Love Never Gives Up On People. It Never Stops Trusting, Never Loses Hope, And Never Quits.

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Numbers 24; Numbers 25; Numbers 26; Numbers 27; 1 Corinthians 13

Love Never Gives Up On People.

It Never Stops Trusting, 

Never Loses Hope, And Never Quits.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 13

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. ⁵ Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. ⁶ Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth.
 
⁷ Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.

Observation

In I Corinthians 13 you could easily change the word love for Jesus and it would still be completely true, but if you put my name or your name in the place of love in this chapter I don’t believe it would ring quite as true. Maybe you could interchange your name and make it work but mine would fall way short.

I want to love in an “I Corinthians 13 kind of way”. How about you?  

Application

Jesus (Love) never gives up on people. I will try my best not to give up on them either. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me keep up with the men and women that You have placed in my life and don’t let me ever give up on them.

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If He (God) Says He Will Do Something, Then He Will Do It. If He Makes A Promise, Then He Will Do What He Promised.

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Numbers 21; Numbers 22; Numbers 23; Mark 6; Mark 7

If He (God) Says He Will Do Something, Then He Will Do It.

If He Makes A Promise,

Then He Will Do What He Promised. 

Scripture

Numbers 23

¹⁹ God is not a man;
    he will not lie.

God is not a human being;
    his decisions will not change.

If he says he will do something,
    then he will do it.

If he makes a promise,
    then he will do what he promised.

Observation

What promises from God are you holding on to right now? Maybe you are sick and His promise of healing or His promise of Eternal Life really has your attention? James 5:14-15; John 3:16, John 5:24, John 10:28, John 1:12, I John 5:9-13

Perhaps you are going through a financial crisis and maybe His promise to meet all your needs is one you are clinging to. Philippians 4:19

It could be that you find yourself lonely and you are remembering His promise that He will always be with us. Matthew 28:20

There is not one thing that you and I are going through right now that God doesn’t have a promise for.

And if He says He will do something, then He will do it. If He makes a promise, then He will do what He promised. Numbers 23:19

Unlike us, He always keeps His promises.

Application

 I will cling to His promises today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am not as good as You at keeping my promises. You have a perfect record. I can trust You completely to keep every promise that You have ever made. I love Your Word. It is filled with promises for me from You. Thank You for being so faithful even when I am not. Thank You for being totally Trustworthy. I can put my trust and my faith in You and I will never be disappointed. You are a Mighty God. 

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Don’t Be Afraid; Just Believe.

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Numbers 19; Numbers 20; Psalm 28; Mark 5 

Don’t 

Be Afraid;

Just Believe.

Scripture

Mark 5 

³⁵ While Jesus was still there speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. They said, “Your daughter is dead. There is no need to bother the Teacher.”

³⁶ But Jesus did not care what the men said. He said to the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

³⁷ Jesus let only Peter, James, and John the brother of James go with him. ³⁸ They went to the synagogue leader’s house, where Jesus saw many people crying loudly. There was a lot of confusion. ³⁹ He entered the house and said, “Why are you people crying and making so much noise? This child is not dead. She is only sleeping.”

  ⁴⁰ But everyone laughed at him. Jesus told the people to leave the house. Then he went into the room where the child was. He brought the child’s father and mother and his three followers into the room with him. ⁴¹ Then Jesus held the girl’s hand and said to her, “Talitha, koum!” (This means “Little girl, I tell you to stand up!”) ⁴² The girl immediately stood up and began walking. (She was twelve years old.) The father and mother and the followers were amazed. ⁴³ Jesus gave the father and mother very strict orders not to tell people about this. Then he told them to give the girl some food to eat.

Observation

The opposite of trust is fear. Don’t be afraid; just believe!

How does that fit in with what you are going through today?

It sure helps me this morning to read about how to have faith in a hopeless situation!

Fear is paralyzing! It gives me a sick feeling. Sometimes I am overwhelmed with fear. The fears I face are largely all in my head and they haven’t materialized yet and they probably never will. But in my head they are bigger than life and I feel helpless.

What do you do to overcome your fears?

Here is what I do. I begin to quote scriptures and focus on God and I focus on God’s amazing power and strength.

