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Faith to Leave
~ Have you decided to follow Jesus whenever and wherever He leads?
Scripture Reading:
"As He was going along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will have you become fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and went away to follow Him." ~ Mark 1:16-20
When Jesus met Simon and Andrew, the brothers weren’t extraordinary saints. The same was true of James and John. They were all just fishermen — men who, along with many others, listened to the Lord’s teaching. What set them apart was their faith to leave behind their old life for a new way of living.
Mark is fond of using the word immediately. In his gospel, he writes that the brothers “immediately” left their nets and followed Jesus. We might miss the enormity of this decision. The men left their businesses — their source of income — but that was only the beginning. More than three years of discipleship took them far from family, home, comfort, and safety. They answered Jesus’ call with faith, not only to believe but also to leave.
We may not receive so radical a call. Yet we aren’t all that different from the disciples. When Jesus invites us to follow Him, we must set aside everything that competes for our trust in Him. In other words, we must be willing to leave our own “nets” — jobs and homes, or perhaps comfort and success — when the Lord calls us to do so.
What would it take for you to have that kind of faith?
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/faith-to-leave
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Our Weakness Can Be Our Strength
A 10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. "No," the sensei insisted, "Let him continue."
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: He dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and the sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?"
"You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
"'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
________________
~ 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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Lord, Teach Us to Pray
~ Keep talking to the Lord — He always welcomes you, just as you are.
Scripture Reading:
"Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” ~ Matthew 9:35-38
When it comes to prayer, there are two common pitfalls to be aware of. First, when it’s unclear what to pray, some people choose not to pray at all. And second, many believers settle into a lifeless form of praying that leaves them feeling hollow and disconnected from God. Both situations lead to discontentment and frustration.
As Christians, we know that we should pray, even if doing so seems daunting. But far more than any sense of obligation we may feel, it’s wise to recognize that God intended prayer as a blessing for His children: Communing with Him is a fundamental way of experiencing His fullness. We have much to gain by praying — including peace, comfort, wisdom, and God’s very presence. So, it would be tragic to give up on trying.
And remember, when we communicate with God, there’s no measuring stick or scorecard. A fumbling yet heartfelt attempt pleases Him far more than a well-worded litany that lacks sincerity. And keep in mind that formal prayers — such as the one Jesus taught His disciples (Matthew 6:9-13) — can help us find a path back into the practice when we’re lost.
Start with the Lord’s Prayer today and return to it as often as needed. You may eventually find your own words flowing freely as a result. But if not, don’t give up. Just keep talking to the Lord.
______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/lord-teach-us-to-pray
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Caring for One Another
~ Ask God to show you how to minister to the people He’s brought into your life.
Scripture Reading: John 19:25-30
The last mother named in Matthew’s messianic lineage is “Mary, by whom Jesus was born” (Matthew 1:16). Mary watched her Son’s ministry, no doubt treasuring all He said and did (Luke 2:51). She likely felt a range of emotions — from motherly pride to worry and fear — despite the fact that she understood He was “about His Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). Then, when Jesus was on the cross, she undoubtedly felt anguish watching Him suffer but also heard Him lovingly entrust her to John’s care (John 19:26).
Even though she had long anticipated a sword through her soul (Luke 2:34-35), that knowledge didn’t lessen her pain. But she didn’t endure it alone. She was surrounded by other believers in the days before and after Jesus’ passion. Following His ascension, she waited with them for the Comforter (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:1) and likely lived for years as a member of John’s household and part of the growing Christian community — worshipping, praying, and serving with those Jesus had come to save. And in that early church environment, she would also have been served by them.
• Do you know of friends or acquaintances who are dealing with adversity?
• How can you show them the love of Christ?
Ask the Lord to reveal ways to care for the people He has brought into your life.
______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/caring-for-one-another
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Comforting Those Who Grieve
~ Those who mourn are all around us; may we offer them the compassion of our Savior.
Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 11:26-27
Like Tamar and Rahab, the fourth woman in Matthew’s genealogy has a tarnished reputation — Bathsheba is labeled by some as a temptress. In reality, however, she was a victim. Desired by King David, she was brought to him and soon found herself pregnant and in danger of death for adultery. David tried to cover up his sin by manipulating Bathsheba’s husband Uriah. When that didn’t work, David had him killed at the [battle] front.
