tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19288333308802682892024-03-12T21:04:08.275-04:00Freedom MinistriesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-76840712814761328712018-11-25T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-25T10:30:01.036-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 21: Helping in My Local Church.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some; but
exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.”
(Hebrews 10:25)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Your
attendance in a church building is not a requirement for your attendance in
Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “church” is actually not the
building you go to and participate in praise in worship and hear a message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “church” is actually the body of
believers who assemble themselves together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As believers, we are brothers and sisters, family, and children of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, it is for our good that we
assemble together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hebrews
tells us that the primary reason we need to associate with other believers is
to exhort one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To lift each
other up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To give praise reports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To bring prayer requests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make us individually stronger and as a
family stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to build
relationships with people we never see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In our technological world, so much of our communication is through
social media and texts and snapchats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, real relationships require face to face talking and conversation
and communication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we come
together, we can converse and pray for one another and lift one another up…
this is why you need to assemble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Working in
our local church also helps builds the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As with any organization, one or two people cannot carry the full
workload.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, while it is not our works
that solidify us a place in Heaven, we are instructed to be Jesus hands and
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our bodies, created in His image,
have two hands and two feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s four
appendages… that’s four people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
go on and count other body parts, we have arms, legs, a torso, a neck, a face,
ears, eyes, and a mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s more
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, if we get real complicated,
we can start naming the muscles and bones and tendons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible says that the church is a
body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, if we are a body, the body is
composed of many parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each part
important, and each part with a job it must do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“For as the
body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being
many, are one body: so also is Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you read
this chapter of the Bible, each part of the body has a function.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, just because you are not an eye, doesn’t
mean you aren’t important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there were
only eyes, how would you hear?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there
were only ears, how would you speak?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
there were only mouths, how would you walk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each member of the body is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each member of the church is important and has a function.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are stronger together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can be strong for each other, and when we
come together as a body, we move and work in accordance and we can reach others
outside of our church walls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes it
may feel like your contribution is less important… but rest assured, it is very
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little toe is not
considered one of the most attractive parts of the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody ever says they were attracted to
someone’s little toe… they may be attracted to the eyes, or the face, or the
smile… but not the little toe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
your balance when walking requires the little toe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every contribution made to the body of Christ
is essential for balance and smooth operation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 21.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-49200831286806678672018-11-24T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-24T10:30:05.498-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 20: Holy Spirit Baptism.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As with
water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism is also a complete submersion, but it is a
complete submersion and surrender to Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of being submerged and covered in
water, we are asking God to completely submerge us, surround us, and cover us
in His Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His Spirit dwells inside
of us from the moment we confess our sins and ask His forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, we want to move to the next level and
live a life fully and completely surrendered to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“I indeed
baptize you with water unto repentance: but He who is coming after me is
mightier than I, whose sandals<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not
worthy to carry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit, and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“For John
truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not
many days from now.” (Acts 1:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“But you
shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The call to
holy spirit baptism is a call to be completely filled and overwhelmed with Holy
Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a call for us to burn with
desire for God and for His Word and for His work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a call for a fire to be ignited in us
and for us to have a passion for Him that overflows into every aspect of our
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, it is a call for us to be
empowered to spread the good news and the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How do you receive the baptism of
Holy Spirit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You
ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as you asked for forgiveness
of your sins, you ask God to baptize you in His Holy Spirit and completely fill
your life and cover your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How do I know I have been filled with
Holy Spirit?</span></i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You
believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You obey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As you grow in your faith with Jesus, you will find that you actually
“feel” God’s Spirit and His presence with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There will also be times when you feel nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does not deal with each of us the same,
He loves us and deals with us individually and uniquely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are each individual and unique human
beings, we should not expect that we would hear, and react the same to God’s
presence and His Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are
fruits of the Spirit that will develop in you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Bible teaches us that we are known by our fruits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our faith, our Christianity, our beliefs are
not displayed by how we dress, how long our hair is… but by the fruit our lives
produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Galatians 5:22-23 teach us that
a Spirit filled life produces love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are
also gifts of the Spirit, or ways that Holy Spirit chooses to work in and
through us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holy Spirit empowers us and
uses us to operate through nine gifts found in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith,
healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse tongues, and
interpretation of tongues are all manifestations of Holy Spirit and He uses
these gifts to work through us to bless, to touch, and to profit His
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is one very important thing
to always keep in mind, the gifts of Holy Spirit are used to benefit the church
and to bring honor and glory to God… never to condemn, put down, tear down, or
destroy others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God may use
you in a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may have an urge to
pray a prayer of healing over someone’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You may lay hands on a person to pray and they are healed or
blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A scripture may come to your
mind and you feel the need to speak it to a friend or loved one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are all ways that God works through us
with His Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Differences
in sects of religion come from varying beliefs in the gifts of Holy
Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some churches preach and teach
that none of the gifts are operational in today’s church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some churches teach and preach that all nine
gifts are operational.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other churches
profess that only certain gifts are operational, and some churches preach and
teach that unless you operate in the gifts you are not saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latter statement is most true regarding
the gift of speaking in tongues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
churches preach that unless you speak in an unknown language, or tongue, that
you have not been baptized or filled with Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God’s Word
declares that He does not change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has
always existed, and He always will exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is the beginning and the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, God exists eternally in three parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, His gifts did not appear with the
beginning of the church, and they cannot disappear now that the church is
established… His gifts exist eternally, just like Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our real
desire should not be to prove, disprove, or convince anyone of the operation of
specific gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you desire a
particular gift from Holy Spirit, ask Him for that gift and to use you in that
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, your primary focus should
never be on a particular gift, but always on the giver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Therefore,
don’t concentrate on receiving a particular thing from God, but instead
concentrate on giving Him your every thing and allowing Him to use you in the
way He desires.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be willing, humble,
and obedient to allowing Him to operate in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Realize that the only requirement for Heaven
is confessing Jesus as Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether you
shout, dance, cry, or speak in an unknown tongue does not guarantee your
salvation, make you any better of a Christian, or mean that you have reached
some “level” of spirituality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the
foot of the cross, we are all on equal ground and God knows exactly how to best
use each of us for His kingdom and for His glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Baptism of
the Holy Spirit is simply a surrender fully to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a life that says “use me”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not proof of how much you read your
Bible, how often you pray, or how much tithes you pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a life that says, “God I belong to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be full of your Holy Spirit and
develop in your ways and be empowered to reach others for you”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 20.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-4810128629903072752018-11-23T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-23T10:30:06.754-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 19: Water Baptism.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Baptism is a
beautiful picture of what our Lord and Savior has done for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being completely submersed in water
symbolizes the burial of the old man, the washing over top of us with water
symbolizes the washing away of our sins, and the rising out of the water
symbolizes the resurrection of the new man arising and walking forth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Or you do
not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death,
that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we also should walk in newness of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death,
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this,
that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done
away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For he who has died has been freed from sin.”