Fear is crippling. It demoralizes. It zaps your energy and your strength. Fear keeps you from getting a good night’s sleep.

Faith on the other hand … heals. Faith lifts you up and faith gives you purpose. It gives you energy, and it empowers you.

The man in our story had a choice. You and I have the same choice. We either choose to be afraid or we choose to believe! We must choose to believe God and we must hold on to His promises.

Application

I choose to believe this morning! I choose not to be afraid. How about you?

Prayer

Praise the Lord! He has heard my prayer for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and shield. I trusted him with all my heart. He helped me, so I am happy. I sing songs of praise to him. The Lord protects his chosen one. He saves him and gives him strength. Psalm 28:6-8

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In His Temple Everyone Shouts, “Glory To God!”

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Numbers 17; Numbers 18; Psalm 29; Mark 4

In His Temple

Everyone Shouts,

“Glory To God!”

Scripture

Psalm 29

9 … In his temple everyone shouts, “Glory to God!”

Praise the Lord, you heavenly angels!
    Praise the Lord’s glory and power.
 
² Praise the Lord and honor his name!
    Worship the Lord in all his holy beauty.
 
³ The Lord’s voice can be heard over the sea.
    The voice of our glorious Lord God is like thunder over the great ocean.
 
⁴ The Lord’s voice is powerful.
    It shows the Lord’s glory.
 
⁵ The Lord’s voice shatters great cedar trees.
    The Lord breaks the great cedars of Lebanon.

Observation

Loud does not = noise!

In his temple everyone shouts, “Glory to God!” That means that it was loud in the temple, but it was not noise!

The LORD’s voice can be heard over the sea. The voice of our glorious LORD God is like thunder over the great ocean. I think I would say that the LORD’s voice would be loud, but it would not be noise.

Webster’s dictionary gives this as one definition of noise: “lacks agreeable musical quality or is noticeably unpleasant.”

The music part of yesterday’s worship service was “loud” but it was also very powerful. I love it when you see and hear (almost) everybody singing and joining in!

Application

I will shout, “Glory to God!” every chance I get! I will sing loud next Sunday!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I will praise Your glory and Your power. I will praise You and honor Your name! I will worship You in all Your holy beauty. Your voice can be heard over the sea. Your voice is glorious like thunder over the great ocean. Your voice is powerful. Your voice shows Your glory. Your voice shatters great cedar trees. You break the great cedars of Lebanon.
 
May the Lord make his people strong. May the Lord bless his people with peace.

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So Now, Lord, Show Your Strength!

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Numbers 14; Numbers 15; Numbers 16; Mark 3

So Now,

Lord,

Show Your Strength!

Scripture

Numbers 14

¹⁷ “So now, Lord, show your strength!
Show it the way you said you would. ¹⁸ You said, ‘The Lord is slow to become angry. He is full of great love. He forgives those who are guilty and break the law.

Observation

Do you want to show how strong you are? Our strength is shown by our ability to forgive! Moses spoke to God reminding God of His mercy, of His love, and of His forgiveness. God was getting ready to wipe out the entire nation of Israel and start all over with only Moses, but Moses spoke out and pleaded to God on the people’s behalf.

This is an incredible story of God’s love and also an incredible example of a godly leader!

This passage found in Numbers 14, 15, and 16 is a reminder to us also that God does have His leader. Moses was the one called to lead the nation of Israel. He was the one that the people were to follow. Over and over again in these 3 chapters we have people challenging that leadership. It didn’t go well with those folks! It didn’t go well at all.

Take time to read about it this morning. It will only take you a minute. God has placed godly men in leadership for us to follow. Support them in every way you can and it will go a lot better for you and your family.

Application

God will take care of me if I keep my life yielded and surrendered to Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me trust You. Help me to be a good follower! Help me to be like Joshua and Caleb who stood beside Moses when everybody else wanted to rebel. You are my strength. Thank You that You are slow to become angry. Thank You that You are full of love and forgiveness! 

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We Live About 70 Years Or, If We Are Strong, 80 years … Then, Suddenly, The Years Are Gone, And We Fly Away.

