ETERNITY

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Finding True Rest

~ God is faithful to deliver those who trust Him for help.

Scripture Reading:

"I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken." ~ Psalm 62:1-2

Have you ever carried a heavy object for so long that your arms start to burn from its weight? You count the steps until you can finally set it down, and when you do, relief floods your body as the pain subsides. We can feel something similar in our spirit when we surrender our burdens to the Lord.

David understood this kind of relief well. With his enemies in relentless pursuit, he was forced to hide to save his life. The weight he carried was evident as he cried out in distress, “How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). Yet, through his extended season of challenges, David experienced God’s faithfulness as well as His consolation in the anguish.

Remembering that God is faithful will bring release from the weight of our worries. So let’s hold to the perspective that God is at work and keep our eyes fixed on the solution rather than the problems. Then, like David, we will be able to say, “I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2).

While you are learning to release your burdens, be sure to talk to God in prayer (Psalm 62:8) and wait in hope for Him (Psalm 62:5). And never forget that He is your rock and salvation.

That is true relief.
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/finding-true-rest






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Learning to Stand Still

"...Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation He will provide for you today;" ~ Exodus 14:13

The Israelites had just left 400 years of slavery in Egypt. They had fled to the desert, but they had come to a dead end at the Red Sea. Word reached them that Pharaoh had changed his mind. He was sending his troops to recapture the Israelites. They cried out to their leader Moses, complaining that he had brought them that far only to die in the desert.

Learning when to move and when to stand is the greatest challenge for a believer. We are trained for action. We are not trained to sit idly and wait. We are trained to solve problems, not wait for them to resolve themselves. However, God says there are times to wait. We are to wait until He says go. If we go before He says go, we likely will make our situation worse.

If the Israelites had attempted to cross the Red Sea before it parted, they would have drowned. If they had fled north to try to avoid the Egyptians, God would not have moved in a miraculous way. God cannot work on our behalf if we continually try to solve our problem when He has instructed us to stand still. Standing still is sometimes the greatest action we can do, although it is the most difficult thing to do in the Christian walk.

Stand still when He says stand and see the deliverance of the Lord!
________________

~ 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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James: The Recipe For Victory Part One: Ore to Gold

"Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." ~ James 1:2-4

The worldly perspective about winning is clear. We measure winning by what we accumulate:

Fame. Money. Followers. Our success is measured by the physical treasures we put in our storage sheds.

On the other hand, the Biblical view of winning is not about what we can accumulate but who we are:

Character. We win life by being, not by getting. True victory is about learning to encounter our trials with character.

Only by taking this view of success can we celebrate struggle. Like ore refined by pressure, we become who we are by facing our trials with courage and a proper perspective. Coal is turned into diamonds by the stress put upon it. And the same is true for us.

If we take the earthly view of success, it makes sense to avoid pain as a priority. What accumulation is there in suffering? What tangible prize do we get from our sorrow? In a strictly practical sense, our suffering has no market value. It is a setback. Endurance is an obstacle to be diminished rather than an opportunity to grow.

But in God’s economy, suffering is a path. Trials are a testing ground, an arena to develop and exercise our character.

James tells us to “consider it joy” when we encounter trials because winning requires a test. James presents life as a championship match. An opportunity to overcome self-seeking and choose instead to walk with the Lord. To endure and persevere and overcome when we encounter trials.

We are ore being refined into gold. We are not pirates gathering treasure. We are people becoming treasure. Pursuing the character and perspective of God. The opportunity presented is for us to become complete, to be all God created us to be. Material wealth ends up in a landfill, but spiritual wealth is a gold that endures.
_________________

~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/ore-to-gold/






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Empty No More

~ Are you restless and yearning for something you can't identify? Spend time with God.

Scripture Reading:

"You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." ~ Psalm 16:11

In a posthumously published work called "Pensées" (the French word for “thoughts”), religious philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal discussed the hunger mankind feels that can’t be satisfied by human effort. The passage is well worth reading, so let’s take a look at it together.

Pascal wrote:

“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him ... though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words, by God Himself.”

There’s a reason why life feels empty: God created us with a yearning — one that He alone can satisfy. We can’t be fulfilled until we experience the Lord’s transforming and unconditional love. Jesus said, “I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). In other words, God wants us to feel complete, but that can happen only through a relationship with Him.

We can know joy and contentment when we seek God above all else.

Pray for His guidance, and ask Him to fill your life as only He can:

"O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for You. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in Your sanctuary and gazed upon Your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You! I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to You in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise You with songs of joy." ~ Psalm 63:1-5
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/empty-no-more






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[tenac]

