvation. Your life will never be the same afterwards!
“For God loved the world so much that He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God."
“This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that their works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
~ John 3:16-21 (HCSB)
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He Gets Us!
"He Gets Us" has an agenda.
How did the story of a man who taught and practiced unconditional love become associated with hatred and oppression for so many people?
• Many have relegated Jesus from the world's greatest love story to just another tactic used to intensify our deep cultural divisions.
• Throughout our shared history, Jesus has represented the ultimate good that humankind is capable of aspiring to.
Our agenda is to rediscover the love story of Jesus. Christians, non-Christians, and everybody in between. All of us.
• We look at the biography of Jesus through a modern lens to find new relevance in often overlooked moments and themes from his life.
Explore More from the following Websites:
https://hegetsus.com/en/he-gets-us-has-an-agenda
https://hegetsus.com/en/connect
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Daily Article — February 10, 2023
~ He Gets Us: Who are they and why are they spending $20 million for 60 seconds of Super Bowl airtime?
In their own words, “He Gets Us has an agenda.”
"How did the story of a man who taught and practiced unconditional love, peace, and kindness; who spent his life defending the poor and the marginalized; a man who even forgave his killers while they executed him unjustly — whose life inspired a radical movement that is still impacting the world thousands of years later — how did this man's story become associated with hatred and oppression for so many people? And how might we all rediscover the promise of the love his story represents?"
Such questions motivate those behind the ministry called "He Gets Us" and, if you haven't seen their ads or billboards yet, the Super Bowl this Sunday night will offer the perfect chance to change that.
What is He Gets Us?
But what is the He Gets Us campaign? And why are they spending roughly $20 million for sixty seconds of airtime this weekend — with plans to invest about a billion dollars over the next three years in similar efforts? Surely, some argue, there are better ways to use that much money.
It's a question people like "Hobby Lobby" co-founder David Green and the other — largely anonymous — donors behind the He Gets Us ministry have asked themselves on multiple occasions. Yet, as Lora Harding, an associate professor of marketing at Belmont University, noted, outside of major events like the Super Bowl, "There just aren't ways to reach an attentive, engaged audience that size anymore."
Their short videos are certainly attention-grabbing and engaging.
However, they've also been somewhat controversial
With taglines like "Jesus was a refugee" and "Jesus felt alone, too," "He Gets Us" leans heavily into the human side of Jesus' story. In so doing, they invite us to engage with the Christ who stood beyond any of the stereotypes and preconceived notions with which people — Christians and non-Christians alike — have often attempted to define Him for the better part of two thousand years.
But, as Religion News Service's Bob Smietana described, while they hope to help everyone encounter that Jesus, their target audience appears to be "spiritually open skeptics, which are people who might be OK with religion but aren't really excited about Christians." And that description fits an increasingly large percentage of the population.
He gets us because He became one of us:
Phil Boone, the Director of Generosity for the He Gets Us campaign, recently mentioned on the Denison Forum Podcast that research shows as many as 150 million people — 58 percent of the American population — are either skeptics or cultural Christians.
Boone was quick to point out, though, that "skeptic" is not a negative term. Rather, it refers to people who are "just not sure about all this, but they want to know more. They want help in raising their children. They want help in having a healthier emotional condition. They want help in providing for their family." And the cultural Christians "have a lot of those same desires."
These are practical issues, and they require a practical response.
That's why "He Gets Us" doesn't start with topics like human depravity or deep, theological truths. They start with the story of Christ and, in so doing, help people meet a God who gets us because He became one of us.
They understand the other stuff is important too, which is why anyone who engages with "He Gets Us" is eventually pointed toward resources that can help them go deeper and, if they choose, connected with one of 6,500 partner churches that have signed up across the country to help people find a local community of faith.
But they don't start there, and that's all right.
As Boone pointed out, it's often "people's expectations to have the whole thing presented and wrapped up in a nice package. And that's the problem."
Instead, "He Gets Us" is more focused on introducing people to Jesus and then partnering with the body of Christ to help them dive deeper into that relationship.
It's a strategy that has already borne fruit for more than 115,000 people over the last nine months, with countless more sure to come given that roughly two-thirds of American adults are likely to tune in this Sunday.
Are you a skeptic?
While "He Gets Us" may target religious skeptics, it is often the skeptics who are already part of God's kingdom that can be the greatest impediment to its advance.
