When we live lovingly like Jesus did, we can have the same confidence in the face of death and before God in judgment. Our confidence is not in our efforts, but in our Savior. His love has not only redeemed us, it has changed us. His love is not only a gift to us, but it is a gift through us. We can…
Blog posts : "General"
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We can be sure that God loves us. He wants us to live in and be blessed by his love. That love is more than just the grace that reaches us when we are saved. God's love extends through us. His love is redemptive in our loving behaviors to others. His presence is seen in our loving attitudes and deed…
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The cross has always been a powerful symbol. It has the power to bring light into the lives of those who walk in darkness. It has the power to heal and the power to reconcile sinful man with a pure and Holy God; it has the power to grant eternal life to those who would but look to it in faith.…
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We are loved by the Creator of the Universe. He knows us personally. Our Heavenly Father cares about us tremendously. Although God knew about our weaknesses and sinfulness, he was willing to pay a terrible price to redeem us. Even though we are sometimes weak or rebellious, he loves us, forgives us,…
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In the Old Testament, God lead the children of Israel out of slavery and bondage in Egypt. They passed through the Red sea unharmed, and they entered the desert. While in the desert many Hebrews rebelled against God and the authority of Moses. Angered by their arrogance, God sent poisonou…
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Christians are required to employ their abundant possessions to glorify God, and to bless the needy. If you are wealthy put your money to work for The Lord. If you own property and you are not using it, offer it to someone who can. If your closet is overflowing, gather up the overflow and bring i…
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Withholding forgiveness from others is dangerous; for the Lord has said, “if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.” Jesus used a ‘seven’ to describe the number of times a disciple is obligated to forgive others. In the Hebrew culture, numbers carried very profound s…
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Those who accept the Holy Spirit and forsake evil are cleansed of all unrighteousness. They are made pure; the innocence that was lost through sin is finally restored (the sons and daughters of God are reborn as doves; lacking evil intentions and immoral hearts.) Unlike natural born children whose…
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The Psalmist is reminding himself of the great things that God did for them. Why? In a few verses, the writer will call out to God to do it again. When it seems like nothing is happening in our lives, remind yourself about the things that God has done in the past. This will give you the focus and fa…
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When a New Year rolls around we often feel regret for the past or great hope for the future…or both! But what hope do we have of really having a “new year” if we are the same people? This passage tells us that when someone has dedicated their life to following Jesus, they are re-made. Not just rehab…
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In the ancient world, cities were places of safety and refuge. Most were surrounded by large walls designed to protect the inhabitants from hostile enemies. The size of the walls depended on the prosperity of the city. Babylon, (one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world), was rumored to…
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In the first century shepherding was a very common profession. Every good shepherd would tirelessly love and care for his sheep. Feeding and watering the livestock remained an unending endeavor. Every shepherd was also tasked with fending off hungry predators and keeping their sheep free fr…
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Some time ago, during a cross-country meet in Minnesota, a young man named Mark Paulauskas was injured in the first half-mile of a two mile race. He had been spiked by another runners cleats (a wound that would eventually require 20 stitches and a walking boot.) As Paulauskas cried out in agony,…
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Some time ago, during a cross-country meet in Minnesota, a young man named Mark Paulauskas was injured in the first half-mile of a two mile race. He had been spiked by another runners cleats (a wound that would eventually require 20 stitches and a walking boot.) As Paulauskas cried out in agony,…
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In the 1800’s there resided a little girl from Philadelphia name Hattie Wiatt. She lived in close proximity to a popular and very crowded Grace Baptist Church. One day she approached the Church and asked to attend the Sunday school. Sadly she was told that there was no more room. Less than two ye…
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Similarly, many value their belongings more than their eternal lives. Those who have found great comfort in their worldly possessions are therefore ill-prepared for the coming kingdom. As believers we must be ready for ‘the rapture;’ an event that could occur at any moment. To be completely…
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Those who follow God oppose evil; no matter the cost. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we boldly speak the truth (as Christ has taught us.) Speaking the truth may not be popular; we may be excluded, hated, or even persecuted by those who seek to sin without conviction. Satan wil…
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Every disciple is called to boldly preach the gospel; to speak the truth in love no matter the consequence. Today many are suffering persecution; in Muslim countries, Christians are being attacked and beheaded; in communist countries they are being imprisoned and tortured. Yet in the United Stat…
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"What was the significance of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples?" Jesus washing the feet of the disciples (John 13:1–17) occurred in the upper room, just prior to the Last Supper and has significance in three ways. For Jesus, it was the display of His humility and His servanthood. For the disc…
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It seems that the amount of grace and peace that floods our heart is directly related to the knowledge of God and specifically of Jesus Christ. Our minds don’t naturally gravitate toward grace and peace—we keep trying to prove ourselves, resulting in stress and condemnation. But the person who focus…