I often talk of my past and the road of self destruction that i traveled for 25 years from the age of 15 to the age of 40. And im here to tell y'all...as long as God gives me breath in my lungs...and gives me the opportunity to tell of His amazing grace and mercy...you can bet that every chance i get...no matter who it is...where im at...im going to tell my story of how i along with my use to be good friend satan...almost destroyed this life that God gave to me! I often talk with hopes of helping someone else that might be strugglin with addiction. I often talk with the hope that some lost person will see the hope that there is in a relationship with Jesus Christ and with putting our faith and trust in Him...how our lives can turn around. However...this morning i want to speak to any of you that might have a loved one...a friend...that is on that slippery slop of addiction and maybe this morning you have all but given up...you have lost hope...you have worried and prayed for so long...thinking that they will never change. Well...let me tell you right here and now...there is hope and His name is Jesus! Now hear this...from the time i was born...my family...we were at church every Sunday morning for Sunday school and preaching....at church Sunday night and most Wednesday nights. I knew the truth of the Bible....Jesus and satan...heaven and hell...i just never got saved. Then in 1970...i started high school and that summer after freshman year...i started using a little marijuana and drinking a little beer...and by my senior year i had jumped off that cliff of using any and every sort of drug there was....and as you might know...in the 1970's there was a smorgasbord of drugs to partake in and i did them all from smokin to poppin to snortin to shootin up...This boy from farm country here in greene county Tn. went from 0 to 500 in no time flat...meaning...im living proof that we are all inches away from bad decisions that can turn life upside down for whatever period of time....sometimes a life time. And as for me...the turn around i made in life...like most folks...i could have never done it on my own...no way no how. i had long known in my hard heart and twisted mind that i would never see another sober day...that i would be pretty much in the twilight zone until that time that i would die and split hell wide open and that day was rapidly approaching...but...God had other plans for me. For me...knowing the truth of Gods word from my childhood...one night i got down on my knees in my bedroom...wasted...just as i always was...and i cried out to Jesus to forgive me and save me...and guess where He was? Yep...after 25 long years of helter skelter living....putting enough drugs and alcohol into my body to kill most of Coxes army and running from God in total rebellion...Jesus was right there in that room waiting for me to reach out to Him and He lifted me up and not only saved my soul but also my life. So...never give up on that loved one...im not saying to be a enabler...let the light of Jesus shine from you unto them and let me be the living truth and proof to you that its never to late to make a change of heart and accept the free gift of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus and the amazing grace of almighty God! Yes...Jesus is still very much alive and thru Him comes healing...prayers answered and the blessings of miracles...just trust Him!

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[tenac]

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:24-25

[tenac]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3

[tenac]

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12

[tenac]

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

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From the Pastor’s Heart – February 2024

~ The apostle Paul learned to trust God always, and you can too.

Here in Atlanta, Georgia, we’re noticing that even in winter, when the rosebushes are dormant, they still have their thorns. Isn’t that how it can be in the spiritual life? Some trials persist, though we plead with God to bring them to an end. But His grace carries us through. We pray that the following message from Dr. Stanley will encourage you to endure tenacious problems in your life — just as Paul endured his “thorn.”
_____________________

As a pastor, I’ve often helped people walk through trying times. Some responded by drawing closer to the Lord, growing in trust and dependence on Him. But I’ve also seen people give up, saying, “If this is the Christian life, I don’t want anything to do with it.”

• How do you respond in tough times?
• Are you confident that the Lord knows what He’s doing and will bring you through it?
• Do you begin to doubt that He loves you?
• If the outward evidence that He’s working on your behalf isn’t apparent, do you still trust that He is?

Most Christians I’ve met would like to trust God in every situation, but it’s not always easy.

Jesus didn’t promise us a problem-free life. In fact, He said the opposite: “In Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33).

This is our reality, but if we keep our focus on Him instead of our troubles, we can endure anything thanks to His perfect peace. Isn’t that what we want?

The apostle Paul endured unimaginable suffering, but he never gave up on the Lord.

At one point, he was so afflicted by what he called “a thorn in the flesh” that he fervently begged God three times to remove it (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Yet the only answer he received was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (v. 9).

How would you feel if after praying for relief, God gave you that answer?

No promise of a change in circumstances, just the grace to go through them. What if the situation went on for years? Could you respond like Paul, saying, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (v. 9)?

Thorns teach us that God’s grace is sufficient.

When we’re at our weakest, without control of the situation, we must rely on the Lord and His strength. And He always comes to our rescue. Sometimes He rescues us from the situation. But other times, deliverance comes through His superabundant grace to go through the trial for as long as it lasts.

God’s grace is His provision for us at the point of our need. Not almost enough, but all-sufficient, overflowing provision. No matter how long or how great the trouble or suffering, the Lord will strengthen us to walk through it. Not with defeated resignation, but with confident assurance.

Troubles are opportunities to learn contentment.

After hearing God’s reason for letting the “thorn in the flesh” remain, Paul responded, “Therefore, I delight (am content) in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (v. 10).

You’re probably wondering how you could ever be content with these things. Well, you can’t manufacture it with pep talks. It comes only through God’s grace working in your life.

Paul had to learn contentment (Philippians 4:11-13). It had nothing to do with favorable circumstances, but with his focus. If we fixate on the problems, they’ll grow insurmountable in our eyes. But when our minds are centered on the Lord and the truths of His Word, we’re able to accept every circumstance, knowing that He’s sovereign, His grace is sufficient, and He walks with us through it.

Difficulties stimulate spiritual growth.

How many spiritual lessons have you learned when life was easy? Probably not many. It’s usually in the darkest periods of life that we grow the most because all distractions are stripped away, and the Lord is the only one who can help us. After passing through the valley with Him at our side, we come out with a more accurate understanding of the Lord and His ways and deeper trust in His sovereign choices for our lives.

Isn’t it a great encouragement to know that you can walk through thorny experiences in a way that transforms your life and glorifies God?

You have the promise of His sufficient grace and strength to handle whatever comes your way. So trust Him, and let each trial be an opportunity to experience the peace of Jesus Christ, learn contentment, and grow in spiritual maturity.
_____________________

We’re always blessed to remember Dr. Stanley’s grace under pressure. He not only observed the trials of others but experienced many of his own during his long ministry.

May you find patience in your difficulties and know that you are not alone: “The family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:9). Till next time, God bless you.

For His Glory,

Your Friends at In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/february-2024






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Rolling Stone tells the story of Hobby Lobby founders, “He Gets Us,” and God’s love

Given its obvious biases, I don’t usually turn to Rolling Stone for objective reporting on cultural issues. But that fact makes my point today.

The magazine is currently carrying the headline: “This Evangelical Billionaire Family Wants to Convert You on Super Bowl Sunday.” The article profiles the Green family, founders of Hobby Lobby, and their support for “He Gets Us,” a media campaign to share the good news of God’s love.

As expected, the profile puts the family’s positions on birth control, transgender bathrooms, and other moral issues in the worst possible light. But the very fact that Rolling Stone is telling the story of the campaign and its planned ads for Sunday’s Super Bowl advances the campaign’s mission.

