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November 22, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, Holy Spirit, Obedience, Temptation & Sin

A FULL EXAMINATION

Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I’m fit inside and out. [Psalm 26:2 (MSG)]

This last month, I’ve visited the internist, ophthalmologist, OB/GYN, dentist, and dermatologist. I’ve been tested, poked, prodded and thoroughly studied, inside and out. The most humbling experience, however, was the total body examination at the dermatologist’s office. Needless to say, I was uncomfortable having two people I don’t know peering at every inch of skin on my old body with a magnifying glass! They scrutinized every wrinkle, freckle, spot and scar, even in places where “the sun doesn’t shine.” Their inspection, however, found some things that shouldn’t be there: suspicious moles and actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous cells). These things that didn’t belong, these things that threatened my future health, were removed. I can’t say it was a pleasant experience but it was necessary. It was for my own good!

Like physicians, God also examines us closely. Unlike doctors, however, He doesn’t do it only once or twice a year; He does it continually. He knows our every thought and He scrutinizes both our strengths and weaknesses. He searches for the faults that, like pre-cancerous cells, can grow inside us and threaten our spiritual health. Like the dermatologist, He looks for the things that don’t belong in us and that need to be removed. God, however, looks way below the skin at things like prejudice, resentment, fear, anger, willfulness and pride. Unfortunately, it will take more than an hour in God’s office to remove our flaws, and often it will seem more painful. Nevertheless, it is for our own good!

Father, examine me and perform any necessary surgery on my soul. Let your Holy Spirit fill me with your guidance, strength and healing.

It’s harder to lose five negative thoughts than to lose five pounds. [From “Be the Miracle” by Regina Brett]

The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! [Revelation 3:19 (MSG)]

I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. [Jeremiah 10:23-24a (NLT)]

 

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November 21, 2014

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God's Word: The Bible, Knowing Him, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

“Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. [Luke 20:21 (NLT)]

I’ve had a busy week of hearing from a variety of authorities. “In my expert opinion,” said the physician. “It’s my understanding,” opined the lawyer. “From past experience,” offered the political science professor. All of their statements allowed for some wiggle room, different interpretations, or alternative conclusions. Did I hear the truth or only their version of the truth? Jesus never guessed, or assumed, and certainly never presumed; He knew! Let’s remember that Jesus didn’t offer an approximation, a guesstimate or an opinion; he offered the truth—the whole truth and nothing but the truth, because he was the truth!

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14:6 (NLT)]

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. [Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)]

 

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November 18, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Faith & Hope, Prayer

NEVER TOO BUSY

After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. [Matthew 14:23a (NLT)]

It was a busy day for Jesus and the disciples. Having learned that John the Baptist had been beheaded, he went off to be alone but a large crowd followed him. Pitying them, he preached and healed the sick and then managed to feed 5,000. Sad and tired as he probably was, however, Jesus still managed to find time to pray.

We’ve all had those days when we hit the floor running and don’t stop until night. Everywhere we turn there is another task to be done, someone to call, someplace to go, some new crisis, or a deadline lurks. Even though Jesus told us that, apart from Him, we can do nothing, we allow life to interfere. “God knows how busy I am,” we say, “Surely He’ll understand if I skip prayers.” We fully intend to catch Him later, but later turns into tomorrow or the next day or never. God knows how busy we are but I’m not so sure he approves of our priorities.

If we needed dialysis to survive, we’d never be too busy for our treatment. If we needed an oxygen tank to breathe, we’d take the time to make sure we had a fresh supply. If we were diabetic, we’d surely find the time for our daily medication. If we’re not too busy to save our physical lives, how can we be too busy to save our souls? God’s got a busy day ahead, but He’s never too busy to hear our prayers. How can we be too busy for Him?

