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June 30, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Forgiveness

FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE

…Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as he did. …People insulted Christ but he did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. He let God, the one who judges rightly, take care of him. [1 Peter 2:21,23 (NCV)]

The words cut me to the quick. I was deeply hurt and then I got angry. Fortunately, the message came in an email so my mouth didn’t have a chance to blurt out something I’d soon regret. I probably would have defended my actions and then gone on the offense by listing the numerous ways this person had hurt me. Fortunately, God stopped me from responding that evening. Instead, I prayed about this person and what my response should be. As I prayed, God helped me see into this person’s heart: the message could only have been written by a very unhappy person. I realized that the angry words came from deep pain on the other person’s part: pain I had not caused and that had nothing to do with me. I just happened to be the convenient scapegoat. The words God guided me to write in return were loving and warm and, yes, a little apologetic (even though I had to swallow my pride because I truly had done nothing for which I needed to apologize). Instead of adding fuel to the fire, God helped me apply balm to a wounded heart.

Lord, be with us, and even toughen our skin a bit, so that we can let angry and mean words quickly wash over us. Show us how to keep them from soaking into our hearts. No matter how upset we may be, help us respond in a way that will heal instead of hurt.

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. … Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. [Proverbs 15:1,4 (MSG)]

 

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June 29, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, Sharing Our Faith

TRIALS OF FAITH

If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! [1 Peter 4:14-16 (MSG)]

Meriam Ibrahim is a Sudanese Christian woman who has been in the news recently. Earlier in the year, this mother of two received a sentence of 100 lashes to be followed by death because she married a Christian man in 2011 and converted to Christianity. She could have avoided the death sentence by renouncing Christ, but she wouldn’t. As she languished in jail, her second child was born. Amid massive international outcry, a Sudanese court finally acquitted her and she was recently released from prison. When she and her family tried to exit the country, however, they were detained, supposedly because of forged travel documents. They are now at the US Embassy where diplomats are trying to arrange for their departure.

Why is a nation so afraid of this one woman, her two small children, and her husband, a man who is confined to a wheelchair because of muscular dystrophy? They’re not terrorists; they’re simply Christians who bring a message of hope, love and salvation. It’s difficult to understand how this message can be so threatening to people.

I can’t help but wonder what I would do in Meriam’s place. Would I renounce my faith to save my life? Living in the safety of the US, I doubt I will ever have to make that choice. Unfortunately, as evidenced in the news, there are still Christians today who do have to make choices like that.

Lord, we remember those who suffer even today for their belief in Christ. Give them courage and strength. Please strengthen and refine our faith as well.

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. [1 Peter 4:12-13 (MSG)]

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June 28, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience, Temptation & Sin

CREATE IN ME A PURE HEART

6-28-14daisy (blue-eyed)Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again. [Psalm 51:10 (NCV)

Lord, help me examine my heart; make it right and pure. Help me remove a prideful spirit. At times, I take pleasure in other people’s failures, a scornful attitude replaces a compassionate heart, and pride creeps in where humility should be. Remind me daily that I’m nowhere near as righteous, important, or intelligent as I often think I am! Father, forgive me and cleanse my heart of arrogance, condescension, pretension, and conceit.

They are blessed whose thoughts are pure for they will see God. [Matthew 5:8 (NCV)]

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June 27, 2014

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Knowing Him, Miracles, Salvation: A New You

THE MIRACLE WORKER

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. … “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” [John 2:11, 3:2b (NLT)]

While some thirty-seven miracles are recorded in the gospels, many more occurred. Were Jesus’s miracles supposed to be the selling point to discipleship? If you believe, you will never be blind, sick or lame and you won’t go hungry. Better yet, you can walk on water and catch all the fish you want! If that was the case, Jesus would probably have healed everyone in Jerusalem and the doctors, bread-bakers, wine-makers and boat-makers would have gone out of business! Jesus’s miracles helped to establish his divine power; they gave him the 1st Century equivalent of “street cred.” More important, His miracles continue today to teach us lessons about forgiveness, love, and faith.

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.[John 20:30-31 (NLT)]

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June 26, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, Trusting God

HE IS OUR STRENGTH

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory [Exodus 15:2a (NLT)]

Lord, help us remember that it is the experience and not the outcome that is your gift. We may not always be victorious but we are always blessed. We are enriched by every experience, not just the ones we enjoy! When we waver, help us remember that we are not the writers of our life’s script; you alone are the author. We may not like where we are at the moment, but thank you for giving us the strength to make it through anything.

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June 25, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Promises, Holy Spirit, Temptation & Sin

WHAT SHIELDS US?

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. [Psalm 91:4 (NLT)]

When I was a girl, in the Cold War days, my school conducted fire, tornado and air raid drills. Leaving the building in case of fire made sense as did going to the basement in the case of a tornado. Cowering under our desks, however, would not have done much to save us from an atomic bomb! Do we tend to use equally flimsy defense tactics against Satan’s threats? Today, let’s choose to tap into God’s strength and put on His armor for protection.

DSC02124-Chillon-L Geneva-cropWEBBut let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. [1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NLT)]