tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47410160848354118982024-03-14T03:09:17.013-07:00Refreshed by the WordChristian Devotions to Encourage Spiritual Growth.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-31017722565170172462023-12-19T06:25:00.001-07:002024-01-22T10:38:45.452-07:00What are you wearing today?<font color="#000000"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DdaCa6bKcL_uU_4J3QWiP4LYQ2raAXca8D-iR52UHT9U2qYR4v0l-0L2rMnNTFcZvqToOsV72tFMkUDrT75ZKtQ4G0KIHXDp15CinR0Fl3NHMcsiW4iSbuxPkHkS0pn7X-vM_ji7XB__fWraaanphCPTU_C62NbmNTj2yS94xPNTybKEqeClWazZl36G/s640/clothes-hangers-582212_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DdaCa6bKcL_uU_4J3QWiP4LYQ2raAXca8D-iR52UHT9U2qYR4v0l-0L2rMnNTFcZvqToOsV72tFMkUDrT75ZKtQ4G0KIHXDp15CinR0Fl3NHMcsiW4iSbuxPkHkS0pn7X-vM_ji7XB__fWraaanphCPTU_C62NbmNTj2yS94xPNTybKEqeClWazZl36G/s320/clothes-hangers-582212_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">How many times have we stood in front of a closet full of clothes trying to decide what to wear? </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Did you know that God wants us to have a new wardrobe?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father."</span></blockquote><p></p><p>
</p><p></p></font><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Colossians 3:12-17 NLT</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What are you wearing today?</span></p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-9684840719864968972023-12-01T08:53:00.002-07:002024-01-22T10:39:49.590-07:00But I Can't Forgive!<font color="#000000"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr_-NXeTHCLigawJlCtD2gBA5OQQQ84W3EoI8iDAkmjGmnJahEbGpUblmedGKGo3BKu3AFeXCEfap-Xv0Z8C352ieYDE9bzPRoucxC8Gb61jf9PLih2WXJrWzllCx7oMFUOqj23sQowfLd8RtLlLcCLWs8QXneSMzYrivnYIA670q3lE5x1TlHbnda4I3/s843/FB_IMG_1701445762723.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr_-NXeTHCLigawJlCtD2gBA5OQQQ84W3EoI8iDAkmjGmnJahEbGpUblmedGKGo3BKu3AFeXCEfap-Xv0Z8C352ieYDE9bzPRoucxC8Gb61jf9PLih2WXJrWzllCx7oMFUOqj23sQowfLd8RtLlLcCLWs8QXneSMzYrivnYIA670q3lE5x1TlHbnda4I3/s320/FB_IMG_1701445762723.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />One of the hardest things to do is forgive someone who hurt you deeply...especially if it seems they will never have to pay for what they did.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Somewhere in the back of our mind, we think that holding on to unforgivness will hurt them. It won't. Unforgivness hurts only us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Forgiving doesn't mean what they did was okay. It means you want to be obedient to God and forgive. According to the verses below, God places a might high value on forgiveness. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I'm not saying forgiveness is easy, but it's necessary as a child of God. Praying for the willingness and ability to forgive will open the door for you to step into obedience in this area.</span></p><p>
</p><p></p></font>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-26722527576294523912023-11-28T08:01:00.004-07:002024-01-22T10:40:40.816-07:00Contentment<font><p style="color: black;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6j-h9-bTE1h-jrCM01VEaI1CbKsZzSSvrMwBqil_LoSOaWd1P_uLdlZKGQDEtuqX2f0curi-2QmfHBCQZQVcSntw6rKmp1KQ1pjGFHSyB8B0Mn5qub_HzeMEvmvAovXpgrXrboJ6-bmZ9vfanZRR5Fb0RSrX0MNcAECIpAdWQFqFDrJiIn7zuDBHmIZ8/s809/Screenshot_20231128-074016_kindlephoto-517061878.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6j-h9-bTE1h-jrCM01VEaI1CbKsZzSSvrMwBqil_LoSOaWd1P_uLdlZKGQDEtuqX2f0curi-2QmfHBCQZQVcSntw6rKmp1KQ1pjGFHSyB8B0Mn5qub_HzeMEvmvAovXpgrXrboJ6-bmZ9vfanZRR5Fb0RSrX0MNcAECIpAdWQFqFDrJiIn7zuDBHmIZ8/s320/Screenshot_20231128-074016_kindlephoto-517061878.png" width="316" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />Why is it that we are seldom satisfied with what we have? Perhaps it's our propensity to compare ourselves to others. Or maybe it's a knee-jerk reaction to all the advertising we see everywhere we look.</span><p></p><p style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">No matter the reason, the results are the same; a dissatisfaction with what we have or where we currently are in life. Usually resulting in a frantic attempt to get "that thing" that we think will make us happy.</span></p><p style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Here's what God says about that...</span></p><p style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; text-align: right;">Hebrews 13:5 NIV</span></span></p></font><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">He has promised never to leave us, never to turn his back to our needs, but to be with us always - every minute of every day. As a good Father he understands what we need and will give it to us. Not what we WANT, but what we NEED. In his wisdom, he knows what affect granting all our whims might do to us. Knowing what is best and most beneficial to us, he gives us everything we need for a good life, beginning with a relationship with him through Jesus Christ, who came and died to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind, opening the door for the greatest adventure of our lives; walking in step with God and enjoying the love, freedom, peace, healing, acceptance and the contentment he brings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Things will never satisfy our longing hearts, but God will. Have you reached out to him? Do you want to experience this way of life? Just invite him into your life, understanding that he is ready and waiting to accept you as his child and begin that step-by-step walk with you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Let today be the first day of a remarkable new you and an awesome adventure. You will be enriched in every way and find true contentment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Just ask.</span></p><p><br /></p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-26554199532476509472023-06-21T09:34:00.002-07:002023-06-21T09:35:45.394-07:00How Quickly We Turn<font color="#000000"><p><span color="rgb(120 113 108 / var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Luke 19:38</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span color="rgb(120 113 108 / var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span color="rgb(120 113 108 / var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1kLhbG88cH6gCAl5s9ZAFFPAVjkTWavnjnU37YvmvaPikJUedh29S0Vqv_XsgRKMkwLQyLcBu7ogbp2iR6P_fJUvV4SmFzl97zwxC5sTK_akbSnP8ZZABmZuQTXFE3zoG2Gh0_KXgeOfNtU7DD28vKl10dgxmtoNuagZ96Eh4u9Z-OgGMjdgietc7lwP/s640/girl%20angry.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1kLhbG88cH6gCAl5s9ZAFFPAVjkTWavnjnU37YvmvaPikJUedh29S0Vqv_XsgRKMkwLQyLcBu7ogbp2iR6P_fJUvV4SmFzl97zwxC5sTK_akbSnP8ZZABmZuQTXFE3zoG2Gh0_KXgeOfNtU7DD28vKl10dgxmtoNuagZ96Eh4u9Z-OgGMjdgietc7lwP/s320/girl%20angry.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><span color="rgb(120 113 108 / var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br />These were the words of a patriotic crowd in Jerusalem just a week before Jesus was crucified. Unfortunately, they were sadly mistaken about Jesus' mission here. They thought he came to free the Israelites from the rule of the oppressive Roman empire. But, his mission was far greater than that. He came to free mankind from the tyranny of sin. He came to restore us to right standing with God. Jesus' willing sacrifice on the cross to die for our sins opened the door for anyone who believes in him and receives him as their Lord and Savior to enjoy a blessed life and eternity in Heaven after we leave this planet.</span></span></span><p></p><p><span color="rgb(120 113 108 / var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The amped-up crowd in Jerusalem that day were sorely disappointed that Jesus was not who they thought he was and did not do what they thought he would. For in just a few days, they were shouting, "Crucify him. Crucify him!"</span></span></p><p><span color="rgb(120 113 108 / var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We might shake our heads at the way they so quickly went from worshiping Jesus to condemning him, but let's stop and think for a moment.</span></span></p><p><span color="rgb(120 113 108 / var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Have you ever assumed that Jesus (God) would do something in your life, only to be disappointed that he didn't act the way you thought he would or should? How did that affect your attitude toward Him?</span></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Here's the truth - God has a wonderful plan for our lives. He is not at our beck and call like some genie that is required to do our bidding. The issue is not his failure, but our unrealistic or misinformed understanding of who he is and what he wants to do in our lives, which is to make us one of his family and to transform our sinful nature until it matches the sinless nature of Jesus Christ.</span></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">This happens naturally as we lean into his word, into prayer and into obedience to his directions. These daily practices will allow that transformation to take place. It's an ongoing process, which will only be fully achieved when we finally go to be with him. In the meantime, we live under the blessings of our relationship with God - never alone, because he has promised never to leave us or forsake us.</span></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">So, the next time God doesn't act the way we think he should, let's recall that he is God and will do what's best for us. </span></span></p></font>
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If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks!</p><p>
