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sexyandfamous
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:02pm |
Topic: A Prayer for Direction
Today's Prayer Heavenly
Father, Please show me the right paths you would have me follow.
Sometimes, I'm not sure of the direction I should go. I stumble and run
into roadblocks. I don't understand why things are not going the way I
think they should. Help me to see how these roadblocks and detours are
being used to redirect my life. I love you and want to follow you. Thank
you for your promise that "all things work together for good to those
who love the Lord." Amen.
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sexyandfamous
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:05pm |
Receiving Bad News TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 09-18-2008
"Also our enemies said, 'Before they
know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them
and put an end to the work'" (Neh 4:11).
I opened the letter from the
attorney and began to read the contents. The more I read, the sicker my
stomach felt. I could not believe the words I was reading. I literally
felt sick with fear. Perhaps you've had a similar experience. Maybe you
got news that you've got cancer. Or someone has had an accident. Or you
are being sued.
Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem.
The going was tough. As if things were not tough enough, he got a
letter from another corrupt government official threatening to kill
anyone involved in rebuilding the wall.
"But when Sanballat, Tobiah,
the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to
Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed,
they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight
against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our
God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat (Neh 4:7-9
emphasis mine).
There is but one response we
should have to bad news. Pray to our God and take the necessary steps to
defend ourselves against the threat. This was Nehemiah's response.
Once you begin to take these
actions avoid projecting what might happen to you in the future. This is
a sure-fire first step toward depression. Ask God's grace for one day
at a time only.
"Consider the ravens: They do
not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And
how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can
add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little
thing, why do you worry about the rest?" (Luke 12:24-26).
Turn your bad news over to the Lord. He specializes in turning crises into opportunities.
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*I just want to give a quick testimony; I have received many bad news in the past months and it is true what it says above that you should pray to God. I started to visualize things turning worse, and of course the prayer seemed to be in vain because I "cancelled" its work when I started to think bad things. But when I prayed and just let it go and let God handle it, and really trusted that everything would be ok, everything turned out ok. God can help you but you have to trust and you have to believe.
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sexyandfamous
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:11pm |
Peace: Our Weapon Against Fear TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 07-25-2008
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Tim. 1:7).
Fear is the enemy of faith.
Fear is bondage. Satan wants us to live in bondage to the past and even
the future, but God wants us to live in the freedom of His love and
power in the present. As Paul wrote, "For you did not receive a spirit
that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of
sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'" (Rom. 8:15).
In order to be the leaders God
calls us to be, we must conquer our fear and put it to death. This is a
spiritual battle, and it can only be won with spiritual weapons. We
must replace our fear with the peace that surpasses understanding. As
Jesus told His followers, "I have told you these things, so that in me
you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
As the apostle Paul told the persecuted Christians in Rome, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Rom. 16:20).
The God of peace is our conquering King; the peace of God is our weapon
against fear and Satan. Before going to the cross, Jesus told His
disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give
to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not
be afraid" (John 14:27).
Fear is a natural response to
obstacles, adversity and failure, but peace is the supernatural response
that God gives us by His grace. Just as Jesus had authority over the
wind and waves, He has authority over the storms in our lives. He has
authority over our doubts, fears and shame.
Doubts, fear and shame are the
weapons of Satan, but Jesus stands against Satan's fury and says with
authority, "Peace, be still." The peace of God shatters the weapons of
Satan and sends our enemy fleeing.
Appropriate the peace God has already provided for you today.
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sexyandfamous
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:14pm |
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You Were Made to Fly TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 07-23-2008
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may
the name of the LORD be praised" (Job 1:21).
Can a caterpillar fly? If you
said, "No," you would be partially correct. Actually, a caterpillar can
fly, but it must have a transformation first.
The butterfly begins life as a
caterpillar, a wormlike larva that spins a cocoon for itself. For
weeks, the larva remains hidden within the cocoon as it undergoes
metamorphosis. When it's time for the butterfly to emerge, it must
struggle and fight its way out of the cocoon. We might be tempted to
help this process by tearing open the cocoon - but that's the worst
thing we could do. The struggle makes it strong and enables it to fly.
Butterflies need adversity to become what God intended them to be. So do
we.
