local Daily Devotions

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here's the blog site, that is done by our neighbor,
she taught school for a while, and they are working with a family in Israel now, so she digs into the Jewish meaning of the Jewish words/phrases pretty deep.

to me, it brings a new perspective on some stuff I "thought" I understood before.


http://e-biblestudy-philandpattimoore.blogspot.com/

here's Fridays, so you can see the detail:

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Indictments were made against Paul for teaching “The Way” in the temple. It would be a similar situation if someone were to go and teach the New Testament at a Jewish synagogue in Indianapolis.

Paul is given many opportunities to witness as he is brought before many authorities. He takes advantage of these opportunities. Do we as Believers in Jesus take advantage of every opportunity to witness for Him?

When Paul addressed Felix, the governor of Judea, concerning righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was obviously upset and sent Paul away. Hmmm, sounds like Paul was getting dangerously "close to home". Was Felix being convicted? Obviously Felix cared more about getting the bribe than being uncomfortable with Paul's discourses. Isn't it ironic that in order to get the bribe, Felix had to listen to Paul's words. Secular history indicates that it was the Jews who prompted Felix's recall to Rome. Could the Jews have been concerned that Felix was beginning to believe what Paul was saying?

When Paul spoke before King Agrippa, he mentions that he lived as a child in another country. We know from Scripture that Paul was a citizen of Rome. That doesn't mean he was born and lived previously in Rome. He was born in Tarsus located in the Roman province of Cilicia, modern day Turkey. Citizenship outside of Italy was an honor reserved for people who made great contributions to the Empire. So, we may conclude that Paul's parents were people of influence and perhaps even moderate wealth. His father was a Pharisee of pure and unmixed Jewish blood.

Tarsus, the city of Paul's birth combined both Roman and Greek (politics of Rome and Greek culture). It was the seat of a famous university, higher in reputation even that the universities of Athens and Alexandria. Paul spent his childhood here. No doubt he left his home during early adolescence and taken to Jerusalem for his formal education in the most prominent rabbinical schools of the day. Again, the apostle Paul had some very impressive credentials.

Acts 26:29
Paul replied, "Short time or long-- I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
Paul was praying for those of us who are reading and listening to this Scripture today. Do you think that Paul had any idea of the millions (or billions) of people who would be influenced by his words???

Some things to ponder:
We are not in literal “chains” like Paul was, but are there some “chains” that bind us from teaching about Jesus? What might some of those “chains” be? How can we break those “chains”?

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Posted By Patti to 3 - e-bible study - phil and patti moore at 12/12/2014 06:00:00 AM

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Do Not Reach for the Power

"For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).

A few years ago, a friend was asked by a large organization to meet with them about doing some cooperative projects in the faith at work area. He visited their headquarters and had several initial discussions. They concluded that they would proceed on a joint conference.

During his visit, he stayed overnight at the headquarters of this ministry. He was awakened at 5 A.M. and led to read Exodus 33:15. Moses said he could not go any further if God did not promise that His presence would go with him. He sensed this was to be their theme for the conference.

Later that morning, he shared that he had received this leading from the Lord regarding the theme of the conference with some of the people in the organization. However, when he shared this with the leader of the organization, he did not take it seriously. He was a bit irritated and his pride was hurt, but he decided to follow a principle that he had been walking in for a few years: act like you have the authority, but do not reach for the power. He realized that if God had truly spoken His words into his heart, he would not have to exercise his authority to make it happen. God would orchestrate it.

More discussion was given to the theme, but nothing was resolved. A few hours later, the conference theme came up again. He turned to a friend and read Exodus 33:15 aloud, and he got excited about using that verse as the possible theme of the event. The leader, to his amazement, chimed in as well and said, "Yes, that should be the theme of the conference." It was a big lesson for him.

Act like you have the authority, but do not reach for the power.

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An Eternal View of Circumstances


"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel." - Philippians 1:12

Are your life circumstances advancing the gospel? Can you see the Lord's hand in your life in such a way that all of your life experiences, joys, sorrows, hardships, and training have resulted in advancing the gospel?

Paul was a tentmaker by trade. But he had an overall ministry objective in his business life. That objective left him imprisoned and persecuted at times. But Paul saw these events not as roadblocks to his mission. Rather, they were catalysts to advancing the cause of Christ. Paul's revelation of this kept him from despairing about his circumstances.

