tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50830068911571560912024-03-05T16:39:48.054-08:00God's Grace Through His WordThis devotional blog is intended to share brief, scripture based thoughts that we can tuck into our hearts. The focus of the devotions is God's word, not my thoughts. Isaiah 55:11 is the basis for this blog:
"so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-40455255967732341622016-10-30T09:33:00.002-07:002016-10-30T09:33:57.558-07:00God's glory in our small lives<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->“For who has known the mind of the Lord,or who has been his counselor?”35 “Or who has given a gift to himthat he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36 <br /><br />Since early Christianity consisted mainly of Jews who recognized Jesus as their savior and messiah, the New Testament discusses in depth the rejection of Jesus Christ by the Jews. The apostle Paul, in the eleventh chapter of Romans, discusses how the rejection of Jesus by the Jews was actually necessary in order that the gentiles can come to the saving knowledge of Christ. The important point is that although our birth, culture and society dictates much of our lives, God is well aware of every step and thought that has ever existed or will exist, and He is using all of it for His glory. Even the rejection of Christ by the Jews will one day result in a God glorifying reconciliation. <br /><br />I baked a cake this morning, and as I was baking this cake, I thought about the scripture above, and about the events that were described in Romans 11. I realized that I baked this cake because: <br /><br />1. Someone figured out how to harness natural gas and use it for cooking. <br /><br />2. Someone designed the stove that I use. <br /><br />3. Someone started a business that sold the stove. <br /><br />4. Someone developed a cake mix that I used. <br /><br />5. Someone marketed the cake mix that used, and someone from the store where I bought the cake mix agreed to stock the cake mix. <br /><br />6. My mother met my father and I was born. <br /><br />7. All of my mother’s ancestors, and all of my father’s ancestors were at a particular time and place in history so that each child born to them and the lives that they lived ushered in my life. <br /><br />8. For every person whose lives and ideas touched stove and cake mix, there are lineages, stretching back through time. Each of these people in some way touched the next generations in order that I could bake the cake this morning. <br /><br /> Most people would agree that baking a cake is not a historical event, and yet it really is. God is continually using our small, inconsequential lives to achieve His own magnificent kingdom because He loves us and wants us to live with Him forever!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-28955512986260476462016-10-13T07:09:00.003-07:002016-10-13T07:09:54.900-07:00Joy is strengthJames, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings. Regard it all joy, my brothers, whenever you fall-into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith is producing endurance. James 1:1-3 (Disciples Literal New Testament). <br /><br />
As James introduces this letter, he uses the word slave to describe his relationship to God and Christ. In our modern culture, the word slave carries the connotation of oppression, and many modern Bible translations use the word servant instead of slave. During the first century, slavery was an economic condition that required to the slave to be totally dependent upon his/her master for everything—food, clothing, shelter. The loyalty of a slave was a quality that was highly valued by a master because a loyal slave was productive and helped the entire household or business to prosper. <br /><br />
The first verse of this letter could possibly hold this meaning: James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, because I am utterly dependent upon Him for every faction of my being, and since He provides for me in such loving and astounding ways, I am forever loyal to Him.<br />
<br />The twelve tribes in the dispersion indicates that James wrote to the Jews who continued to worship God in Gentile lands. James’s position as a slave of God is a very common posture for Jewish prayer, and this would have been familiar to the Jews whom James addresses. However, James’s positions God and the Lord (Master) Jesus Christ equally—James is a slave to both. This sends a clear message to the Jewish Christians that Christ is God. <br /><br />
After establishing the sovereignty of Christ, James immediately exhorts the brothers to regard their trials as joy. When I read this passage, that statement always hits me in the face like a rock. I think this is because I have just grappled with the oppressive connotations of being a slave to God and Christ, and then I read that I am supposed to be joyful when I face trials. It almost seems as if James is saying that we are supposed to allow ourselves to be beaten to the ground and be happy about it. <br /><br />
However, I believe that James is providing us with a prescription for victory. When we regard our trials with joy, there is no foothold—not even a notch—for Satan to grab and hold. Joy is a defense that Satan has no power to thwart. In fact, as verse three states, joy produces endurance. We are strong and able to withstand. Really? Joy can do that? <br /><br />
I want to be a joyful slave to God and Christ. I want to be strong and endure. I know what it feels like to be sick, and I know what it feels like to be strong and have endurance, and I want the strength. Since that is what I desire, then bring on the joy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-70287045986404887072016-09-25T10:09:00.004-07:002016-09-25T10:09:57.379-07:00God's love is first<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
