Author Archives: famtree2014

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November 17, 2013

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God's Grace & Love, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Thanks & Praise

We Have All We Need

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. [2 Peter 1:2 (NLT)]

We’ve all met spoiled children (and adults) who expect the world to cater to their every desire. Let’s admit it, those people aren’t very likeable! God doesn’t want spoiled children so He doesn’t give us everything we want either. He does, however, give us everything we need to live the life He wants for us. Are we missing any of the blessings He has sent our way? Are there assets He’s given that we haven’t even bothered to use? Could we be wasting any gifts he has given?

Open my eyes, O Lord, to see your gifts. Open my heart, O Lord, to accept them. Fill me with your Spirit, O Lord, to use them as you want them to be used.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. [2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)]

 

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November 16, 2013

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God's Plan, Trusting God

Time to Get Started

But there are some things that you cannot be sure of. You must take a chance. If you wait for perfect weather, you will never plant your seeds. If you are afraid that every cloud will bring rain, you will never harvest your crops. [Ecclesiastes 11:4 (ERV)]

Lord, what is the plan for today? Has my fear of failure kept me from starting your work? Do I delay because the conditions aren’t perfect? Yet, is there ever an ideal time for anything? Thank you for reminding me that less than perfect progress is far better than no progress at all! Replace my fear with faith and my procrastination with action. Please give me the confidence that you will provide whatever it is I need to do your work today.

…Who waits until circumstances completely favor his undertaking, will never accomplish anything. [Martin Luther]

 

 Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. [James Bryant Conant]

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November 15, 2013

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, Thanks & Praise

For Those Who Have Led Us on Our Faith Journey

So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it! [Hebrews 6:1-3 (MSG)]

Once we become “Christian,” we don’t stop learning and growing in our belief.

Today, O Lord, we offer thanks for all those who have helped us mature in faith. Thank you for our teachers, pastors and those who provide music with which to praise you. Thank you for those who work behind the scenes to keep your church functioning. Thank you for those who so freely extend the hand of Christian friendship. Thank you for those who offer hugs, prayers, words of wisdom and true examples of walking with Jesus. Thank you for those strangers, angels in disguise, who remind us of your presence when they pass through our lives. Finally, Lord, thank you for those of your servants who have given us challenging tasks that have expanded our talents and deepened our faith.

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November 14, 2013

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Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

Listen to Him

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” [Mark 9:7 (NLT)]

O Lord, we’ve talked about this decision and I still don’t know what to do. Help me; speak to me; show me the way. If not a burning bush, how about lighting a neon sign or sending a banner in the sky to guide me? Perhaps, however, I have been too busy pleading my case to hear your response.

Thank you for the reminder that I need to stop talking and start listening. You will tell me which path to take; I just need to be quiet in order to hear your voice.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. [John 10:27 (NLT)]

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November 14, 2013

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Faith & Hope, Trusting God

He Cares

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. [1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)] 

The more we trust Him, the easier life becomes. Our troubling circumstances may not change; in fact, they could even get worse. Yet, when we trust God, we change because the burden of our challenges has been lifted. Thank you, God, for your gift of hope and peace.

When I said, “My feet are slipping,” your mercy, O Lord, continued to hold me up. When I worried about many things, your assuring words soothed my soul. [Psalm 94:18-19 (GW)]

 

 

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November 13, 2013

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Bible Stories, Faith & Hope, Miracles, Trusting God

Expect a Miracle (Part 2) – He has No Limits

“A boy who has five loaves of barley bread and two small fish is here. But they won’t go very far for so many people.”

 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” The people had plenty of grass to sit on. (There were about 5,000 men in the crowd.) Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the people who were sitting there. He did the same thing with the fish. All the people ate as much as they wanted. When the people were full, Jesus told his disciples, “Gather the leftover pieces so that nothing will be wasted.” The disciples gathered the leftover pieces of bread and filled twelve baskets. [John 6:9-13 (GW)]

Although the disciples’ resources were limited, they forgot that God has no limitations. In Jesus’ hands, the boy’s meager offering would be more than enough to feed the crowd.

Lord Jesus, don’t let our inadequacies and shortcomings constrain our vision of what we can do together. Don’t let us limit your work by deciding what is and isn’t possible. No matter how meager our resources may be, if we offer them to you, you can make them more than enough. You can multiply anything we give to you!

 For nothing is impossible with God. [Luke 1:37 (GW)]