One day a little-known pastor who lived in the small African nation of Benin began to pray for his Marxist president. For two years he prayed. Then the Lord told the pastor to go to meet this president and share the gospel with him. The president rejected the gospel, but after another such occasion, the president accepted the gospel and became a Christian. He was removed from power but was disciple'd by this pastor. Sometime later this same president was elected again. Today that president is now a Christian leader of a nation committed to spreading the gospel throughout his nation. One man - yet millions have been affected by his obedience. This modern-day story is retold in countless lives of those willing to live for a cause greater than themselves.

Are your work and life experiences serving to advance the gospel? What experiences has God allowed in your life that is part of His plan to advance the gospel? Ask Him to help you see your life the way He sees it. Seeing our life the way God sees it will help us avoid discouragement in those times when life appears to be a mystery to us.

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Decision-Making

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5

This is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible related to gaining wisdom and direction from God. Yet I have never heard one teaching on this passage that teaches what I believe the psalmist is really saying. The first part is pretty easy; we are to trust with all our heart. But the next part is not so clear. We are not to lean on our own understanding. If we are not to lean on our own understanding, on whose understanding are we to lean? God's!

Throughout the Old Testament we find that God set up structures by which those in authority made decisions. God has always set a principle whereby we are to seek Him in all our decisions, that He might truly make our decisions. In the Old Testament, the priest made decisions based on which way the Urim and Thummim fell inside his breastplate. The casting of lots was another means of allowing a decision to be left with God. Proverbs says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (Proverb 16:33).

Another means of making a decision was through the agreement of two or three. No one could be guilty of any crime without the witness of two or three. This was a biblical way of confirming a matter. Still another means of making a decision is through a multitude of counselors.

Given all these scenarios, what are we to gain from these examples? We are told in Jeremiah 17:9a, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure." So what really protects each of us from the deceit of our own heart? I believe it is the combination of all the above.

When we get to a place with God that our decisions are accountable to others, whether that be a wife, a board, or a few close friends who are committed to the same godly ideals, this is when we are protected from the deceit of our own heart. This is one of the hardest things to yield to God, the right to make our own decisions. Yet, it is the most elementary principle God requires of us to receive His blessing in our lives.

This principle took a long time for me to appreciate. However, today I can tell you I would never make a major decision without the counsel of others who are close to me. Relational accountability has become lost in our culture due to our hunger for independence. I have experienced too often the hardship that results from making decisions that God isn't behind. Walking in obedience is the only real freedom in Christ.

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JOY

John 17: 13ÔÇØAnd now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves."


Many people are filled with Joy during the Christmas time, but it is not the joy of the Lord, it is the joy of the world. There are many that are planning parties where there will be alcohol or drugs used to celebrate the season. But that dear friends that is not true Joy. There is a JOY that the world gives, but the Joy of the Lord is a Great, Lasting JOY!

Even when the presents are old and gone, the Joy of the Lord is always fresh and everlasting. I am so glad that I have learned to celebrate the REASON for the season than just celebrate the season. There is no gift like that of what the Lord can give! Hey, it may be Xmas to some, but it is CHRISTMAS to me! Tell everyone you see, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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AN EARLY CHRISTMAS STORY

Pa never had such compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible; instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didnÔÇÖt worry about it long though; I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.

Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what.

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load.

Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on.

After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood ~ the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting.

What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" "You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, IÔÇÖd been by, but so what? "Yeah," I said, "Why?" "I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt."

That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it.

Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait.

When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. "Shoes. They're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying those shoes and candy?

Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern. We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, and then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, ÔÇ£Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt. Could we come in for a bit?"

Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.

"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time.

There was a pair for her and one for each of the children sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.

"We brought a load of wood too, MaÔÇÖam," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too.

In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that He would send one of his angels to spare us."

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true.

I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.

Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get.

Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug.

They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.

At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasnÔÇÖt been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away. Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, "'May the Lord bless you,' I know for certain that He will."

Out on the sled I felt warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said,ÔÇØ Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and I have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough.

Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and I were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that. But on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do.

Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the JensenÔÇÖs, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

Don't be too busy today...
Share this inspiring message!
Author Unknown

(Shared for God's Glory)

"Love is not getting, but giving . . . .
It is goodness and honor and peace and pure living . . .
Love is the best thing in the world and the thing that lives the longest."
Henry Van Dyke

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Hebrews 10:24-25

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Grow in the Lord

1 Peter 2: 2ÔÇØAs newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:ÔÇØ

It is the will of God that all believers grow in the Lord. A person that has just accepted Jesus Christ as their person savior, they are considered BABES in Christ because they have not yet studied the Word of God to see what the will of God is for their lives. Christian maturity comes when we study the Word of God and apply what we have studied. A person can read the Bible completely thru many times, but if there is no application, there will not be any growth. So many times people evaluate their Christian growth by how many verses they have read in the Bible, some evaluate their growth by how many scriptures they have memorized, but both are very poor ways to evaluate Christian growth.

The best way to evaluate Christian growth is by the way that other can see the bible scriptures being lived out in your daily life. A baby would never grow if we only showed them their food, it must be applied before there can be growth. 1 out of 6 Americans suffer from malnutrition today. I wonder how many Christians suffer from spiritual malnutrition.

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A Candy Maker


For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.... - John 3:16

A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness of his faith. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy-white to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church and the firmness of God's promises.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also be thought to represent the staff of the Good Shepherd with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs that, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, and by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

The candy became known as the candy cane-a decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there.

During Christmas, do you reflect on the real meaning of the season? It is one season we can use like no other to bring the focus on Christ. Ask God to give you opportunities to share Christ with someone this Christmas.

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One Flock, One Shepherd


I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. - John 10:16

A friend of mine told me a story about an experience he had in Israel. They were in the country visiting some of the famous biblical sites when they saw a group of sheepherders. A shepherd brought his flock of sheep into a round pen for the night. Then, a few minutes later, another shepherd brought his flock into the pen. Then, a few minutes later, yet another shepherd brought his sheep into the pen. There were three groups of sheep in the pen with no identifying marks among any of them. My friend wondered how in the world they would separate their sheep the next day.

The next morning, a shepherd came over to the pen and made a comment to his sheep. One by one, the sheep filed out to follow him. Only his sheep followed his voice. My friend said it was an amazing scene to see only that shepherd's sheep follow him and the others remain in the pen. What a picture of Jesus' words spoken centuries earlier.

Hearing and responding to Jesus' voice is the key to having a two-way relationship with God. It is the difference between having religion and a relationship. Can you recognize God's voice in your life? Are you listening to the Shepherd's voice? Do you respond when He calls? Ask Jesus to help you increase your ability to hear. Give more time to spending quiet moments in His presence to hear His voice. He wants to be your Good Shepherd.

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A New Kind of Army


"Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears" (Joel 3:9-10).

God is rising up a new kind of army in these last days. It is the remnant in the Body of Christ that has the greatest potential for societal transformation of any segment of society - men and women in the workplace. It is a remnant that has been largely silent.

Plowshares and pruning hooks are agricultural instruments that farmers use in their work. The prophet Joel says these very instruments will be used in the last days as weapons of war. However, it won't be a war against man and an enemy, but against the Kingdom of darkness.

As we enter the last days, men and women will begin to see their vocations as instruments to defeat the forces of evil and usher in the Kingdom of God. You will see Christ glorified in the marketplace like never before. You will see hundreds and thousands become part of a new harvest of souls in the "9 to 5 window", where many have yet to experience the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

What has to happen for your plowshare or pruning hook to be transformed into a weapon of love, designed to cut through the strongholds of unbelief and corruption in your workplace? You are a spiritual warrior in a worker's uniform.

God has called you to transform your view of yourself and your work. He desires to use you and your work life to impact your workplace, city and nation. Are you ready to beat your plowshare into a sword and your pruning hook into a spear?

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Business as Usual


"And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." - Luke 2:7

Imagine if the God of the universe decided to visit planet earth as a new baby and you were given the opportunity to host His first night-in your hotel! Think of the future promotional possibilities..."God stayed here His first night!" You could sell tickets to see the room where He was born. What an opportunity to make history as a small-business owner!

God had need of a business owner's establishment one night 2,000 years ago. But there was no room for God in this business that night. There was no room for the unexpected miracle; no awareness of what was taking place in the heavenlies, no sign that God might be reaching out to this workplace believer to be used like no other in all of history.

Every day God has need of some man or woman's job. He wants to demonstrate miracles in their work. But there is no room in their work for Jesus. He is not asked to participate.

That night God slept in a stable. That night a business opportunity from Heaven was missed. It was business as usual.

May we all have spiritual eyes and ears to know when our Master needs what He has entrusted to us for His purposes.