(Romans 6:3-7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus
Himself was baptized prior to His death and resurrection by John the
Baptist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With His own baptism, He </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">foreshadowed the death and resurrection that was to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Following
Jesus example, we too should be baptized in water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only is it symbolic, but it also publicly
expresses the change that has taken place in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside of us, we have laid down our old self
and asked forgiveness of our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
blood has cleansed us and made us a new person in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water baptism allows us an avenue to
outwardly show what has taken place inwardly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 19.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-18988416744120724192018-11-22T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-22T10:30:00.471-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 18: Communion.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“And when He
had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is
broken for you: do this in remembrance of Me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup
is the new covenant in My blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes
also called “The Lords Supper” or “The Last Supper”, communion is a tradition,
started by Jesus, that we do in remembrance of the sacrifice He made in dying
on the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The original last supper
was a Passover feast dinner held with Jesus and all twelve of His disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at this feast that Jesus told them one
of them would betray him and also where He washed the disciples feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By sharing in the breaking of bread and the
drinking out of the same cup of wine, they were sharing in the pending
crucifixion of their Master and Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today, we eat a cracker and drink a small bit of juice in remembrance of
what Jesus has done for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
symbolizing that we too, share in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
by accepting Him, believing in Him, and living our lives for Him on a daily
basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus body
was beaten, bruised, tortured, and spit on as He gave His life for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His physical body was broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We symbolize this as we eat of the unleavened
bread, or cracker, that represents His body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His blood was shed as they placed a crown oF thorns on His head, and as
they whipped Him, and as the nails pressed into His hands and feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We symbolize the blood that washes away our
sins with the drink of the grape juice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Communion is
also a celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In accepting Jesus
as our Savior, confessing our sins, being cleansed from our unrighteousness and
made righteous and holy in God’s eyes through Him, communion is more than just
a remembrance of the pain Jesus suffered, it is also a celebration of the
beauty of our salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should make
us more thankful and more earnest in our relationship with Jesus as we
celebrate what He suffered so that we could be whole, healed, set free, and
saved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Communion
should not be taken lightly though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
one of us needs to search our own hearts and souls prior to the taking of
communion, confessing any sins that we have yet to repent of, and also asking
God to search our hearts for any areas of our lives we have refused to
surrender to Him, that we do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Communion is not required for your salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Communion does not save you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Communion does not get you into Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, communion is a tradition that we do to
honor, reflect, and celebrate what Jesus did for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 18.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-52314011130986509392018-11-21T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-21T10:30:18.565-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 17: Acceptance, Rejection, and Getting Along With Others.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“He who does
not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Bible
was never intended to be a book written to point out all the things that we as
people do wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor was it written to
condemn us, shame us, or make us feel guilty about the sin in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible was written so that we might know,
understand, and recognize the love of our Heavenly Father who chose to create
us, and love us, and decided to die for us before the world was even
formed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before you and I were even born,
He had already decided that He wanted to accept us, love us, and offer us His
mercy and grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At one point
during Jesus earthly ministry, some lawyers were trying to trick Him so they
could accuse Him of blasphemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
asked Him which commandment of the law was the greatest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are 613 commandments written out in the
Old Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us think there’s
just Ten Commandments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
actually 613 commandments in total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s a lot of rules and regulations to try and live by!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s impossible for anyone to be able to
remember and keep all those laws!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus
answered their question by saying:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“The first
of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the LORD is one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength:
this is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this, You shall love
your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
(Mark 12:29-31)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And, in the
book of Matthew, Jesus said, on these two commandments, “hang all the law and
the prophets”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What He meant was that
everything taught in the Bible is completely summed up by these two
commandments… love God and love people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Not everyone
is going to share your beliefs on every topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our world is full of violence and rejection and hurt that is caused
because people do not agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others
around you will have lifestyles and behaviors that you do not believe to be
“right” or good or even Christian-like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But, you and I must act in love regardless
of how we feel</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus did
not condone sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, He also did not
condemn the sinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that He came
so that sinners might be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
someone is sentenced to death row and condemned to die, they are left hopeless
and without possibility of being saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was not Jesus mission, nor should it be ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He came to die on the cross so that all the
rules and laws that people could not keep (all 613 of them) could be
“fulfilled”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means when you mess up
and break one law (big or little) that God doesn’t kick you to the curb and
take away your place in Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
offers you forgiveness and grace and mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, we have to remember that we have been forgiven and offer love
to those around us who might not have yet experienced the love of Almighty God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even those who have experienced Him, but
still choose to live inappropriately (in our opinion), Jesus says we are to
love them, as He loves them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you
study the teaching of Jesus, you will find that His harshest words were never
directed at the sinner people!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He showed
compassion to those living sinful lives and caught up in sinful ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His harshest criticisms were for the
“religious” people who kept track of whether everyone else was following the
rules or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was those people He
called a “generation of vipers” and “whitewashed tombs” and “hypocrites”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The religious people tended to point out
everyone else’s failures and shortcomings, professing themselves to be saintly,
holy, and righteous, all the while having their own sins hidden and concealed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No one is
without sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us have failures and
are prone to make mistakes and get it wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes we get it wrong a little and sometimes we get it wrong a
lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, regardless Jesus loves us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">People will
choose to change, or they will choose to live in their sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is their choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus offered love and hope and mercy and
grace. He was “full” of grace and truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are to offer the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may
disagree with them, we may believe their lifestyle is wrong, we may think their
choices are bad… but it is not our responsibility to convict and condemn them
of their sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is Jesus job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is our job to follow His Word and to love
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love them, because He loves us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Each and
every person on this Earth has the freedom and the right and the option to love
and serve and worship God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all
created by Him, for Him, to worship Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We cannot inspect someone’s heart or motives and determine the level of
their commitment to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not know
the struggles, the pain, the hardships that they have faced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, Jesus tells us to act in love, and
He will judge their sin and motivate them to change and be more like Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 17.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-71986459973591213542018-11-20T15:39:00.000-05:002018-11-20T15:39:25.651-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 16: I Have to Change.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Change is not change until it’s
changed.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The idea of
change is prevalent in our society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
people are open to the idea of change, others like to hold onto the same ideas,