The Book of Job is the story
of a wealthy and successful community leader named Job. He was a
successful and righteous businessman with huge holdings of livestock and
real estate. One day Satan came before God and asked him, "Where have
you come from?" Satan replied, "From roaming through the earth and going
back and forth in it."
God said to Satan, "Have you
considered my servant Job? He is blameless and upright, a man who fears
God and shuns evil." Notice that God pointed Job out to Satan! God gave
Satan permission to put Job through a trial of adversity. Job's herds
were stolen, his servants were murdered, and all of Job's children were
killed by a sudden tornado.
Through his trial of
adversity, he grows in strength, wisdom and faith. His entire
perspective on God is transformed by his suffering. He was even accused
of sin by his closest friends.
We must get beyond the
immature notion that God is interested only in making us healthy,
wealthy and happy. More than anything, He wants us to be like Christ.
And the road to becoming like Christ often leads through the wilderness
of adversity.
In order for the butterfly to fly, there must be a transformation process that is often developed through adversity.
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sexyandfamous
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:18pm |
A prayer for those who are worried
Today's Prayer
Dear God,
You have instructed me to not be anxious, worrisome, overly concerned
for any thing...but instead to bring everything to you in prayer and
thanksgiving. If I do this, you have promised me that your peace, which
passes all understanding, shall keep my heart and mind through Christ
Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). I come to you now for myself and on behalf of
my brothers and sisters in Christ, and for those who suffer so much
due to anxiety and depression. I pray that you will fill us with your
peace; that you will touch our minds and remind us that we do not need
to worry. You are our God and maker. You will handle it for us. Worrying
does no good. May we lean into you, talk with you, spend time in your
Word and before the throne of grace. May we fellowship with other
Christians, those who will encourage us, even more so as the day
approaches. Right now, this day, we give you our concerns and ask that
you will work out all to our good and your glory. Thank you, Father, for
loving us and carrying our burdens. Thank you, Father, for providing
our needs. Thank you, Father, for Jesus Christ our Savior and the hope
He has given. For it is in His name I pray, amen. thread
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sexyandfamous
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:22pm |
Fatal Distractions: Anointed Beyond the Hour!
In John 12:27, Jesus said his soul was troubled as he approached the hour of his greatest pain. His
mind (what he thought), his will (what he did), and his emotions (what
he felt) were all distressed with the knowledge of what he must soon go
through. But, what gave him strength to deal with the approaching hour of pain was the fact that this was why he came. And that ultimately, he would obtain victory.
As Christians, we have been chosen by God. But,
not just for the good hours (times when we feel happiness), but for the
hours of pain (the moment when we will have to battle and represent
Christ). And yes, these hours will trouble our souls. But,
like Christ, we will not be defeated during this hour because we have
been anointed to get past our hour of pain and to our hour of victory.
Victorious Scripture Text:
John 12:27 (KJV) 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (KJV) 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. thread
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:32pm |
Defining Unforgiveness
By Charles Stanley
READ | Matthew 5:23-24
Now that we've looked at forgiveness, let's think about
unforgiveness; the deliberate decision to cling to 1) resentment you feel
toward someone else and 2) your right to get even any way you can. It's
a mindset that says, "You hurt me. You must pay."
What an
ungodly, unscriptural attitude! And yet it is painfully evident in the
hearts of far too many Christians. Therefore, we need to uncover the
dark truth behind this destructive landmine. Unforgiveness . . .
I. Demonstrates unwillingness to extend to others what the Lord has extended to you (Eph. 4:32). It simply means saying with your attitude that you refuse to show the grace and forgiveness of Christ to anyone else.
II Plants a root of bitterness in your heart.It
may start with some simple resentment because of the way someone else
acted. Then, that little seed of animosity begins to grow. Before long, a
whole crop of anger, malice, and bitterness completely dominates you.
If it is not dealt with early, these bitter fruits will spoil every part
of your life.
III Prevents your becoming the person God wants you to be. An
unforgiving spirit makes it impossible to accomplish what the heavenly
Father has in mind for you. How can you expect to grow in Christ while
willfully allowing bitterness to erode your heart?
The results
of withholding forgiveness are obvious, and yet many believers stumble
into this very trap. Don't fall for it. Ask God to help you release any
unforgiveness you have, and be reconciled to your brothers and sisters
without delay.