Suddenly, Bathsheba was a grieving widow. “She mourned for her husband,” according to 2 Samuel 11:26. Then David made her his wife. When she delivered a son, her joy was short-lived. The child became sick and died, as the prophet Nathan had prophesied (2 Samuel 12:14). Now she was grieving two great losses: a husband and a child.
When it comes to our attention that a parent is grieving, we may feel unsure of the best way to reach out. But we have Jesus as a model of how to offer care. Matthew saw his Master heal the multitudes and remembered the words of Isaiah:
“He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick;” ~ Isaiah 42:3
May we receive such people with gentleness and be a safe place that promotes their healing.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/comforting-those-who-grieve
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Remnant
“ In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.” ~ Romans 11:5
Throughout it’s pages, the Bible speaks about or infers that God retains “a remnant”. The remnant are those who pass through the gauntlet of circumstances with their faith intact. Those who do not lose heart or surrender their courage to continue to walk in truth and grace.
The command Jesus gave us to be the “salt” of the world is a call to live as a remnant. When salt is applied, it only needs to be a small amount in order to have its designed effect. That’s also the job of a remnant. When it retains its character, it preserves all it surrounds.
We tend to think of being salt when we walk through life’s valleys. But the greatest opportunity to serve as a salty remnant is on life’s plains, simply because that is where most of life occurs.
The plains contain a vast array of experiences. A myriad of opportunities. Every single one of them brimming with it opportunity as well as peril. But this is a perspective we must choose. The plains do not impose it upon us. If we aren’t intentional about seeing life on the plains as an opportunity to be salt, they can become a hypnotic routine. Like monotonous white stripes on an endless straight road.
There are no meaningless choices. Each and every day, the decisions we make have an impact on who we are, whom we trust, and where we aim our worship.
Living life on the plains as salt, as a member of the remnant is transformative. But it requires adopting a perspective that what the world considers menial, like taking the trouble to deliver a cup of cool water to a person in need, is actually something that is great in God’s economy.
Today is an opportunity to live a remnant lifestyle.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Have His Way
“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” ~ Isaiah 55:9
When we approach God solely as The Giver of gifts and the provider of solutions to our problems (as we perceive them), we are trying to turn Him into a Cosmic Vending Machine. We want Him to give us exactly what we ask for.
God does not need more of our perspective. We need more of His. When we aren’t ignoring Him, we spend so much time trying to explain ourselves to God, making a pitch for the longings of our flesh to be fulfilled.
The problem is we do not really know what to ask for. We need to ask Him what we ought to ask for. God does not exist to hear from us and provide resources so we might have our way. He exists so we might hear from Him and be resourced to participate in His Way.
The issue is not that we ask too much of God (or even that we are asking Him for things). The issue is we are asking too little of Him. We are asking for our perspective to be validated through changed circumstances.
But what if God wants to redeem our circumstances through changed perspective?
Scripture is full of pleas for us to die to our false perceptions, to see past our superficial desires, and to discover The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
_______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Hope for the Stranger
~ God calls us to welcome and include those who are new or unknown in our communities.
Scripture Reading: Ruth 1:6-14
When Naomi returned to Bethlehem after the death of her husband and sons, she brought along her widowed Moabite daughter-in-law. Ruth — the third woman mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy — was a stranger, but she chose to follow the customs of Naomi’s land. Because they were poor, Ruth gleaned barley from the edges of the fields, God’s provision in Israel “for the needy and for the stranger” (Leviticus 19:10; 23:22). Her faithfulness impressed the community and especially Boaz, the owner of the field.
Ruth lived on the margins, literally and figuratively. But settling in Bethlehem eventually led to a home and family of her own. Boaz, by marrying her, helped to restore the inheritance and prospects of a family devastated by loss. Ruth was welcomed and cared for by her adopted community, and she ultimately bore a child whom the neighborhood named Obed (Ruth 4:13-17).
People like Ruth live in our communities today. You can find them in the grocery store and dentist’s office as well as the dog park, senior center, and library. God calls us to welcome and provide for all the “strangers” among us, just as He welcomed us when we were outsiders. He made us members of His household and grafted us into the kingdom (Ephesians 2:19-20).
How can we extend that same love and generosity to those around us?
__________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/hope-for-the-stranger
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Answered Prayer
'“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'” ~ Isaiah 55:8-9
When you pray continually about a concern, don't be surprised at how Christ answers.
Paul prayed to visit Rome so he could teach the Christians there. When he finally arrived in Rome, it was as a prisoner!
Paul prayed for a safe trip, and he did arrive safely – after getting arrested, slapped in the face, shipwrecked, and bitten by a poisonous snake!