</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-11934806997358304302023-06-07T10:13:00.006-07:002023-06-07T10:20:35.872-07:00Are You Following at a Distance?<font color="#000000" face="inherit"><p><span class="text Matt-26-1" style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dGQwfnf47XYaUN5R67mOqmu9BzNv_uZ6LSZb4WAFo9lPIkkrKgCiIVE5pZ0xqG5mqjKJFaSJ7h-stNYgoyAwpZ_xyyPkXWhh5C4Da-YQQX3eD-4zFhq8pyxt6N9zuTf2Ku8l6t50o9sDtb2OA7A1Yy1B4P6ZY0NvKx6U2ESU2COQcwZKa2LDbtZEYw/s640/avenue-g025d84ff4_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dGQwfnf47XYaUN5R67mOqmu9BzNv_uZ6LSZb4WAFo9lPIkkrKgCiIVE5pZ0xqG5mqjKJFaSJ7h-stNYgoyAwpZ_xyyPkXWhh5C4Da-YQQX3eD-4zFhq8pyxt6N9zuTf2Ku8l6t50o9sDtb2OA7A1Yy1B4P6ZY0NvKx6U2ESU2COQcwZKa2LDbtZEYw/s320/avenue-g025d84ff4_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Does it sometimes feel like God is keeping His distance from you? Do you feel as if the close relationship you had with Him is waning? Ever wonder why? </span><p></p><p><span class="text Matt-26-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">Let's take a lesson from Peter, the disciple upon whom Jesus said He would build His church.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Jesus had just spent 3 years teaching his followers. They had walked with him along the dusty roads of Israel, Slept in the desert and eaten in towns with Him. Sat with Him in the temples as He taught about God and His plan to bring salvation to mankind. Finally the time came when He needed to let them know that His death was drawing near.</span></p></font><span style="font-size: medium;"><font face="inherit"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span class="text Matt-26-1" style="background-color: white;">When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Matt-26-2" id="en-NLT-24030" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj">“As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Matthew 26:1 (NLT)</span></span></span></p></font><font face="inherit"><p><br />As they traveled to Bethany, Jesus said...<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #990000;">“Tonight all of you will desert me. Matthew 26:31 (NLT)</span></span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Peter, was adamant! He declared,</span><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> "Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you," </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Matthew 26:33 (NLT)</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p style="color: black;">But then, Jesus was betrayed and led away by a mob of men with clubs and swords. All the disciples scattered, perhaps fearing that they, too, would be hauled off to prison. All except Peter, that is. What did Peter do?</p><p><span style="color: #990000;">"Meanwhile, Peter followed him (Jesus) at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end." Matthew 26:58 (NLT)</span></p><p style="color: black;">Peter followed Jesus at a distance. This was the beginning of Peter's fall, which led him to deny that he had any relationship with Jesus at all.</p><p style="color: black;">We can pick up here with the truth that any time we begin to distance ourselves from God, He begins to seem further and further away. </p><p style="color: black;">We might begin by neglecting to read the Bible, getting too busy to pray, or allowing things to slip into our lives that we know aren't right.</p><p style="color: black;">We might be still going to church (at least most of the time) and acknowledging that we are believers, Christ followers, but we've begun following at a distance and that can only lead to drifting away from our relationship with God. Suddenly we hit a crisis and need God's help. We pray and search the Word, <span style="font-family: inherit;">but God seems so far away. The truth is that He is always as close as our next breath, but it doesn't seem so.</span></p><p style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do we fix that? How do we return to the close relationship we had before?</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">"This is what the Lord says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old godly way, and walk in it." (Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><b>Prayer:</b></span></p><p style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Father, I recognize that I've been drifting, that I've allow distance between us. Please forgive me. I truly want a close relationship with you. I'm turning back to what I used to do when we were close. Lord, strengthen my faith and give me a sharp <span style="font-family: inherit;">awareness of your constant presence. Amen</span></span></p><p style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Return to the things you once knew and God promise is this;</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">"Come close to God, and God will come close to you..." James 4:8 (NLT)</span></span></p></font></span><p><span style="color: #106bc9;">-------------------------------------------------------</span></p><font color="#106bc9" size="-1"><p>
If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks!</p><p>
</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-65524169671466969642023-03-15T09:37:00.002-07:002023-05-24T09:42:01.728-07:0010 Ways to Delight Yourself in the Lord<font color="#000000"><p> <b> </b></p><p>
</p><p></p></font><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEmxCigd6xH0mxgd1qfS72RjiSY9QxAg4N9gzNOnJghriPFI-mU8PhHKmsFe5jZdImBh9kc6j4YkK02TOfAAnf0_LplVQHg8tF9S3MSLnDWczD6qjZxM4ZPeWGXVALAC7wZCZYOs6rXZcHO9nXFy1yNqXkHhxbHygCeelz17PTJv-GktMSWrJ9F7eIg/s640/baby-gf86845976_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEmxCigd6xH0mxgd1qfS72RjiSY9QxAg4N9gzNOnJghriPFI-mU8PhHKmsFe5jZdImBh9kc6j4YkK02TOfAAnf0_LplVQHg8tF9S3MSLnDWczD6qjZxM4ZPeWGXVALAC7wZCZYOs6rXZcHO9nXFy1yNqXkHhxbHygCeelz17PTJv-GktMSWrJ9F7eIg/s320/baby-gf86845976_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4</span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For the past few days, God has been bringing this scripture to mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been a Christian for over 40 years. I love the Lord, I read his word, I pray daily, I attend church and love my church family, but <b>delight</b> in the Lord? I'm not sure.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had to look up the definition of the word delight, both in the dictionary and the bible concordance for the Greek and Hebrew meaning. (Yes, I am a word geek.)<br /><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>delight (verb) - to take great pleasure in</b></span><b style="color: #3d85c6;"> - <br /></b><b style="color: #3d85c6;">rejoice in - enjoy immensely -<br />to be tender and pliable toward<br /><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Wow, there's a lot more to delight than I thought. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, how can we delight ourselves in the Lord? Here are some thoughts...</span></p><p></p><ol><ol><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Seek His presence</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Read, study and enjoy His word</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Pray - talk to Him throughout the day and listen for His voice (He does talk back)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Notice and be amazed at His creations</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Watch Him work in the lives of those around me</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Marvel at His greatness</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Drench myself in his love and give that love out to others</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Recall His many blessings in my life and give Him thanks for each one</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Awaken every day with the joy and anticipation of knowing him better by bedtime</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Fall asleep with His praises on my lips each night</span></li></ol></ol><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I now have a new focus for 2023 - to delight myself in the Lord daily. I can only imagine the blessings this year holds.</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b>Prayer:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Lord, I will delight myself in you. I will take great pleasure in getting to know you better. I will enjoy your presence, the works of your hands, and be thankful for every blessing. I will be tender and pliable before you, allowing you to reshape and transform me - not so I can have the present longings of my heart, but so that the desires of my heart will align with your will and purposes. Amen</span></p><p><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">Deeper:</span></b></p><p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." <span style="text-align: center;">James 4:8</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:13</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;">"I love those who love me and those who seek me find me." Proverbs 8:17</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: center;">"</span><span style="background-color: white;">Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory," 1 Peter 1:8</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #106bc9;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #106bc9;">-------------------------------------------------------</span></div><font color="#106bc9" size="-1"><p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-44845282252289369512023-02-17T09:34:00.003-07:002024-01-22T10:51:03.566-07:00How Can I Be Saved?<font color="#000000"><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMASOmRWofxd8NuBIIpsSUdKnkz4y3Ef2iDeTzd6dRPwtKUlSOeNIDgGblcJEcWP36dlWfGd_ecNZTxsuYb_mkenS6z-PPTendeR3h45pQMYR1BbWYb-24d9EUKomboXrOjPahNmyoGWpEYjNboQyDa4XecRly5wxTHDrwM0fNt8TK0RHHRQfA2ETMxQ/s640/man-g837d018d0_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="640" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMASOmRWofxd8NuBIIpsSUdKnkz4y3Ef2iDeTzd6dRPwtKUlSOeNIDgGblcJEcWP36dlWfGd_ecNZTxsuYb_mkenS6z-PPTendeR3h45pQMYR1BbWYb-24d9EUKomboXrOjPahNmyoGWpEYjNboQyDa4XecRly5wxTHDrwM0fNt8TK0RHHRQfA2ETMxQ/s320/man-g837d018d0_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /><span>God is calling us to Himself. He wants to cleanse us of our sin and restore us to a right relationship with Him, that He might bless our lives and rescue us from destruction.</span></span><p></p></font><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Many are hearing His call, but are not sure how to enter into the salvation that Jesus came to give us. Here is a simple explanation from the scriptures that shows us how to be saved.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><h3 style="line-height: 1.8em;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">THE WAY TO SALVATION</span></strong></h3><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.</span><span> </span><strong>ROMANS 3:23</strong></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span><span> </span><strong>ROMANS 6:23</strong></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.</span><span> </span><strong>ROMANS 5:8</strong></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.</span><span> </span><strong>ROMANS 10:13</strong></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.</span><span> </span><strong>ROMANS 10:9</strong></span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span>Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.</span><span> </span><strong>ROMANS 8:1</strong></span></li></ul><p style="line-height: 1.8em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><h3 style="line-height: 1.8em;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">PRAYER:</span></strong></h3><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Dear Heavenly Father,today I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for me on the cross of Calvary. By faith I ask You to forgive my sins and to come into my life. Because of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection all of my sins are forgiven and I am starting a brand-new life today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">My friend, if you have sincerely prayed this prayer, you are saved. Your sins have been forgiven and you have entered into a new relationship with God. From this point forward, He is with you. He will never leave you. He will direct your footsteps and help you to grow spiritually. You will experience His love, forgiveness and guidance as you lean into your new life with Jesus at the helm.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">If you have prayed and given your life to God today, please drop a comment below and let me know so that I can be praying for you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">And welcome to the family of God!</span></p></div>