theologies, and ways of life and are not proponents of change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Christians, followers of Jesus, we are
called to be the likeness of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s what it means to be a “Christian”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The suffix “ian” means “to be like”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that we are reborn and new creatures, we
are called to be like Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, being
like Jesus will require us to change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“That you
put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that you put on the new man which was
created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians
4:22-24)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There should
be a difference in the old you and the new you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And, it has
nothing to do with what clothes you wear, how long your hair is, if you wear
jewelry or makeup, or have piercings or tattoos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The change of a life in Christ comes from
within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s Holy Spirit now dwells in
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gives you the power to love
people, even people who you might not have been able to stand in the same room
with before, He will now empower you to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He gives you the power to be kind, and gentle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be giving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, He gives you the freedom to not be bound by sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you and I must be willing participants if
change is to take place</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does
not rip away all your old lusts, desires, thoughts, feelings, and actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice the scripture above says “that you put
off”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s up to you, and me, to make
decisions on a daily basis that we now know to be the right choice because
God’s Holy Spirit is guiding us and leading us to be like Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used to hear a lot of the term WWJD, What
Would Jesus Do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, while it might not
always be easy, seem practical, or be what we want, we will feel the nudge of
Holy Spirit leading us to react differently, to act in love and kindness
instead of rage and anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following His
leading brings about a changed lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When He directs us to not go to the bar or club, or not to hang out with
rowdy or mean friends any longer, we follow Him little by little, day by day,
and we find ourselves living a changed lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People notice a difference in us, in our
words, our actions, and our behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, it requires our willingness to be humble and submissive and obey
Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There will
be times you want to talk, act, think, or behave like you did before you were
saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That doesn’t mean you have lost
your salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just means that your
flesh man, the old man, is overriding the spirit man, the new man, and you have
to make a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to choose
what you do, what you say, and how you act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Changes in our lives are up to us to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives us the freedom of choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We choose Christ, we choose to follow Him,
and it’s up to us to choose Him over and over each and every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 16.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-68697657609950701092018-11-19T12:05:00.003-05:002018-11-19T12:05:58.349-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 15: You Are A Spirit.“God is Spirit: and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24).<br />
<br />
You and I are spiritual beings living in a human body, having a human experience. The part of us that make us “us”, is our spirit and our soul. It is this part of us that will live on forever in eternity. Our physical body was created from dust and to dust it will return, it will disintegrate in the ground, or be turned into ashes… but our spirit and our souls will live on.<br />
<br />
And, we will either live on with God, or be separated from Him. Our salvation, my salvation, your salvation guarantees that you will live with God eternally in Heaven, in a new heavenly body.<br />
But, as a spiritual being, God doesn’t desire that you wait until you get to Heaven to live in communion and fellowship with Him, He desires that your spirit and His spirit connect and communicate and dwell together now, on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
You cannot see God. But, you see the things that God created. You see the sun, the moon, the stars, the plants, the animals, and all things around us. And the Bible tells us that God created all things, and all things were made by Him and for Him. The invisibility of God is proven by the things which are visible. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” (Romans 1:20).<br />
<br />
The invisible power of God, His Spirit, dwells in you. Your invisible spirit desires and longs to communicate with the One who created it and gave it life. There are times when you “feel” something inside of you urging you to say something to someone, to give, to help someone in need, to pray for someone, to call someone, to sing a song, or to lift your hands in worship. This is the Spirit of God leading you and directing you. And, as you obey in small things, He leads you to obey in larger things. Through prayer, and praise, and worship our spirits commune with God’s Spirit, though we may not understand it, He leads us to honor Him by doing physical things like giving, speaking, praying, and helping.<br />
<br />
You will also find yourself with a greater desire to know God’s Word. To study it, and to learn from it, to read it, and to follow it. This is because your spirit inside of you communes with God’s Spirit and has a relationship with Him. And, as with any relationship, we desire to know more of the other, to find out what pleases the other, to learn how to build a stronger communication with the other. We do the same with God. David put it best when he said “deep calls unto deep” (Psalm 42:7). The inward part of you desires and cries out for more of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
Read John Chapter 15.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-51564593661341648002018-11-18T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-18T10:30:08.840-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 14: What Does It Really Mean to Be a Child of God?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“But as many
as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those
who believe in His name:” (John 1:12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you
accept Jesus as your personal Savior, the Bible declares that you now have
power and authority as God’s Son or Daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Bible tells us that we are “joint-heirs” with Christ (Romans 8:17)
and this means that we have a place of sonship and authority in the kingdom of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our American
society does not have a kingdom hierarchy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other countries governments, and during Bible times, they operated with
a “Kindgom” culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a kingdom, the
king is the ultimate leader, authority, and governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He makes the laws, he decrees the laws, he
enforces the laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beneath him, his sons
and daughters also rule and have authority, and carry the full backing of the
kingdom with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a prince or
princess of the kingdom makes a decree, it is accepted and carried out just the
same as if the king himself had given the order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the prince or princess travels to another
territory or kingdom, they are given the same respect and honor the king would
be given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As children
of God, we walk in authority in the kingdom of Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan, demons, and enemies of Heaven have no
authority over us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we speak, we
have the authority to declare healing, to declare miracles, to speak and bring
forth life because the full backing of the Kingdom of Heaven is behind us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As children of God, we walk and talk and live
like Jesus because He said Himself that we would do the same, and “even greater
works”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John 14:12).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We share in the blessings, relationship, and
fellowship with God that Jesus shared with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As you read
your Bible, you will find blessings and promises made, and every one of those
blessings and promises and gifts belongs to you as a child of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are just a few:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are set free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John 8:32)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Isaiah 53:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are strong and capable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Philippians 4:13)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are more than a conqueror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 8:37)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are God’s workmanship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians 2:10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are protected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Isaiah 54:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are strengthened by God’s glorious
power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Colossians 1:11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are called God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Timothy 1:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are chosen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Thessalonians 1:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are the temple of the Holy
Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Corinthians 6:19)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are forgiven of all your sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ephesians 1:7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">You are greatly loved by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 1:7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Never forget
who you are in Christ and the Kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into
your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 14.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-15238948161255579802018-11-17T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-17T10:30:05.824-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 13: Worship.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Praise and
Worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words are used together so
often in church that we tend to think of them interchangeably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, there is a difference in praising God
and in worshiping Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As we said
yesterday, praise is primarily a declaration that you make speaking highly,
favorably, and admiringly of your God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You need to be able to praise Him and speak good and rejoice regardless