God's way of answering our prayers are often far from what we expect. When we sincerely pray, God will answer – although in His timing and sometimes in ways we do not expect.
________________
~ The Life Application Study Bible
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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Being Super
“As each has received a special gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” ~ 1 Peter 4:10
The weight of responsibility is an integral part of being super. And it becomes very difficult for others to understand how we are stewarding our gifts and passions. We can never please them all. And the slightest hint of rejection is enough to knock us off our perch.
The faith that angels observe with fascination is our strongest power. And it is longing to get out, to make itself known, to serve responsibly. Faith is inside of us. We are filled with potential energy waiting to go kinetic. To be something is only half of the equation of humanity. It is how we steward who we are that determines the depth of richness we will experience in this world.
God is cheering for us, wanting the most good for us. He wants us to be who we truly are, no matter the risks involved or how the world might respond. He wants us to live the extraordinary life prepared for us.
Being super is not about fame and fortune and power. It is more subtle than all that. Being super is about living well. Being who we are. Worshipping God through a life well-lived, a life of joy and of service.
____________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Ezekiel as a Watchman
"Now at the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel. When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. If I say to the wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him — you don’t speak out to warn him about his wicked way in order to save his life — that wicked person will die for his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn a wicked person and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have saved your life. Now if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, and I put a stumbling block in front of him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die because of his sin and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn the righteous person that he should not sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he listened to your warning, and you will have saved your life.”
~ Ezekiel 3:16-21
Some powerful words of responsibility here from God.
Are we to be God’s Watchman? Asking for a friend...
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God’s in the Details
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:7
"But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.” ~ Matthew 10:30
While I was talking with someone the other day, she mentioned something going on in her life. I asked if she'd prayed about it. She replied no, she didn't think God was concerned about something that small. She went on to say she prays about the important things but not anything as small as this. I could identify with this thinking, and at one time my thinking was the same. After all... God has a lot to do all the time!
There is nothing under the sun that is not important to God. All we have to do is look at our solar system, the starry universe, how a baby is perfectly put together before birth, the cell structure in our bodies, right down to a perfectly and intricately made bumble bee in a minutely detailed single flower.
He is most definitely and assuredly in details. And He is totally interested in the details of our lives. The Word of the Lord is truth, and it says that even the hairs of our head are numbered by God. He knows every single solitary detail about us. He IS interested and involved in our lives.
No prayer request is too small for Him. He already knows what is in our hearts and minds, and longs for us to come to Him, our Heavenly Father, to ask and to talk things over. Through the Holy Spirit, we can come to Him, trusting and believing.
What an awesome and amazing God we have, that He would be interested in every detail concerning us. So "give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you."
How wonderful we serve a God of details.
_______________
~ by Sally I. Kennedy, Inspirational Messages
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
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Love the hymns brother! The lyrics are so full of truth, love, life, and, of course, conviction. Thank you for sharing that particular one - a most awesome prayer! Here is a link to a hymnal site in case anyone was looking for one:
https://www.hymnsite.com/
Have a blessed day!
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From the Pastor’s Heart – May 2024
~ Choose to lean on your kind and patient heavenly Father, who sees your struggle.
The Christian life isn’t always easy, but as children of God, we have special help for both good days and bad. Dr. Stanley faced discouragement as much as any of us, and he knew how to reach for spiritual sustenance.
We at In Touch care about how you’re doing. This month we’d like to share with you some words from Dr. Stanley about our “Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Remember the grace of Jesus whenever your heart needs uplifting.
_________________
At some point, discouragement comes to everyone — through bad news, worldly sorrows, or distressing circumstances. In those moments we can convince ourselves that we’ll be undone by our troubles. Or we can choose to lean on our kind and patient heavenly Father, who sees our struggle. He will never leave us to cope on our own. Instead, He comforts and strengthens us through the Holy Spirit.
When I need encouragement, I turn to one of my favorite Bible passages — Romans 15:4-5:
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus.”
Perseverance is the determination to keep going and not give up. If you’ll look carefully at verse 5, what do you see? It’s God Himself who gives us that determination. Doesn’t that give you hope today?
Let’s look at how He does this:
1. The Spirit of God encourages us with the Word of God.
In Scripture, we discover what kind of God He is. Psalm 119:68 says the Lord is good. He’s not only good in character and the giver of good things, but He’s also the one who determines what is good. He knows what’s best for us at each point in our life and can guide us wisely in every situation. When we understand that God allows difficulties because they are ultimately beneficial for us, we don’t need to be discouraged by them. In time we’ll look back and thank Him for the way He brought us through.