• What was your first reaction upon hearing about the strategy and financial decisions of the He Gets Us campaign?
• Did part of you share the concerns of those who question whether that money could be better spent in other ways?
• Did you want to push back against the idea of starting a presentation of the gospel without any mention of sin, hell, or repentance?
If you answered yes, that's all right. I'll admit, part of me was a bit skeptical when I first encountered the videos and began researching the campaign.
But in the time since, I feel like God has used their ministry to remind me that I'm not immune to trying to put Him in a box either.
Videos that might not appeal to me could be exactly what the Holy Spirit will use to lead others into a saving relationship with Jesus. And theological questions that I consider essential to a right understanding of the Lord can easily be irrelevant to those who do not already have a relationship with Him.
So the next time you pass by a billboard or see an ad aimed at helping people identify with the God who loves us so much that He left heaven to become one of us, make sure your first response is to pray rather than judge.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will work through those images and videos to break down barriers and call people to take a fresh look at Jesus. Pray that the Lord will guide the believers who are engaging with the lost that reach out as a result of what they've seen. And pray that God will help you and your church know in what ways you might be called to join them.
Helping the lost know Christ requires strategies as diverse as the humanity He's endeavoring to save.
Are you doing your part today?
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https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/he-gets-us-who-are-they-and-why-are-they-spending-20-million-for-90-seconds-of-super-bowl-airtime/
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What Do You Desire?
~ We can trust God to answer our prayers according to His wisdom, goodness, and love.
Scripture Reading: John 16:23-24
If I were to ask you to name the desire of your heart, what would you say? Most of us, usually fueled by selfish motives, have a seemingly endless list of things we want. But godly desires — like greater love for Him, deeper understanding of His Word, and ready obedience — are what we really need for a satisfying life.
Our temporal wants come and go, but spiritual desires bear fruit for eternity. If you’ve never taken the time to evaluate the subject matter of your prayers, then you may not know whether your motives are godly. There’s nothing wrong with asking the Lord to provide material or physical blessing as long your chief desire is to submit to whatever way He chooses to answer your petitions.
When Jesus told His disciples that He would give them anything they requested in His name, He wasn’t talking about passing wants. Christ was entrusting the founding of the church to them, and they needed to know that He would give them whatever was required to accomplish this task. The same is true for us. You can trust that your desires will be granted if they fit into God’s plan for your life.
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~ published by: InTouch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/what-do-you-desire
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Take Grace Off the Shelf
"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain." ~ 2 Corinthians 6:1
It was in a recent Bible Study that we stumbled across this verse, and in typical fashion for our group, spent several minutes discussing the message that was embedded in these few short words. At the heart of our discussion was the question 'What does it mean to take God's grace in vain?'
Answers varied around the table. However, most all agreed that far too often we have those times in our lives when, although we know we are saved by the grace of God and that Jesus died to forgive our sins, we still live and wallow around in the muck and mire of self-defeat, rejection, and guilt. It's as if we forget that we are saved by God's grace and instead of living our lives filled with joy and assurance, we instead live our lives dictated by our failures and our shortcomings. And that's just what the devil wants us to do - to take our minds off of the grace that we have received - and live in bondage to our doubts and fears. One pastor calls this being "sin-conscious" rather than "Christ-conscious".
Let's remember that we are saved by God's grace and that we are forgiven and stand today as children of God!
Let's put on the full armor of God and show the devil that if he wants to mess with us, he's going to have to go through Jesus to get to us... something he's already tried and failed to do!
Let's live this day not taking God's precious grace for granted, but allow His Grace to empower us as we live this day, and every day - in and through and by God's grace.
Let's take that grace off the shelf and receive it like it is meant to be received!
It's going to be a great day because I know, from experience, that "greater is He who is in me that he who is in the world."
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~ 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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Never Forget
"For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" ~ Romans 5:7-8
I have read that, back in the 19th century, when many people from Ireland were seeking passage to move to the New World, a young boy who didn't have the fare secretly boarded a ship as a stowaway. At sea the ship ran into an iceberg and began to sink. When the boy realized what was happening, he came out of hiding and rushed to the deck only to see the captain taking the last seat in the last lifeboat. In the tradition of the sea the captain got out of the lifeboat and gave his seat to the boy. The last thing the captain said to him was, "Never forget what's been done for you."