<font color="#106bc9" size="-1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">-------------------------------------------------------</span><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">
If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks!</span></p><p>
</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-22337186553633213642023-02-16T09:33:00.001-07:002023-05-24T09:34:28.197-07:00Between the Prayer and the Answer<font color="#000000"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhLKE9rMXEFnNaiJhXMBRGBydnrt66QCiSXjsnOschplLQ-E3IFCbveHDlXL6G8LMJmH6pUMNMeLX4gsr_TsgpS4YKiwTiCHTEptCcyldbkkeXjAdJ-5A0VGtMywfOZ-B1En1DSfjWaBaz_U2iKownGLJ_i0J-tUvTOgerGeixUe4HmtL-GdW6Zhuaw/s640/woman-g0404ed337_640.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhLKE9rMXEFnNaiJhXMBRGBydnrt66QCiSXjsnOschplLQ-E3IFCbveHDlXL6G8LMJmH6pUMNMeLX4gsr_TsgpS4YKiwTiCHTEptCcyldbkkeXjAdJ-5A0VGtMywfOZ-B1En1DSfjWaBaz_U2iKownGLJ_i0J-tUvTOgerGeixUe4HmtL-GdW6Zhuaw/s320/woman-g0404ed337_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></p></font><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b>"<span class="text Ps-33-20" id="en-ESV-14387" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">Our soul waits for the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>; </span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-20" style="position: relative;">he is our help and our shield. </span></span><span class="text Ps-33-21" id="en-ESV-14388" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">For our heart is glad in him, </span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;">because we trust in his holy name." Psalm 33:20-21 (ESV)</span></span></b></span><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Who enjoys waiting? Not me.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">We live in an impatient society. We want the immediate.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Even when it comes to prayer, we want immediate results, immediate guidance from God, immediate fulfillment of His promises. We don't want to wait! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">But what if that waiting process is our greatest opportunity for spiritual growth? What if waiting is God's plan for deepening our relationship with Him? What if it's in the waiting that we become more like Jesus?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I call the time between our prayers and the answer, the <b>In-Between</b>.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-33-21" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">How long? </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Have you ever asked God that question? Maybe you didn't verbalize it, but you've wondered it. Maybe even agonized over it.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What if we approach the <b>In-Between</b> differently?</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What if we...</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Keep seeking a closer relationship with God?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Keep praying in faith, believing for the answer?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Keep serving God and others?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Keep trusting God to be faithful?</span></li></ul><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Psalm 62:5 (NLT) says:<span style="color: #990000;"><br /><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>"Let all that I am wait <u>quietly</u> before God, for my hope is in Him."</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><u>Quietly</u>...not anxiously, not grumbling and complaining, not doubting and discouraged, but quietly, with calm assurance that the answer will come. Knowing that God's timing is perfect and His will is what's best for us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Let's flip the script and use waiting as an <b>extended Quiet Time with God</b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Deeper:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Isaiah 40:31<span> </span><span> Lamentations 3:25<span> </span><span> Psalm 27:14<span> </span><span> Romans 12:12</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">Questions:</span><br /><b>How do you usually handle times of waiting?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>How do you think you will handle waiting differently in the future?</b></span></div>
<font color="#106bc9" size="-1">-------------------------------------------------------<p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-51406926875141678382023-01-17T09:31:00.001-07:002023-05-24T09:32:52.675-07:00Answered Prayers Every Time<font color="#000000"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPZqUfOJWw5BlGBBItC4BdDNHoDc178vjtA0YqCEYfaHSch7cRColslVKBQxhbn-1mxSxODwbxMP9NQqukaxsu3XxCOXTxm2mU0jGglvys5b24-UC3Z0I2AJPIMp1OEfjX3XHkbvtgkhBNJyWCvNnKD4K5Kv7HoPIAagtiNFjplzpz-umgmx5b15biQ/s640/prayer-g286fd4d2d_640.jpg" style="background-color: white; clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPZqUfOJWw5BlGBBItC4BdDNHoDc178vjtA0YqCEYfaHSch7cRColslVKBQxhbn-1mxSxODwbxMP9NQqukaxsu3XxCOXTxm2mU0jGglvys5b24-UC3Z0I2AJPIMp1OEfjX3XHkbvtgkhBNJyWCvNnKD4K5Kv7HoPIAagtiNFjplzpz-umgmx5b15biQ/s320/prayer-g286fd4d2d_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></p></font><div><b style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 1John-5-14" id="en-NIV-30639" style="background-color: white;">"</span><span class="text 1John-5-14" style="background-color: white;">This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text 1John-5-15" id="en-NIV-30640" style="background-color: white;">And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." 1 John 5:14-15</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What an awesome promise - pray and we have what we asked for. No, wait - there's more to it than that. Read our verses for today again. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The key to answered prayers every time is <u>asking according to God's will</u>. So, how do we know God's will in any given circumstance? First, we get to know him from his word. There we will see what he's done in the past, what he's promised to do, what he said he will never do. That helps us to pray according to his will. Next, we can discern his will by staying sensitive to his Spirit which lives inside us. Some call it intuition, but so often that little niggling in you heart, that cautionary red flag or that nudge to proceed is coming from the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised would lead and guide us through life.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And finally, we can come to him with a concern and end out prayers with "Lord, let it be done according to your will." And we can trust him to do what is best for us, even if it's not exactly what we would like to see or as fast as we would like to see the answer. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even Jesus prayed this way - <span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">“Father, if you are willing, take this cup</span><span style="background-color: white;"> from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42</span></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><b>Deeper:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hebrews 4:16<span> </span><span> Philippians 4:6-7<span> </span><span> Psalm 17:6<span> </span><span> Romans 12:2</span></span></span></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">Questions:</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you sometimes frustrated with your prayer life?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What can you do to change that?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks!</p><p>
</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-16637094793298491382023-01-11T09:29:00.001-07:002023-05-24T09:30:35.098-07:00How to Fight Depression<font color="#000000"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5Uye-D8AtNgv2uPctEAbxbR1mm2dPcwYmTZxMpIJ2FyxWXhZ4CDQJorqlbNFIW-APqmhVWw_SwhaMpUIA8xFAlQ2W81VDtdkU-Pz8JPjygWOT0mMMjuQroUmaXGK_qooPeCWSxg6eAsJAwEJfpN5ILuRAKn5exVClV3fscatmvwiFWC9gFFfwVCIhw/s640/signpost-466935_640.jpg" style="background-color: white; clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5Uye-D8AtNgv2uPctEAbxbR1mm2dPcwYmTZxMpIJ2FyxWXhZ4CDQJorqlbNFIW-APqmhVWw_SwhaMpUIA8xFAlQ2W81VDtdkU-Pz8JPjygWOT0mMMjuQroUmaXGK_qooPeCWSxg6eAsJAwEJfpN5ILuRAKn5exVClV3fscatmvwiFWC9gFFfwVCIhw/s320/signpost-466935_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></p></font><div><span class="text Ps-42-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-14561" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Why, my soul, are you downcast? </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-42-5" style="position: relative;">Why so disturbed within me? </span></span><span class="text Ps-42-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Put your hope in God, </span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-42-5" style="position: relative;">for I will yet praise him, </span></span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-42-5" style="position: relative;">my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:5</span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-42-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-42-5" style="position: relative;">Have you ever experienced the heaviness of melancholy and depression? </span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">I think we all have at some point. Perhaps you've suffered a great loss, or things didn't turn out the way you'd hoped they would. Maybe someone hurt you deeply or maybe you feel you've even disappointed yourself. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">So, what do we do when we feel that heaviness start to settle in?