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Then the Spiritual
Last week, we spoke of being God’s creatures. We are earthly beings who have a heavenly Father. I don’t know about you, but I think I spend a fair amount of energy trying to “be spiritual.” Which is a little like trying to be my husband’s wife. Silly, isn’t it? In actual fact, I am his wife, so trying to be something I already am, is quite frankly a waste of energy. I have every benefit of being his and His, if I simply believe the truth. I am who He says I am: accepted in the beloved, made righteous by His blood, and destined for eternity with Him. In…
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Rest
My husband and I bought a new home a few days ago. We are camping out in it while we wait for our furniture to arrive from the other place. In other words, we are sleeping on an air mattress, using paper plates, and eating a lot of fast food (when we aren’t too tired to eat), because the refrigerator is coming next week after the furniture is delivered. Sleeping practically on the floor and eating out of bags while sitting in camp chairs has been challenging….and also revealing. The really interesting thing: I actually enjoy camping. Tent camping, even, with no plumbing. My husband and I have had some…
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Promises
I taught Sunday school this morning. Something I do once a month for the 4th and 5th graders. Even though it is a challenge every time, I am always glad that I participated and that I am getting to know these young people. The challenge for me is teaching this particular age group. I don’t have much confidence in my ability to connect with them. However, they generally respond well, and that is due to their parents placing a priority on Bible teaching and good manners. Our lesson this morning was about the captive Israelites being repatriated to their homeland after 70 years of exile in Babylon (Ezra 1-3). The…
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Freely Give
In Matthew 10:8, Jesus says to His disciples, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” To us, this may seem far-fetched, even impossible, but to Jesus, this is the everyday stuff of life in His Kingdom. So, rather than skip over this passage as belonging to another time, let’s linger here and ponder. When you care for someone who is sick and unable to care for himself, you touch on something in the very nature of God who is full of compassion and mercy. When you attend with careful diligence to someone you love who is dying, you are close…
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True Knowledge
There are things I have presumed to know. The definitions of “presume,” according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary: to undertake without leave or clear justification; to expect or assume, especially with confidence; to suppose to be true without proof; to take for granted. As I look at these definitions, I am struck by the arrogance of presumption. Presumption is not knowledge. The New American Standard version of the Bible uses the phrase “true knowledge” in Colossians and in 2 Peter. So truth and knowledge must go hand in hand. Colossians 2:2-3 says, “…that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in…
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Redemption
God is love…and He holds all things together by the word of His power (1 John 4:8; Hebrews 1:3). It could be said, then, that the love of God is the context in which His will unfolds. The love of God is also the context in which our lives unfold. We have choices because He wants us to choose Him in love. If we consider our choices to only reflect right or moral behavior, then we have missed the point. If we make the choices of others only about right or moral behavior, then we are religious zealots without grace, without mercy, and without hearts to hear the voice of…
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Faith Is Not Blind
The world view is often that “faith” is blind. On the contrary, faith is true, crystal clear sight. And by it we see all circumstance and situation as being sifted by the almighty hand of God, our Father. We see Him, our sweet and triumphant Savior, coming relentlessly in love to bring us home. And by it we know for certain there is no thing that can separate us from His love (Rom 8:39). I need this truth. I cling to it. In the best of times and in the worst of times, the absolute fact and certainty of His love for me and the power if His shed blood…
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In Pursuit
I know that I need the Lord, but I don’t always turn to Him…first. I can often travel quite a distance before I realize that I am trying to prepare myself to reach out to Him. I am trying to find the right words, or trying to figure out what I really need, so that I can enter into a conversation with Him. Truth is, if I would just acknowledge that He is already with me, I would be in fellowship with Him and we could discover the right words and the clarity of my situation together. Isn’t that what He promised? “And lo, I am with you always, even…
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From Good to Better
We feasted in the months of November and December. We celebrated. Now, in the new year, we set our face to fasting. I happen to relish this sacred rhythm, and I have learned over the years that no matter what I choose to sacrifice during this time, what I gain is a far greater treasure. Our pastor said today that one definition of “fasting” is, “giving up something good to obtain something better.” I know that most people make “New Year’s Resolutions.” They resolve to do things differently, set different priorities. And I’m all for recalibrating. It’s a good thing to take stock, reevaluate, set new goals. Here’s the thing:…
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Come Unto Me
In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus says, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” He gives three commands that reveal His heart toward us, and He offers the precious promise of rest, if we obey. He makes a way for us to come to Him, and He is not ashamed of us that we are weary and burdened. He is offering a place at His side for…