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</xml><![endif]-->“Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in <i>Him</i> and in you, <i>that</i> the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.” 1 John 2:7-8 RSV (emphasis mine)<br /><br /> The gospel of John, and the letters of John are so full of love. John saw and experienced a lot of persecution, yet his message never wavered. Love is first—everything begins and ends with love. The old commandment that John speaks of is found in Matthew 22:37: “ And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” <br /><br /> John then reminds us that this old commandment is really a new commandment: The darkness that is passing away is our sin and the true light already shining is God’s love for us. John calls this a new commandment because it is new every moment. Since God is an eternal being, it is true to His nature that His love is always new. There is no old in eternity, but a constant new. <br /><br /> What I think is miraculous is that this constant new love is true in us as well. God’s eternal power is so great that He banishes the darkness of sin in our lives in a continuing stream of light and love towards us. This love doesn’t depend upon our prayers or our Bible study. It is a constant fact no matter what we do. But when we pray and when we study God’s word, we allow ourselves to learn more about God and the power of His love becomes a reality in our lives. <span class="text"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-85263380022382165742016-09-16T07:57:00.000-07:002016-09-16T07:57:20.348-07:00ResolveBut Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank...17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams...20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. Daniel 1:8,17,20.<br /><br />
When we look carefully at the word "resolve" in Daniel 1:8, we find that God is able to work in those who are resolved to seek Him. Daniel did not want to eat the king's food because the rich food would cause him to want more rich food. It could become a way for Daniel to take his eyes off of God. <br /><br />
That is what our bad habits are--distractions. They cause us to take our eyes off of God and focus on our own gratification. <br /><br />
My father told me that when he was a fairly young man, in his thirties, he decided that he didn't want to be dependent upon any habits. He wanted to be able to enjoy his life even if he could not smoke or drink alcohol. He resolved to enjoy the life he was given. He started trying to eat less and he started running every morning. Instead of stopping bad habits, he started replacing the bad habits with better habits. I think this is a good plan, and it takes resolve.<br />
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Resolve doesn't mean that we decide to do something, and we will never waver or falter. It means that we decide to do something even though we know that we will waver and falter. God will never waiver or falter, and He will honor our resolve, and uphold us when we falter.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-56336871330035763042016-09-12T05:22:00.001-07:002016-09-12T05:22:46.961-07:00Rejoice because the Lord is at handPhilippians 4:4-7 ESV<br />
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.<br /><br />Philippians 4:4 is often quoted, but when we look at the verses following it, we can see an even greater encouragement than to rejoice always. In verse 5, Paul says to let our reasonableness (steadfastness, patience, endurance) be know to everyone. We are supposed to rejoice, but we are not supposed to be on an emotional high all the time. We are to be steady, patient, and filled with peace. <br /><br />I think that the main idea of this whole scripture passage is not rejoicing, but that "The Lord is at hand." God is always here, in each and every moment of each and every life. When we know that God is always with us, then we can pray for anything at any time, and we can be thankful and rejoice that God has given us the opportunity to have such a close, and constant relationship with Him. God will then guard our hearts and minds with peace. We are able to rejoice and remain steadfast because God is always at hand.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-88421426159828917972016-09-08T06:59:00.000-07:002016-09-08T06:59:26.267-07:00Faith and worksJames 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?" ESV<br /><br />
Ephesians 2:8-9 " For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." ESV<br /><br />
These two verses seem to contradict one another, but actually, together, they help to make the idea of grace, faith and works very clear. <br /><br />Fact: Grace is God's work. God extends grace to us in spite of our sin. The fact of grace is what saves us, no matter what we do. We can choose whether or not to believe (or have faith) in this fact. <br /><br />If we have faith that God extends grace to us, that belief requires effort. If we do not put effort into believing the fact of God's grace, our faith become useless, but useless faith does not negate the fact that we are saved by grace. <br /><br />Faith requires much work, but it is not that work of faith that saves us. I have had people tell me that I have a lot of faith. But what they are actually telling me is that they have seen that I have put a lot of work into my faith. My faith in itself is small, and I have to constantly feed it in order for it to survive. Feeding our faith requires that we love God and pray or communicate with Him.<br /><br />In James 2, James asks the question, if a person has faith but does nothing to bolster his faith, is that kind of faith able to save him? James intends for the answer to the question to be no. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2 that it is GRACE that saves us by the process of (or through the works of) faith. Not by any works of faith alone. <br /><br />So, if we do not actively exercise our faith by seeking God regularly, does that mean that we will not be saved? The answer is no. God does not require that we pray to Him every morning in order to be saved. But, without praying and getting to know God better (which is the work of faith), we will not know the joy that comes with living a life close to God.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-22129606585713608322016-09-01T07:41:00.003-07:002016-09-08T07:07:57.324-07:00Blessings under trial12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death James 1:12-15 ESV<br /><br />