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sexyandfamous
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:35pm |
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God Leads Us into the Desert TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 10-03-2008
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil" (Matt 4:1).
There is a common teaching
going around today that says if you do all the right things in your
Christian life, you will be blessed and never experience problems in
your life. This teaching is heresy. The Bible says that we will
encounter many problems during this lifetime. Just read Peter's epistle.
Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit
into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Why would God lead His Son
into the desert to be tempted? Why would God lead you and I into the
desert?
The desert is a place to learn something about ourselves. It is the place where we determine if we will truly live by every Word of God,
not by bread alone. When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, Jesus
responded to every temptation by citing what the Word of God said about
that temptation.
This is also the way you and I
must respond to the temptations that are brought our way. We must have
the Word of God written into our hearts in order to know how to respond
to given situations. The Bible says, "the truth shall make you free." It
is knowing and doing the will of God that allows us to live free from the temptation of evil.
The desert is often the place
of silence. However, it is also a place where the devil will speak
loudest because you are in a place of weakness and the comforts of your
normal life are not to be found. It is a place where God is often silent
but can also be a place where God speaks loudest. The word desert comes
from the Hebrew word "dahbaar" which means "to speak."
If God has placed you in the
desert, meditate on the Word of God so that you will withstand the
temptation that comes in the desert place.
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sexyandfamous
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:44pm |
Deliverance from the Black Hole TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 09-30-2008
"As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5b).
A black hole is a place of
total nothingness. It's a time in our life when God removes the
resources and supports that we normally rely on to feel secure - our
careers, finances, friends, family, health and so forth. It is a preparation time.
When you find yourself in a black hole experience, don't just sit and brood. Take stock of your life. Take a look at your relationship with God.
First, ask God if there are
any sins, habits, or attitudes that He might be judging in your life.
It's important to discern whether the trial we face is the result of
God's discipline for our sin?or if it is preparing us for a future
leadership role.
Second, when you enter a black hole, don't trust your feelings. Trust God.
Your feelings will tell you, "God has rejected you. Abandon hope. He
has left you utterly alone." Feelings change; God never changes.
Feelings come and go; God is always with us.
Third, remember that your
black hole experience is not only intended to refine and define you;
it's also intended to influence and change the lives of hundreds or even
thousands of other people. Our adversity is not just for us, but others
in our sphere of influence.
Fourth, don't try to hurry the
black hole process along. Remember, when Joseph was in the depths of
the pit, there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't climb out,
jump out, levitate out, or talk his way out. All he could do was pray
and wait upon the Lord.
Fifth, lean on God. Even when
you don't feel like praying, pray. Even when you don't feel like reading
His Word, read. Even when you don't feel like singing songs of faith, sing. When you pray, don't just talk; listen. Be silent before Him and listen for His still, quiet voice.
Sixth, be alert to new truths
and new perspectives. During a black hole experience, God often leads us
to amazing new discoveries. A black hole can be a storehouse of
unexpected riches for the soul.
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sexyandfamous
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Posted: Jun 08 2014 at 12:56pm |
A Life of Becoming
By Charles Stanley
READ | 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Probably the greatest obstacle to understanding God's purpose for
brokenness is this: Most believers think of Christianity as something we
do. We pray. We read the Bible. We go to church. We sing hymns. We give
money. We do and do; and assume that's the Christian life. It's not.
Authentic
Christianity is about becoming rather than doing. The life of faith
that God designed involves receiving Jesus into our hearts and allowing
Him to change our habits, mindset, beliefs, interests, and concerns so
we become more and more like Him.
Realizing this will change our
perspective on the heartache we must endure. You see, when we recognize
that the Christian life is about Jesus, persistent work of "re-creation"
in our lives, then the role of brokenness makes more sense. It's the
process God uses to strip us of things that have become, or may one day
become, an obstacle to our growth. The Lord also uses this tool to
address issues we may have declared "off limits" to Him, such as
unhealthy behaviors or relationships that we rationalize.
God
doesn't want to be Lord of most of your life; He wants to be Lord of all
of your life! So He zeroes in on areas of self-will and
self-sufficiency to remove everything within us that relies on "self."
He uses brokenness to remove those inclinations so that we can live
moment by moment, day by day, in full dependence on Him.
Open your heart, and ask God to reveal any selfish strongholds. Let Him break unhealthy behavior patterns.
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