</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">In today's verse, the Psalmist recognized his downcast soul (depression, melancholy, disappointment). He asked himself why he was feeling that way and then did the wisest thing he could do - he encouraged himself to look to God. To put his hope in the One who leads our lives through every circumstance. He decided that no matter how he was feeling, he would praise God, whom he recognized as his Savior.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Depression doesn't stand much of a chance when we put our hope in God and whole-heartedly praise Him, especially in the middle of our heartache. Praise him wildly, out loud, sing praises, read scripture out loud. When I've done that, I feel the heaviness lift. oppression leaves as the enemy of my soul flees in the midst of my praises because when we praise, God shows up.</span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Later in the Psalms, we see this same person encouraging himself again by reminding himself of all the blessings that come from the Lord.</span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-42-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Ps-103-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Praise the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, my soul;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-103-1" style="position: relative;">all my inmost being, praise his holy name.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Ps-103-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-15552" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span>Praise the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, my soul,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-103-2" style="position: relative;">and forget not all his benefits—</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Ps-103-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-15553" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>who forgives all your sins</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-103-3" style="position: relative;">and heals all your diseases,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Ps-103-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-15554" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span>who redeems your life from the pit</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-103-4" style="position: relative;">and crowns you with love and compassion,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Ps-103-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-15555" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>who satisfies your desires with good things</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="position: relative;">so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-6</span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">The next time you find yourself feeling down, throw yourself into praise and see what happens. Praise is the obliterating weapon to use against depression!</span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">Deeper:</span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">Psalm 150:1-6<span> Acts 16:25-26<span> Hebrews 13:15<span> Psalm 3:3<span> </span>Psalm 19:14</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">Questions:</span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">What do you do when you feel depression setting in?</span></span></div><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-103-5" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">Are you willing to stand up and give the Lord the sacrifice of praise in the middle of your struggle?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-3321324176731076852023-01-10T09:26:00.003-07:002023-05-24T09:42:58.745-07:00No Matter What!<font color="#000000"><span class="text Hab-3-17" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-22786" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhFuIs0etb7hRQLPydWoAAec6Xdh1X-9BjobIC5eAfPTrty44w5i-75qaXwKnkyjxvx-wmGdOiO2n-xzNP974DdVpTfieKOKCKwbuJjnwXfP8fwQGUeBO0uLZ0LrlMKp3sBnANk76qy_vGiOjx8GlM4XcGAqPEsnIU1CNyfjcNMcymVKYX_DJT6GTxA/s640/success-2379630_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="640" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhFuIs0etb7hRQLPydWoAAec6Xdh1X-9BjobIC5eAfPTrty44w5i-75qaXwKnkyjxvx-wmGdOiO2n-xzNP974DdVpTfieKOKCKwbuJjnwXfP8fwQGUeBO0uLZ0LrlMKp3sBnANk76qy_vGiOjx8GlM4XcGAqPEsnIU1CNyfjcNMcymVKYX_DJT6GTxA/s320/success-2379630_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Isa-41-10" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-18462" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">So do not fear, for I am with you;</span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-41-10" style="position: relative;">do not be dismayed, for I am your God. </span></span><span class="text Isa-41-10" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">I will strengthen you and help you; </span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Isa-41-10" style="position: relative;">I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10</span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's easy to let fear slip in with the state of things in our world today. Prices are up, wages are down, people are stressed and we don't know what the future holds. We're living in troubled times, but that's not really anything new. Consider what Habakkuk was going through in his day...<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span class="text Hab-3-17" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">"Though the fig tree does not bud </span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Hab-3-17" style="position: relative;">and there are no grapes on the vines, </span></span><span class="text Hab-3-17" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">though the olive crop fails </span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Hab-3-17" style="position: relative;">and the fields produce no food, </span></span><span class="text Hab-3-17" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">though there are no sheep in the pen a</span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Hab-3-17" style="position: relative;">nd no cattle in the stalls, </span></span><span class="text Hab-3-18" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-22787" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">yet I will rejoice in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, </span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Hab-3-18" style="position: relative;">I will be joyful in God my Savior." </span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> Habakkuk 3:17-18</span></span><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">We all face troubles of various kinds, but if we will keep God's promise in Isaiah 41:10 in mind, r</span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">ather than become afraid and discouraged, we will kick fear aside and encourage ourselves in what God has promised. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Deeper:</span></b></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">2 Corinthians 9:8<span> Philippians 4:6<span> Philippians 4:19<span> Romans 12:12</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Questions:</b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What struggles are you facing today?</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you fearful about your situation?</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What has God promised in Isaiah 41:10?</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Let's be determined to follow Habakkuk's lead and rejoice in the Lord no matter what comes.</span></div><div><span style="color: #106bc9;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #106bc9;">-------------------------------------------------------</span></div></div></div></font><font color="#106bc9" size="-1"><p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-7905732988583747282023-01-09T09:17:00.005-07:002023-05-24T09:24:23.516-07:00How to Prove Your Faith<font size="-1"><div class="separator"><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #727272; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI34RCWuDyArR2__U0LXy5rXwh8Cn9GSYHc_saNNai47osdF_YDKlrpbeWP01cNXR3dB8sjlcHKm_2amufvfiO9CYIbRNkq24lv4Rf-XvZbhrWRotEqYrf_wdolYEoIsaJkJE55et06cv55MfvxzGR0gmx9Ckvyp1Zsadhomxnzfhig8O_Auu6CVppw/s640/hand-1549224_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="640" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI34RCWuDyArR2__U0LXy5rXwh8Cn9GSYHc_saNNai47osdF_YDKlrpbeWP01cNXR3dB8sjlcHKm_2amufvfiO9CYIbRNkq24lv4Rf-XvZbhrWRotEqYrf_wdolYEoIsaJkJE55et06cv55MfvxzGR0gmx9Ckvyp1Zsadhomxnzfhig8O_Auu6CVppw/s320/hand-1549224_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">"<span class="text Jas-2-14" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="text Jas-2-15" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-30309" style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="text Jas-2-16" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-30310" style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span class="text Jas-2-17" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NIV-30311" style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead...</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:14-17, 26</span></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Faith is both a noun and a verb. It's by faith that we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death which restored us to right relationship with God, the Father. (noun) It's also that same faith that should lead to action. Faith does. (verb)</span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When we come to Jesus and accept him a our Lord and Savior, things change. We change because his Spirit now lives in us. We begin to think and act like Jesus. He had compassion on the needy and hurting and he reached out to help them. We should be doing the same. We should show the love of God by the way we touch others, the way we make a difference in our community. Our behavior should reflect our faith.</span></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Good works will not save us, but good works will be a proof that Jesus is working in us and that he loves those around.</span></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Deeper:</b></span></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ephesians 2:8-10<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Matthew 5:14-16<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Matthew 25:44-45<span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 1 John 3:17</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Questions:</b></span></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In what ways do you put your faith into action?</span></span></div><div style="background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 252, 249); border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: 0px 0px white; border: 0px; font-family: verdana; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How do you reflect the character of Jesus?</span></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">-------------------------------------------------------</span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