This passage always seemed so "preachy" and dull to me. Remaining steadfast under trial seems like such a hard, joyless life to live, but there is more to this passage than just changing our behavior.<br /><br />
A very simple analogy is my love for coffee and a cookie. I would love to sit down every afternoon for 20 minutes and eat a cookie, drink a cup of coffee and read. However, I always feel very shaky and weak when I eat a cookie and drink coffee, or if I even eat anything sweet. My desire for the coffee and cookie tempts me almost every day. I have been enduring this temptation because I know how bad I feel if I give in to it. I have noticed, however, that as I go along, the desire for coffee and cookies diminishes. Now, it does not take as much effort abstain from drinking coffee and eating a cookie as it once did.<br /><br />
The same principle applies to any sin. If we remain steadfast to what we know is right, the wrong behavior will become less important to us. I love this line from Walt Disney's Cinderella. Cinderella is talking to the dog about his rivalry with the cat.<br /><br />
Cinderella: [to Bruno, the dog] "Dreaming again? Chasing Lucifer? Catch him this time? That's bad. Suppose they heard you upstairs. You know the orders. So if you don't want to lose a warm, nice bed, you'd better get rid of those dreams. Know how? Just learn to like cats."<br /><br />
Changing our attitude, changing our desires requires steadfast endurance and constant work, but it eventually becomes easier. I will probably never stop liking cookies and coffee, but I certainly can live very happily without either one. When I change my desires, other things become more important to me.<br /><br />
I did not intend for my examples to trivialize the very hard trials that we all go through. I did not mean to sound trite. Most of our trials are not as simple as learning to not like coffee and cookies, or learning to like cats. However, when we work hard to change our behavior, our desires will change too, and that is what God wants. He wants us to take our eyes off of the temptation, and focus on Him.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-52671267674142529502016-08-28T19:12:00.000-07:002016-08-28T19:12:14.669-07:00Believing God is our work“What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”<br />John 6 28-30 ESV<br /><br />Here is the background to this scripture. Jesus fed 5000 people by the Sea of Galilee. The next day, these people looked for Jesus and his disciples. Jesus recognized that these people were looking for Him, not because of the miracle He performed, but because He gave them food. Jesus told them that it was important to work for food that will give them eternal life. These people were the ones who asked the question "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?"<br /><br />Jesus answer is so simple. To do the work of God, we must believe God. We must believe that God performs miracles, not because we have been doing the right things or praying the right prayers, but because we believe that God can. God CAN easily perform miracles such as feeding 5000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. It certainly was a spectacular miracle. However, it seemed to be very short lived. Instead of praising God and trusting Him for their future needs, these people wanted to know what they needed to do so that Jesus would perform the miracle again. <br /><br />Believing that God will get us through a tough time in spite of great obstacles always brings the greater miracle. It may not be the spectacular miracle, but trust always brings the greater, lasting miracle--the miracle of a heart focused on God.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-43303869386633230462016-08-23T05:38:00.000-07:002016-08-23T05:38:13.280-07:00All things are possible with God 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26<br />
<br />Here is the story surrounding this verse. Jesus has traveled from Galilee to Judea. I am not exactly sure how many miles he traveled on foot, but possibly 60. After all of that walking, Jesus was followed by large crowds and he healed them. Then the Pharisees came to him and questioned him about divorce, which was a legal question that was debated by many teachers. Next, the children, probably rambunctious and crying, came to Jesus for blessings. Then a rich young man came to Jesus and said, Look how good I am. I obey the law and do everything I need to do to be saved. The young man expected Jesus to bless him, but instead, Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. Although Jesus did not tell the man to sell all of his possessions, the young man still seemed to think that his possessions were more important than eternal life. <br /><br />The verse above follows all of these happenings. Jesus must have been overwhelmed. I don't know that all of these things happened in a single day--certainly Jesus could not have traveled 60 miles on foot in one day-- but the time frame for all of these events is close. If Jesus had to remind himself and his disciples of God's incredible power in the face of being overwhelmed, then we most certainly need to remind ourselves as well. The circumstances of our overwhelmed feelings generally have to do with relationships (work, home, social), expectations of people in those relationships, and money or lack thereof. We have an impossible amount of work for one person to do, and we are at a loss as to how to take care of everything and take care of ourselves and our children as well. <br /> <br /> Jesus says that if it is impossible for man, it is possible for God. Remind yourself of this today. All things are possible with God.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-37148524150726568422016-08-18T07:13:00.001-07:002016-09-08T07:10:20.890-07:00Danger of doubingJames 1: 6-8 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.<br />