of how you feel or regardless of Him doing anything for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Worship is a
much deeper commitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worship involves
surrender of the heart and mind and soul to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To commit oneself to Him in such a way that
you are overwhelmingly submitted to Him, not just in a church environment, but
in every aspect of your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The word
worship means “reverence and adoration of, to pay homage to”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, when you pay homage to someone, you
surrender yourself publicly and reverently to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You live according to their rules and
principles, no matter what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have
allegiance to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Old Testament
times, and in some cultures still today, when the king, or lord of the land is
present, homage was most often paid by laying face down on the ground before
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When kings would conquer
territories, they would force the captives to surrender in this manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why you will see people pray and even
worship in church face down on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is an act of complete surrender, humbleness, and homage to God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How do we
live out worship on a daily basis?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Surrendering in church seems easy enough, but what about daily?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you
have allegiance to a king or a lord, you live according to their
authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living a life of worship to
God means that we live according to His authority in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We desire to know His Word and then to keep
His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We present ourselves to Him,
as our King of Kings and our Lord of Lords and we give ourselves to Him…
daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living a life, daily, that honors
Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“But be
doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
(Romans 12:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The He said to them all, If
anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Our act of humbleness and submissiveness is our worship given to
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not just something that
happens when we sing at church, but a lifestyle that we live, dedicating
ourselves to our Savior and our Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Read John Chapter 13.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-8935373279840436692018-11-16T10:30:00.000-05:002018-11-16T10:30:00.855-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 12: Praise.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“I will
extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless Your name forever and ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day will I bless You; and I will praise
Your name forever and ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great is the
LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalm
145:1-3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When we
think of the word praise, we typically think of being in a church with hands
lifted or eyes closed singing a worship song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, the word praise means “to express approval or admiration of
someone, to applaud, to honor, to glorify, to exalt”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, praise is something that we should
continually be doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is expressing
our admiration and offering our applause and honor to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only our thanks, but our honor and admiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the scripture says, we should do this
every day for He is great and greatly to be praised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How do we do
this every day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When we
speak of Him, we speak about His goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We speak about His love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We speak
about His salvation and the grace that He has freely given us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We speak about the wonder of His creation and
how He protects us and provides for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We speak highly and favorably of Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, speak
about the things He has done for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But be sure that your admiration for Him goes beyond just thankfulness
for blessings or miracles in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There will be times, as we have said, that you don’t feel anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be days when you don’t see His
hand working, or you pray and are not sure your prayers are being answered, or
even heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in those times, you
must still have an admiration and love and praise for God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Praise is
also a weapon of spiritual warfare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
some point in your Christian walk, you will face opposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it be from old friends, family,
people who want to talk about you, or something you used to like being involved
in, there will be “warfare” or a battle in your mind, perhaps in your
conversation, or even in your lifestyle between the old and new person of
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise is one of the best ways to
defeat all the enemies in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Regardless of whether you have had every prayer answered or not, you
should be able to stand up and talk about how good God is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Old Testament, when the children of
Israel went to battle, they would put their singers and dancers first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In front of all the fighters and weapons,
when they marched to battle, they marched singing and praising God… and they
hadn’t even started fighting yet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because, praising God regardless of whether you have an answer to your
prayers or not means you are really praising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It means your love for Him is not based on what He does or does not do…
it is based on your admiration, respect, and honor of Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, that is real, true praise!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Make every
day a day you sing songs of rejoicing and speak highly of your God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 12.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-21311654573519426582018-11-15T12:22:00.003-05:002018-11-15T12:22:47.109-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 11: Trials, Temptations, Doubt, Fear and Worry.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes,
as Christians, Jesus followers, believers, church folks, we think that we
should be worry free, problem free, doubt free, trial free, and free from temptations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, some churches actually teach that if
you are tempted to sin, you are not really saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or that if you have worry or fear or doubt
you are not really saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is simply
not true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Day one of this devotional
taught you that God’s Word is true, regardless of how you feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The introduction taught you that your
salvation was not earned, but given, as a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, no matter how you feel, if you have confessed your sin, repented,
and asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then you are saved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Even so,
there will still be days you face temptation, fear, trials, worry, and doubt…
just like you did before you were saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God is now working in you, to make you a better you, to mold you into
His image, but you still have tendencies, you still have desires, you still
have wants, and you still have things you like to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have prayed a prayer asking for
forgiveness and God assures us in His Word that our sins have been washed white
as snow… but you have not forgotten how to sin, or how to worry, or how to
doubt, or how to fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s normal to
have these emotions and these feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s normal to be tempted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
faced all these emotions and trials too when He lived on Earth as a man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“For we do
not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in
all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus faced
day to day oppositions and temptations just like us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">He was hungry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">He was tired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">He was sad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">He wept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">He hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">He was disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">He was betrayed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">He was spat on, mocked, laughed at,
beaten, and tortured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Imagine
having to eat dinner and even wash the feet of someone who was going to turn
you over to be tortured, beaten, and then crucified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus ate with, and washed Judas feet, just hours
before Judas betrayed him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s not the
trial and the temptation, the fear, the worry, or the doubt that comes our way,
but how we deal with the situation that makes a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of people say “God will not give me
more than I can handle.” But the truth is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">life
is ALWAYS more than you can handle</b> on your own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to run to Jesus with your troubles
and let Him guide and direct you through them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t despair that you have a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Go to Jesus and pray about your problem and let Him show you the action
that will move you forward in making you more into His image.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He helps us
be able to bear the burdens of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“No
temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man: but God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but
with temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear
it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He asked us
in His Word to lean on Him, rely on Him, trust in Him, and cast all our cares
on Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means to throw them on Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Casting all
your care upon him; for he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Cast your
burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you: He shall never permit the
righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">His Word
declares that He is a rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a
fortress, and a place of refuge or hiding for those that feel overwhelmed and
need Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of sitting and