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Numbers 12; Numbers 13; Psalm 90; Mark 2

We Live About 70 Years

Or, If We Are Strong, 80 years …

Then, Suddenly, The Years Are Gone, And We Fly Away.

Scripture

Psalm 90

¹⁰ We live about 70 years
    or, if we are strong, 80 years.

But most of them are filled with hard work and pain.
    Then, suddenly, the years are gone, and we fly away.

Observation

Lets see … next month I will be 62 years old! 

Okay … I am on the short end of the stick, but that is not a problem with me! None of us are going to live on this earth forever!

The Psalmist says in a few verses earlier in this same chapter, 

“To you (God), a thousand years is like yesterday, like a few hours in the night. Our life is like a dream that ends when morning comes. We are like grass that grows and looks so fresh in the morning, but in the evening it is dry and dying.”

So lets use our time wisely!

Application 

I will try to make good use of the time that I have remaining. How about you?

 Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that You are not planning on keeping me around on planet earth for a long, long time. And even if You did it would be just like a blink of the eye to You. I am glad that I am going to live forever with You and that is all that really matters. 

I pray for Pastor Bruce and Heather. I pray that You use them both tomorrow in a powerful way in the lives of everyone that attends Christ Fellowship! I pray for the rest of the lead team. Make them successful at everything that they do as they seek to further Your kingdom and transform lives.

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“Don’t Limit My Power! You Will See That I Can Do What I Say I Can Do.”

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Numbers 10; Numbers 11; Psalm 27; Mark 1 

“Don’t Limit My Power!

You Will See That I Can Do

What I Say I Can Do.”

Scripture

Numbers 11

²³ But the Lord said to Moses, “Don’t limit my power! You will see that I can do what I say I can do.”

Observation

The Israelites were complaining about not having meat to eat! They were tired of eating the “manna” that God had provided.

God became angry and He told Moses that the Israelites would eat every day for a month. Moses’ response to God’s statement was that there was no way possible to provide meat for all the people.

Moses said to God that if he (Moses) killed all of the cattle and sheep that they had in their possession and caught all the fish in the sea there wouldn’t be enough meat to feed all the people for a month! 

Moses told God that there were over 600,000 soldiers plus all the women and children. I don’t think Moses had to tell God how many soldiers were in the army … do you?

Moses received a stern rebuke from God because of his lack of faith!

How are you and I trying to limit the power of God? Do you believe that God can do what He says He can do?

What are the situations that seem “impossible” in your life right now? Will you trust God to do the “Impossible”?

Application

 I will trust God with the things in my life that seem “impossible”. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, there are several things going on right now that are impossible and beyond me to fix. I know that You allow these things to come into my life so that I am able to trust You more. Help me with my unbelief! Thank You for always coming through and for always showing me how Powerful You are. You have never ever disappointed me. Give me the ability to trust in You. I don’t want to limit Your power. I believe that You can do what You say You can do!

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When We Came To Rome, Paul Was Allowed To Live Alone. But A Soldier Stayed With Him To Guard Him.

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Numbers 8; Numbers 9; Acts 28 

When We Came To Rome,

Paul Was Allowed To Live Alone.

But A Soldier Stayed With Him To Guard Him. 

Scripture

Acts 28 

¹⁶ When we came to Rome, Paul was allowed to live alone. But a soldier stayed with him to guard him.

Observation

I believe that there is an excellent chance that we will meet that soldier one day in Heaven! What do you think?

The Apostle Paul in fact spent a large amount of his ministry reaching those in prisons and jails because that is where he was continually being placed. Do you remember what happened in Acts 16? Paul and Silas were severely beaten with rods and then thrown into the darkest most secure part of the jail and at midnight they began to sing and pray! God heard their prayers and sent an earthquake to throw off their chains and throw open the doors of the jail. All of this happened so a jailor and his family could come to faith in Christ.