In the years ahead the boy grew up to be a very successful man. When asked what was the secret of his motivation, he said, "Whenever I begin to doubt myself or let up from what I ought to be doing, I always remember a captain standing on a deck and saying, 'Never forget what's been done for you.'"
May you and I never forget what Jesus Christ has done for us in giving His life on the cross in your place and mine to pay the penalty for all our sins, to grant us a full and free pardon, and to give us the gift of eternal life. May our manner of life and how we live for God and others be evidence of our heartfelt gratitude.
Suggested Prayer:
"Dear God, how can I ever thank You enough for giving your Son, Jesus, to give His life in my place so that I could be totally forgiven and receive your gift of eternal life in Heaven forever. Help me never to forget this in the way that I live, in what I do, and how I serve You and help others. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
_________________
~ by Dick Innes
~ 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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Living in Bondage
~ When we stop listening to the Holy Spirit, the temptation can be strong to meet our needs with sinful options.
Scripture Reading: John 8:31-36
Freedom is one of humanity’s most prized treasures. Yet every human being is born in captivity to sin. Jesus said anyone who commits sin is a slave to it. The only way to be set free is if the Lord releases you. Salvation is the permanent liberation spoken about here, but the Savior also continually sets believers free from the sins entangle them.
Ungodly habits typically begin as an attempt to fulfill a desire or need in the wrong way. If feelings of guilt come, we may quickly rationalize them away. Over time, we become desensitized to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and the ongoing trespass becomes a comfort. Eventually it controls us, and we feel powerless to stop.
As believers, however, we’re never without strength, because the Holy Spirit indwells us. With His help, we’re no longer slaves to sin but instead become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:12-19).
Think About It:
• Take an honest look at your life. Are there any habits that own you?
If so, it’s time to fight the good fight. As you submit yourself in obedience to God, He’ll begin to set you free.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/living-in-bondage
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“Create in me a clean heart”
"Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions." ~ Psalm 51:1
In 2 Samuel 11, King David has a scandalous affair with a woman named Bathsheba. She was the wife of Uriah, one of David’s elite military commanders. When she became pregnant, David attempted a cover-up by having Uriah killed and taking the widowed Bathsheba as his wife.
So why would someone God calls “a man after my heart” in Acts 13:22 commit such heinous sins? For the same reasons we do: we have inherited a sin nature and face the temptations and deceptions of Satan. And on top of that, according to James 1:14–15, we also choose to sin of our own free will.
What separates David from most of us is not the reality of his sin but the faith of his response.
After Nathan exposed David’s immorality in 2 Samuel 12:1–12, David responded, “I have sinned against the L???” (v. 13). Then he wrote Psalm 51 to express his contrition to God.
Rather than shutting God out, he turned to the Lord, seeking his “mercy” and appealing to his “steadfast love” (v. 1). He prayed in Psalm 51:1–2 that God would “blot out my transgressions,” “wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,” and “cleanse me from my sin!”
Later he prayed that the Lord would “purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (v. 7). He believed that God could “let me hear joy and gladness” and “let the bones that you have broken rejoice” (v. 8). Then he prayed that God would “hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities,” “create in me a clean heart,” and “renew a right spirit within me” (vv. 9–10).
David believed that, in answer to his repentance, God would restore the joy of his salvation and uphold him with a willing spirit (v. 12). In fact, he was confident that he would be restored so fully that he would then teach other sinners to return to God (v. 13).
We have focused this week on God’s call to his people to “turn from their wicked ways” in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Let’s finish the week by claiming his amazing grace when we do. Let’s believe with David that, no matter the depth and depravity of our failures, God’s love and mercy are deeper and stronger still. Let’s confess our sins in full faith that God will “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, my emphasis) and “remember [our] sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).
The great preacher John Claypool told of a priest who committed a terrible sin in seminary. Though he had confessed his failure to the Lord, he lived for years with the aftermath of guilt.
One day a member of his church came to him with the startling news that the Lord had begun speaking audibly to her in prayer. The priest was dubious and said to her, “The next time the Lord speaks to you, ask him what sin your priest committed in seminary.” She said she would.
She came back a few days later and the priest asked if she had done what he suggested. She said she had in fact asked the Lord what sin he had committed when he was in seminary. He asked if the Lord responded to her. She said that he did.