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</p><p style="color: #106bc9;"></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-27331282879254355612023-01-05T09:16:00.001-07:002023-05-24T09:17:32.086-07:00Sometimes I don't know which way is up!<font color="#000000"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1PUy1fYR5oYmeCAX2fyIyUNQr690cJKE26vos_Ivja9TtPqTavLtOUen1iHQmNJHe8IYZR0nF0E0cbWMBWeIC8K7yc_VGbLUjG-Hf-xGzo7_xUDU3LvIVHhsF_DqM8zaRTF9PzkpIO5pB6rUzymul9DIu5g1RVHDJfrQloCKg6eP3tWk95hIOp_9oA/s640/woman-687560_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1PUy1fYR5oYmeCAX2fyIyUNQr690cJKE26vos_Ivja9TtPqTavLtOUen1iHQmNJHe8IYZR0nF0E0cbWMBWeIC8K7yc_VGbLUjG-Hf-xGzo7_xUDU3LvIVHhsF_DqM8zaRTF9PzkpIO5pB6rUzymul9DIu5g1RVHDJfrQloCKg6eP3tWk95hIOp_9oA/s320/woman-687560_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <span class="text Ps-32-8" id="en-NIV-14364" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; </span></span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-32-8" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." Psalm 32:8 (NIV)</span></span><p></p></font><font color="#106bc9" size="-1"><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes I'm faced with a decision or circumstances that has me totally baffled. I know I need to do something, but can't figure out what. I wonder what God's will is in the matter. Fortunately, over the years, I've figured out that the best way to know what to do, is to ask Him. I've also learned that God seldom gives me unsolicited advice, but He will always give me the answer if I ask Him and wait for His answer.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Much to my dismay, He doesn't always give me an answer immediately and it's the waiting part that's the hardest. How about you? Don't you hate waiting?</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We live in a hurry-up, instant, microwave society. We want what we want and we want it now, so when God doesn't answer right away, we get antsy. We wrestle with ways to fix it ourselves. We wonder if He even heard us ask the question or if He's going to answer at all. And that's where the danger lies.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If we take matters into our own hands, we risk missing out on God's best for us or we might even make things worse. So, what do we do when faced with a decision that must be made quickly, but we haven't heard back from God yet?</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The answer to that question is to move forward, trusting that God will lead you. How? Check out Isaiah 30:21 - "<span class="text Isa-30-21" id="en-NIV-18239" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">God's promise is to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">instruct </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">and teach us </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">in the way we should go and to counsel us with His loving eye upon us. We can trust Him to lead us in the right direction if we keep our hearts tuned to His.</span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">Deeper:</span></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 37:23-24<span> Proverbs 20:24<span> Psalm 119:105<span> Isaiah 48:17</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><em style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All Scriptures from the New Living Translation except when noted.</span></em></div><div style="color: black;"><em style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></em></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">Questions:</span></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you facing something that you just don't have an answer for?</span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you trust God to lead you?</span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's place our needs and questions before Him in prayer and wait patiently for His answer, trusting Him to direct our decisions and path.</span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"></div>-------------------------------------------------------<p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-82091984367871653782023-01-05T09:06:00.007-07:002023-05-24T09:11:17.193-07:00What Does God Think of You?<font color="#000000"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAqEY0SYp0zNx8ej8ycqbwqUCj4yJiKFSI_XLceMAzjJ1bl5XrjUMFv4g7NURpV53pTAzMQkvzjn72h2oaag_6o7vmMSWAGuFbZZYNbhcMd379e0K8iOXNJwzQ_rfXN1eaBGEvDh1ZY8sLKE2CcB2GMceQ_6ofhLHlr6WxU4ufCfxNrskyhgDwuk5AQ/s640/kid-2603859_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAqEY0SYp0zNx8ej8ycqbwqUCj4yJiKFSI_XLceMAzjJ1bl5XrjUMFv4g7NURpV53pTAzMQkvzjn72h2oaag_6o7vmMSWAGuFbZZYNbhcMd379e0K8iOXNJwzQ_rfXN1eaBGEvDh1ZY8sLKE2CcB2GMceQ_6ofhLHlr6WxU4ufCfxNrskyhgDwuk5AQ/s320/kid-2603859_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <span class="text Jer-29-11" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-19647" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the <span class="small-caps divine-name" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-12" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-19648" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. </span><span class="text Jer-29-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NKJV-19649" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">And you will seek Me and find Me<i>,</i> when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13</span></span><p></p></font><font color="#106bc9" size="-1"><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Have you ever wondered what God thinks about you? Wonder no more. He has clearly spelled it out for you in these verses. When He thinks of you, He thinks of His plan to give you peace. He doesn't thing poorly of you no matter with evil (sin) you might have committed. (He already knows it all anyway.) He isn't mad at you for not doing things right - not living a holy enough life. Instead His intention is to give you peace, a great future and hope.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Next, He tells us to call on Him, to go and pray to Him and promises that when we do, he will listen. He promises that when we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">What great promises!</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Now, pay attention to what He's not saying. He's not saying you must come to polished and spotless. He's not saying you need to have it all together before you can approach Him. So, my friends, let's not hesitate to call on Him, to pray to Him (pour out your heart completely. He can handle it.) And let's seek Him with all our hearts, for His promise is that we will find Him, for He will reveal Himself to us.</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><b>Deeper:</b></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Psalm 139:1-6<span> Matthew 11:28-30<span> Proverbs 18:17<span> Psalm 105:3-4</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><span><span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><span><span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><b>Questions:</b></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What promises did we find in this study?</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is our part in receiving these promises?</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span class="text Jer-29-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let's come to Him just as we are. Seek Him and see how He keeps His promise. Ask God to show you something about Himself that you didn't know.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="text Jer-29-13" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>-------------------------------------------------------<p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-54120700221188616412023-01-04T09:03:00.004-07:002023-05-24T09:05:03.101-07:00God, I trust you, but...<font color="#000000"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9hSf-LnrN8WRZIa3VyOOons0tW2Uzc_gFB1seobINo_z7lDbjyjZnt6kCzRABjgqt9k2wOeNf4n3hTyDZRW2CWVWhhYitO18aJ2sXTpAZ9LtEYmX3SipHEGgOinKYIZBwmxu3FhQGFjM0zFjG8t1kt9M2PJ42K8_CAnZL8M57vT9630YINVWxiyZog/s640/fear-441402_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="640" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9hSf-LnrN8WRZIa3VyOOons0tW2Uzc_gFB1seobINo_z7lDbjyjZnt6kCzRABjgqt9k2wOeNf4n3hTyDZRW2CWVWhhYitO18aJ2sXTpAZ9LtEYmX3SipHEGgOinKYIZBwmxu3FhQGFjM0zFjG8t1kt9M2PJ42K8_CAnZL8M57vT9630YINVWxiyZog/s320/fear-441402_640.jpg" width="320" /></a> The trust factor - we know that it's vital in our relationship with God, but trust is not always easy, even when it comes to trusting Him. </p><p>
</p><p></p></font><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what is trust anyway? </span></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>T<span>rust is - t<span style="background-color: white;">he firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.</span></span></b></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's hard to admit that sometimes we don't trust God. Why is that?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>FEAR</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nearly all of us have experienced broken trust in our lives. Someone that we trusted let us down. didn't keep their promise, hurt us deeply. That kind of experience can make us fearful of trusting others. But God's not like that. He's never made a promise that He didn't keep...and He never will.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Ps-145-13" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Psalm 145:13 assures us that "...The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> is trustworthy in all he promises </span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-145-13" style="position: relative;">and faithful in all he does."</span></span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-145-13" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the next few posts we will take a look at some of God's promises and talk about how we can let go of fear and increase our faith and trust in God.</span></span></span></p><p><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-145-13" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Deeper:</span></b><br />Romans 8:28<span> Psalm 28:7<span> Jeremiah 17:7-8<span> 2 Timothy 1:7</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Questions:</span></b><span style="color: #741b47;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">In what area(s) do you find it difficult to trust God?<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">How has God come through for you in this area in the past?<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">How does fear play a part in your struggle to trust God?</span></span></p>