The article quotes David Green’s statement in a podcast interview:

"What we’re known as, as Christians, we’re known as haters. We’re beginning to be known as haters — we hate this group, we hate that group. But we’re not. We are people that have the very, very best love story ever written, and we need to tell that love story. So, our idea is, let’s tell the story. As a Christian, you should love everybody. Jesus loved everybody."

Now, through God’s mysterious providence, even Rolling Stone is telling that “love story” to its readers.

Stories change the world.

In a lost culture experiencing a burgeoning crisis of meaning, stories of hope like the "He Gets Us" campaign resonate powerfully.

Conversely, due to the intrinsic power of stories, false narratives can do much harm.

For example, many have been telling children struggling with gender dysphoria the story that they need to “transition” their bodies to align with their preferred gender. No questions or exceptions are permitted. If parents or others disagree, they are castigated as “transphobic” and discriminatory.

Now the New York Times is reporting that, despite this pervasive story, eight in ten cases of gender dysphoria resolve themselves by puberty. In addition, 30 percent of people on gender-transitioning hormone therapy discontinue its use within four years, even though its effects, including infertility, are often irreversible.

Nonetheless, the article notes that advocates for “transitioning” are often so rigid and doctrinaire that they refuse to admit the drawbacks to so-called “gender-affirming care.”

In his book "Social and Cultural Dynamics", the famed Harvard sociologist Pitirim Sorokin distinguished between “ideational” and “sensate” cultures.

He explained that for the latter, “reality is that which can be perceived by the organs of sense.” People with this mentality “try to adapt themselves to those conditions which appear to the sense organs,” believing the world to be whatever they perceive it to be.

By contrast, “ideational” people “do not try to adapt themselves to what now seems superficial, illusory, unreal. They strive to adapt themselves to the true reality which is beyond appearances.”

In the mid-1950s, Sorokin was one of the few scholars to foresee the harmful trends of the sexual revolution that burst into social consciousness in the 1960s. America has clearly shifted from an ideational culture centered in objective truth and biblical morality to a sensate culture driven by subjective opinions and personal pleasure.

Have the trends Sorokin foresaw come to pass?

• Declining birth rates and a diminished parental commitment to the welfare of children.
• Vastly increased erotic content in movies, plays, novels, magazines, television shows, radio programs, song lyrics, and commercial advertising.
• Increased divorce, promiscuity, premarital sex, extramarital sex, homosexuality, spousal abandonment, and out-of-wedlock births.
• A growing increase in juvenile delinquency, psychological depression, and mental breakdowns.

In short, how is our “sensate,” post-truth culture working for us?

The good news is that the Christian story resonates deeply with human beings. Its promise to forgive our mistakes and alleviate our guilt, to give us a new start and an abiding hope, to make our lives abundant and eternally significant, speaks to the “God-shaped emptiness” in us all.

When we experience this transformation personally, our story magnifies the story (John 8:31–32). Then, when we tell our story with compassion and candor, “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), the Spirit speaks to the souls of those we influence.

As missiologist and Oxford University visiting scholar Ed Stetzer notes:

“God has made relationships his chosen delivery system for the gospel of hope.”

David Green explained why "He Gets Us" advertises during the Super Bowl, the most expensive TV event of the year:

“We really feel that we need, as a group of Christians, to tell 350 million people that he cares about you and he gets you.”

How will you join them today?
______________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/rolling-stone-hobby-lobby-founders-he-gets-us-gods-love/






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Ask Confidently

~ Our Father wants us to realize that we can ask for what we need and trust Him to care for us.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:7-11

Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had been teaching the crowd how to walk with Him — to be pure in heart, to have mercy, to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:1-48; Matthew 6:1-34). Imagine Him looking around at each person whom He loved so very much. He must have known every laugh line, wrinkle, and scar on their eager faces. Even more amazingly, He also knew their hopes and dreams, their fears and doubts. And so He concluded His revolutionary sermon by saying, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). But did they — and do we — really understand what that means?

Asking the Father for anything requires faith — not only in His capacity to meet our needs but also in His desire to do so. That’s why Jesus reassured His listeners with visible, tangible examples of a fish, snake, loaf, and stone (Matthew 7:9-10). If we want nothing more than to give good things to our loved ones, He says, we can trust that God in His perfect love desires to give us even greater blessings.

When Jesus tells us to ask, He affirms our identity as beloved children. He’s more than able and willing to meet our needs; our part is believing we are loved enough to make a request. Whatever you need today, ask with confidence and thanksgiving, knowing that your prayer will be answered in whatever way He deems best.
______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/ask-confidently






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[tenac]

I was born in 1956...From the age of 15 to the age of 40...i lived my life my way without really giving any thought to the reality of my very existence on this planet. Each and every day for 25 years getting unbelievably high and taking chances in any number of ways from driving automobiles...riding motorcycles...trying anything and everything...i reckon thinking that i was superman...indestructible...that could have cost me my life...doing more stupid things than most likely a 1000 normal (whatever that is) people do in a lifetime. Putting enough legal and illegal stuff into my body...yes that be drugs and booze...to kill most likely most of Coxes Army!...I ripped and teared...beat and banged...lived life to the breaking point then got up and went at it again wide open with no fear of death or destruction...and more terrifying than anything else...i reckon no fear of hell! In jail a few times and overdosed on drugs twice and each time learned nothing. Alcohol poisoning to some degree who knows how many times... If you had looked in Websters for the definition of stupid...there would have been a picture of me! So ill tell you straight up...when you live the life that i lived...those helter skelter 25 years till age 40 and are able to sit here and tell y'all about it...there is only one answer. Gods grace and mercy! So heres what im here to tell you this morning. Most folks dont survive the lifestyle i lived...i cant even know how many times i should have been dead but i thank God for not only saving my soul but also my very life. So what i want to offer y'all this morning is this and ill keep it very specific and close to home. Are you strugging with booze and/or drugs...or...How many of you have family members or friends that you have given up hope in them ever changing from their helter skelter lifestyle. Hear me...The God that hung the stars...the God who poured the oceans...The God who raised the mountains...The God of all creation...He is very much alive and in charge and in complete control of the universe! Embrace Jesus thru the power of prayer for yourself or these loved one...trust me...if Jesus can change this ole sinner...that be me...He can change anyone. Ive been clean and sobor for 28 years now...Where did my success come from...accepting Gods free gift of salvation thru Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit living in me.....Trust Him!