2. God’s Spirit comforts us through prayer.
The Lord doesn’t want us to be anxious but to come to Him with every concern (Philippians 4:6). When my granddaughter was 7 years old, she taught me one of the simplest and most effective prayers we can offer to the Lord in times of need. We were horseback riding while visiting a ranch, and suddenly her horse galloped away from the group. After we caught up with her, she told me she was afraid but kept praying, “Jesus, help me!”
Remember this short prayer next time you feel helpless in the face of trouble. No problem — not even yours — is bigger than our omniscient, omnipotent God, and nothing is too small, worldly, or ordinary for Him to get involved and reveal His love.
3. God also encourages us through Christian music.
I have some favorite hymns that remind me of God’s faithfulness and His purpose for trials. Think about the lyrics from old hymns, like this verse from “How Firm a Foundation”:
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”
There is great comfort in knowing and trusting God’s grace to sustain us in trials.
4. God’s people are another means by which He encourages us.
In closing his letter to the Colossians, Paul listed the friends who worked together with him for the kingdom of God. What he wrote about them was, “They have proved to be an encouragement to me” (Colossians 4:11). A godly friend can lift you up when you’re down. This is just one of the many reasons to join a local church where you can participate in the body of Christ in a direct and personal way. Not only will you find courage for your own difficult times, but you’ll be there for others when they’re in need.
5. Finally, the Holy Spirit will help you to notice God’s daily blessings.
Discouragement keeps us from seeing all the good He provides. But when we consider His endless gifts, our attitude is transformed. Sometimes we need to take our focus away from the troubles of life and shift it to the awesome creation that surrounds us. The wonder of the seasons, for example, or the perfect order of the universe will always remind us that God is great and He has everything under control.
What a comfort to know that the Lord is present and living within you!
Actively look for Him and His comfort, and you’ll recognize His love, mercy, and goodness in every situation.
_________________
Dr. Stanley’s words above are a reminder of the truth found in John 14:27, that the Lord gives to us “not as the world gives.” The peace of God is mysterious, remarkable, and effective. It holds us together in a way that nothing else can. We hope you’ll lean on His encouragement more every day. Till next time, God bless you.
For His Glory,
Your Friends at In Touch Ministries
P.S. This month we recognize Mother’s Day, a celebration that was dear to Dr. Stanley. His own mother had a strong influence on him, one that ripples out to each of us who benefit from his ministry. We’re grateful for godly women who impact their neighbors, friends, and family with Christ’s love.
Happy Mother’s Day.
https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/may-2024
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God Cares About the Vulnerable
~ God considers justice and compassion important for those who need help — and we should as well.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:1-17
Matthew mentions only five women in Jesus’ genealogy. That alone makes them remarkable, but their stories are more than mere curiosities. They reorient how we see and value the women among us.
Tamar was the mother of Judah’s sons Perez and Zerah. But Judah wasn’t Tamar’s husband; his son Er was. Er, however, was “evil in the sight of the Lord,” so his life was taken from him (Genesis 38:7). Tamar then married Er’s brother Onan, who also displeased God and died. Though Hebrew custom (and, later, the law) protected a widow by requiring a relative of the deceased to marry her, Judah denied Tamar because he was afraid to lose another son (Genesis 38:11). So she took matters into her own hands (see Genesis 38).
Justice for widows is important in God’s eyes. The psalmist, in fact, calls Him “a father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows” (Psalm 68:5). And God’s ultimate judgment of Tamar is in her favor. She gave birth to Perez and Zerah — the twins Judah fathered and direct-line ancestors of Christ.
Psalm 68 also says God “makes a home for the lonely” (Psalm 68:6). We should participate in caring for those who are grieving or vulnerable. This is confirmed in James’ epistle when he calls the care of widows “pure religion” (James 1:27). So let us make our churches and homes welcoming places for those who need help.
__________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/god-cares-about-the-vulnerable
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Don't Forget to Pray
~ Inquire of the Lord for all things - great and small.
Scripture Reading: Joshua 9
Key Verses:
"So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.” ~ Joshua 9:14-15
When the armies of ancient Israel, led by Joshua, were conquering the Promised Land, the surrounding kings and nations were understandably terrified. This was because God was with the Israelites giving them great victories over their enemies — enemies whom God commanded the Israelites to destroy because of their sinful, decadent, and self-destructive ways.