<font color="#106bc9" size="-1">-------------------------------------------------------<p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-36097466111330678132023-01-02T08:59:00.005-07:002023-05-24T09:01:30.350-07:00Before We Kick 2022 to the Curb<font color="#000000"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2g3aDrEFk6bgzqEFUs3nt_-U7JgR8mEi5uGYkO0MiIBdsQX-NMHSyT946Eu0gG2RyXumrctNWwIorJNaN1r2y_--5U5rkS--Pwjin8M_STTCNOIgVVvgN5G7XS0ry11PNSxrfB0RpBJQk-Bm5z5su3MrnnUZN8gvVKZBXcJOzolzYrZT57GKtkNihw/s640/woman-1866081_640%20(1).png" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2g3aDrEFk6bgzqEFUs3nt_-U7JgR8mEi5uGYkO0MiIBdsQX-NMHSyT946Eu0gG2RyXumrctNWwIorJNaN1r2y_--5U5rkS--Pwjin8M_STTCNOIgVVvgN5G7XS0ry11PNSxrfB0RpBJQk-Bm5z5su3MrnnUZN8gvVKZBXcJOzolzYrZT57GKtkNihw/s320/woman-1866081_640%20(1).png" width="320" /></a> <span class="chapter-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-9-1" style="position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I will praise you, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, with all my heart. </span></span></span><span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-9-1" style="position: relative;">I will tell all the miracles you have done. </span></span><span class="text Ps-9-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NCV-13922" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">I will be happy because of you; </span><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-9-2" style="position: relative;">God Most High, I will sing praises to your name." Psalm 9:1-2 (NCV)</span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p></p></font><div><span class="indent-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Ps-9-2" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;">If you're like me, there are some things about 2022 that you'd just as soon forget. Hard things happened last year. Some were life-altering and the hurt is raw. Some were downright embarrassing. But there were good things, too. Happy times, joyous times. Times when God came through and provided just what you needed in the moment. </span></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">There were births to celebrate, accomplishments, personal growth, changes for the better.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">So, before we kick 2022 to the curb, let's take some time to recall God's blessings last year. Let's name them...maybe write them down so we don't forget. Let's give Him thanks and praise Him for His loving care, for even in the hardest places in life, He is with us. He will comfort and strengthen. He will make all things work together for our God if we love him.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Let's take a look back.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><b>Deeper:</b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Psalm 95:1-2<span> </span>Isaiah 41:10<span> Romans 8:28<span> Psalm 118:1</span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><span><span><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">Questions:</span></b></span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">What were some of the hard things that you went through in 2022?</span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">How did God help you through them?</span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">In what ways did God bless you last year?</span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-10938967573335284252023-01-02T08:56:00.010-07:002023-05-24T09:15:19.700-07:00New Year - New You<font color="#000000"><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgux_jZiL2sWNoD0hQDtXziNcyXGRJn7SNW3fDzY8m5NxyyMh2W2NJbaSQLKvCxzjFmqHpNvaVAO7DuMtJvPNdOd-m-xtnq7ulkD_qncGZ_bCLKIycAuEQDLldqmFjgpYL5pvUCgIGeIyk2hqtph9hLc5Dcn3f-cj1a7fyapHN4Pvh9dHd91wswY1jiOg/s640/woman-4329183_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgux_jZiL2sWNoD0hQDtXziNcyXGRJn7SNW3fDzY8m5NxyyMh2W2NJbaSQLKvCxzjFmqHpNvaVAO7DuMtJvPNdOd-m-xtnq7ulkD_qncGZ_bCLKIycAuEQDLldqmFjgpYL5pvUCgIGeIyk2hqtph9hLc5Dcn3f-cj1a7fyapHN4Pvh9dHd91wswY1jiOg/s320/woman-4329183_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p> <span class="text 2Cor-5-17" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NCV-28776" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new! </span><span class="text 2Cor-5-18" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-NCV-28777" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between us and himself, and God gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with him." </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: right;">2 Corinthians 5:17-18</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">There's something about the beginning of a new year that's invigorating. A fresh start. A time for leaving the past behind and looking forward to brand new possibilities. We get the same fresh start when we become followers of Christ. The old us is gone. He has made us new. Our past with all it's failures is gone. Our spirit has changed from one of carnal man to a Holy Spirit filled child of God.</span></p></font><div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Just as we start the new year with the opportunity to make changes in our lives, God begins our new life in Him by making changes is us that begin to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. Our thought processes, our habits, our desire to love and serve others grows as we surrender ourselves to His loving care.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><b>Dig Deeper: </b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Romans 12:2<span> 2 Corinthians 3:18<span> Galatians 5:22-23<span> 1 John 3:2</span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><span><span><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">Questions:</span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span>What are you hoping for in 2023?</span></span></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span>What are you leaving behind?</span></span></div></div><div><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span><br /></span></span></div>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-64793583172099886262022-11-14T06:33:00.011-07:002022-11-14T07:14:31.534-07:00Are You Kicking at the Goads?<font color="#000000" face="verdana"><p><span><span style="background-color: white;">We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice</span><span style="background-color: white;"> saying to me in Aramaic,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white;">‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Acts 26:14</span></span></p><p>What's a Goad? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBQZsF6CA-WP7aO3YI4-rP1Mjcm1n435Xn7lNtm1LIu5dLNeVTEnFxswaYhtESekydDc-Z1UHMM5Aqx_hTlhv53E2VyVI8NyubyVTdwbI7lnpo1cC8r0pvbH6FNajwLZj86hl7TmWJw0uqZJfJg_GOjOpY1JAQaRr-kxU-jv7WAl0gQ1kqmB4ZAb4Cg/s640/flock-5077402_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBQZsF6CA-WP7aO3YI4-rP1Mjcm1n435Xn7lNtm1LIu5dLNeVTEnFxswaYhtESekydDc-Z1UHMM5Aqx_hTlhv53E2VyVI8NyubyVTdwbI7lnpo1cC8r0pvbH6FNajwLZj86hl7TmWJw0uqZJfJg_GOjOpY1JAQaRr-kxU-jv7WAl0gQ1kqmB4ZAb4Cg/s320/flock-5077402_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It's a spiked stick used to prod an animal in the right direction. Shepherds used it to lead their flock to safe and plentiful pastures or to prod them away from danger. Farmers used it to prod their horses or mules forward to plow the fields.</p><p>If an animal took the hint of a gentle prod from the goad, they would be trained to do what is best for them. If, instead, an animal kicked against the goad, they would injure themselves on the sharp end of the stick.</p><p>Saul was a devout Jew. He zealously followed Jewish law. He was so zealous, in fact, that he persecuted those who dared teach or follow any other beliefs. When Jesus came on the scene, preaching forgiveness and salvation, Saul took it upon himself to wipe out early Christianity. </p><p>I'm sure that God had been nudging, then prodding Saul toward faith in Jesus, but Saul had his own ideas about how to best serve God. Finally, God had to put a stop to Saul's killing spree and hatred, so as Saul was on his way to destroy more believers, God revealed himself to Saul in a blinding light.</p><p>Saul explained what happened to him like this when he stood before King Agrippa...</p><p></p><blockquote><p>I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads."</p><p>Than I asked, "Who are you, Lord?"</p><p>"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," the Lord replied. Now, get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.<span style="background-color: white;"> " Acts 26:13-16*</span></p></blockquote><p> Saul's kicking against the goads resulted in a three day blindness, but brought about a complete life change. Transforming a viscous Saul the Apostle Paul, who spent the rest of his life as a devoted follower of Jesus and taught other the truth about salvation through Jesus. It's too bad he had to go through so much tragedy before he would listen to God. </p><p>I think God uses prods to keep us moving in the right direction, to lead us to the blessings he has for us and to steer us away from danger. Not for punishment, or abuse, but in love so that we live the best life possible. However, just like a stubborn or rebellious animal, we often resent that nudges from God to go a certain way. If he gets more forceful in his prodding, we might get angry and kick against his will, preferring our own way instead. But just like the animal who is injured by kicking at the goad, we injure ourselves if we kick against God's leading. We invite trouble into our lives, we make poor choices which lead to dire consequences, Then when we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a mess, we might blame God for causing or allowing the trouble we find ourselves in, when all the time, if we had just moved with his nudging, we would have been far better off.</p><p>How about you? Have you felt God nudging you in a certain direction or urging you not to go in another? Have you listened and cooperated or have you been kicking at the goads.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> *You can read the whole account of Saul's conversion </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209%3A1-19&version=NIV" rel="nofollow"><b><span style="font-size: large;">HERE</span></b></a><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span></p><p><span style="color: #106bc9;">-------------------------------------------------------</span></p></font><font color="#106bc9" size="-1"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">