meditating on your fear and worry and doubt, or giving in to sin temptations
that you know will get you in trouble or do more harm than good… hide yourself
away in a quiet place, alone with your Bible, and begin to read and pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let God be the place you go to and tell Him
about your troubles instead of posting them on Facebook or social media or even
calling and texting other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“He who
dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the
Almighty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will say of the LORD, He is
my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you are
afraid or worried and don’t know where to turn, read all of Psalm 91.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God protects you, He hears you, He knows what
you’re going through, turn to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 11.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-25981604086816821692018-11-14T11:16:00.005-05:002018-11-14T11:16:59.153-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 10: Tithing and Giving.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A tithe is
defined as ten percent of your income voluntarily paid as a contribution to a
religious establishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A very
popular, often quoted, scripture in regards to tithing says “Bring all the
tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in
this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven,
and pour out for you such blessing, that there will not be room enough to
receive it.” (Malachi 3:10).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the Old
Testament, God set a law in place that the first tenth of all their increase
was to be brought and given to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They
had cattle, land, wheat, and fruit and vegetable harvests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A principle known as “first fruits” was how
they lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The firstborn calf, or the
first firstborn lamb, or the first harvested fruits were dedicated and set
aside for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our modern economy, we
have money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, our “first fruits”
becomes setting aside ten percent of our paycheck and earnings first, before we
pay bills or spend on anything else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">But,
isn’t tithing an Old Testament law and not required for believers in the New
Testament?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Is
God going to punish me if I don’t tithe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Will
I still go to Heaven if I don’t tithe?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As you study
the teachings of Jesus, you learn that He spoke about money more than anything
else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our modern economy, money is
not the root of all evil… but it is the “love of money” that is the root of all
evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus teaches us that laying up
treasures in Heaven, our willingness to return to God His set aside portion of
our income, and giving to the poor, are much more beneficial than having large
bank accounts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we learn to return
to God that portion that belongs to Him, we invest in His kingdom, we are
promised that we will see Him operate greatly with the ninety percent we have
left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we refuse to return to Him
the set aside ten percent, it doesn’t mean that He punishes us, but we are not
following His principle of “first fruits” and therefore the results of His principles
do not touch our lives either. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, no,
He doesn’t “punish” us, but we cannot, and should not, expect the promised
blessing of “pour out for you such blessing, that there will not be room enough
to receive it”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Isn’t tithing and giving the same
thing?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tithing is
returning to God the portion that already belongs to Him, the ten percent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving is when you go above and beyond and
take from your portion, the ninety percent, and give it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your friend loans you their car for a week
while your car is being worked on, and at the end of the week, you return the
keys to your friend… you did not just “give” your friend a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You returned to them what already belonged to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you take your own personal
funds and go and buy your friend a car… that would be giving them a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the difference between tithing and
giving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tithing returns to God the
portion that is already His.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving
takes your portion and sows it into the Kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said, “when you give…” in Matthew
6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He expected us to be willing to give.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John Chapter
10.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-77427532914980078282018-11-13T09:45:00.002-05:002018-11-13T09:45:51.434-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 9: Sharing Your Faith.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sharing your
faith in God with others is a commandment for all Christ followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus called His disciples, He said to
them, Come, I will make you fishers of men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As He prepared to return to Heaven after His resurrection, He commanded
them to go and make disciples, to keep His commandments and to teach others His
Word and commandments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharing the good
news is what the body of Christ is supposed to be doing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But, what if people ask me questions and I don’t know the answer?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am not good at memorizing scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am not a preacher.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am not good at talking in public.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You do not
have to a preacher, teacher, or Bible scholar in order to share Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, you do not have to know all the answers
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have been following this
guide, then you are reading God’s Word daily and hiding His Word in your heart,
and if someone asks you a question you cannot answer, please feel free to ask
us, that is why we are here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
sharing the gospel of Jesus doesn’t mean you have to give someone a speech, or
quote Bible verses at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharing
Jesus with the world can be done in a multitude of ways!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Look people in the eye and attentively
listen while they talk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Hold open the door and say “hello”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Invite someone who’s struggling to
church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Hold hands with someone whose hurting
and pray with them… just talk to God and ask Him to help in their situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Get a copy of this guide and give it to
friend who is unsure or who wants to read their Bible and not sure how.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Read the Bible with a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book of John is easy to read and
understand… which is why it’s where you’re starting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Show someone love by being kind and
helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">When you share your faith, you are
ministering to the needs of others, and you are being Jesus disciple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“Go therefore, and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Amen.” (Matthew
28:19-20)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Read John Chapter 9.</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-57701442392371891022018-11-12T10:19:00.005-05:002018-11-12T10:19:59.756-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 8: Be thankful.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is
always something to be thankful for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It may sound
cliché because there will be days you struggle to find the silver lining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be days when nothing goes right,
the struggle is real, doubt and fear and worry try to grip your mind, and God
seems far away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not think that because you have a life now
committed to serving God that everything is going to be easy all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Life is
demanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was even hard for Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible tells us there were times that
Jesus needed to be away from everyone, including His most trusted twelve
disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were times He sent them
away so He could be alone and pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus was God, all powerful and almighty, yet He lived as we do, as a
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was tempted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was upset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He suffered
loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was talked about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was despised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was put down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was mocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was spit on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was beaten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was crucified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do not think
that you are alone, or wrong, for struggling with life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Difficulties come to us all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have fears, heartaches, pain, hurts,
sickness, death, trials, and days that nothing goes right… life happens to all
of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But, there
is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No matter what you face, having an attitude of thankfulness is
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important that when you
pray and talk to God, that you keep a thankful heart, in spite of your
problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, if you can’t think of
anything else to be thankful for, remember that Jesus died on the cross for you,
and your sins are forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are a
forgiven, loved, child of the most High God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
God.” (Philippians 4:6).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Enter into
His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”
(Psalm 100:4).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“…Saying,
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power and
might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 7:12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 8.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-85833851717871353622018-11-11T10:00:00.000-05:002018-11-11T10:00:04.443-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 7: Go to church.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Your church
family is a very important part of your growth as a child of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need a church family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need a family that supports you, loves