He is the Reason for the Season!

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Adoring God


Exodus 34.6: "and He (God) passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness".

In this verse, God Himself tells us of five key qualities of Himself:
1) He is compassionate and merciful,
2) He is gracious,
3) He is slow to anger (long-suffering),
4) He is abounding in loving-kindness, and
5) He is abounding in faithfulness (or truth).

It is appropriate and important to praise God for who He is in our prayer time, using these qualities as topics of praise.

Let's start with item 4: "He is abounding in loving-kindness". ÔÇÿLoving-kindnessÔÇÖ is the Hebrew word chesed. Our English language does not begin to communicate the breadth and depth of meaning in this word. It is far more than loving-kindness. The best example of the breadth of God's love for us, as expressed by the word chesed, is the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Nothing else matters without the Cross.

This is the strongest possible way God could have communicated and demonstrated His incredible love for us. Paul expresses it well in Ephesians 3.17-18: ÔÇ£And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,ÔÇØ

It is appropriate to start our prayer time by praising God for His incredible loving-kindness, as expressed by His sending Jesus Christ to pay for our sin. Never doubt GodÔÇÖs love for us. It is His very nature to love us so deeply and completely.

If you ever start to doubt GodÔÇÖs love for you, just look at the Cross. The Cross shouts His love for us, proclaiming it for all eternity and throughout the entire universe. As His creation, we need to praise him for his incredible loving-kindness (chesed) to us.

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Heb 10:26-27
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

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A Child is Born


And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

On the night when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Mary wrapped him in cloths and placed him in manager because there was no room in the inn. When Jesus was born, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angels to praise God. The birth of this child was good news for the whole world and still good news for this world today.

Christmas invites us to let Jesus be born in our lives. Then every day God will give us life, joy, and peace.

Lord, help us see that no matter how dirty or crowded our situations may be today, that Christ can be born anew in our lives this Christmas. We thank You Father for the life of Your Son and our King, Jesus Christ. Thank You Immanuel, for the joy and peace You give us.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

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2 Thessalonians 3:10

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

in context:
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passa...3&version=NKJV

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Empty Mangers

"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest" (Proverbs 14:4).

When Jesus was brought into this world, He chose to be born in a most unusual place - a manger. It was no more than a livery stable with goats and oxen and other livestock animals. There is a distinctive characteristic about a place like this. It is filled with odors and dung from the animals. God seems to work best among the unpleasantness of circumstance. In fact, "where there are no oxen, the manger is empty."

What is this really saying? I believe it is saying that in order for Jesus to be present, we must invite those things that bring with them "messes to clean up." God works among the messy things in our lives. And, from these messes, come an abundant harvest. This is what He did with all of His highly used servants in the Bible. God is filled with paradoxes. Why can't life be seamless and smooth? Because God likes to show Himself in the midst of the messes of life. This is what brings us into the harvests. So often the bigger the mess, the bigger the harvest.

When a major road construction project takes place in a crowded city street, it appears to be absolute chaos. It is inconvenient, slow moving and tends to get us irritated because it appears we are moving much slower than we would like.

It is ugly and so much of what we see is torn up. But when we look at that same area a few months or years later, we see why the construction was necessary. There was meaning to the mess. It actually made life so much better for those who would use the road.

It has been through the messiest of times in my business and personal life that God has revealed His power and strength in my life. It is when these "oxen" of hardship have walked into my manger that the greatest harvest is manifest. However, when I seek to remove the "oxen" and rid myself of the odor and the mess, I fight the ultimate work of God. God works in mangers.

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Walking in God's Blessings


Psalm 119: ÔÇ£Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. (1)
Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.
They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways. (2-3)
You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. (4)
Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! (5)
Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. (6)ÔÇØ

Let us continue mining Psalm 119 for the riches of the Scriptures God has placed there. Do you want to be blessed of God? I do. Verse 1, gives us two criteria for being blessed: "having blameless ways" and "walking according to the law of the Lord".

"Having blameless ways" reminds us of 1 John 1.9: ÔÇ£If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.ÔÇØ The "purifying from all unrighteousness" makes us blameless and according to verse 1, makes us blessed. We need to confess sin daily.

We are taught more about "walking according to the law of the Lord" in vs. 2 - 6. We are to keep His statutes and seek Him with all our heart. His precepts from His Scriptures are to be fully obeyed; that is what it means to "walk according to the law of the Lord". This reminds us of JesusÔÇÖ statement from John 14.15: "If you love me, you will obey what I commandÔÇØ.

