15
Dec '18
Loving Difficult People
15
Dec '18
We love with all of our hearts and we pray with all of our strength. Sometimes we can feel like we’re just not getting through to someone, then there’s a glimpse of hope. When we finally see that window cracked open, we see that glimpse of hope, we know God is answering our prayers. Loving someone difficult can really take it’s toll on us. We exhaust ourselves trying to figure out why this person is so resisting. We have to take a step back and understand that God loves this person as much as He loves us. We’ve finally got the window cracked opened. We have to stay focused on God and let Him work through us to reach this
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15
Dec '18
God’s “Provisioning” System (GPS)
15
Dec '18
Yes, many of us may remember the days long ago of the AAA (Triple A) Maps and MapQuest, but most of us are now used to current technology and our Global Positioning System (GPS) app on our phone that simply tells us what to do to get to where we need to go (no, it’s not really to tell us “the time to beat!”). Our GPS basically tells us which direction to go when we are in unfamiliar territory and need guidance.
So, how can we relate this analogy to our own life? Can you think of a time in your life where you had NO idea which way to go? (We’re talking actual “life” now, not driving south on I-75.)
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15
Dec '18
Heart Smart
15
Dec '18
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21
One of my challenges as a Christian is taking God’s word too literally. I am not here saying that what is written is not true nor that it should not be followed. What I am saying is that we must always be careful not to take the words of God outside of their context and be prudent
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08
Dec '18
Praying
08
Dec '18
We don’t know who God is going to put in our paths each day. The impact from meeting that stranger can change your entire day. That’s how I felt yesterday when I met “Harold.” I didn’t even know his name until we ended our conversation and we were just about to go our separate ways. I was busy at work doing my normal routine when Harold, an elderly gentleman walked by with His cart doing some shopping. I did my normal thing, said hello, asked him how his morning was going, and could I help him find anything. He told me he was out shopping because he has had a rough two days of not sleeping and was restless. He was on medication and he was going to have to go back to the doctor to see if there was
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08
Dec '18
Unrequited Fear
08
Dec '18
As babies, we don’t realize what fear is. We have the comfort of parents and loved ones and fear is not something that enters our mind. As we start to get older and have experiences, that’s when fear starts to sink in. Life happens around us and we learn what we may be “afraid” of. As a child, I remember being afraid to go down into the basement after dark at my house – even though the basement was finished, if my parents would ask me to go down and get something, I remember as soon as I’d pick up whatever it was down there that they asked me to get, I’d run so fast up those stairs – hitting each stair with a big boom with my feet as I ran back up. There was never anything down there to scare me, but the perception of the darkness
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08
Dec '18
Grace like Loretta
08
Dec '18
If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan
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01
Dec '18
Buzz Kill
01
Dec '18
Fun-sucker, buzz kill, killjoy – we’ve all used these words to describe someone in our life at some point. We define these words as someone who steals our fun, someone who just doesn’t want us to have joy, or someone who tries to steal anything good we have in life. Instead of jumping up and down with us as we celebrate, they look at us like we’re crazy and make us feel, for lack of a better word, stupid. You know who I’m talking about. We’ve all had this person (or persons!) in our life.
I think many people on the outside of Christianity (and maybe even some Christians, and I’ll elaborate more on this in a bit with myself as an example) think that once they allow God into their life, that their life is going to become stale and boring, and all the fun will just be
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01
Dec '18
Love and Fellowship
01
Dec '18
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything.”
1 John 3:18-20
Recently, I felt like something was missing in my life, and found that I had not been connecting with my spiritual friends. So, I was able to unbury myself from my day to day work rituals, and make time to reconnect with one of them. We had lunch, and it was such a wonderful reminder of how God works in all of us. You see, I believe we are at our best when we are connected with others. Additionally, the bond between our friends are made stronger
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01
Dec '18
Fresh Start
01
Dec '18
Well, Christmas is right at our doorsteps. My favorite time of year. That says a lot, considering I work in retail, which can get a little hectic, especially around the holidays. I still love it. Some people can become a little stressed, but being helpful and considerate can go a long way. I have found that showing courtesy can ease the nerves of a stressed out customer. Not every experience produces the same reaction, but it has been my experience that people are more courteous towards you when they have been shown courtesy by you. Sharing God’s Word is the most important thing we can do. This time of year especially. Some people have never been exposed to Christ and everything He did for us. They only understand the (Santa Claus) Christmas. This is the perfect time of year for a fresh start. December 25th nears the
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24
Nov '18
Eggs and a Basket
24
Nov '18
Early this morning I started thinking how in the past, I’ve occasionally put all of my eggs in a single basket (and I was reminded how horribly that has usually worked out). Having a Plan A without a Plan B for a Type A personality like me usually spells disaster, mentally. It’s not something that I enjoy doing, and not something I often do – usually if I have a Plan A, I also like have a Plan B. That’s just the way I work. God gave all of us temperaments, and one of my temperaments is that of a planner, therefore, it’s just natural for me to have that alternate option. But – occasionally I’ll do it. Trusting more than I should, I’ll do it. Only Plan A. “Let’s do this!”
Well, I’ve found myself in life, as I mentioned, with all of my eggs in one basket. When that failed miserably, I was a bit shocked, but was I also relieved? In my gut (God’s still small
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