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[tenac]

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
Jeremiah 17:7

[tenac]

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

[tenac]

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

[tenac]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3

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The Guiding Light of God’s Deliverance

~ When you are afraid, give God your fears and trust Him to provide the strength and peace you need.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:1-7

During times of trial and uncertainty, worry can engulf our heart. But today’s passage serves as an unwavering beacon of hope: “I sought the Lord and He answered me, and rescued me from all my fears” (v. 4). When we feel vulnerable and assailed by doubt, God stands ready to be our guiding light, leading us through the darkness of fear into the comforting embrace of His love.

Like a lighthouse whose beam pierces the night, God’s presence offers reassurance in our life. When we earnestly seek Him, pouring out our fears and worries, He answers with a love that transcends our understanding. In the warmth of His compassion, we find strength to face our fears head-on, knowing we are not alone on a dark sea. God’s deliverance doesn’t mean our circumstances will change. Instead, it offers a transformative inner peace that steadies our mind and heart. It empowers us to walk through life’s challenges with the realization that our faith in Him is stronger than the grip of fear.

Let us take solace in knowing that even when we feel afraid, God is ever-present, guiding us with His divine light. In the darkest moments, His love shines through, illuminating the path ahead. As we seek Him, He becomes our rock, our refuge, and our source of courage.
______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-guiding-light-of-god-s-deliverance






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Wearing You Down

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." ~ 1 Peter 5:8

When I was 14, my dad would allow me to back the car out of the drive and put it under our only shade tree if I agreed to wash and polish it. Since I would do just about anything for the opportunity to drive, the car got washed and polished often.

One day while polishing the front bumper, I was shocked to discover that I was buffing the paint off. I had worn down a spot to the primer. Dad wasn't all that surprised but I was.

That is exactly how Satan works. He wears you down. Watchman Nee explains the work of the devil like this:

"Satan has in fact a plan against the saints of the Most High which is to wear them out. What is meant by this phrase, "wear out"? It has in it the idea of reducing a little this minute, then reducing a little further the next minute. Reduce a little today, reduce a little tomorrow. Thus the wearing out is almost imperceptible; nevertheless, it is a reducing.

The wearing down is scarcely an activity of which one is conscious, yet the end result is that there is nothing left. He will take away your prayer life little by little, and cause you to trust God less and less and yourself more and more, a little at a time. He will make you feel somewhat cleverer than before. Step by step, you are misled to rely more on your own gift, and step by step your heart is enticed away from the Lord.

Now, were Satan to strike the children of God with great force at one time, they would know exactly how to resist the enemy since they would immediately recognize his work. He uses the method of gradualism to wear down the people of God." (Watchman Nee)

But God has promised us hope and we need only to remember the words of Isaiah:

"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." ~ Isaiah 40:31
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~ by Jim Lee

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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[tenac]

Every single day most folks climb out of their bed...give the old head a shake to get the cob webs out and then proceed to go thru their morning routine to prepare for the days activities...whatever that might be...because...thats just what we do. We tend to sleep till the last minute because we most likely stayed up way to late and as soon as we have that cup of coffee and maybe a quick bite to eat its out the door to engage in work or any number of lifes daily responsibilities and activities. Yes...we use to relate to a fast pace life or world by saying "in a New York minute"...but...today that has caught on most everywhere. Case in point...driving thru and around little ole Greeneville Tn...where i live in the county....well...who would have every thought the busyness! So i wonder...how involved and over taken have we become in running around like a chicken with its head cut off and whats the impact of all this busyness? The fact of the matter is...and maybe we need to throw the brake on and think on something that we already know. We are all going to die and this life is really very short! So if we died today...could we say that all the important stuff...i mean the really important stuff...did it get done. Did we spend the time with the people that we love as we should have or did the days seem to just pass us by maybe reaching for the brass ring? Did we tell the people we love that we love them and tell them often...and...more importantly did we show them not just with words but also with affectionate...heart felt...hands on...loving deeds? I say this because we seem to live in a world that people are very good at "saying"...i love you to the point that those words have no meaning...because...there is no showing of that love by actually doing for each other rather than doing for ourselves...and...usually when people really love someone...do we not want to spend every second we can with them? So...have we lived life planning to do this and that...to reach out to him and her...Did we live life always saying im going to do such and such tomorrow but tomorrow never seemed to quite get here? You see folks...us humans we can often be full of good intentions...dreams...desires...and we really plan to pursue those things until one day...that dream...that person...that life as we once knew it is no longer there. So...say what needs to be said...show the love that needs to be shown and dont wait till tomorrow what can be done today...because...as we know...tomorrow may never come and that life...that relationship...that could have been the most spectacular thing that God had planned for you...well...it just never happened!

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[tenac]

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

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And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:14

[tenac]

Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14

[Ranb2khz]

Godly Living

"You must put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to all, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the Devil a foothold. The thief must no longer steal. Instead, they must do honest work with their own hands, so that they will have something to share with anyone in need. No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption. All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ Jesus."

