Encouragement

The Adversary uses Fear, God Enables Us to Overcome

Abba…I know that our adversary loves to use fear to try and get to Your children. He will use all kinds of fear in an attempt to cripple us and interfere with our kingdom work. I thank You that none of these things change Your love for us…for Your love is not based upon our performance…or upon whether or not we are still afraid in any areas.

The adversary wants us to be afraid of many things:
that You will reject us (although You said You would never leave us or forsake us)
that we are somehow not good enough (which we actually aren’t…but that does not matter)
that You will not meet our needs (although we have food, shelter and clothing and tend to mix our needs up with our wants)

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How To Escape The Roller Coaster

No matter where you are, you look around and, sure enough, there you are.

Do you spend a lot of time and energy trying to be somewhere other than here-and-now?

I’ve noticed lately that my inner life seems to be a roller coaster. Past experience tells me that the valleys will eventually outnumber the hills, and when that happens I’ll settle into a low spot. Unless I take some sort of evasive action, my natural tendency toward depression will drag me into the shadows.

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Nothing less than the LIVING Christ

He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:4

If your faith stops at the cross–it misses the blessing of the fullest revealing of Christ!

You need a Savior who not merely two thousand years ago went to death to redeem you–but one who also is alive to walk by your side in loving companionship.

You need a Savior who can hear your prayers, to whose feet you can creep in penitence when you have sinned, to whom you can call for help when the battle is going against you.

You need a Savior who is interested in all the affairs of your common life, and who can assist you in every time of need.

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Sermon on the Mount For Marriage

What do you think would happen in marriage if couples committed themselves dutifully to following the characteristics of the Sermon on the Mount? I think there would be way less divorce, how about you? Also, there would definitely be happier children in the household. Ah, yes what a glorious union of marriage just like God intended.

1) Today on Monday, I will not act proud with my spouse. I will humble myself, even if I think I’m right.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Matthew 5:3

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Why Starve when You Have “The Bread of Life?”

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 NIV

When our bodies are hungry or thirsty we open the refrigerator and eat or drink to our hearts content. When we are spiritually hungry what do we do? Some of us do nothing and we remain starved for nutrients. Some of us don’t go to the correct source for our spiritual food and become vitamin deficient. The only way we can really satisfy our spiritual hunger is by getting to know Jesus Christ and having an ongoing personal relationship with Him. When we feel hungry we just ask. When we feel dehydrated we just ask. Jesus is the only way.

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How to Get Out of the Pit

Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and of great kindness. Joel 2:13

Let me start this week’s devotional with the words to a chorus God gave me when I was in the pit of self-loathing and condemnation:

I remember, Lord, the joy of serving You;
I remember, Lord, when all I knew was You;
Flowing through me, calling to me,
Lord, please use me once again!

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Creative decay happens…


Creative decay happens…
A mammoth of the forest falls
A path for sizzling sunlight appears
Tender shoots respond, grow,
Feed on the fallen, recycling the years.

Creative grief looms…
A mountainous emotion zooms
Testing
Arresting the will
But, in the end, stilled
Perseverance crests the hill.

Creative worry calls…
Bottomless stress
Unsettledness
Wall of despair, ball of dismay
A puzzle with pieces missing, mislaid
Much can be gained from the angst, the rune
Humbled, refocused, head bowed, heart tuned.

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Symphony Dawn

The symphony that is dawn
Swells
Magnificence dwells in the birthing sun
All nature is drawn as hymns
Rise
Darkness flies
Hearts warm
Doubting dies.

So what is required of you
The blessed
The honored guests,
What strange request?

You
The witnesses
The dazzled dear
Cast away fears
To radiance cleave
Believe.

Believe in Life beyond the sky
Believe the Light of Truth is nigh
Believe the sight that meets your eye
The Son of Love is waiting…Hie!

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