One of the times when he was in prison he wrote to the church in Ephesus and said:

¹⁹ Also pray for me—that when I speak, God will give me words so that I can tell the secret truth about the Good News without fear. ²⁰ I have the work of speaking for that Good News, and that is what I am doing now, here in prison. Pray that when I tell people the Good News, I will speak without fear as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20

Once when he was in prison he wrote the letter of Philippians and he said:

¹² Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that all that has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News. ¹³ All the Roman guards and all the others here know that I am in prison for serving Christ. Philippians 1:12-13

He took advantage of the captive audience – the prison guards and other inmates to share Christ with them. 

He looked at his situation, his suffering, being whipped, stoned, beaten with rods, time in dark jail cells and his spending time in prisons even though he did nothing wrong. He looked at everyone one of these situations as an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  No pity parties.
God may allow bad things to happen to us and he may allow us to suffer to put us face to face with someone who needs Jesus and who needs our help.  

Application

In the middle of my circumstances I will look for people that God wants me to help. I will look for opportunities to be a witness.  I will not focus on my circumstances. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me the strength to follow through on what I just said that I would do. Help me to look above my circumstances and help me to look for the people that you are bringing into my life. 

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The LORD Is My Shepherd. I Will Always Have Everything I Need.

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Numbers 7; Psalm 23; Acts 27

The LORD Is My Shepherd.

I Will

Always Have Everything I Need.

Scripture

Psalm 23

23 The Lord is my shepherd.
    I will always have everything I need.

² He gives me green pastures to lie in.
    He leads me by calm pools of water.

³ He restores my strength.
    He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.

⁴ Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave,
    I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me.
    Your rod and staff comfort me.

⁵ You prepared a meal for me in front of my enemies.
    You welcomed me as an honored guest.

    My cup is full and spilling over.

⁶ Your goodness and mercy will be with me all my life,
    and I will live in the Lord’s house a long, long time.

Observation

Contentment is not found in a “Happy Meal”. The “Happy Meal” was a huge success for McDonalds because it fit right into our American culture of not being content.

The LORD is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need.

End Of Story!

Application

When I begin to worry today about what I may not have I will remember God’s promise in Psalm 23:1. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, because You are my Shepherd I have everything I need. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what You have prepared  for me because You love me." (I Corinthians 2:9 – Eddy paraphrase) 

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Stand Up! I Have Chosen You To Be My Servant. You Will Tell People About Me

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Numbers 5; Numbers 6; Psalm 22; Acts 26

Stand Up!

I Have Chosen You To Be My Servant.

You Will Tell People About Me

Scripture

Acts 26

¹⁶ Stand up! I have chosen you to be my servant. You will tell people about me

Observation

It was on the Damascus Road that Jesus changed the direction of the Pharisee Saul’s life. Not only was his named changed to Paul but also his life was changed forever.

God saves us for the same reason! Why has God radically changed your life? If He has changed your life it is so that others can come to know Him too. You and I have been saved for a purpose.

So you and I need to “stand up” and tell people about Jesus.

Are you a Christ Follower? Then God will give you the power to be able to stand before Kings and declare that Jesus is the Messiah and that Jesus can save them too.

Take time to read Acts 26 and picture what is happening in that courtroom. Paul is strongly persuading King Agrippa to put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and he is not letting governor Fetus deter him. Read this passage in a modern translation so you can pick up the emotion of the moment.

Application

I will stand up today and be a witness for Christ! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me the boldness of Paul today to be a witness for you. Bring people into my life that need to hear the Good News about Jesus.

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If I Have Done Something Worth Of Death, I Don’t Refuse To Die …

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Numbers 3; Numbers 4; Acts 25 

If I Have Done Something

Worth Of Death,

I Don’t Refuse To Die …

Scripture

Acts 25 

¹¹ If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die…

Observation

 Paul was not afraid to die. In fact, he knew that he was heading in that direction. For Paul dying was not an issue. He had already settled that in his heart.

I have written in my old study Bible (my most prized possession in the whole world that Kathy gave to me when God called me into the ministry in December 1973) this saying,

“If you have not found something worth dying for you are probably still searching for something to live for!”

That statement that penetrated and stuck in my heart from the day I wrote it down definitely goes along with our 40 day Campaign, “What On Earth AM I HERE FOR?”

The Apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Paul also said in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.   