The men of Gibeon, a close country, resorted to trickery. They sent a delegation to Joshua with the appearance of having come from a distant land so they could deceive Joshua into making a treaty with them. Their donkeys carried worn out sacks and old wineskins that were cracked and had been mended. They wore old clothes, worn and patched sandals, and the bread they carried with them was dry and moldy.
Their disguise worked very well. Joshua signed a treaty with them only to discover afterwards they were a neighboring people among those countries God had told Joshua to destroy. They had to live with the consequences as a result.
Joshua's mistake was that he made this treaty without praying and inquiring of the Lord — a valuable lesson for all of us to learn.
Suggested Prayer:
"Dear God, help me never to forget my need for wisdom and guidance from You and daily seek Your direction in everything I do. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
______________
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link:
http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Thank you brother for keeping me in your prayers! We know that God hears the cries and prayers of His children in Christ. Have a great evening!
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Amen! To God be the glory!
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Thank you for the thoughts and prayers! Have several scans scheduled on Friday, and I’m ready to get to the root of the problem. Like you - I know who walks with me through the valleys of life. Have a good pm!
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Consider Him Who Endured
"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” ~ Hebrews 3:13
Jesus endured ridicule and humiliation from His accusers, and overwhelming pain on the cross, simply because He dearly loved us. The joy of seeing our restored relationship with the Father allowed Him to persevere through unbelievable hardship. His sacrifice brought us Salvation – His perseverance should bring us strength and a renewed hope.
"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.” ~ Hebrews 12:3
There are going to be days when the burden seems extra heavy – days when the attacks come fast and furious and feel like they will never end. It may bring temporary relief for someone to agree and confirm the difficulty of our situation, but the only way to truly ease the load is to focus our heart back to Christ and pray for His strength;
"May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance [perseverance] that comes from Christ.” ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:5
We must persevere... because He first persevered for us!
There is definitely a place within the Body [of Christ] for compassion and the sharing of one another's sorrows; but when our burdens become seemingly unbearable, we must also encourage one another to simply put one foot in front of the other and boldly continue down His path. His grace and His strength WILL be sufficient! We will not lose heart if we focus on His love. We will persevere and not grow weary if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and consider Him who endured.
Have a Christ Centered Day!
______________
~ by Steve Troxel, "God's Daily Word Ministries”
~ published by: The Daily Encourager
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An Invitation
“Jesus said to them, 'You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.'” ~ Mark 9:19
We love Jesus’ miracles. They wow and inspire us. They do everything a mountaintop experience should do – awaken something within us, provide a sense of the extraordinary, and motivate us.
The downside is that we often think of the miracles as the end, the result, the goal. Jesus’ physical miracles are only the beginning. Just like every mountaintop experience, they are gifts meant to transform us. They are invitations to change, opportunities to prepare for the majority of life (the plains) and the most difficult phases of life (the valleys).
The physical miracles are an invitation. They call us to the table and provide a mysteriously beautiful taste of what the feast is all about. But it is not enough to take our invitation, to treasure it, to frame it and tell people about it. The invitation quickly becomes meaningless if we do not take advantage of the offer.
Jesus is offering relationship. He is offering to share a meal together. A feast! The mountain tops are just to get our attention, to hint at what might be possible if we commit to belief.
Sometimes you can hear Jesus’ frustration in the midst of His miracles. In Mark 9, He is prepping for a miracle but is frustrated with the lack of belief.
The mountaintops are not the end. They are not the destination, or the goal. They are terrain for the journey, meant to equip us, to inspire us, to invite us. The real heart of the journey is a meal at the table. The truest miracle is the possibility of intimacy with the Lord, the opportunity to participate in His Kingdom.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Thanks brother for the prayers. I’ll be meeting with the doc later today to discuss some potential testing. Y’all be blessed!
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Amen brother!
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Our Daily Trials
“No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone.” ~ James 1:13
Just about every day, we face trials. They are sometimes small, like an irritating driver. And sometimes they are overwhelmingly large, like the death of a friend.
Trials are an ever-present reality of our daily life. We often tag these as "bad" things. And they make us feel like failures – afraid or stressed out.
But there is one important thing about trials that often gets overlooked. A trial is not a temptation. We often say God is tempting us. He never does. Temptation, as James says, happens when we are dragged away by our own desires.