~ Ephesians 4:25-32






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[Ranb2khz]

Victory Over Discouragement

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the Lord delivers His children from them all." ~ Psalm 34:17-19

According to legend, the devil once had his tools for sale at a public auction. When the prospective buyers gathered, there was one oddly shaped tool which was labeled "Not for sale". When the buyers asked him to explain why that was, he answered, "I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful tool I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts that would otherwise be inaccessible. When I get this tool into a person's heart, the way is open to then plant anything there I may desire".

Satan uses discouragement as a means of tempting us to give up. If he could discourage enough Christians to quit and not pursue the work we are doing for God's Kingdom, he would love it because it would mean he would have less threats to worry about!

Satan will try to use negative people, challenging circumstances, heartbreak, health issues, financial problems, or several other things to discourage us. But when discouragement comes, let us cling to the hope we have in today's verse.

First, who is it that will face troubles?

According to Psalm 34, the righteous person will. So, if you are being attacked, then you are doing something right! You are a bigger threat to Satan and all his schemes than you think. Gather strength knowing that greater is HE that is IN you!! God has given you the victory.

Second, when we are attacked (because at one point or another we will be), let us trust that the Lord hears us when we call and will come to our rescue EACH TIME.

Wow… this sends chills up my spine! Let this be a motivation to get back up and keep going. Whatever the task God has set before us, we are not alone. Satan can try all he wants, but we are children of the Almighty King and we will not be shaken because we are standing on Christ our Rock.

Suggested Prayer: Dear God, thank you because you hear me when I call and will come to my rescue. When temptation comes, or discouragement wants to bring me down, I pray you would remind me of who I am in you. Death could not defeat you and that same power is in me through your Holy Spirit. I ask that you reenergize me, motivate me, strengthen me, and allow me to refocus on you and the work that you have set before me. Thank you for never leaving or forsaking me. You are a good and caring Father in whom I can place my trust. In Jesus' precious name I pray, amen.
______________

~ published by: 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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[Ranb2khz]

A God of Unwavering Love

~ We are precious in the sight of our heavenly Father.

Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 3:16-17

Today’s passage gives us a beautiful promise: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy”. This verse paints a picture of God not only as a powerful warrior but also as a tender and loving Father who delights in His children.

When we face trials, we can find comfort in knowing that God stands by us as a victorious warrior. He fights on our behalf, triumphing over adversity and defeating the forces that seek to harm us. In His strength, we discover resilience, courage, and hope.

At the same time, God reveals His gentler side. He exults over us with joy, taking delight in our growth and successes. Even in our imperfections, we are tenderly embraced by His unconditional acceptance and reminded that we’re cherished with immeasurable love.

When we feel alone or unheard, God’s love is there. He loves us, not from a distance, but intimately — as a compassionate Father who knows our heart’s deepest longings and whispers words of comfort to our soul.
______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/a-god-of-unwavering-love






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[Ranb2khz]

Reconciliation: Guided by Grace

~ Conflict in relationships is natural, but we can grow closer through it when we follow the Lord's leading.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:15-20

Picture this: You find yourself in a bitter dispute with a member of your church. Your relationship turns sour, affecting both the environment and your peace of mind. Frustrations mount and gossip spreads, deepening the divide. Yet, amidst the turmoil, you remember today’s passage, and the Holy Spirit nudges you to seek reconciliation.

Jesus’ words offer a compassionate guide to handling conflict within relationships. He calls us to approach our brothers and sisters in Christ with grace and humility. Through private, loving conversations, we can restore relationships and, in doing so, foster an atmosphere of love and unity within the body of Christ. In the midst of broken relationships, Jesus extends His hand of grace and invites us to be agents of reconciliation. When tensions arise, it’s natural to have hurt or angry feelings — or a desire to prove ourselves right. However, the path Christ sets before us involves a humble journey of communication, grace, and understanding.

Let us heed Christ’s call to address conflicts directly rather than allow them to fester. Our goal isn’t to win an argument but to win back our brother or sister. It’s an opportunity to exhibit love and grace, listen with empathy, offer forgiveness, and acknowledge our own imperfections as we extend understanding to others.
_______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/reconciliation-guided-by-grace






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[Ranb2khz]

Light Overcomes the Darkness

"And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." ~ John 1:5

Careful readers of Scripture have noted that the book of Genesis and the Gospel of John begin the same way: “In the beginning.” John used Genesis as a template for introducing Jesus Christ to his readers. God began overcoming the chaos and darkness of the pre-creation world by speaking light into existence (Genesis 1:3). Using the theme of light overcoming darkness, John portrayed Jesus as the Word of God that brings spiritual order into a spiritually dark and chaotic world (John 1:1-4).

But, John writes, the world did not recognize (John 1:10) or understand (John 1:5) the light that God sent into the world in Jesus Christ. In translating John 1:5, interpreters differ as to whether the world did not “comprehend” the light or “overcome” the light — the original text allows for either translation. Actually, both translations are true! Not all the world has comprehended the light of God, and the world (“the darkness”) has certainly not overcome the light which is Christ.

Both in Creation and the Incarnation, God’s light in Christ has penetrated and conquered the darkness of this world. Give thanks today that God’s Light can overcome every darkness.
______________

~ by David Jeremiah (https://www.davidjeremiah.org)

To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager






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[Ranb2khz]

Exhaustion

"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'" ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

Difficult situations or heavy responsibilities often leave us mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted.

I found myself feeling this exhaustion last week. We had just come out of a "ministry filled weekend" which was amazing, but I was already feeling the physical strain. Then I went into a new week with my workload, taking care of our 3 children, managing our home, and just the day to day running around, and I started feeling a bit overwhelmed! Some nights, I was working until midnight because it was the only time I actually had the quiet time necessary to concentrate. There were a couple of times I told the Lord, "Please give me the strength and energy I need to complete the tasks before me!"