In Acts chapter 25 Paul once again appeals to be brought before Caesar in Rome. It was always his desire to go to Rome and he finally made it. It was his last mission trip before he exited this life.

Are you afraid to die? Here is a more important question: Have you found something worth dying for?

I have. His name is JESUS!

Would you surrender your life to Him today?

Application

 I will continue serving Jesus until He calls me home. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are not our own we have been bought with a price. I pray that everyone who reads this blog would the answer to the question, “What on earth AM I HERE FOR? Guide them to a personal relationship with You. Thank You for bringing people into my life that helped me to know You. 

Thank You for Charles and Patsy Hartwig who You used to change my life and Kathy’s life forever. I will be eternally grateful to them. Bless them. Bless their family. It was good to see two of their grandchildren yesterday. It was a reminder of how important it is for me to invest my life in people.

Thank You for the team of adults that came with the middle school choir from First Baptist Jacksonville. Bless their investment in those kids. Thanks for using Dan Elkins and others to mentor them. You are worthy of Praise! And I agree with the Apostle Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

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If You Follow My Decrees And Are Careful To Obey My Commands,

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Leviticus 26; Leviticus 27; Acts 23

If You Follow 

My Decrees

And Are Careful To Obey My Commands,

Scripture

Leviticus 26

³ “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands,

Observation

If … it is a huge word! If you follow God’s command then you will receive God’s blessings, but “if” you choose to ignore God and what God commands then you will receive His wrath. 

If … it is a word that you and I need to think about today. 

What kind of life do you want to experience while you are here on this earth? Do you want a life full of meaning and purpose? 

Do you want a life filled with God’s blessings? 

Or do you want a life that is aimless and that has no meaning? Do you want a life of mere existence or do you want to live an abundant life? 

It is strange that the Israelites after hearing how God would bless obedience chose to live in disobedience. You and I have the same choice today. 

 Application

 I choose to live my life in obedience to God’s commands. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I wonder why people choose to live lives away from You and live in total disobedience to Your commands. Maybe they are somehow blinded to all the wonderful promises in Your Word for those that obey. I don’t understand it. Maybe they never read the scriptures that I know by heart:

    Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. Joshua 1:8

    Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. 

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. 

But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalm 1:1-6 

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O LORD, I Give My Life To You. I Trust In You, My God!

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Leviticus 25; Psalm 25; Psalm 26; Acts 22

O LORD, I Give My Life 

To You.

I Trust In You, My God!

Scripture

Psalm 25

¹ O Lord, I give my life to you.
²     I trust in you, my God! …

Observation

Yesterday when I had a heart cath one of the nurses asked me, “Are you anxious?” I replied, “No, why should I be?” It was funny to watch his face because then he didn’t know what to say to me.

But I wasn’t afraid or anxious. What I dreaded the most was the idea of having to spend a night in a hospital bed (those beds are the worst), but I wasn’t afraid or fearful of what might happen to me during the procedure.

I did come home today with a double overlapping stent in my left anterior artery. So 2 out of my 3 major arteries have been tweaked so far!

Our first memory verse for our 40-day church wide campaign came in handy yesterday as I faced this procedure and all that it could have meant. In this verse God says, “I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born.” (Isaiah 44:2b) God reminded me of that verse and many other verses like that one this past week and they are similar to what we read in Psalm 25 today.

What are you going through today? God cares for you. Why not memorize and meditate on some of God’s great promises that He has for you in His Word.

Application

I will work on week 2 and week 3’s memory verses (“What On Earth Am I Here For?” - Rick Warren’s 40-day campaign).

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your care. Help those that are worried and anxious over things going on in their lives. Give them Your peace. Help them to trust You through it all. I pray for people to be saved this week through the ministry of our church. Continue to bless our church. 

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The Earth Is The LORD’S, And Everything In It. The World And All It’s People Belong To Him.

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Leviticus 23; Leviticus 24; Psalm 24; Acts 21

The Earth Is The LORD’S, And 

Everything In It.

The World And All It’s People Belong To Him.

Scripture

Psalm 24

¹ The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
    The world and all its people belong to him.

