Author Archives: famtree2014

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July 22, 2013

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Trusting God

CAN YOU TRUST GOD?

Blessed is the person who trusts the Lord. The Lord will be his confidence. He will be like a tree that is planted by water. It will send its roots down to a stream. It will not be afraid in the heat of summer. Its leaves will turn green. It will not be anxious during droughts. It will not stop producing fruit. [Isaiah 40:7-8 (GW)]

People make promises all of the time and, unfortunately, they often break their promises. (We do it, too.) As a result, we’ve become cynical and suspicious when promises are made. We ask ourselves if we should believe the promise and wonder what ulterior motives may be behind it. God makes many promises. Can we believe Him and trust his motives? Can we rely on His word? We can if we trust the one making the promise!

We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful. [Hebrews 10:23 (GW)]

 

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July 21, 2013

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Love & Works, Sharing Our Faith

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. [Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)]

We need to shine. But, how necessary is a lamp in the sunlight? Sharing our belief with other believers is not enough. If we are going to be light-bearers of the Word, we need to be willing to shine in dark places, too. Father in Heaven, guide us as we step out of our comfort zones and into the dark. Help us to shine your light so all can see and come to know you.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. [Matthew 5:16 (KJV)]

 

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July 20, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience

FRONT AND CENTER

Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got. [Deuteronomy 6:5 (MSG)]

It’s not enough to make God number one on our list of priorities; He wants to be the center of our lives. God doesn’t want to be a priority; He wants to be the one who sets our priorities!

No other gods, only me. [Exodus 20:3 (MSG)]

 

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July 18, 2013

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God's Plan, Trusting God

OUR SOURCE

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. [Psalm 31:14-15 (NLT)]

Oh Lord, grant me the ability to truly trust you and not to waver in my faith. People, possessions, and even abilities will fail but you never will!

We will never be happy until we make God the source of our fulfillment and the answer to our longings. He is the only one who should have power over our souls. We have to put our expectations in the Lord and not in other things or people. [From “The Power of a Praying Woman” by Stormie Omartian]

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July 18, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience

OUR REFLECTIONS

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Let us look closely at our ways and examine them and then return to the Lord. Let us raise our hearts and hands to God in heaven. [Lamentations 3:40-41 (GW)]

Many of us don’t want to look too closely at ourselves in a mirror; we see every blemish, wrinkle, grey hair and bulge. It can be rather demoralizing. We’re also rather hesitant when it comes to looking at our hearts and souls because that can be disheartening as well. Sometimes, however, a little self-examination is in order. Rather than letting our assessment discourage us, we must allow it to inspire us to alter our behavior and improve our lives.

Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending. [Carl Bard]

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July 17, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Love & Works, Prayer

SUPPLEMENTS FOR OUR SOULS

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. [2 Peter 1:5b-7 (NLT)]

It’s certainly not enough to say we have faith; we must live our faith.

Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them. [Mahalia Jackson]