I was reminded of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-9. Elijah had killed the prophets of Baal, and now Jezebel is threatening to kill him. Afraid, Elijah runs for his life. He finally comes to a bush, sits under it and prays that he might die. He tells the Lord in verse 4, "I have had enough, Lord." Then he lays down and falls asleep. The angel of the Lord comes to him twice and tells him to get up and eat. After feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, the Lord meets Elijah and gives him the strength he needs to continue.

Have you ever felt this exhaustion? Sometimes we, too, need to allow the Lord to be our strength in weakness and be encouraged by Him. With Elijah, the Lord sent an angel. For us it may come in the form of a conversation with a friend or loved one, a worship song we hear, or by simply coming to God in prayer and allowing Him to speak to us. Whatever the situation, let us remember that our strength comes from the Lord. Call out to Him because He will answer.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for being my strength when I have nothing left. You are faithful and never leave nor forsake us. Thank you because we can always trust that you will meet us where we are. You are a good Father who cares for us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
_______________

~ by Crystal B.

~ 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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[tenac]

“The Task That’s Ahead Of Us Never Needs To Be Greater Than The Power That’s Behind Us”....
Rev. J. David Worthen

[tenac]

Where do we find hope? Where do we find peace? Those two questions are the questions most folks are asking themselves every single day. All you have to do is look around and it dont take long to see that most folks have no hope and peace...however...there is hope and there is peace for this world. But that hope and peace is found only in Jesus Christ...let me say that again....hope and peace is found only in Jesus Christ! You see...when you and i turned our lives over to Jesus as our Lord and savior...we were born-again to what the Bible calls a “living hope”...a hope that is not wishful thinking...but a hope that is based on the reality of God Himself thru the power of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead....adopted us into His family as children of the living God! This living hope means we can persevere through trials...rough spots and even pain. This living hope means we may stumble and fall sometimes...but we will not falter completely because we are in Jesus Christ. And this living hope means we have a future that is sure and established thru Jesus and that we are not alone as we walk this earthly path. The peace God gives us when we accept Jesus is a peace that the unsaved world can never know. It means that we can enjoy the serenity of heart no matter what happens to us. Jesus told us in John 16:33...“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." So...where is the hope? Where is the peace? That comes only from a personal relationship Jesus Christ and thru our surrender to Him! Have you invited Jesus into your heart? My prayer is that you will experience that hope and peace in your heart today…..and every day!

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[tenac]

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

[tenac]

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
Psalm 39:7

[tenac]

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

[Ranb2khz]

Feasting As Warfare

~ The habit of gratitude protects us from the trap of discontentment and endless striving.

Scripture Reading:

"Even when I go through the darkest valley, I will fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff — they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." ~ Psalm 23:4-6

Psalm 23 portrays feasting as a form of trust amid adversity. Imagine the courage it would take to sit down at a banquet with a horde of angry enemies surrounding you. Yet this is God’s invitation to us in every struggle and trial: Come. Sit at My table and rest. I’ve prepared a place for you in the presence of your enemies.

What keeps us from sitting at God’s table and rejoicing in the story of God’s faithfulness in our own life?

Three obstacles come to mind: striving, discontentment, and deception.

Striving is the internalized sense that we must always keep moving forward in pursuit of success, money, and acclaim. We think, More is always better, and rest is for the weak. This inability to slow down and appreciate God’s gifts breeds a profound sense of unfulfillment, making joy and peace elusive. The world’s competitive striving and restless dissatisfaction are fueled by the enemy’s most ancient and insidious deception: My way is better than God’s way.

But when we feast, we declare that God’s way of gratitude, rest, and simplicity is better than the world’s deceived way of striving and discontentment. We feast to challenge the enemy’s lies. In this way, feasting — slowing down to savor God’s gifts and remember His faithfulness — is an act of spiritual warfare.

To feast is to trust in the Lord.
_____________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/feasting-as-warfare






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[Ranb2khz]

I am rejoicing with you over the salvation of your mother! I am praying for her continued spiritual growth, and physical health and well-being. Please refer to my private message concerning the other aspects of your post. God bless!






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[Bigfootbud]

Mom's in mayo hospital..... cant see, feel, walk.... or hear much... I've had to cook for her..... do shopping for her.... etc..... over the last year-ish..... She is a wonderful Woman!! Soo...... She's fading out ............. She actually called me a couple weeks ago and said, "I have no problem with Jesus!" WOWWW!!! She claimed to be an atheist... the catholic church, from her youth, used to scare/hurt her emotionally in order to get compliance from her!!!! She Hates the catholic church, and she has "lumped-in" all "Christianity" because of it!!!!!! BUTT..................
Any $ help would be help...
VENMO: @Bigfootbud
CASH APP: $Bigfootbud
ZELLE: [e-mail]

IT WAS SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL TO HEAR HER SAY, (when She called me out-of-the-blue) "I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH JESUS"!!!
Ummmmmm MUSTARD SEED????????????????????????? :)

JESUS LOVES HER!!!!!!!!!!! Love all to all here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

[Ranb2khz]

Growing Deeper [maybe it's time to share your faith]:

“So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” ~ Colossians 1:10

At age six, Henry John Heinz began helping his mother tend the small garden behind their family home. At twelve, he was working three and a half acres of garden, using a horse and cart for his three-times-a-week deliveries to grocery stores throughout the city of Pittsburg. He went on to found his own company and named it Heinz 57 Varieties, a name brand now known around the world.

Heinz was well-known for his Biblically-based business principles and his Christian treatment of employees. However, there was an incident in his life that changed this godly man to grow even more deeper in his faith. One day after an evangelistic service, the speaker turned to him and said:

"You are a believer, but with all your energy why aren't you up and at it for the Lord?"