If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks!</span></p><p>
</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-26503391686476396662021-09-20T07:20:00.000-07:002021-09-20T07:20:21.596-07:00What happened to my passion for life?<font color="#000000"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZoqoBTHFjeycRKf337pPN9orlB7V8_WtTz82CKLpp4wANXw9wyOWstmgfbCnzzJ0FRYVLwla5efsMXPWH5TbB4Oq79YH8CtXihsOZkMvVVNnVXh8hMPK9DR1N6GuqLUqyPasZ4y8WUqv/s736/77c03727405832468285535f1eaff340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZoqoBTHFjeycRKf337pPN9orlB7V8_WtTz82CKLpp4wANXw9wyOWstmgfbCnzzJ0FRYVLwla5efsMXPWH5TbB4Oq79YH8CtXihsOZkMvVVNnVXh8hMPK9DR1N6GuqLUqyPasZ4y8WUqv/s320/77c03727405832468285535f1eaff340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Have you ever met someone who exudes a joy and passion for life that you wished you felt? Do you remember a time when you were excited about living and your future? What happened to that?<p></p><p>Life has a way of beating us down, making us weary, stealing our joy and passion. With everything that life throws at us - with all the bad news we hear every day - with all the struggle to deal with in our quickly changing culture - joy and passion for life drain out of us without our even realizing it until one day we wake up and wonder if it's even worth the trouble to get out of bed.</p><p>We can look at all the chaos and trouble around us and feel overwhelmed and defeated. Maybe that's the problem...we've been focused on the chaos and trouble instead of staying focused one the One who gave His life for us. Jesus had a passion for life. He had a passion for those around Him. He had a passion for the Father.</p><p>We need that passion. Fortunately, it's His to give and He already gave it when we surrendered our lives to Him. He forgave, saved and filled us with His Holy Spirit - wherein lies all we will ever need to live a joyful, passionate life.</p><p>Let's pray that God will restore our passion, fill us with His joy so that we not only find excitement and purpose in life, but so that we can pass that along to others. Our world needs to see that the Christian life is different. They need to see us rejoice and worship God in the middle of trials, in the face of a life-altering diagnoses, in loss, and in the unsettling times we are living in.</p><p>Father, we ask you to bring us back to a place of joy and passion for living. Fill us anew with your Spirit and let your passion bubble up inside of us until we are so full that it spills over onto those around us. Amen </p><p>
</p><p></p></font>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-68347725261036963972021-09-17T06:34:00.012-07:002021-09-18T09:25:59.579-07:00Code Blue X 2<font><p style="color: black;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><b>My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><b>of my heart </b></span><b style="color: #45818e; font-size: large; text-align: left;">and my portion forever.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><b>Psalm 73:26</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Tuesday, two years ago today, started like any other day, but before the day was over, I found myself rushed to the hospital for an emergency heart catheterization and pacemaker implant. Before they could get me prepped, I coded. My heart just stopped beating. They performed CPR and shocked my heart and I came back. A couple of days later, I coded again and again they brought me back. It was a long recovery, but I'm alive! </span></div><p style="color: black;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHkkCTVw95JWb2g8ZLfw4lfXLbrdLS_4XQee9EZtpgaYUq6-ZOMRGZUOZMvQSftlNjJMbi9UlNWHq0LqlgTbgzVFfhAWRQjeIfabi8NdiIHjT-epLYvNJCevKZFPw4aBUmGdl8ftHa8GV/s640/Re-Birthday.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="599" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHkkCTVw95JWb2g8ZLfw4lfXLbrdLS_4XQee9EZtpgaYUq6-ZOMRGZUOZMvQSftlNjJMbi9UlNWHq0LqlgTbgzVFfhAWRQjeIfabi8NdiIHjT-epLYvNJCevKZFPw4aBUmGdl8ftHa8GV/w188-h200/Re-Birthday.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: inherit;"><b>Today is my </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: inherit;"><b>Re-Birthday!</b></span></span></div><br /></span><p></p><p style="color: black;">God has walked me through recovery and has really clarified what's important in life. We have grown so much closer and though I am happy to be alive, I look forward to being with Him someday...and honestly, that day seems closer than ever.</p><p style="color: black;">He has kept me here for a purpose - maybe many purposes. I've given it a lot of thought and prayer and I've have a new bucket list. There's only 3 items on the list, but they encompass so much.</p><p style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My Bucket List</span></p><p style="color: black;"></p><ul style="color: black; text-align: left;"><li>Love God with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength.</li><li>Love, encourage and help others as God has done for me.</li><li>Always, always point the way to Him.</li></ul><p style="color: black;"></p><p style="color: black;">In these three lie every purpose for which I am still alive. I don't know how much time I have before I am called home (none of us do). So, I will spend that time focused on those three items, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead me where I am needed. Nothing could be more important than these.</p><p style="color: black;">It's wonderful to be alive!</p><p style="color: black;">
</p><p style="color: black;"></p></font>
<font color="#106bc9" size="-1">-------------------------------------------------------<p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-80750387518939827692021-09-16T15:47:00.001-07:002021-09-16T15:47:58.711-07:00Answering the Call<font color="#000000"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span><span style="text-align: left;">What has the Lord called you to do?</span> Some are called to be teachers, some musicians, some artists, some preachers, some homemakers. What is He calling you to do?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s0lx4d8ThNshjR9Dn0UAYUA69g19Cn52qjJtdyopOYN5npl0RMxzgamrHWVBhwBSmz5X2l0jtU4JxKj4WUeWYcKroB4QKv9yTox1hja50L5ko6dUJninBRTxpWPEszUy4nr_rmq4QsUs/s1422/Ephesians+2+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1422" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s0lx4d8ThNshjR9Dn0UAYUA69g19Cn52qjJtdyopOYN5npl0RMxzgamrHWVBhwBSmz5X2l0jtU4JxKj4WUeWYcKroB4QKv9yTox1hja50L5ko6dUJninBRTxpWPEszUy4nr_rmq4QsUs/w358-h322/Ephesians+2+10.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><p></p><p>For a long time I wondered about this. I didn't feel particularly called to something "special." Then I realize that as a child of God, everything I do is special if I do it as unto the Lord and do it in love.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Praying for others is a calling.</li><li>Sharing God's word is a calling</li><li>Helping those in need is a calling</li><li>Loving others is a calling</li><li>Feeding the hungry is a calling</li><li>etc....</li></ul>Nothing is too small to be a calling if God is prompting you to do it. You may read a scripture that you want to share with others and post it on Facebook. You may cook a meal or bake some cookies for a neighbor. You may pick up the trash you find at a park so that others can enjoy a clean space.<p></p><p>Whatever you do, know that God will bless you for it and bless others through you. You are his hand extended, his voice of encouragement, his shoulder to cry on. No matter how small the effort may be, it's huge if you are following God's prompting.</p><p>So - are you answering the call?</p><p>Make a difference in someone's life today by allowing God to use you for His purposes.</p><p><br /></p><p>
</p><p></p></font>
<font color="#106bc9" size="-1">-------------------------------------------------------<p>
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</p><p></p></font>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-43247530005166910242020-02-10T07:48:00.000-07:002020-02-10T07:54:09.782-07:00Why does God Bless Us?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGd8kt4BTnK__Yevk4C1RHYYxNvkssVrIoZzKAZr0LwZJEpP-qWAk2h2Ulmb9TG0Vag8SYzUI7YAr2lr4-uHxgxMwv75LO4ZSjUWgciwIzbNjQTRp9_cCdxdo5KabCE01euUvlcyggpDn/s1600/2+Cor+9+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGd8kt4BTnK__Yevk4C1RHYYxNvkssVrIoZzKAZr0LwZJEpP-qWAk2h2Ulmb9TG0Vag8SYzUI7YAr2lr4-uHxgxMwv75LO4ZSjUWgciwIzbNjQTRp9_cCdxdo5KabCE01euUvlcyggpDn/s320/2+Cor+9+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God is able and willing to bless us...but why</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because He loves us? Yes.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Because He promised to provide? Yes.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;">Because He is good and kind and loving? Yes.</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;">But there's another reason for His abundant blessings and it's found toward the end of 2 Corinthians 9:8. He blesses us so we will have all we need at all times, but for a greater purpose than our comfort. He blesses us <b>abundantly</b> so that we in turn can bless others. He call this "good works."</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;">God doesn't just bless us for our benefit, but so that He can meet the needs of others through us - through our generosity.</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;">So, if today you have more than you need, ask God if there is someone you need to bless.</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;">We are His hand extended to the poor, the needy, the broken-hearted and the downtrodden. </span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;">Prayer:</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;">Father, thank you for your many blessings. Thank you for providing all my needs. When you pour out an abundance of blessings, Lord, open my eyes to see the needs around me and give me a heart as generous as yours is. Amen</span></div>
<div style="color: black;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">
-------------------------------------------------------<br />If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks!</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-39971664334189136852020-01-20T19:27:00.002-07:002021-09-18T09:33:40.233-07:00How Bad Do You Want It?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ8h4pd6wGFdlWZxGtc7n5Tr37EoAJOHCQu6-xZ15cuh5RNcoBUJQuTZ222i7Xs13v7ZxC3ULmq7swPLs4MM61eLJzw7ayvvrzWUV3vad-v5L4fjzeQj_be_-2JtglMjV5nJhZnGs2grv/s1600/Jeremiah+29+13.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="640" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ8h4pd6wGFdlWZxGtc7n5Tr37EoAJOHCQu6-xZ15cuh5RNcoBUJQuTZ222i7Xs13v7ZxC3ULmq7swPLs4MM61eLJzw7ayvvrzWUV3vad-v5L4fjzeQj_be_-2JtglMjV5nJhZnGs2grv/w400-h222/Jeremiah+29+13.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How bad do you want it? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m talking about an intimate relationship