you, desires to help you, teaches you, and provides opportunities for you to
help others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God is everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can just
worship Him at home.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I like to visit different churches.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m so busy, Sunday is my only time off and I want to rest and sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I don’t like church because so many people in church do bad things.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All of these
are potentially valid reasons for not wanting to attend church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Paul wrote to us, “Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And let us consider one another in order to
stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the
more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The primary reason for church is so that as
members of the body of Christ, we can encourage and help one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can communicate with each other, we can
ask questions and get answers, we can pray for each other, we can come together
and be united as God’s people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Church is a
place we come to worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, you can,
and should, worship every day whether you are in a church or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You certainly can visit other churches, but
God does desire us to be faithful, as He is faithful, and to support our church
family… after all, it is hard to be encouraging when you do not know the people
you are with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we all are tired and
have busy lives and sometimes it is hard to get up on Sunday mornings and make
it to church, or to come back on Sunday night, or even on Wednesday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, yes, the Bible doesn’t tell us that we
must attend church so many services or hours per week…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But, think
about a vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A vehicle can get you
where you need to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, if the
vehicle is out of gas it isn’t going anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can turn the key one thousand times, but until you put some gas in
it, it won’t start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can press the
pedal all the way to the floor, but without gas, it’s just sitting still.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We need
fuel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we have bad days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be honest, life is not easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hurt, we get broken, we have situations in
life we don’t understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, sometimes
we need fuel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need the encouragement
to keep going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, we feel great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, God has answered our prayer, the
situation worked out, and life is good for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe somebody else can use our encouragement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Church is all of us giving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Church is all of us receiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Church is the gas station for our
vehicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We come and we get fuel for
our souls and spirits through music, messages, and fellowshipping together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And, the
people doing bad things, don’t think about those things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that they, just like you, are a
body, soul, and spirit that needs fuel and Heavenly food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does not want anyone to die and go to
hell… no matter how bad their life seems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all
should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pray for them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 7.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-74175764729129287562018-11-10T10:11:00.000-05:002018-11-10T10:11:04.141-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 6: Be fed and live.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today’s
reading is John chapter 6, in which Jesus says “Most assuredly, I say to you,
he who believes in Me has everlasting life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness,
and are dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the bread which
comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.” (John 6:47-50).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You are
person made up of three parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have
a body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your body you are familiar with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we speak of the soul, we are talking
about your heart, mind, conscience, will, and emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your spirit is the life inside of the body …
it’s the “real” you that will live on eternally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without the physical body to house your
spirit being, you would be an invisible spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are all spiritual beings having a human body experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When our human body ceases to function, the
spirit person will live on eternally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The question is where will the spirit person reside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God created
humans in His image as spirit beings and gave us a human form to house our
spirits and souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He created us to have
dominion over this earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To rule the
Earth, to work the Earth, to prosper upon the Earth, to live upon the Earth with
Heavenly qualities and characteristics and ways of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as most of us have heard the story told,
sin in the Garden of Eden, separated humans from the beautiful walk with God He
wanted them to have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as humans
created more humans, sin produced more sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It doesn’t mean that a newborn baby is mean or evil, but that as that
newborn is raised, he or she is taught sin because we live in a sinful
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, even if you turned off the
TV’s and radio’s, and moved into a remote location with no social interaction,
because of our inherit nature, we are still sinners before God, no matter how
good or bad we think we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
no TV’s or radios, bad music, magazines, internet, or guns in Adam and Eve’s
time, and their son Cain still killed his brother Able.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin is simply reproduced as humans
reproduce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And, the
Bible says that the result of sin in our life is death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We all know
that without food, our physical body will die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Without salvation and spiritual food, our spirit man will die as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, by dying in sin, the Bible
tells us that our spirits will be sent to an eternity in hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell is a real place where there will there
be no hope of ever having a relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be no hope of salvation, no light,
no water, and it will last forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But, Jesus
offers us hope and a future now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
tells us that thousands of years earlier, when God’s people were physically hungry
and needed food, God sent them bread for food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He tells them that their spirits are starving and hungry for food,
hungry for real and eternal life… and the food they need is Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need to turn to Him and accept Him and
believe on Him, and then, not only will their spirits not be hungry, but their
spirits will never die, meaning they will never be sent to hell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus came
to this Earth for no other purpose than to die for our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, He performed miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, He healed sick people, and He opened
blind eyes, and He healed deaf ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
also cast out demons and spoke to the wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, His primary reason for coming was to die on the cross, shedding His
blood for our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sacrificed His
life so that our spirits will never have to be separated from Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not now, and not eternally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once our physical bodies cease to exist, our
spirit man will live on in Heaven with Him forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 6.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-85980863519676527072018-11-09T10:04:00.001-05:002018-11-09T10:04:43.780-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 5: Meditation.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Meditation
does not mean sitting cross-legged on the floor and chanting “oooohhhhmmmm”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Meditation
is pondering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Memorizing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going over and over and over a thought in
your mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God declares
that we are to meditate on His Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“This Book
of the Law shall not depart from your mouth; but you shall meditate in it day
and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For then you will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God desires
us to focus on His Word, not on our problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To focus on Him, and not on ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Have you
ever worried about something?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
hurt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A problem?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A situation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You found yourself thinking about it all day long, every day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have ever worried, then you already
know how to meditate!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just change what
you’re thinking about to be God’s Word and His promise, not that problem!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Take a
scripture, write it on your index card, and carry it with you today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at it throughout the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repeat it to yourself over and over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about its meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is meditation and memorization of
scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are hiding God’s Word in
your heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today’s
reading is John Chapter 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One verse you
could ponder, and meditate on today is verse 24.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Most
assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me
has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from
death into life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What does