“What did he say?” the priest asked.
She replied, “He said, ‘I don’t remember.’”
How amazing is it that God extends his cleansing grace to us today?
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~ published by: First 15
https://first15.org/devotionals/create-in-me-a-clean-heart/
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A Capitol Ministry Study: Becoming More Like the 12 Amongst the 535 in 2023
Read from the following link:
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171120438
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Sunday Reflection: An Inheritance of Faith
~ Have you thanked God for the people He sent into your life to share His love?
Where does faith come from?
For some people, trust in Jesus almost seems genetic — like red hair, a distaste for cilantro, or a quick wit. For others, following the Lord was an unexpected detour from family expectations or cultural traditions.
Salvation is solely the work of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, but for most Christians, being born again came about with the help of spiritual “midwives.” These are the Sunday school teachers, parents, evangelists, pastors, friends, and strangers who helped usher unbelievers from death to life.
Write down your spiritual family tree, listing the people who shaped your walk with God. In what ways does your faith look like theirs? What beliefs and behaviors did you inherit from them? Repeat this process, going back as many “generations” as you can, to sketch the fullest picture of your spiritual DNA.
Think About It:
• In 2 Timothy 1:2-6, the apostle Paul is writing to a young pastor, but imagine him writing a similar letter to one of your descendants. How would he describe your faith?
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/sunday-reflection-an-inheritance-of-faith
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The Wisdom of Humility
To perform the most menial or difficult task to serve the needs of others is often the best way to manifest humility in the moment.
The lack of humility in America’s political leaders is one of our nation’s greatest problems.
Humility is the realization of one’s utter failure and doom apart from God’s intervention of grace — not only in an eventual, eternal sense but also in the present.
• When you are in front of people, do others see your ego, or do they see the humility of someone possessed by his Savior?
• Do you give God the glory for His enabling your successes, or is it all because of you?
How arrogant! You wouldn’t even be alive if it weren’t for His hand and continuing enablement! At the end of the day, is it all about your glory or God’s glory?
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~ excerpt from: "Becoming More Like the 12 Amongst the 535 in 2023", by Ralph Drollinger
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The Beatitudes
Jesus teaches us...
“The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
"Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted."
"The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth."
"Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled."
"The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy."
"The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God."
"The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God."
"Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
“You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
~ Matthew 5:3-12
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No Coincidences
I don’t believe in luck or coincidences – everything happens for a reason. The Bible teaches that God has the final Word on everything created. And for the saved-by-grace child of God, it is for our ultimate good:
“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
This does not imply that as devout disciples of Christ we will not suffer the consequences of our own actions, the actions of others, or the consequences of the sinful world. God does promise us that He will use all of them to bring about our ultimate good though. And who knows better of what our “ultimate good” is than the One who created us? The answer is “no one, but God”.
The peace that comes by placing your whole life/being in the hands of God is only found in the salvation available through Jesus Christ. Jesus was not a great prophet or teacher or person - He was God incarnate who came in human form to die a sacrificial death for mankind's sins. He is the Only Way to Heaven/Paradise. Please accept Him as your personal Saviour today.
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Our Command is to Love Others
Here are ten ways to accomplish the command...
1. Listen without interrupting:
"Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions" ~ Proverbs 18:2 (NLT)
"Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish." ~ Proverbs 18:13 (NLT)
2. Speak without accusing:
"My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness." ~ James 1:19-20 (CSB)
3. Give without expecting:
"Some people are greedy and never have enough. Good people are generous and have plenty." ~ Proverbs 21:26 (ERV)
4. Pray without ceasing:
"Be unceasing and persistent in prayer." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (AMP)
5. Answer without arguing:
"A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels." ~ Proverbs 17:1 (MSG)
6. Share without pretending:
"But speaking the truth in love [in all things — both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head — Christ." ~ Ephesians 4:15 (AMP)
7. Enjoy without complaining:
"Do all things without complaining or arguments; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world," ~ Philippians 2:14-15 (NASB)
8. Trust without wavering:
"Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)
9. Forgive without punishing:
"Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." ~ Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
10. Promise without forgetting:
"I will not dishonor my promise or alter my own agreement." ~ Psalm 89:34 (NOV)
When we love others, we should remember that true, agape love is patient, kind, does not envy and is never boastful or proud (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Therefore, we should "get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
In other words, "Let It Go!"