For apart from me you can do nothing. [John 15:5b (NLT)]

Never stop praying. [1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)]

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November 17, 2014

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Holy Spirit, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

FITTING THE PIECES TOGETHER

The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be. [Jeremiah 17:9-10 (MSG)]

At times, life is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. It gets muddled and disconnected; nothing seems to fit together and we can’t see the whole picture. Puzzle pieces will never fit together if they are the wrong shape and size. Have some parts of our lives become so important that other elements have been crowded out? Or, have certain areas of our lives been neglected and become too small, leaving an empty place in our hearts? Moreover, if pieces are missing, no matter how hard we try, the puzzle simply won’t be complete; we’ll never feel fulfilled. Have areas of our lives been lost or forgotten? Today, let’s look at our own personal puzzles and analyze how the parts of our lives fit together.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we can make sense of the confusion of our busy lives. Help us examine our priorities. Show us what parts of our lives are out of proportion and help us find any that have been misplaced. Let us never forget the most important and largest pieces: You, prayer, and faith.

When we can’t piece together the puzzle of our own lives, remember the best view of a puzzle is from above. Let Him help put you together. [Terri Guillemets]

What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn’t treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand. [Romans 1:21-23 (MSG)]

 

 

 

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November 14, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Love & Works, Sharing Our Faith

REAL BEAUTY

11-14-14WEBDon’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. [1 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)]

I’m ashamed to admit it, but I nearly didn’t go to church last Sunday. Early Sunday morning, I thought of all the excuses I could use to justify my absence but the Holy Spirit convicted me on every one! I had no excuse but one: vanity! And that excuse just wasn’t satisfactory to Him! You see, because of a dermatological treatment, my nose is bright red. By bright red, I mean if it was Christmas Eve, I could give Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer a run for his money! My foolish vanity had made me self-conscious.

Reluctantly, I went to church and, as I do every Sunday, took photos for the church website. That afternoon, while editing my pictures, I pondered the meaning of beauty. I looked at the faces of the people I’d photographed. Some were old and wrinkled (actually, this being Florida, most were old and wrinkled.) Some faces were heavy, others gaunt; some wore smiles, others were serious. None of them would win beauty contests but they were beautiful just the same. The faces of the people who donated blood at the blood mobile before church were beautiful; they were giving the gift of life. The faces of the people who set up the chairs, handed out programs, or served coffee were beautiful; they were giving the gift of kindness. The faces of the choir and band members were beautiful; they were giving the gift of joy. The faces of the veterans who stood to be honored were beautiful; they had given the gift of service. The face of the preacher as he gave his message was beautiful; he was giving the gift of insight and hope. The faces of the congregation were beautiful; they were filled with the love of Jesus.

Father, forgive us our vanity and keep us from confusing outer beauty and appearance with the inner beauty of the soul.

Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul. [Saint Augustine]

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. [Proverbs 31:30 (NLT)]

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November 12, 2014

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Church & Worship, God's Word: The Bible, Knowing Him, Temptation & Sin, Wisdom & Guidance

THE FRAUD

If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. So watch out. I’ve given you fair warning. [Mark 13:21-23 (MSG)]

Last spring, thrilled to see a beautiful goldfinch gracefully perched on a decorative bird feeder, I turned on my camera and moved closer. Surprised that the bird remained so still, I knew why it didn’t fly away once I’d focused in on it; it was a fake! I’d been fooled briefly but recognized the bird for what is was, a fraud, and quickly walked away. Yesterday, I walked by the same house and noticed that the summer storms had knocked the feeder on its side and the once bright yellow bird is now faded and covered with mold.

My experience with the phony bird reminds me of the Biblical warnings about false prophets. Like the fake goldfinch, they, too, can be appealing and look quite authentic. When browsing through a bookstore or channel surfing the TV, it’s easy to come across today’s false prophets. Their messages are often about self, not selflessness; being spiritual, not the Holy Spirit; and wealth in this world instead of riches in the next. They may refer to Jesus as a good man instead of Jesus being God as man or speak of Him as a prophet instead of the fulfillment of prophecies. There may be just enough truth in their ideas to make them appear believable and correct. Before accepting anything, we need to examine their message closely to see if it breathes of God’s word. Beware of false prophets and their messages; they may look good at first glance. Like the fake bird, however, they won’t hold up to the test of time. Storms will batter them, the bright light of day will fade them, and they’ll eventually decay and rot.

Frauds! Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye: These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they’re worshiping me, but they don’t mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy. [Matthew 15:7-9 (MSG)]