this verse mean to you today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 5.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-60417070696878778992018-11-08T10:14:00.001-05:002018-11-08T10:14:38.992-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 4: Study the scriptures.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Studying
scripture is very different from just reading it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we study it, we strive to memorize it,
take individual words and learn their meaning, understand the context, and most
importantly, make the Word of God personal to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His Word is a love letter to you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is personal for you, just like your
relationship with God is personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is why
I recommend a pen, highlighter, notebook, and index cards when you read the
Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If a
particular scripture really speaks to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If it jumps off the page and just “hits home” with a question you have,
or a problem you have, or a situation you are facing, take the time to write
that scripture down on your index cards or in your journal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have particular scriptures that I write
down on cards and carry with me, or tape to the wall near my bed, or in my
bathroom, or have on my desk at work… and when I am having a rough day (because
we all do), I look at my cards to remind myself what God’s Word says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If a
particular word or phrase jumps out at you, highlight it, circle it, underline
it… These bring your attention to it the next time you read this passage of
scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, don’t be surprised if
the next time you read the scripture, something else jumps out at you, or “hits
home”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Word of God is “alive”, it
isn’t just words on a page, but it is the very breath of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, when we study the words, and take the
time to ponder over a scripture, the meaning becomes clearer to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“For the
word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews
4:12, KJV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Say what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you are using
Blueletterbible.org, or the blueletterbible app, you can click on, or press a
verse number, and it will take you to the options for that verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One option is the “Interlinear Concordance”
which takes every word in the verse and defines it in Hebrew or Greek and gives
you the biblical definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
prefer, you can also use Google and search for “quick bible definition”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, you can buy or borrow a Bible concordance
or dictionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look up the word “quick”
in this scripture, you will find it means “alive” or “living”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To quicken something means to bring it to
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“For the
word of God is alive, and powerful…” The scripture takes on even more meaning
when you understand what the words mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is also how reading different translations helps further and
heighten our understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For the
Word of God is alive and powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit,
between joint and marrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It exposes our
innermost thoughts and desires”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(NLT).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Write
scriptures, look up words, write definitions, and read the Word of God as if it
was personally written to you (because it was).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“… It exposes my innermost thoughts and desires.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“For God so loved (name) that He gave His
only begotten Son”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make it personal to
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-91704376247649894232018-11-07T09:42:00.000-05:002018-11-07T09:42:07.673-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 3: Read your Bible.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You should
be doing this daily now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reading the
Bible is important to your walk with God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Contrary to
popular belief, the Bible is not a list of what you can and cannot do in order
to get to go to Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible is a
book of love, promises, encouragement, help, and instruction on who God is, and
all the wonderful things He has planned for your life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It teaches you, guides you, directs you, and
helps you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, it was written for
Christians!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was written for those who
love God to know more about Him and to understand more about Him, His Kingdom,
and His way of living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reading your
Bible is how you understand who God is, who Jesus is, and who Holy Spirit
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You understand what it means to be a
Christian and all the blessings and promises available to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You understand what pleases God and what does
not please Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your Word I have hidden
in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light
to my path.” (Psalm 119:105).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s Word
will guide you in all aspects of life, but you have to know what His Word
says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Which
version of the Bible should I read?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Bible was not originally written in English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The New Testament was originally written in
Greek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, since the books were written
by various authors, they differ in tone, but they all share the same theme,
Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At Freedom
Ministries we typically use the King James Version (KJV) or the New King James
Version (NKJV) when we preach and teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other translations can be helpful to understand difficult passages of
scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most people have access to a
smartphone or laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BibleGateway.com
is an excellent resource, and has an app, with different translations of the
Bible that make passages easier to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Blueletterbible.org is also an excellent resource with different
versions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can search for a scripture
and then change versions to read that scripture in different translations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some favorite translations to look at are the
NLT (New Living Translation), AMP (Amplified), and ESV (English Standard
Versions).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But, isn’t
the KJV the only “real” Bible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible
was originally written in Hebrew and Greek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anything in English is a translation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The most widely accepted translation is the KJV, however, reading the
scriptures in other translations heightens our understanding and helps us learn
and glean more from God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
definitely not wrong, nor is it a sin, to read the Bible in various versions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 3.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-25783918736606708272018-11-06T09:36:00.003-05:002018-11-06T09:36:31.647-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 2: Pray.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Prayer is an
integral part of your relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As your
understanding of God grows, and your relationship with God deepens, you will
learn more about prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, today,
understand that prayer is simply talking to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big words are not required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fancy language is not required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayers are not more or less effective
because you learn and use Biblical style language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thee”, “thou”, and “thus” are not
required!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just talk to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk to Him like you would a friend, a
spouse, a confident, or a counselor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is a
conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, while it might seem
odd at first, take some time to listen as you speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conversations rarely work when they go only
one way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to listen as well as
talk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Prayer can
be any time, any place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can shout a
prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can whisper a prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Word of God encourages us to “pray
without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, that in every thing, we should pray, asking God, our Father, for
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big things, little things, hard
things, easy things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All things, talk
about them with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Be anxious for
nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You may find
it easier to pray and listen if you remove any distractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn off the cell phone, TV, radio, laptop,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find a comfortable space and
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can sit, kneel, even lie on
the floor, and talk to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray in my
car while I’m driving, when I’m doing the laundry, or vacuuming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talk to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, in the quietness, listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may only hear the sound of a ticking
clock, a dog barking, the washer humming, or the kids playing at first, but as
you become accustomed to paying attention to the thoughts of your mind and your
heart, you will realize that God speaks to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Listen to His voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are
prompted to call out someone’s name in prayer, or ask for His guidance in a
situation or problem, do it, this is God leading you in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-60849935133814509032018-11-05T09:45:00.002-05:002018-11-05T09:45:43.113-05:0021 Day Devotional: Day 1: Understand that God loves you.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God’s love
for you is not based on whether you <u>feel</u> loved. There will be many times during your
Christian walk that you do not <u>feel</u> anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God’s Word is true whether you feel
it or not</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John
3:16-17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is
nothing that you have ever done, might be doing right now, or will do in your
future that God does not forgive you of.
