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November 10, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, God's Promises

Spiritual Muscle Building

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. [1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)]

Comfort and serenity are wonderful (and I prefer them), but tranquility doesn’t help us mature into the people God wants us to be. Difficulties are His way of building our spiritual muscles. It’s in times of hardship, adversity and pain that the qualities of honor, integrity and courage develop. Lord, may we have thankful hearts and willing spirits, not just in times of plenty and peace, but in times of pain and hardship, as well.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through trial and suffering is the soul strengthened. [Helen Keller]

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November 9, 2013

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God's Word: The Bible, Wisdom & Guidance

Blueprint for Life

2013-11-9These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss. [Luke 6:47-49 (MSG)]

God’s words are not mere suggestions; they are orders. They are the blueprints for our existence. If the carpenter changes the blueprint without the architect’s permission, the integrity of the structure is in jeopardy. It’s not just our integrity but our souls that are in jeopardy when we don’t follow God’s plan. God’s words are the foundation on which we must build our lives.

Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. [Proverbs 4:13 (NLT)]

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said – to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
[Attributed to John Keith, 1787]

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November 8, 2013

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God's Promises, Prayer, Wisdom & Guidance

Who Ya Gonna Call?

The Lord declares, “How horrible it will be for those rebellious children. They carry out plans, but not mine. They make alliances against my will. They pile sin on top of sin. … These people are rebellious and deceitful children, children who refuse to listen to the Lord’s teachings. They say to the seers, ‘Don’t see the future.’ They say to those who have visions, ‘Don’t have visions that tell us what is right. Tell us what we want to hear. See illusions. Get out of our way! Stop blocking our path! Get the Holy One of Israel out of our sight.’” [Isaiah 30:1, 9-11 (GW)]

God is our personal help line and yet we often refuse to use it. It’s usually not because we’ve forgotten about Him. More often, it’s because we really don’t want to hear what He has to say or do what He might tell us to do. As a result, we search for advice from everyone else, hoping to hear the answer we want. Like the rebellious children of Judah, we often prefer lies and illusions to the truth. When we seek God, we may not always like His advice, but we can be sure that it will be faultless and true. God’s way is rarely the easy way, but we can trust that it will be the right way!

This is what the Almighty Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: You can be saved by returning to me. You can have rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me. But you don’t want that. [Isaiah 30:15 (GW)]

 

 

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November 7, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Love & Works

Blessed are the Peacemakers

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. [James 3:16 (ESV)]

Lord, show me how to be a peacemaker: a person who brings harmony and reconciliation, rather than conflict and discord, to every situation. In trying moments, keep me calm and give me patience. Remind me to be silent when I would rather criticize, keep me from responding to rudeness with a similar lack of courtesy, and lead me to prayer when an angry response is what I’d prefer!

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November 6, 2013

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Bible Stories, God's Promises, Trusting God

Do His Work (Haggai – part 2)

But now don’t be discouraged, any of you. Do the work, for I am with you. When you came out of Egypt, I promised that I would always be with you. I am still with you, so do not be afraid. [Haggai 2:4-5 (GNT)]

Within twenty-three days of Haggai’s first message regarding the rebuilding of the Temple, the people of Jerusalem began construction. But, they were discouraged; this new building was inferior to the previous great temple built by Solomon. God reassured them, telling them simply to do the work. He doesn’t expect perfection; just our best effort. If we do God’s work, He will be with us. With God’s assurance that He was always with them, they knew that what would really bring glory to the temple wasn’t its structure; it was the presence of God in it.

Father, I want to do my best for you. Thank you for the reassurance that my best is good enough for you, even if it isn’t great. Thank you for reminding me that it is your presence in my work that gives it true value.

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November 5, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Obedience, Wisdom & Guidance

Put First Things First (Haggai – part 1)

Now, this is what the Lord of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways! You planted a lot, but you harvested little. You eat, but you’re never full. You drink, but you’re still thirsty. You wear clothing, but you never have enough to keep you warm. You spend money as fast as you earn it. [Haggai 1:5-6 (GW)]

Does this situation sound familiar? Although these words were spoken by Haggai in 520 BC, they make me think of our nation, with its problems and dark mood today. Although the Jews had returned to Jerusalem fifteen years earlier, they hadn’t managed to complete the rebuilding of the Temple. More concerned with building their homes and lives than in completing God’s work, they were experiencing severe problems. Have we, like the ancient Jews, lost our sense of values and misplaced our priorities? When hard times hit, when we feel empty, when our best efforts seem futile, perhaps it is time to reconsider what takes precedence in our lives.

Lord, guide us in setting our priorities. Let us always keep you first and foremost in our thoughts.

This is what the Lord of Armies says: Carefully consider your ways! [Haggai 1:7 (GW)]