• When you are angry or upset with someone, "let it go".
• If the situation has past, then leave it in the past.
• Live in the present and do not hold a grudge against others.
• Love and appreciate them and do not hold them to their mistakes.
• Don't hold grudges against others.
Let it Go!
Love is a choice that you can make every single day. Choose love and happiness and shine God’s light to others.
_____________
~ 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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The Fruit of Perseverance
~ Don't underestimate the impact of your faithfulness on future generations.
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:1-18
The apostle Paul often wrote about perseverance. If anyone demonstrated endurance, it was Paul. He urged believers not to tire of following Christ, even when persecuted. He’d been beaten, stoned, whipped, driven out of town, shipwrecked, reviled, and abandoned. Despite having a thousand reasons to be disheartened, he knew his obedience to God wasn’t in vain.
Consider the awesome harvest that resulted from the apostle’s faithfulness. The gospel spread across the Roman Empire, and the early church grew far beyond the Jewish world. What’s more, the seeds Paul planted by writing his epistles have resulted in billions of lives being transformed. And to think that any strength or insight we draw from these letters is fruit of the hardships he endured!
Do you realize how impactful your life is? Don’t be deceived by Satan’s lie that your suffering or obedience will amount to nothing. Your faithfulness to God never goes to waste. Paul didn’t know the extent of the fruit God would produce through his steadfast obedience. Neither can you gauge how the Lord will use you. So don’t lose heart. Keep your focus on eternal things, not the hardships of this life.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-fruit-of-perseverance
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Wisdom’s Worth
"My children, if you accept My words and store up My commands within you, listening closely [intently] to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God."
"For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up resourcefulness for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers. Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity — every good path. For wisdom will enter your mind, and knowledge will delight your heart."
~ Proverbs 2:1-10
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We're Judged by The Word
We will all stand before God one day and be judged by the Word of God. In Jesus was the Word incarnate. He first came to save the peoples of the world through His sacrificial death for our sinful nature. God honored Jesus sacrifice as sufficient to restore a right relationship to Himself. For all who accept Jesus' sacrifice and walk according to His Word will receive eternal life in heaven/paradise after this earthly life is over.
A Summary of Jesus’ Mission:
"Then Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in Me believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me. And the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge them; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as their judge: The Word I have spoken will judge them on the last day. For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak. I know that His command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” ~ John 12:44-50
"For God loved the world so much, that He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because they have not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth [Word] comes to the light, so that their works may be shown to be accomplished by God.” ~ John 3:16-21
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Please accept God's free gift of salvation today, and turn away from your rebellious and sinful nature by seeking to know and do God's will as instructed to us in His Word.
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Do We Really Need One Another?
~ Our wise Father has uniquely created each believer for a needed role in the local church.
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
As believers, we are called to worship and serve God. Where and how we serve is based upon our talents, skills, and calling. But we are all expected to give of ourselves in the local church.
When you were saved, God baptized you by the Holy Spirit into His church. You then chose, in accordance with the Lord’s will, to become part of a group of believers. He placed you there because He knows that you are needed (1 Corinthians 12:18). You are significant to your home church.
The church is more than a community. It’s an interdependent body with individual members who were created by God to function in communion with one another. Christians, like the world at large, are a diverse group, so we won’t always agree with each other. That means we have to pursue unity. But our differences are actually something to be celebrated, because each person uniquely contributes to God’s purpose. A church that is truly operating as a unit — with all its varied gifts, talents, personalities, and intellects aimed toward kingdom goals — must be a beautiful sight from the Lord’s perspective.
Christianity isn’t a spectator religion. We all have jobs to do in God’s kingdom. The body of Christ functions best and most beautifully when all members serve God and each other to the best of their ability (1 Corinthians 12:25).
How are you serving your church?
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/do-we-really-need-one-another
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Christian QB On the Verge of Making History – And He Has 1 Powerful Message of Faith for America
For many Christians in the country, it often feels as if their faith is under attack. Or at the very least, suppressed and roundly criticized.
This seems odd in a country where such a high percentage of the population still identifies as Christian, but the suppression does feel real. That’s why stories of pro-Christian celebrities often get lots of attention. In this case, the celebrity is a rookie quarterback who is on the verge of making history — and yes, he’s a devout Christian. The San Francisco 49ers will square off against the #1 seed Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Championship. The winner heads to the Super Bowl in February.