But, God does allow trials. The difference between a temptation and a trial is that a tempter is cheering for you to lose and someone putting you through a trial or test wants desperately for you to win. A healthy perspective must learn to delineate between what tempts us and what tries us. One must be avoided and the other pressed into.
God is cheering for us. He allows trials because they help us to grow, develop character, and produce intimacy in relationships. They also give us an opportunity to show the strength of our faith, the power of Christ within us.
Although they may be difficult, our daily trials are not inherently “bad” or “evil”. They are just a particular form of circumstance that we can choose to live under or over. If we choose to see things from God’s perspective, trials become an opportunity to form the character of Christ within us and release our true identity.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Answering the Call
~ As we pursue God’s will, He will provide the wisdom and strength needed to face any opposition.
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 6:9-13
When we submit to God and allow Him to rebuild our broken places, we can expect opposition. Nehemiah’s efforts to restore Jerusalem were threatened by Sanballat and others. In a similar way, we have an enemy who opposes the work God is doing in our life — an antagonist who does everything possible to discourage and distract us. When that happens, we can echo Nehemiah’s prayer: “Now, God, strengthen my hands” (Nehemiah 6:9).
Today’s passage tells of a hindrance involving Shemaiah — an Israelite who advised Nehemiah to preserve his life by hiding from his enemies (v. 10). This incident suggests that even people from whom we seek wisdom might at times obey the voice of fear and ignore the bigger picture. Once Nehemiah refused to listen to the anxiety-driven advice, his eyes were opened. Then he saw Shemaiah for who he was: a false friend hired by Sanballat.
When answering the call to partner with God in the work of renewal, we have a choice: Give in to distress, or heed the voice that promises, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5). The Lord wants us to say “no” to fear. Although we may be tempted to despair at the brokenness around and within us, we can cling to God’s promise of restoration and entrust our life to the One who makes all things new.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/answering-the-call
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Growing in Faith
"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires."
"In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone."
"The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins."
"So, dear brothers and sisters, make every effort [strive] to be certain that you really are called and chosen by God. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
~ 2 Peter 1:3-11
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Sent you a PM.
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Chartmaster, I left this message, but removed your other two for being “off-topic”. This one is borderline “off-topic” as well. The Bible board exists for the discussion of Biblical principles, and I would appreciate it if you and Vintage1776 would not use it as a platform to hash-out your indifferences concerning the current, or former, Israel/Palestine state of affairs. Do a IHUB search for Palestine and you will find several boards that would welcome that particular discussion. Thank you and Vintage1776 for your understanding. God bless, and have a great week!
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Sunday Morning Mix — Charity Gayle, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong Worship, Elevation Worship
God’s Armor
"And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues His people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and He will give you to us!” ~ 1 Samuel 17:47
After young David, the shepherd boy, convinced King Saul to let him go out and fight Goliath, the first thing the king did was dress David in his own armor and bronze helmet. But David said, “I cannot walk with these” (1 Samuel 17:39). So David went out to face Goliath with his own “armor”: a tunic, a staff, a sling, five stones, and faith. For that task, that was all David needed to defeat his enemy.
When we face the giants that threaten us in our life, there is a temptation to put on “armor” God didn’t design for us to wear. It may be the armor of this world (position, power, education, wealth, influence) or it may be armor that we’ve seen a fellow Christian successfully wear. It may take a few battles for us to learn that God has provided all the armor we need: truth, righteousness, the Gospel, faith, salvation, Scripture, and prayer (Ephesians 6:14-18).
Face your giants today clothed in the armor of Christ.
Let God prepare you for battle, and you will be victorious.
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~ by David Jeremiah (https://www.davidjeremiah.org)
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Assessing What Is Left
~ There is always hope when we look to the Lord for our next step.
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 2:11-18
Navigating loss is a complex process; there is no straightforward path through grief. Yet Nehemiah’s journey from lamenting the broken walls of Jerusalem to rebuilding them offers us insight as we partner with God to put life’s shattered places back together.
After grieving the destruction of Jerusalem’s fortifications, Nehemiah asked King Artaxerxes for permission to return to that city and rebuild its protective wall.
Taking stock of what remains after loss is an important step as we move from grieving to rebuilding. It can be difficult to find glimmers of hope while surveying the ruins of broken lives, dreams, or relationships, but we are never without the one thing that matters most — God’s presence. Nehemiah knew this to be true, which is why he toured Jerusalem to inspect its walls and learn what was needed to repair the damage. In doing so, he oriented himself towards hope — that is, he looked for what could be accomplished with God’s help.