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When Adam and Eve sinned and ate the fruit, it was because satan had put doubt in their minds.<br />
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Genesis 3:1-5 "He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3&version=ESV#fen-ESV-57a">a</a>] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” <br /><br />
God does not mind when we question Him, but He does mind when we listen to satan's questions. Any time that we have low self esteem or our problems seem greater than we can handle, it is because we are listening to satan's constant questioning. We are allowing satan to plant doubts in our mind about God's ability to carry us through. I want to encourage you to learn to recognize when satan is whispering doubt in your mind, and to continually remind yourself that God is in control of every situation, no matter how hopeless it seems.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-42339431011047979622016-08-14T18:26:00.004-07:002016-09-08T07:03:48.360-07:00Our value in ChristAre not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7 NRSV<br /><br />I have always found this verse so comforting. It is not explained in the scripture why the sparrows (small seed eating birds) are sold, but it was probably either for a poor person's sacrifice or for food. <br /><br />We do not put a monetary value on wild birds today, but the meaning of this verse is still is very clear--no matter how insignificant a life may seem, it is all a part of God's plan. Each and every sparrow that has ever lived or ever will live is a part of the grand scheme, and if God has taken care to plan a purpose for each and every small creature, He most certainly has a wondrous plan for our lives because He values us and loves us so much. No matter what bad things happen to us, God will use it for good--always, always, always. It is a promise that He will never fail to bring about if we have faith in His goodness.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-1521600453491559022016-06-11T09:00:00.000-07:002016-09-08T07:11:47.927-07:00Embarassment and God's love for usSubmit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:7-10 <br /><br />
I went to the store recently, and as I was checking out, the cashier encouraged me to sign up for a store credit card. I had applied for this credit card twice in the past and was turned down both times because of my low income. I told the cashier that I did not want to sign up for the credit card, but she kept cajoling me to do it. I finally had to firmly refuse her. I did not want to tell her that I had been denied twice already because there were people in line behind me. I was very embarrassed.<br /><br />
I wanted to complain to the store, but there is no way to contact them directly. I tried to fill out a survey, but it was a standard survey in which the customer chooses answers about the service. As I thought about it, I realized that what I wanted to accomplish by complaining was self-justification. I did not particularly want to help improve the service, and I did not want any restitution. I did not particularly even want to help other shoppers have a better experience. I only wanted the store to see how I was wronged. This is a very double-minded attitude. <br /><br />
This passage in James helped me to realize that my motivation for my complaint was completely self-serving. I actually handled the interaction the correct way, and I have determined that I do not need to shop at that store again, and I do not need for the store manager to apologize to me for my embarrassment. The scripture above has a very good prescription for embarrassing situations. Embarrassment takes our eyes off of God, and focuses on ourselves. We view ourselves as victims, when in reality, we are sinners who are loved by God. Humbling ourselves before God, even when we feel like victims will allow God to exalt us!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-79657917722740726612016-05-19T06:14:00.002-07:002016-05-19T06:14:23.442-07:00Could Jesus write? <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
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<span class="text"><sup>14 </sup>When Gentiles who have
not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves,
even though they do not have the law. </span><sup><span id="en-RSV-27956">15 </span></sup>They
show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience
also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them
<sup><span id="en-RSV-27957">16 </span></sup>on that day when, according to
my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans (2:14-16)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">“This is the covenant that I will make with
them</span><br />
<span class="text">after those days, says the Lord:</span><br />
<span class="text">I will put my laws on their hearts,</span><br />
<span class="text">and write them on their minds,” Hebrews 10:16 (RSV)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">Eve made a speculative comment on my last
blog post about Jesus not writing. She said, “</span>This post made me think of
a question. Why was Jesus not called by the Father to actually write down
his teachings? Did Jesus know how to write? Did he keep a journal?
