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The Spiritual Discipline of Silence and Solitude
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:4-5 Have you ever known an extremely chatty person? Perhaps, after a conversation with your friend, you just want a few minutes of peace. Maybe you have a talkative toddler? Or, how about a…
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High Adventures at Sea
But the disciples, who were now in the middle of the lake, ran into trouble, for their boat was tossed about by the high winds and heavy seas. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the waves! When the disciples saw him walking on top of the water, they were terrified and screamed, “A ghost!” Then Jesus said, “Be brave and don’t be afraid. I am here!” Peter shouted out, “Lord, if it’s really you, then have me join you on the water!” “Come and join me,” Jesus replied. Matthew 14:24-29 The massive rock rose very high above us as our boat approached the swimming cove.…
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The Spiritual Discipline of Gratitude
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28 I noticed I have been clenching my jaw A LOT lately. The tension in my shoulders has caused a hump in my back, and my muscles just ache. I started complaining to God and praying for Him to change the situations in my life, so my body could de-stress. But we are all in a time of added stress right now, even as we are tentatively re-entering society amid the changing landscape of the COVIC Pandemic. I have to deal with new fears and worries…
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It Is A Family Affair
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. 1 Peter 5:12-14 I am just completing a Bible Study on 1 Peter, and oh how I want to share the many things I have learned in this fantastic book of the Bible. But I have settled upon sharing the…
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Beautifully Broken by the Redemptive Love of God
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23 What is redemption anyway? I have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God (Romans 3:23), and the price for my sin is death (Romans 6:23). However, I am still living and breathing. That is the power of redemption. God bought me back from death. He paid the price for my sin and saved me from my punishment.…
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The Fun Father
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:11-12 (ESV) Have you, like me, ever struggled with the Bible’s depiction of our Father in heaven as a stern, not very fun Father? When we look up the attributes of God in the Bible, we find such words as Judge, Holy, and All-Powerful. Fun does not make the list. But God must be fun because I like having fun, being funny, and laughing. And I am made…
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How to Get Your Spiritual Ducks in a Row
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 2 Peter 3:10-12 My job as a specialist is to help people manage a specific process. The…
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The Spiritual Discipline of Living an Examined Life
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test. 2 Corinthians 13:5 A.W. Tozar wrote, The philosopher Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” If a common philosopher could think that, how much more we Christians ought to listen to the Holy Spirit when He says, “Examine yourself.” In a world where introspection and self-awareness are culturally glorified, how strange we would think to pursue a life examined by God Himself. Not for the purpose of finding some more profound inner happiness, but to unleash the immeasurable…
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In a Den of Lions
“Issue a decree that every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever, his Kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues, and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:26-27 Did you grow up reading the Little Golden Books? That was how I learned my Bible stories. I remember shopping with my mom and seeing a big kiosk filled with the Golden Books. Mom usually let me get one but choosing just one was the…