As the Lord did with Nehemiah, He also invites us to view rubble in our life with eyes of faith. So let’s dare to look beyond our present circumstances toward the joy of future restoration.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/assessing-what-is-left
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Thank you sharing the great advice on prayer. I believe that prayer is one of those unknown areas of the Christian life that many non-believers are unable to wrap their heads around. And it would seem that many Christians may struggle with it as well. For me, I have certain things that I pray for almost repetitively: family, friends, lost souls, persecuted Church, born/unborn children, missionaries/pastors/evangelists, those suffering throughout the world, our nation and world leaders, etc. But also throughout my day I - like you - chat with God, albeit I need to do more chatting with Him. And I don’t believe that to be disrespectful at all. As Scripture instructs us:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Y’all have a blessed Sunday!
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Lamenting What Is Lost
~ Offering our tears to God requires faith that He is able and willing.
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1:3-11
Is it possible for grieving to be an act of worship?
Consider today’s passage about Nehemiah, an Israelite who served as cupbearer to the king of Babylon. Nehemiah sat down and wept for days when he learned Jerusalem’s walls had been destroyed, leaving his people defenseless. Yet his tears weren’t just a simple outpouring of strong emotion. Through weeping, fasting, and prayer, Nehemiah allowed his distress to lead him into deeper communion with God.
Shedding tears over what was lost — giving full expression to his pain — was an essential component of Nehemiah’s prayerful turning toward God. His bold display of sorrow was an affirmation of his belief that God alone was capable of restoring Jerusalem and her people to their former glory. As he prayed, Nehemiah reminded God of His promise to gather the exiles and dwell permanently among His people (vv. 8-9).
As Christians, we can sometimes interpret another person’s outward display of grief as a lack of faith. Why are they crying, we may wonder, if they truly trust God? But Nehemiah’s example shows us that taking time to lament what we have lost can be an act of worship.
When we are in pain, God invites us to cling to His promises and offer our tears to Him as devotion — even if they are all we have to give.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/lamenting-what-is-lost
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A Credit Score
“Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” ~ Genesis 15:6
God tells an elderly Abram that not only will he have an heir from his own blood but his legacy will be as countless as the stars in the sky. A hard thing to believe. But Abram does just that and God credits him with righteousness, just like an accounting entry. Just because Abram believed. Without him having to do anything else.
One of the reasons this story and this verse appear in the early Biblical writings is because this is the foundation of man’s relationship with God: Faith.
Righteousness can only be credited by God. And faith is all we can do to gain credit with God. This is the relationship between God and man. We have the incredible opportunity to believe Him, to trust Him, to follow Him, and to take Him at His Word. It’s all we can do toward God. That’s all He asks from us.
Just believe, and the Lord credits our account with righteousness. He calls us favored, His, set-apart, participants in His family and His Kingdom.
Our flesh tempts us to believe we control the accounting process. Society tells us to trust ourselves, to get the credit through what we do. To focus on what we see.
Through the kaleidoscope of voices swirling in our ears, there is one unavoidable choice we must make:
• Will we lean on our faith? Or will we perform to try to gain His acceptance?
• Will we believe He is the Great I Am, who has granted us His grace? Or will we treat Him like an idol we can manipulate with our parlor tricks?
God’s love and acceptance is an amazing gift.
How will your account be credited today?
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Insights from Job Part Seven: Knowing God
~ One of the earliest stories in human history, The Book of Job is a foundational exploration of what it means to be human, how to relate to an Almighty God, and how to navigate the challenging (sometimes tragic) circumstances of daily life. This is the seventh of a seven part series that explores insights from The Book of Job and how to apply them to what we decide today.
Scripture Reading: Job 42:1-6
Job thought He knew God. He was a faithful servant (God Himself lauded him as so), trusted deeply in God, and cared about His Maker immensely.
Throughout the book of Job, his faithfulness never wavers. But his knowledge does. What he thinks he knows, he soon realizes, is not the full extent of who God is.
When Job realizes he does not know God as well as he thought, it initiates the end of his long trial.
In Chapter 40, verse 4 (two chapters before today’s verse), Job confesses “I am vile”, which could also be translated, “I am small”. Job went from thinking he could win an argument with God to just saying, in essence, you are too big for me. Now that Job understands how vast God is, how unable he is to fully know God, he relents. Job stops trying to question God’s ways.