Or Blog?<span class="text">”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">I have thought about that as well, and
since no artifacts or samples of Jesus’s writing have ever been found, it is
impossible to prove that Jesus wrote anything. It is also impossible to prove
that something never happened or never existed, so the best answer to the
question of whether Jesus actually wrote or not is that no artifacts of Jesus
writing have ever been found. One idea that I have about Jesus writing is that
I do believe that He inspired every word that is written in scripture, and He
has inspired written works over many centuries, including today. Perhaps the
Father, the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit are actively writing blogs today,
using their faithful servants to clatter away on a keyboard. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">The scriptures above reinforce the idea of
the permanence of God’s word apart from the written word. I think that God
purposely did not have Jesus actually write anything on papyrus with ink is
because:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">1. People tend to revere earthly created
religious artifacts. God wants people to think about what Jesus said, rather
than to gaze at what He wrote on papyrus or stone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">2. Jesus main purpose in coming to earth
was to establish the Kingdom of God. The first chapter of Mark opens with Jesus
preaching that the Kingdom of God is at hand. The Jews already had a written
law, kings, and a prescribed territory for an earthly kingdom that God gave to
them. And how was that working for Israel? God knows that the law, however
permanently inscribed on stone or papyrus, is useless unless the people think
about it, embrace it and obey it. The kingdom depends upon the loyalty of the
subjects, not upon the letter off the law.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">3. In first century Galilee, writing was
not necessarily a mark of education, it was more like a skill. Jesus knew the
law, and read the law. He was well educated in scripture, and used scripture to
combat satan. Even if Jesus could not write, this not did not negate the fact
that God’s word was powerful Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-56369598416222388672016-05-17T08:20:00.001-07:002016-05-17T08:20:27.816-07:00Permanence of God's wordHeaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by-no-means pass away. Matthew 24:35 (Disciples Literal New Testament translation) <br /><br />Matthew 21 begins the story of Jesus’ last days. He rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, cleanses the temple, and intensely instructs, warns and teaches the Pharisees, Sadducees and disciples about God’s will for everyone. In chapter 24, Jesus is talking specifically with his disciples about the end times. <br /><br />One apparent difference between modern translations, such as the NIV, and the Disciples Literal New Testament (DLNT), is that wording more fully reflects the ancient Greek language writing style. The ancient Greek language seems to have an emphasis on verbs and adverbs, or the action of the thought. The verse quoted above is in the future tense, and the emphatic, “by-no-means” is a reminder of the time surpassing permanence of God and His word. <br /><br />Jesus spoke the truth, and although Jesus himself never wrote in ink on papyrus, His words have not passed away, no matter how hard the world has been trying to alter them or destroy them. Jesus’ words—God’s word—has permanence, not only in writing of the apostles and other early believers, but in the hearts of all believers. By no means can God’s word be erased from our hearts if we allow Him to write there. <br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-34586474920643137922016-05-10T06:50:00.000-07:002016-05-10T06:50:24.462-07:00Blessing through trials“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,” James 1:2 (NRSV).<br />
<br />
“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 (NRSV). <br /><br /> I have been thinking about blessings. I think that everyone would agree that in general, we consider blessings as something tangible and good. Blessings include things like food, shelter, warmth, clothing, family and friends. <br /><br /> Hee Haw was comedy variety show that aired in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Archie Campbell was a regular on the show, and he performed a "That’s Good, That’s Bad" routine that went, for example, like this: <br /><br />“Archie: Hey I guess you heard about my terrible misfortune.<br /> Roy: No, what happened?<br /> Archie: Yeah, my great uncle died.<br /> Roy: Oh that's bad!<br /> Archie: No that's good!<br /> Roy: How's come?<br /> Archie: Well, when he died, he left me 50,000 dollars<br /> Roy: Oh that's good!<br /> Archie: No that's bad…” <br /><br />The routine continued on, with each action appearing to be both bad and good. <br /><br /> Perhaps it would be true to say that blessings are in the eye of the beholder. Winning a new car may be a blessing to some people, but to someone who does not have the means to pay the taxes, buy the insurance, and maintain the car, or pay for parking, a new car would seem like a burden to them. <br /><br /> Our lives are blessings from God. Our children are blessings from God, our spouse is a blessing from God, our homes are a blessing from God, and the food that we eat is a blessing from God. We must remember that everything is a blessing from God and keep this memory in the front of our thoughts because our blessings can sometimes feel like trials and problems. Children misbehave, sometimes to the point of causing parents to try to control the situation with anger. Spouses can do things that destroy the marriage. Our homes can become a tremendous financial burden for us, and the very food that is supposed to sustain our lives can cause health problems and obesity. <br /><br /> Our walk with Christ is meant to provide us with blessings in spite of our circumstances. Viewing our own lives, and the lives of our family and friends as blessings from God allows us to see ourselves and them as God sees us. God’s view of our lives is our true identity. When we walk with Christ and view our children as blessings, their misbehavior becomes less of a burden to us. When we view our spouse as a blessing from God, their transgressions become easier to forgive. We can then count it all joy, as James exhorts us to do. <br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-10056578507976829682016-04-20T05:19:00.001-07:002016-04-20T05:19:08.442-07:00Reminder of the gospel<br />"Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand,... For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,...But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. 1 Corinthians 15: 1,3-4, 10 (NRSV)<br /><br />The scripture above describes our moment by moment walk with Christ, and an important part of that walk is reminding ourselves that Christ died for us and was raised into eternal life. We are able to walk with God because of His wonderful love that extends grace to us. After Paul's conversion to Christ, he spent all of his time reminding himself and others that God's grace is miraculous.<br /><br />The Apostle Paul says that he handed to the Corinthians what he had received. Since we cannot give something that we do not have, we must constantly receive (or remind) ourselves of this great gospel, this wonderful good news of God's grace.<br /><br />When we are asked to explain the gospel of God’s grace, many Christians are stumped for a way to express it. Since Paul reminded himself so often of the gospel, he could respond immediately. We need to follow the Apostle Paul’s example and do this too. The gospel is not only for salvation, but for our daily, moment by moment walk with Christ.<br /><br />The gospel of God's grace, simply put, is this: God loves everyone so much and wants to fellowship with us, but our sin puts a barrier between God and human beings. In order to fellowship with us, God sent his son to take the punishment for our sins by dying on a cross so we have to opportunity to live with God forever in eternity, in spite of our sin. God raised his son from the dead, proving that God's love triumphs over sin and the grave.<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />In order for us to share the gospel, we must have the gospel. We need to remind ourselves every day, even every minute of our lives, about the gospel (good news) of God's grace, which is written in the scriptures.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-69482302245784650332016-03-28T05:22:00.000-07:002016-03-28T05:22:03.511-07:00Our worthy walk in grace"But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 (NASB) <br />