Observation

 Could reminder to me this morning that I belong to the LORD. He will take care of me as I go through this surgery. “He is my creator. I was in His care even before I was born.” Isaiah 44:2

Happy Valentines Day to the BEST WIFE IN THE WHOLE WORLD! Nobody compares to you! I love you Kath!

Application

I will put my total trust in Him as I go through this procedure. I am in His Hands.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for doctors and nurses and hospitals, but You are the One in Whom I put my trust. Thank You for taking care of me. No matter what happens this morning I know that I am in Your care. 

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It Is More Blessed To Give Than To Receive

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Leviticus 20; Leviticus 21; Leviticus 22; Acts 20

It Is More

Blessed To Give

Than To Receive

Scripture

Acts 20

³⁵ And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Observation

Working hard to help those in need! This was what the Apostle Paul said that he personally did! He did more than just tell people about Jesus! He also by his example showed his peers how to help others who were in need.

Application

I will strive to be like Paul when it comes to giving and receiving!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am blessed. I have so much. You have been so good to me. Show me how to help those around me that are in need. I pray that You continue to use our church to reach the lost for Christ. Thank You for what You are doing in the lives of so many who are attending Christ Fellowship. 

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I Trust In Your Unfailing Love. I Will Rejoice Because You Have Rescued Me. I Will Sing To The LORD Because He Is Good To Me.

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Leviticus 18; Leviticus 19; Psalm 13; Acts 19

I Trust In Your Unfailing Love.

I Will Rejoice Because You Have Rescued Me.

I Will Sing To The LORD Because He Is Good To Me.

Scripture

Psalm 13

⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love.
    I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

⁶ I will sing to the Lord
    because he is good to me.

Observation

Who do you trust? People will let you down. God will never let you down. Why not trust in His unfailing love?

I will rejoice because God rescued me.

I will sing (though not a good singer) to the LORD because He is good to me.

Application

I will hold on to Psalm 13:5 as I go through some medical tests on Thursday!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I will trust in Your unfailing love. I will rejoice because You have rescued me. I will sing to You because You are so good to me!

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Don’t Be Afraid! Speak Out! Don’t Be Silent!

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Leviticus 15; Leviticus 16; Leviticus 17; Acts 18

Don’t Be Afraid!

Speak Out!

Don’t Be Silent!

Scripture

Acts 18

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.

Observation

The Apostle Paul as tough and fearless as he was needed encouragement from the Lord. He needed for God to tell him to hang in there.

Maybe you need these words today too, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.”

I wonder how many more people in our city belong to God and just need us to find them?

Application

I will look for people that cross my path today and I will be reminded of the fact that they may be the ones that belong to God. I will not be afraid! I will speak out! I will not be silent!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that You still have many people in this city that belong to You. Help me not to be afraid. Help me to speak out. Don’t let me be silent. I know that You are with me.

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Now He Commands Everyone Everywhere To Repent Of Their Sins And Turn To Him

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Leviticus 13; Leviticus 14; Acts 17

Now He Commands Everyone

Everywhere To Repent

Of Their Sins And Turn To Him

Scripture

Acts 17

³⁰ “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.

Observation

Now … the word speaks of immediate action! Everyone & Everywhere … those words should include you and me.

What do you and I need to do right now?

Repent … that word means turn around

We need to turn from “self” and “sins” and we need to turn to God right now!

Why?

Because He commands that we do!

Application

I will keep urging people to repent and turn to God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for changing my life. Thank You for allowing me the privilege of knowing You. Help me share the Good News with as many people as I can while I still can. Thank You for today. Thank You for what You are doing in and through our church. I pray that our church continues to reach our city for Jesus.

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“Sirs, What Must I Do To Be Saved?”

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Leviticus 10; Leviticus 11; Leviticus 12; Acts 16

“Sirs,

What Must I Do

To Be Saved?”

Scripture

Acts 16

²² A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. ²³ They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. ²⁴ So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

²⁵ Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. ²⁶ Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! ²⁷ The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. ²⁸ But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”  

³² And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.

Observation

One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is this story found in Acts 16! Paul and Silas had just been illegally stripped and beaten and yet when the officials ordered this done to them they did not protest. After they were beaten they were thrown into the darkest and most secure part of the dungeon. Their feet were clamped in stocks.