Knowing God means realizing God is so far beyond us. We might not be able to recognize His benevolent intent through all the fog of difficult circumstances. But it is that very thing that makes difficulty so ripe with opportunity. It allows us to see that God is so beautiful, so wonderful, so vast. He transcends our reason and our circumstances. He is in both but contained by neither.
In order to live in the fullness of life, we have to acknowledge that God is God and we are not. We are not equals at a negotiating table. He does not owe us an explanation. He is up to “more than we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). The true call in our lives to know God is not about figuring Him out – it is about trusting Him. To believe that He has our best interest at heart, even when that seems impossible to fathom.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Daily Article — May 3, 2024
How can you find meaning in life? Have you considered beekeeping?
Unless you live in Phoenix, Arizona, and have needed pest control, you likely had not heard of Matt Hilton before last Tuesday. That was when a swarm of bees along the netting behind home plate delayed the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt got the call and came to the rescue, vacuuming the bees into a container and transporting them safely off-site.
The stadium played “Holding Out for a Hero” while he worked and fans chanted “MVP” when he was done.
Here’s another option: you could make hats for the Kentucky Derby.
From its inception, the oldest continuous sporting event in America was intended to provide a spectacle both on the track and among the spectators. As jockeys and horses prepare for the Kentucky Derby’s 150th running tomorrow, hat makers have been preparing spectacularly colorful designs for women in the stands.
Here’s yet a third approach: you could join fans the world over who will take part in Star Wars Day tomorrow. The date is special to them because it is May 4. Consequently, they can recite the litany, “May the fourth be with you.”
Leo Tolstoy’s advice seems ironically appropriate in this context:
“The meaning of life is to serve the force that sent you into the world.”
How can Christians experience such meaning?
Why 40 percent of Texas churches left their denomination:
This week we’ve been focusing on foundational cultural issues in light of the fact that Jesus is “the light of men” whose “light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4–5).
One way we can continue Jesus’ ministry as the “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27) in the world today is to focus our light where the room is darkest. Our Lord came to “those dwelling in the region and shadow of death” (Matthew 4:16). You and I dwell in such a “region” in ways that are unprecedented in American history.
For example, another denomination — this time the United Methodist Church — has rejected biblical sexuality by embracing LGBTQ ideology. In anticipation of this decision, churches who affirm biblical morality have been leaving in droves. More than 40 percent of Methodist churches in Texas have abandoned the denomination, for instance.
I could go on, with campus demonstrations, the Middle East conflict, AI-related and climate-related fears, and economic anxiety all dominating this morning’s headlines. The fact that bad news is not surprising is itself unsurprising.
A Wall Street Journal article recounts our recent history: “The 9/11 attacks, costly wars in the Middle East, the loss of more than five million manufacturing jobs between 2000 and 2010, the financial collapse and the Great Recession, intensified racial strife, the pandemic and various polarizing responses to it.”
Consequently, “As mishaps multiplied, Americans became divided to an extent not seen in generations. Because the sides were closely divided numerically, neither party could gain a lasting governing majority. As gridlock continued, America’s confidence in its capacity for self-government plunged.”
You and I are not to be cultural warriors but cultural missionaries. God has called both to where we are and to when we are. If He could not use us at this pivotal moment in American history, we would not be alive at this pivotal moment in American history.
How can we make a difference that matters?
When the book of Acts opens, a small group of believers is gathered in Jerusalem; when it closes, they have penetrated Rome itself, “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:31). The Scottish biblical scholar James Stewart contrasted their witness with ours:
"It is a tragedy that the Christian religion is in many minds identified merely with pious ethical behavior and vague theistic beliefs, suffused with aesthetic emotionalism and a mild glow of humanitarian benevolence. This is not the faith which first awakened the world like a thousand trumpets and made people feel it bliss in such a dawn to be alive. Men knew what Christianity really was — the entrance into history of a force of immeasurable range."
Early Christians were empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Jesus’ witnesses (Acts 1:8), but they were also empowered by the Holy Spirit when they acted as His witnesses (Acts 4:5-12).
Like them, we find meaning by sharing meaning. We experience the light by sharing the light. When we strive to imitate Jesus with our works and to share Him with our words, the Spirit leads us where we can best impact others (Acts 8:26-40) and speaks through us to convict sinners (Acts 2:37-38) and save souls (Acts 2:41).
Hear Tolstoy again:
“The meaning of life is to serve the force that sent you into the world.”
Will you experience such meaning today?
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~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/beekeeping-at-a-baseball-game-and-kentucky-derby-hats-on-star-wars-day/
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