<br />
The letters to the Thessalonians were written by Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy, and the pronoun we is always used in the letters. The gospel of God’s grace is a “we” gospel, and one of the components of this wonderful grace that God extends to us is the way God uses us to exhort each other. None of us stand alone in God’s grace. <br />
<br />
This is why our walk with God is so important. As Paul, Silas and Timothy write in the scripture passage above, an important part of their ministry was to work alongside the Thessalonians so they (the Thessalonians) could witness God’s grace through Paul, Silas and Timothy’s actions and their love for the members of this Thessalonian church. <br />
<br />
God uses our walks to exhort each other, stand by each other, work with each other, and love each other. It is not our walk that is worthy of God, but our walk with a worthy God that witnesses to others. <br />
<br />
I like the word walk because it implies a journey, and we can infer that journeys are not without hardships, errors, misdirection, detours, and stumbling. In spite of this, God still continues to call us to Himself, and by His miraculous grace, He allows us to reach Him, even if our journey is not perfect. Walking worthy of God does not mean that we must walk in perfection. It means that we allow God to use our walk to minister to others who are on the same journey.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-15815617133017090312016-03-22T06:30:00.002-07:002016-03-22T06:30:14.457-07:00The pursuit of the goal<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Paul begins this passage by saying “Not that I have already obtained this…” What is “this” that Paul is seeking to obtain? In the preceding verses 8-10, Paul talks about having a righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. in verse 10, Paul makes a very powerful statement: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection…” <br /><br />In verses 12-14 quoted above, Paul states that he has not attained this righteousness that comes through faith. He has not completely and fully known Christ. He is pressing toward the kind of faith that makes us righteous in God’s eyes. Paul is pressing on to fully know Christ. He is going in the direction toward this goal. <br /><br />We must remember that the goal is not to attend church every Sunday and give 10 percent of our income to the church. These might be good habits to help us toward the goal, but they are not the goal. It is not the church attendance that makes us perfect—it is Christ that makes us perfect. <br /><br />As Paul states in verse 12, the perfection from Christ comes in the pursuit of Christ. Christ calls us to Him, and it is responding to that call that is our goal. We hear it from afar and we strive to find Him, much like a child responds to his mother’s call to come home to dinner. If the child is playing and having fun, he or she may not respond right away. If the child is hungry, he or she runs home quickly, heeding Mother’s call. Paul is urging us to run home, to respond to the call and to develop an appetite for the things of God that can never be completely satisfied so that we are always running home to eat. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-65825881159179067732016-03-17T07:46:00.001-07:002016-03-17T07:46:12.449-07:00A recipe for peace
<br />
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)<br /><br />The scripture passage above is a recipe for peace. It is not an easy recipe to follow because in this short passage of Paul’s letter, he describes very particular guidelines to follow. First, Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord always, which is not easy. It takes a lot of effort to rejoice when physical, emotional and economic problems plague us every moment of our lives, and the lives of our loved ones. Yet in the next sentence, Paul encourages us to be reasonable ( or kind, gentle fair). How can we be reasonable when rejoicing when we are sick or bankrupt?<br /><br /> The answer, in part, lies in whom or what we rejoice. Paul does not ask us to rejoice in our sickness, but to rejoice in the Lord. There is a difference—a reasonable difference. A good analogy to explain the difference is when a friend of my mother, Betty, was in the hospital close to me (but many miles away from her home) and I went to visit her. Betty told me that she was so glad to see me. Betty was not glad that she was sick, but she was glad for my presence. It lifted her spirits. This is exactly what Paul tells us to do. To rejoice in the Lord, no matter what the circumstances, because He is at hand. He is near us, and will bring us peace.<br /><br /> The recipe for peace described above is difficult for two reasons. The first reason is that we do not keep the ingredients for it on hand, which are patience and humility. Patience is required in order to rejoice in the Lord despite the circumstances, and the humility is required so we can give everything to God and recognize that we cannot handle our problems on our own. The second reason is that this recipe requires a tremendously long cooking time—every minute of our lives. One we start preparing the recipe, we must mind it constantly. We cannot neglect it because it will either burn in the oven, or it will not bake at all. But above all, we must remember that it is God’s grace that makes peace a possibility! <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-36539483441383011472016-03-12T06:56:00.001-08:002016-03-12T06:56:39.091-08:00Known and loved by God<div class="SCX201349457">
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX201349457" style="direction: ltr;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{148}" paraid="935687642" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">"Train children in the right way,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">and when old, they will not stray."</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> Psalm 22:6 (NRSV)</span></span><span class="EOP SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX201349457" style="direction: ltr;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{176}" paraid="365648629" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{176}" paraid="365648629" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">"For it was you who formed my inward parts;</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">you knit me together in my mother’s womb.</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX201349457"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit; vertical-align: super;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">Wonderful are your works;</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">that I know very well.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">My frame was not hidden from you,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">when I was being made in secret,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">intricately woven in the depths of the earth.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">In your book were written</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">all the days that were formed for me,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">when none of them as yet existed."</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> Psalm 139:13-16 (NRSV) </span></span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX201349457" style="direction: ltr;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{188}" paraid="927726707" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">The first scripture above, Proverbs 22:6, is quoted often to parents, and it is a good guideline for parents to remember as they raise their ch</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">ildren. O</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">ften, society looks at a person’s life,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> sees </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">his or her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">faults and crimes,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> and blames the parents for not t</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">raining correctly</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX201349457" style="direction: ltr;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{193}" paraid="2032179455" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">Some things that we should remember about Proverbs 22:6 are:</span></span><span class="EOP SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<ol class="NumberListStyle1 SCX201349457" role="list" start="1">
