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September 24, 2006
What a beautiful line from the Word: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Ephesians 5:8-14
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
[ In Context ]
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September 17, 2006
Don't ever give up!
Psalm 126:2
6 He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
[ In Context ]
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September 10, 2006
So simple, yet it says so much! "Praise the Lord."
Psalm 146:1-2
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2 I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
[ In Context ]
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September 3, 2006
Trust. You may find it difficult to trust others because of the type of world that we live in, and in contrast, it is easy to trust yourself. Is it difficult or easy to trust in God, and how do you trust God? It can be difficult at first, but trusting God by acknowleging Him in everything you do "will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
[ In Context ]
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August 27, 2006
We can look forward to forever praising God in the end of times, but can't we do this now?
Revelation 5:12
12 In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"
[ In Context ]
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August 20, 2006
Endurance and dedication. Paul trusted in Christ through thick and thin, and his seemingly unceasing devotion to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ was never swayed by trials, pressures, or constantly changing surroundings.
Philippians 1:18-21
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
[ In Context ]
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August 13, 2006
We are one body. What does this scripture mean for you at this moment in your life? Maybe it means encouragement for we are heirs to the promises of God. Maybe it affects how you perceive others, Christian and non-Christian. Or, maybe you can apply it to your relationships with other believers. Any way you read it, these words are powerful.
Galations 3:26-29
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
[ In Context ]
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August 06, 2006
Wisdom. It is so easy to get caught up in life's trivial pursuits, trials, pleasures, successes, and failures. What is easy to forget is that because we are Christians, God's grace and mercy gives us a unique advantage in life - His Holy Spirit that offers peace and wisdom to those who trust in Him. What greater comfort in life than to know that there is One we can always depend upon, One whose love and grace never fails, One who knows the in's and out's of our very existence, and One who wants us to be completely eneloped and strengthened by Him. Only through His mercy may we have a joy that surpasses any earthly pleasure, and a joy that will carry us through any struggle. Praise God for that!
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
[ In Context ]
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July 30, 2006
Unity in the Body of Christ. "There is one body," says Paul. Unity does not just happen on its own, we have to work at it. Too often believers are separated because of minor differences in doctrine. But Paul shows what areas of Christian doctrine we must agree upon to attain true unity. When believers have this unity of spirit, petty differences will never be able to break it apart. Believers are one in: BODY (The fellowship of believers - the church), SPIRIT (The Holy Spirit, who activates the fellowship), HOPE (That glorious future to which we are all called), LORD (Christ, to whom we all belong), FAITH (Our singular commitment to Christ), BAPTISM (Baptism - the sign of entry into the church), GOD (Who is our Father who keeps us for eternity). Learn to enjoy the way we members of Christ's body complement one another!
Ephesians 4:1-6
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [ In Context ]
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July 23, 2006
This Psalm was traditionally sung at the Passover meal, commemorating Israel's escape from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 11, 12). Often, we ask that God's name be glorified with our name. For instance, we may ask that a we do a good job at work so that we will get noticed. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be successful in all aspects of our lives, but a problem arises when we want to be successful no matter what happens to God's reputation in the process. When you pray, try praying the first verse of this Psalm before asking for anything from God. But beware, God may use you in ways you never thought possible and never expected, ways that extend far beyond your goals or desires and ways that give complete glory to God.
Psalm 115
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;
6 they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but they cannot smell;
7 they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
9 O house of Israel, trust in the LORD-
he is their help and shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD-
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD-
he is their help and shield.
12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD-
small and great alike.
14 May the LORD make you increase,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
16 The highest heavens belong to the LORD,
but the earth he has given to man.
17 It is not the dead who praise the LORD,
those who go down to silence;
18 it is we who extol the LORD,
both now and forevermore.
Praise the LORD.
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July 16, 2006
To physically work for the Lord is an act of worship. The body of Christ has many parts, all with unique God-given gifts and talents, but all with one purpose.
Romans 12:1-2a
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:4-5
4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
[ In Context ]
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
[ In Context ]