Then at midnight Paul and Silas began to sing and pray. The other prisoners were listening. Then all of Heaven broke loose; there was a massive earthquake and the chains broke off of every prisoner and all of the doors of the prison flew open and yet not prisoner moved. The jailor woke up and assumed all the prisoners had escaped and started to kill himself. Paul shouted, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all still here!”

Can you visualize this scene in your mind? Just think about what must have been going through this jailor’s mind! Paul and Silas were in that jail for only one reason and that was so the jailor and his family could be saved. Paul and Silas suffered being stripped and beaten so a jailor could meet Jesus.

Are we willing to suffer so that others can be drawn closer to Jesus? In the midst of our suffering will we sing and pray?

Application

I will pray for the strength to be like Paul and Silas.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, this is an amazing story of Your love. The jailor didn’t deserve Your love and yet You loved him. I don’t deserve Your love and yet You love me. Help us to be Your witnesses during the good times and during the times of struggle. Help others see Jesus in us.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

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We Should Not Make It Difficult For The Gentiles Who Are Turning To God.

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Leviticus 7; Leviticus 8; Leviticus 9; Acts 15

We Should Not

Make It Difficult

For The Gentiles Who Are Turning To God.

Scripture

Acts 15

¹¹ We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

¹⁹ “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

Observation

As the church expanded through out the region more and more Gentiles (non Jews) were putting their faith in Christ. The Apostles had to remind the other Jewish Christ Followers that everyone is saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.

I hear the same thing by critics today. These critics say something like this; “you need for people to do more to show that they are saved. You can’t share the Gospel at the end of the worship service and expect people to know what they are doing.”

I, of course, would disagree with these critics. The Gospel message in a nutshell is this; “We are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” God came down from Heaven to this earth. He was born in a manger. His name is Jesus. 

Jesus lived a sinless life. He died on a cross for your sins and my sins. He died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins. He was buried and on the third day Jesus came back to life. When you and I place our faith and trust in what Jesus did on the cross for us we have Eternal life. We are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.

Lets not make it difficult for people to turn to God. Lets invite them to follow our Savior.

Application

I will continue to invite people to our church. How about you? How about to this week’s free BBQ?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, don’t let me make things difficult for people that want to follow Jesus. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

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They Stoned Paul And Dragged Him Out Of Town, Thinking That He Was Dead.

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Leviticus 4; Leviticus 5; Leviticus 6; Acts 14

They Stoned Paul

And Dragged Him Out Of Town,

Thinking That He Was Dead.

Scripture

Acts 14

¹⁸ But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.

¹⁹ Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.  

²⁰ But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town.

Observation

This story reminds me of two truths: 1. People can be very fickle. 2. Ministry is very difficult.

One minute the crowd thinks Barnabas and Paul are the gods, Zeus and Hermes and the next minute they stone Paul and drag him out of town thinking he was dead. Praise one moment and brutal criticism and beatings the next.

Paul and Barnabas heal a cripple man who has been crippled for birth and Paul’s thanks for being God’s instrument for that man’s healing was being stoned and left for dead outside the town.

The scriptures say that Paul got up after being stoned and left for dead, he got up and went back in to town. Wow! Ministry is tough.

You and I need to let Pastor Bruce know how much we love him. He and Heather always need our encouragement. I was once in the place that Pastor Bruce is in and I know how difficult it can be. 

As a pastor I know that there are nights without sleep because of very hard decisions that have to be made. I know that you have to deal with some people who can be very fickle. I know that as a pastor you are smack dab in the middle of spiritual warfare!

Application

I will strive to pray daily for Pastor Bruce and Heather. I will do things to encourage them. Will you join me?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for Bruce and Heather that You give them extra strength for today. I pray that You give them wisdom. Bless them. Bless their family. Bless our church through them. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in this world. Bring strong people along side of them that will encourage them and that will help make their ministry successful.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

 31 Days of praying for your pastor -

 https://www.reviveourhearts.com/articles/31-days-of-praying-for-your-pastor/

http://www.enewhope.org/bible/