The QB for the Niners is Brock Purdy, a rookie who wasn’t expected to play much. He was the last player selected in the 2022 NFL draft and he was third in line in the 49ers QB rotation. First was Trey Lance but he was injured during the second game of the season. Then San Francisco lost replacement Jimmy Garoppolo on December. That left Purdy and amazingly, he has delivered in spades. The 49ers just kept winning with Purdy at the helm, and now he could become the first rookie QB to ever start a Super Bowl game.
But it’s his Christianity that takes center-stage, and he isn’t afraid to say it; as he told Sports Spectrum:
“Every time I step on the field I want to bring Him glory. Even when we lose, I point to God and thank Him for the opportunity. Everything happens for a reason; it’s all a lesson from the Lord. It’s a game, it’s not my life. It took me a long time to realize this; I used to put football in front of the Lord. I would pray for Him to keep me safe and give me a good game, but it isn’t about that. Now I pray that I would make the most of the opportunity He’s given me and, win or lose, that I would put Him first.”
Purdy also referenced his first hard week in football camp at Iowa State. He realized he was putting too much emphasis on football, and that he needed to ask for God’s forgiveness. He said it was a “great reminder of where my identity is,” and it wasn’t centered on a sport: it was Jesus. And Purdy said, “I continue to lean on Him.”
It lightened the burden of winning and losing for Purdy, and he was able to put everything in perspective:
“…it was just this peace that I had with Him knowing that, ‘Hey, no matter what I’m going to face moving forward during college football, God and Jesus are going to be my identity. And whatever I face, I won’t be shaken from it. I’ve got a great foundation in Him.”
A few weeks ago, NBC was criticized for apparently cutting away from NFL kicker Riley Patterson holding up the cross during a game. At the time, many said network cameras never had any problem fixing on rich, privileged players kneeling during the National Anthem. But they cut away the instant a symbol of hope and faith arose. That makes Purdy’s devotion all the more powerful, and hopefully it’s a sign that Christianity is alive and well in America.
Key Takeaways:
• San Francisco 49ers rookie QB might make history, by becoming the first rookie QB to start a Super Bowl.
• Purdy is a devout Christian and sends strong messages of faith.
• He said he puts God and Jesus first, and that no matter what happens with football, “God and Jesus are going to be my identity.”
______________
~ By Ben Dutka
https://pjnewsletter.com/christian-qb-history-message/
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Amen! Adopted as His children according to His good pleasure and will through Jesus Christ our Lord! All praise to Him!
Have a blessed day!
The Blessings of God
~ God's gifts provide eternal security, hope, and joy — even when circumstances seem bleak.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
We all face difficult times, and when we’re in the midst of them, we may feel as though God isn’t blessing us. But even in the midst of hard times, we experience many of His amazing gifts; we just have to open our eyes to them. Below are several examples of blessings that we can enjoy on bright or dark days:
• We are assured that our almighty God chose us before the foundation of the world and predestined us to be adopted as His children (Ephesians 1:4-5).
• Jesus Christ redeemed us, providing salvation through His death and resurrection. As a result, believers receive a brand-new nature and daily forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 1:9).
• The Holy Spirit resides within all who trust in the Savior. He guides, warns, and fills us so we are never without counsel or comfort. He also seals us so that our eternity is secure (Ephesians 1:13).
• Our Father prepares an inheritance for us that is imperishable (1 Peter 1:4). We may experience momentary troubles, but we can look forward to living eternally in God’s presence, where there is joy and no suffering.
In painful situations, it may be easy to feel as if God’s hand is not resting on your life. But believers have wonderful spiritual blessings at all times. So express gratitude, even in difficulty.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-blessings-of-god
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LIVING FOR THE SUPERNATURAL:
"OUR HEAVENLY FATHER & CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE"
SPIRITUAL
DEVELOPMENT LINKS:
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Thank you for visiting and contributing to the Eternity board.
It is our prayer that you are being encouraged, blessed, transformed, energized, and renewed
by the Holy Spirit as you read and participate (post) in this forum.
May our loving, merciful and compassionate Heavenly Father keep you and yours
safe and well throughout your days & nights.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
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