Heinz went home in anger. That night, however, he couldn't sleep, thinking about the question he’d been asked. At four o'clock in the morning, he prayed that God would use him to lead others to the Savior. A day or so later at a meeting of bank presidents, he turned to the man next to him and told him of his joy in knowing Jesus. His friend looked at him in surprise and said, "Because I knew you were a Christian, I've wondered many times why you never spoke to me about salvation." That gentleman became the first of 267 converts - people of different varieties, from all walks of life - that Mr. Heinz eventually won to Christ!

In his will, Henry John Heinz said: "I desire to set forth at the very beginning of this will, as the most important item in it, a confession of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I also desire to bear witness to the fact that throughout my life, in which there were unusual joys and sorrows, I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God through Jesus Christ."
_______________

~ 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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[Ranb2khz]

Works in Progress

~ God patiently guides drifting believers back into His will.

Scripture Reading:

"Yet Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands. Lord, do not be terribly angry or remember our iniquity forever." ~ Isaiah 64:8-9

In a studio, the potter has complete power over the clay. The same is true of God: As our Creator, He can do with us whatever He chooses. That might sound scary, but remember that God’s sovereignty cannot be separated from His other attributes.

While the Lord is sovereign, He is also loving, gracious, and thorough — and that influences how He shapes us. Just as a potter works the clay with patience, God forms our Christlike character slowly — one experience at a time. He knows that spiritual maturity can’t be rushed.

And just as clay can slip from the middle of the wheel, we too might find ourselves off-center from time to time — whether due to an old wound, a new hardship, a recurring habit, or something else. However, we don’t have to worry. In His grace, God always maneuvers the drifting believer back into position and begins remolding. He never discards His vessels but patiently works to mold them.

Our Father is a personal Potter. His creations reflect Him, and His Spirit is poured into each believing vessel so He can be an intimate part of our life. The result is a work of true beauty — a saint dearly loved by the Lord.
______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/works-in-progress






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[Ranb2khz]

Molded by the Master

~ You have been perfectly designed to accomplish the work God has planned for you.

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-6

If you have ever watched a potter work, as Jeremiah did in today’s passage, you know the wonder of seeing a vessel take shape from a lump of clay. It was an object lesson for the prophet — God was teaching that the nation of Israel needed to be shaped by His hand. In fact, we are all vessels designed and molded by the master Potter.

In the studio, when clay is placed on the wheel, the potter already has a specific design in mind for it. The same is true of us — the Lord has determined how He plans to work in our life and what part we are to play in building His kingdom. Each believer is shaped differently to worship and honor God. But regardless of how He made us, we all bear our Potter’s unmistakable imprint.

Too often we look around at the talents and abilities of others and wish to be more like someone else. But we have been perfectly designed for God’s purposes, and He makes no mistakes. Know this: As a born-again believer, the Master is pleased with who you are in Him, for you are “awesomely and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Take a moment and ask God to let this truth sink into your heart and mind today.
______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/molded-by-the-master-2






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[Ranb2khz]

The Provider

"I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:12-13

It is easy for us to compartmentalize the seasons of life. It makes it simpler to cipher what is fun and what is hard and what is in between. The plains can seem boring. What is “in between” becomes a kind of apathy. A complacency that undermines the value of daily living.

God provides in mysterious ways. Within every moment, He provides all that we need for life and for righteousness. His goodness is in abundance. It is even in sorrow. As strange as it sounds, His provision can be found even among the most “boring” of circumstances.

After all, boredom is a matter of perspective. If we are bored, it is no one’s fault but our own. Boredom is an inability or unwillingness to see and celebrate God’s provision. The Israelites got bored in the desert. Bored with manna. Bored waiting on Moses to come down from the mountain. Because of this they missed God’s blessing and incurred God’s wrath.

In all that we are and all that we face, God has already provided. The question is whether we have eyes to see. The Apostle Paul learned to be content no matter the circumstance. That means he learned to adopt a perspective that he was being blessed no matter his surroundings. He didn’t learn this through radical independence, but radical dependence. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” applies to every situation, even the routines of daily life.
_______________

~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/the-provider/






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[tenac]

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

[tenac]

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
2 Peter 1:3

[tenac]

.."Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ....
1 Peter 1:13

[tenac]

Where do we find hope? Where do we find peace? Those two questions are the questions most folks are asking themselves every single day. All you have to do is look around and it dont take long to see that most folks have no hope and peace...however...there is hope and there is peace for this world. But that hope and peace is found only in Jesus Christ...let me say that again....hope and peace is found only in Jesus Christ! You see...when you and i turned our lives over to Jesus as our Lord and savior...we were born-again to what the Bible calls a “living hope”...a hope that is not wishful thinking...but a hope that is based on the reality of God Himself thru the power of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead....adopted us into His family as children of the living God! This living hope means we can persevere through trials...rough spots and even pain. This living hope means we may stumble and fall sometimes...but we will not falter completely because we are in Jesus Christ. And this living hope means we have a future that is sure and established thru Jesus and that we are not alone as we walk this earthly path. The peace God gives us when we accept Jesus is a peace that the unsaved world can never know. It means that we can enjoy the serenity of heart no matter what happens to us. Jesus told us in John 16:33...“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." So...where is the hope? Where is the peace? That comes only from a personal relationship Jesus Christ and thru our surrender to Him! Have you invited Jesus into your heart? My prayer is that you will experience that hope and peace in your heart today…..and every day!