<li aria-setsize="-1" class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX201349457" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-listid="1" role="listitem" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{197}" paraid="1922722545" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">These words of wisdom were not written by a mother instructing her daughter how to raise her </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">children. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">The</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> Proverbs were written by an intellectual, someone similar to a college professor in today’s time, who was commenting on society as a whole, not on individual families.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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</ol>
<ol class="NumberListStyle1 SCX201349457" role="list" start="2">
<li aria-setsize="-1" class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX201349457" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-listid="1" role="listitem" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{204}" paraid="688227988" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">Proverbs are not promises.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">Training and discipline are </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">part</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> of what makes a person who they are and how they behave, but only a </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">part. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">The</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> greatest factor that determines a person’s life is that person’s creation, as described in Psalm 139. </span></span><span class="EOP SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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</ol>
<ol class="NumberListStyle1 SCX201349457" role="list" start="3">
<li aria-setsize="-1" class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX201349457" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-listid="1" role="listitem" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{209}" paraid="1409854544" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">The scripture in 139 is the </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">promise.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">God</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> promises that He has k</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">nown us from the very beginning, not only from the moment of our conception, but from the foundations of the world. </span></span><span class="EOP SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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</ol>
<ol class="NumberListStyle1 SCX201349457" role="list" start="4">
<li aria-setsize="-1" class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX201349457" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-listid="1" role="listitem" style="direction: ltr; font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{218}" paraid="1514686497" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">Finally, Proverbs 22</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">:6</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> suggests that t</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">he training</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> of a child</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> is the responsibility of the parent, but the main part of the proverb is that when the child is old, he/she has the tools to be </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">respons</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">i</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">ble</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> for their own walk.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
<span class="ListGhost SCX201349457"></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX201349457" style="direction: ltr;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{227}" paraid="259816796" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">In light of Psalm 139, Proverbs 22:6 becomes a good social guideline to help parents raise </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">children. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">But</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> what we all must remember</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> that each person who lives, has lived or ever will live was actually conceived in the mind of God at the foundation of the </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">universe. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">We</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> exist because God love</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">s</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> us and planned for us. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX201349457" paraeid="{ce32f3ee-d7dd-41eb-9276-010d9b9ebdc6}{235}" paraid="976944391" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; height: auto; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">
<span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">The promise, the great promise in these scriptures is that God has </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">always</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">known us,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> loves us, and</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;"> His grace </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX201349457" style="background-color: inherit;">is sufficient to allow us to live with Him in eternity, no matter our childhood training.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX201349457" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-44026374958682545462016-03-07T05:18:00.001-08:002016-03-12T06:37:24.783-08:00Violence and grace<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX108401040" style="direction: ltr;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX108401040" paraeid="{8feb798f-8fda-46ef-a0e0-1b370d4e4cab}{158}" paraid="222439703" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">Come, behold the works of the </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">Lord</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">,</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX108401040"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">how he has brought desolations on the earth.</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX108401040"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX108401040"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX108401040"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">he burns the chariots with fire</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">.</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX108401040"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">“Be still, and know that I am God.</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX108401040"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">I will be exalted among the nations,</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX108401040"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">I will be exalted in the earth!”