You cannot be “too bad” for God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“O Lord, You
have searched me and known me.” (Psalm 139:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Take comfort
in knowing that God knows all about you.
And, He loves you! Period. No if’s, and’s, or but’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Whether you <u>feel</u>
it or not, rest assured that God loves you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read John
Chapter 1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-84037565426932470722018-11-05T09:44:00.000-05:002018-11-05T09:44:07.522-05:0021 Day Devotional: How to Use this Devotional Guide<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How to use this devotional guide:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Try to set aside at least 15 minutes
per day, every day, for the next twenty-one days, while you are establishing a
new you, making new habits, and developing your new walk with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can definitely set aside more time, but
you should not set aside any less than 15 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Have your Bible, a pen, a notebook, and
some index cards handy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people also
use highlighters in their Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
people do not like to mark up their Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I personally highlight and write notes in the margins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I circle and I underline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also use post-it notes or sticky page tabs
(found in the office supply section) to mark pages and passages of scriptures
in my Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s up to you, whatever
you feel comfortable doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people
have a desk or table they sit at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
best to have a place without distraction (if possible) and to turn off your TV,
radio, computer, and cell phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make
this uninterrupted time with God.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the end of each day’s devotion,
you will be asked to read a chapter from the book of John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also a place for you to write notes,
and questions, and other scriptures that you might read that impact you or make
you stop and think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this twenty-one
days, you will read the entire book of John!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just think, twenty-one days, 15 minutes a day, and you have read an
entire book of the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is an
awesome accomplishment!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have found that it helps me greatly
to ask God to help me understand the Bible as I read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on your Bible version, it’s not
always easy to read and understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before
you start reading the chapter, pray this simple prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Heavenly Father, I thank you for your
infallible, everlasting, true Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
ask you to open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my heart to understand
this Word you have given to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me
learn more about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Jesus name I
pray, Amen”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also find that I
understand better, when I read the Word aloud (seeing and hearing it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The scripture references in this
devotional are NKJV (New King James Version).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are very similar to KJV (King James Version).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your Bible might be a different
translation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We typically preach and teach from one of
these two versions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-18013034054628957412018-11-05T09:43:00.001-05:002018-11-05T09:44:23.180-05:0021 Day Devotional: Introduction<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You have
just made the most important decision of your life!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Welcome to
the body of Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Angels are
rejoicing, and so are we, because of the decision you have made to live a new
life in Christ Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today, you
prayed a prayer asking Jesus Christ to come into your life, fill your heart,
and to be your Lord and Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>According to Romans 10:9-10, when you prayed today, you received the
gift of salvation. “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be
saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For with the heart one believes
unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your salvation is a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not something you earned because you
were good enough or deserved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your salvation was given
to you by God, through praying, confessing, and believing in the finished work
of Jesus Christ on the cross, and no one can take away your salvation, nor can
you lose it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you asked God for
forgiveness today, the Blood of Jesus covered your sins and God no longer sees
you as guilty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, what
now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You have
become a new creation in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he (she) is a new creation; old
things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2 Corinthians 5:17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Over the
next twenty-one days we want to help you develop this new you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Experts say it takes twenty-one days to
create new habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These next twenty-one
days, and this guide, will help you establish your life in Christ, learn to
read and study His Word, spend time in worship and prayer, give you resources
and ideas, and answer some questions you might have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are happy
to have you as part of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> and part of the
Freedom Ministries family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928833330880268289.post-23038570206647175112018-11-01T13:35:00.000-04:002018-11-01T13:35:09.867-04:0021 Days of Developing YouExperts say it takes twenty-one days to create new habits. <br />
<br />
Beginning Monday, November 5, 2018, we will be publishing a short devotion each day, for twenty-one days. While the devotions we will be publishing were written specifically for new converts and those who are new to the Christian walk, they can be used by anyone who needs to establish better habits for prayer, devotion, and spending time in the Word of God. The next twenty-one days, and these devotions, will help you establish your life in Christ, learn to read and study His Word, spend time in prayer and worship, give you resources and ideas, and answer some questions you might have.<br />
<br />
Plan to set aside at least 15 minutes per day, every day. After you read the short devotion, you will be asked to read a chapter from the book of John. At the end of twenty-one days, you will have read the entire book of John. That is an awesome accomplishment to read an entire book of the Bible in just 15 minutes a day!<br />
<br />
All our scripture references are from the NKJV (New King James Version). They are very similar to KJV (King James Version), and your Bible might even be a different translation. we typically preach from either the NKJV or the KJV, but we also refer to other translations for help in reference and understanding difficult passages.<br />
<br />
We are excited to have you along for this journey through John! We are excited to grow and learn with you. Most of all we are excited to have you as part of the Freedom Ministries family! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0