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[tenac]

Are you Straddling the Fence?
Meaning...Walking with God and holding hands with the devil. Shame on you! How long will you be caught between two opinions...two lifestyles...two beliefs...two directions...two mindsets...two masters...two desires. You can’t be 50% Christian and 50% worldly. It doesn’t work that way...and...the Bible says it cannot be done. You must take sides. You are either following Jesus or you are following satan. There is no middle ground. Trying to keep one foot in the world and one foot in the church. Ain’t gonna work! The problem is you don’t want to give up your sin. You don’t want to give up your status in the world. Naw...you’re having too much fun. You want your cake and ice cream too. Well you can’t have it! Ain’t no mixing of allegiance to God with other gods! You got to choose! Either God is your daddy or satan! Who’s your daddy? Time to decide! You cannot remain neutral. You cannot straddle the fence and you can’t just give Jesus lip service. Listen...you cannot...and must not...compromise to any of satan’s conditions. Ultimately...everything you have and ever hope to be...must be laid on the altar. Make the transition from declaration to discipleship. That is...declaration to dedication. Don’t let satan deceive you and rob you of the greatest blessing man has ever known...salvation from sin through Jesus Christ our Savior and redeemer. Stop straddling the fence. Liberty is not a license to compromise. You are either with Jesus fully...or you oppose Him. Which is it? The record of choice...life or death...blessings or cursing. God wants wholehearted dedication or nothing! It’s time to make up your mind! Are you ready to serve the Lord? The application could not be clearer...“Choose for yourselves this day Whom you will serve.” There is no room for neutrality. Make your choice. Cast your vote. Choose your God. I pray you will make the right choice. As for me and my house...we will serve the Lord!

Lou Coleman

[Ranb2khz]

God's Gift of Second Chances:

~ God’s desire to forgive and restore is always greater than our capacity to fail.

John 21:15-17 tells us this:

“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

“Feed My lambs,” He told him.

A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

“Shepherd My sheep,” He told him.

He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.”

“Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.”

Before we discuss today’s verses, let’s look at one other passage. Take the time to read Matthew 26:69-75 (see below at end of post) and consider Peter’s emotions in that moment. The more people asked about his relationship to Jesus, the more emphatic his denials became. At first, he said, “I do not know what you are talking about” (v. 70). Then he denied Jesus with an oath, and finally “began to curse and swear” (vv. 72-74).

But when the rooster crowed, he remembered his words from the night before: “I will never fall away!” He had even gone so far as to declare he’d never deny Jesus, even if it meant dying with Him (Matthew 26:31-35 see below at end of post). For all that false bravado, the apostle failed exactly as Jesus said he would. No wonder he sobbed bitterly.

A few days later, when he saw Jesus on the shore, Peter hurled himself into the sea and hurried to his Savior. Imagine how it must have felt to stand there, dripping wet, staring at the One you loved and had betrayed. After the meal, Jesus allowed Peter to rewrite his answers that had been given in a haze of panic and fear. And with each affirmation, the disciple knew he was both forgiven and profoundly loved. Jesus offers that same experience to us, now and always. He never stops seeking, never stops offering forgiveness to all who call Him Lord and Savior.
______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

Peter Denies His Lord:

“Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”

“But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!”

“And again, he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man!”

“After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.”

“Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

~ Matthew 26:69-75

Peter’s Denial Predicted:

“Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will run away because of Me, for it is written:

“I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered” [Zechariah 13:7]

“But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

“Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!”

“I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!”

“Even if I have to die with You,” Peter told Him, “I will never deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.”

~ Matthew 26:31-35






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[Ranb2khz]

Power in the Word

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." ~ Romans 10:17

In the famous and epic movie "The Ten Commandments", whenever Pharaoh would make a decision or issue an edict, he would say authoritatively, “So let it be written; so let it be done!” The royal scribes would dutifully record the Pharaoh’s words for posterity. The message was clear: Pharaoh’s words were powerful; they were the guiding force in Egypt.

In an even more authoritative way, the Words of God are alive and powerful:

"For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." ~ Hebrews 4:12

By His Words, God spoke into existence the earth and everything in it. Jesus is called the "Word of God" — the incarnation of the will and Words 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

And Peter says that by God’s Words — His “great and precious promises” — we become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). And Paul writes that our faith comes by hearing “the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

We gain power and maturity in our spiritual life as the Spirit of God illuminates the Word of God on a daily basis. Make God’s Word a priority in your life.

Charles Spurgeon once said, "I hold one single sentence out of God’s Word to be of more certainty, and of more power, than all the discoveries of all the learned men of all the ages."
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~ by David Jeremiah, Turning Point Ministries (https://www.davidjeremiah.org)

~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager






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[Ranb2khz]

The Power of Love

~ We can show others the heart of God by caring for them as He does.

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-32

In today’s well-known passage, Jesus tells a parable about a man with two sons. The younger son made an untimely request for his share of the inheritance and then left for a faraway place. After spending all he had, the young man decided to return home and beg for his father’s forgiveness. When he was still a long way off, his father ran to welcome him — no apologies necessary.

Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son never mentions the word love directly, but it’s there in every one of the father’s actions. Putting yourself in the father’s place and then the younger son’s, reread today’s passage with an eye toward expressions of love. What examples can you find?

Notice that godly love enables us to:

• Respond graciously in trying circumstances.
• Sacrifice without complaining.
• Wait patiently for others instead of pushing them to change.
• Encourage others.
• Forgive those who have wronged us.
• Give generously and serve joyfully at all times.
• Assist people who are struggling.
• Show kindness to those who misjudge or misunderstand us.

Keeping this parable in mind, how can you begin to love others more fully, as the Lord does?
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-power-of-love-2





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[Ranb2khz]

Living a Life Worthy of God

"For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God." ~ Colossians 1:9-10

How can anyone live a life that is worthy of God?
If God is perfect, does He expect perfection from us?
No. Our sins don't surprise God. If anything the one sure thing that God could expect from us is failure!
So, if He doesn't expect perfection, what does God desire from us?

He desires:

• Repentance, rather than rejection
• Love, rather than lip-service
• Worship, rather than works
• Obedience, rather than offering
• Relationship, rather than religion.
• Living a public faith, rather than a private faith
• Time with us, rather than testimonies from us
• Our pursuit of holiness, rather than giving us a perfect life
• Our desire to truly know Him, rather than just to know about Him
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~ by Marji "Mike" Kruger, "Anchor Your Life"

~ 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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