With God. We all want to experience his presence, but are we willing to put in
the time it takes to develop that relationship? Are we willing to alter our
habits so that our behavior is in line with His word?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">God says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We long to hear His voice, receive His counsel and feel His
Holy Spirit in us, but we are running too fast, overwhelmed by the busyness and
noise of this world to take time to slow down and quiet ourselves long enough
to hear Him speak.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">In Psalm 46:10, God encourages us to “Be still and know that
I am God.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When was the last time you stepped away from your hectic
schedule, your electronic entertainment and your stressful workplace just to
get alone with God? No distractions, just you seeking God with your whole heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He promises that if we will do that, we will find Him. We
will experience His presence. He will speak to our hearts and we will recognize
His voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As believers, we are only as close to God as we truly want
to be. We must make our relationship a top priority. We must take time to read His
word consistently. We must speak to Him in prayer, praise and worship Him, acknowledge
Him as the LORD of our lives. That means allowing Him full access to every area
of our lives, allowing Him to change those things in us that need changing and
seeking with the predetermined intention of obedience.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, my friend, if you long for a closer relationship with God,
He’s only a quiet moment away. He is waiting, eager to commune with you, but it’s
up to you to initiate the conversation. Find your quiet place and give yourself
time to really open up to your Lord and you will experience an intimacy you
never knew before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's God’s promise…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">“<span style="background: white; color: #001320;">Call to me and
I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not
known.</span>” Jeremiah 33:3</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #106bc9;">-------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #106bc9;">If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks!</span></div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-6394143745250267742020-01-14T08:29:00.011-07:002022-04-03T07:59:24.688-07:00How to Triumph over the Enemy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKsjgsKoPqLskt3VG0SSloUWaHnofPG06i1tlUE0j0zw4jye02LPJPulqAO4V1yiuN4jzWKE8-ipIjnnJSZdT9D8Qblwt6V9xAYY12RSNItX_89PgSdo8YOgJkJ7a_oYuSmEF2AECG5Ak/s1600/people-2583097_640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKsjgsKoPqLskt3VG0SSloUWaHnofPG06i1tlUE0j0zw4jye02LPJPulqAO4V1yiuN4jzWKE8-ipIjnnJSZdT9D8Qblwt6V9xAYY12RSNItX_89PgSdo8YOgJkJ7a_oYuSmEF2AECG5Ak/w320-h213/people-2583097_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span face=""helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: medium;"><span face=""helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:</span><br />
</span><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: medium;">“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!" </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: medium;">Revelation 12:10-12</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
How do we triumph over the enemy? By the blood of the Lamb (accepting the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for our forgiveness and inviting Him to be Lord over our lives) and by the word of our testimony. (Telling all who will listen what Jesus has done for us). Let's not love our lives so much that we shrink from our calling and our purpose - to point others to the saving power of Jesus Christ!</div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: #106bc9;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #106bc9;">-------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="color: #106bc9;">If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks!</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4741016084835411898.post-10985158490524318942019-12-19T10:04:00.000-07:002019-12-19T10:10:55.567-07:00In Pursuit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3CourL4ZgovaG7UR1Oh0v2tzVgiVfuGToyAeow7KszllY29Jg5BHyyJGiNiN_yJEYqOXkIve5BwDoIRUOVwTx37qcWZfhnw4ts0utwktIztjz9nXFjHSiv9qOS5MHDtQ2W_ugiaG3ON5/s1600/pursuit.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="330" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3CourL4ZgovaG7UR1Oh0v2tzVgiVfuGToyAeow7KszllY29Jg5BHyyJGiNiN_yJEYqOXkIve5BwDoIRUOVwTx37qcWZfhnw4ts0utwktIztjz9nXFjHSiv9qOS5MHDtQ2W_ugiaG3ON5/s320/pursuit.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">What are you pursuing in life?</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">For Believers, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that we are here for just a short time before we transfer to our eternal home and blissful life in Heaven. We forget that we are here to fulfill God's purposes, not our own. Instead, we live in constant pursuit of our own agenda, not God's agenda. In pursuit of temporal things that bring temporal pleasure, but nothing of lasting value.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">How does God say we should live our lives? What are we to pursue?</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">He says: </span><br />
<span class="text 1Pet-1-15" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span class="text 1Pet-1-15" id="en-NIV-30390" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30390A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30390A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Pet-1-16" id="en-NIV-30391" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)</span></span><br />
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wow! That's a tall order. Who can achieve holiness? Who can be holy in all they do?</span></span><br />
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, it's important to know that once we come to Christ, receiving His sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins and surrendering our lives to Him, God sees us through the holiness of Jesus Christ.</span></span><br />
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So then, if God already sees us as holy and righteous in Christ, do we really have to do anything?</span></span><br />
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, for though God <b>sees</b> us as holy, He also tells us to <b>be</b> holy. </span></span><br />
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just what does that mean? Here are some definitions of the words holy and holiness...</span></span><br />
<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sacred</span></span></li>
<li><span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Physically Pure</span></span></li>
<li><span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Morally Blameless</span></span></li>
<li><span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Consecrated to God (set apart for His purposes)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Respectful in our Conduct</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">2 Corinthians 7:1 says, ."..dear friends,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28918B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28918B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28918C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28918C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> out of reverence for God."</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's an ongoing process. God is perfecting us, but we have a part to play, too. We are to separate ourselves from sin and devote ourselves to God. <b style="font-family: inherit;">We are to pursue righteousness, holiness, godliness, reverence, obedience to God's word and His will.</b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Why? Because we are sacred - set apart for God's use - serving a sacred purpose.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">God has plans for our lives (each individual life), more importantly, God has plans for those around us and He wants to use us, His children to accomplish those plans. To bring salvation, healing, provision and blessing to the hurting and the lost. He wants to do that through us, but how can He use us for His purposes if we are busy pursuing our own?</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Does what we do with our lives really matter to God?</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Yes! Paul says to Timothy...and to us:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">"</span><span class="text 2Cor-5-9" id="en-NIV-28887" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">So we make it our goal to please him,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28887J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28887J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> whether we are at home in the body or away from it.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 2Cor-5-10" id="en-NIV-28888" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28888K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28888K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:9-10</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">This is not a judgement for our sins. Those were already paid for through Christ. No, this is a judgement for Believers only, to give an account for their lives and receive rewards according to what we have done after receiving Christ as Savior.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">That should give us pause to consider how we are spending our short lives here. Are we pursuing holiness and God's purposes? Will we be blessed or embarrassed when we stand before the judgement seat of Christ?</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">My friends, I encourage you to be in pursuit - of God, of His will and of His purposes. Each day He wakes you up on this earth holds the opportunity to serve Him, to behave in a way that honors him and and the opportunity to serve others. Be alert to His promptings to help those around you. This is why you are alive today.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #106bc9;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-------------------------------------------------------</span></span><br />
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