To "walk according to the law of the Lord" is to base our activities and actions on the Scriptures. "Walking" is an activity that requires intentionality, effort, and direction. We have to be intentional about getting out of our chair and walking. Walking requires effort; energy is expended. Walking requires direction; we are going somewhere. To "walk according to the law of the Lord" also requires intentionality, effort, and direction.

We need to be intentional about basing our activities on the Scriptures (the law of the Lord) (intentional obedience). It requires effort to study the Scriptures to know how to proceed with the activities we are facing, and how to base our activities on the Scriptures; it requires effort to analyze our activities and direction from a scriptural worldview.

The direction of our activities needs to be driven by the teachings of Christ, the kingdom principles revealed in the Scriptures, and the guidance we have received in prayer. Enoch ÔÇ£walked with GodÔÇØ (Gen. 5.24) and that is our goal: To develop the relationship with God so deeply through prayer and the Scriptures that it can be said of us "he walked with God". We will be blessed as we do so.

These passages show us that the way to receive God's blessing is to
1) confess sin and receive the resulting cleansing from all unrighteousness, and
2) to obey his Scriptures.
We need to be intentional about basing our activities and strategic direction on the Scriptures, and on the relationship with God through prayer.

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Obedience to GodÔÇÖs Word


"If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce" (Leviticus 26:3-4 NASB).

When you ask God for wisdom, guidance, or other help, makes sure you are obedient to all of God's commandments.

If you have strayed from God's word and commandments, repent and ask God for forgiveness.

Then turn around, change your life, and begin to walk in the center of God's will.

When you take this step, you will begin to allow God to hear your prayer, and God will be faithful and send you rain in the proper season.

Your obedience to God's word will not make everything easy, but it will result in peace for you and will allow God to bless your life and business.

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The Purpose of the Desert


Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. - Hosea 2:14

If you have an important message to convey to someone, what is the best means of getting the message through? Have you ever tried to talk with someone who was so busy you could not get him to hear you? Distractions prevent us from giving our undivided attention to the messenger. So too, God has His way of taking us aside to get our undivided attention. For Paul, it was Arabia for three years; for Moses, it was 40 years in the desert; for Joseph, it was 13 years in Egypt; for David, it was many years of fleeing from King Saul.

God knows the stubborn human heart. He knows that if He is to accomplish His deepest work, He must take us into the desert in order to give us the privilege to be used in His Kingdom. In the desert God changes us and removes things that hinder us. He forces us to draw deep upon His grace.

The desert is only a season in our life. When He has accomplished what He wants in our lives in the desert, He will bring us out. He has given us a mission to fulfill that can only be fulfilled after we have spent adequate time in preparation in the desert. Fear not the desert, for it is here you will hear God's voice like never before. It is here you become His bride.

It is here you will have the idols of your life removed. It is here you begin to experience the reality of a living God like never before. Someone once said, "God uses enlarged trials to produce enlarged saints so He can put them in enlarged places!

He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me (2 Samuel 22:20).

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My Prayer for the New Year

ÔÇ£The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no lawÔÇØ (Galatians 5:22-23).

Father, thank you for all that You have accomplished in me this past year. For the ups and downs of everyday life, and, Lord, for proving Your love to me time and time again. Forgive my weak moments, those defeating times of unbelief, mistrust, worry, and complaining.

Thank you that in my weakness Your strength came shining through. May I honor You more fully in the coming year. Teach me to cling to You like never before.

Give me opportunity to illuminate Your perfect grace and mercy. Lord, may the fruits of Your Spirit be expressed from my inner being. May I love more, experience joy more, and claim your undeniable peace that passes all understanding. Enhance my patience, kindness, goodness, and gentleness to Christ like proportions.

May You find me faithful. Fill me with Your supernatural power of self-control. For it is in this fruit of the Spirit that all the others become possible. This prayer is my New YearÔÇÖs Resolution. I lay it at Your feet, Father. May You and You alone be glorified.

What shall you give in the coming year? Start with loving God and others through the fruits of the Spirit. Through them the world will see Jesus shine through you.
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The Lord is Faithful!!! And I thank Him for giving me the privilege and opportunity to be involved in His work by sharing the devotion with you each day, and for you being part of my life

May 2015 be a blessed and bountiful year for you.
May God bless you richly!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!