</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX108401040"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">The </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">Lord</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> of hosts is with us;</span></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"><span class="SCX108401040"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">the God of Jacob is our fortress.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> Psalm 46 8-11 ESV</span></span><span class="EOP SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX108401040" paraeid="{8feb798f-8fda-46ef-a0e0-1b370d4e4cab}{165}" paraid="918419220" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">What is happening in this </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">Psalm? </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">First</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> look at what God is doing. God’s work </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">is so powerful that He can make</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">wars cease, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">and bring desolation to those who are waging war. God work can</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> destroy</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> the handiwork of </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">men</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> if He so chooses</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">Then</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> look at</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> the work that God has charged to men.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">. We are to be still and </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">KNOW</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> that He is </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">God. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">This</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> is the way that God is </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">ex</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">alted</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">, by allowing Him to do what He pleases, and for us to rest in the knowledge of God.</span></span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX108401040" paraeid="{8feb798f-8fda-46ef-a0e0-1b370d4e4cab}{168}" paraid="1623374507" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">We tend to think of God as a God of peace, not of </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">violence. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">But</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> we witness violence in God’s creation every </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">day. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">The</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> sunlight that gives us life is created by violent </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">combus</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">tion</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> of </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">gas. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">Lightning</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> and wind have the power to completely destroy any kind of protection made by man. Volcanic eruptions and meteor strikes can create more destruction than any man made bomb. </span></span><span class="EOP SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX108401040" paraeid="{8feb798f-8fda-46ef-a0e0-1b370d4e4cab}{172}" paraid="1873771038" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">Every natural disaster occurs because God deemed it so. But why? Why would a God who loves us allow such t</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">hings to happen </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">intentionally? </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">I</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> do not have the answer to these kind of questions, but God </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">does. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">He</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> is the one who created the questions.</span></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX108401040" style="direction: ltr;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX108401040" paraeid="{8feb798f-8fda-46ef-a0e0-1b370d4e4cab}{179}" paraid="707997150" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">Death and destruction, from our point of view, is the worst thing that can happen to us. However, from God’s point of view, death and destruction are only a means to produce something better—physically or </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">spiritually. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">For</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> example, the </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">terr</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">ible</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> Black Plague that spread across Europe in the mid 14</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">th</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> century helped to develop a human population that was more resistant to </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">disease. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">Our</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> economic recession in 2008 has helped to create</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> a trend toward</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> more economically frugal life styles.</span></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX108401040" style="direction: ltr;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX108401040" paraeid="{8feb798f-8fda-46ef-a0e0-1b370d4e4cab}{182}" paraid="1800763073" style="background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">God loves us </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">in spite of the trouble and suffering that we experience,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">and what He asks of us is to be still, know that He is God, and allow Him to be </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">ex</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">alted</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX108401040" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX108401040" style="background-color: inherit;">. </span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-10468970451862387182016-02-29T05:28:00.002-08:002016-02-29T05:28:34.610-08:00Our relationships with God and with peopleO come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!<br /> For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice! Psalm 95:6-7 (NRSV)<br /><br />In Psalm 95, verses 1-6 is a call to prayer and praise for the God of all creation. Then, in verses 6 and 7, our relationship to God is expressed. Praise and worship are the attitudes that we need to adopt in order to be in relationship to God. <br /><br />A problem with relationships is that they require constant work to combat the sin that works to destroy them. We are people who become bored or lazy in our relationships, and we get tired of the work that relationships require. This is why some people ride a roller coaster of emotions when dealing with their relationships. Although emotions are a part of any good relationship, it is wrong to allow emotions govern the health of a relationships. Instead, we should constantly work to build a solid foundation that can withstand the strain of sin that is a constant factor of any relationship. This is how we can experience true joy in a relationship.<br /><br />God wants us to come to Him in praise and joy. God does not want our emotions to be left out of our relationship with Him, but He wants us to work constantly to build a relationship with Him. And this is how we work to build a relationship with God. As the scripture passage above says, “Oh that today you would listen to his voice,” we need to listen to Him—today. We need to read His word—today. We need to pray—today. We need to praise Him—today. The ongoing constant of today requires our devotion to our relationship with God. It is all because of God’s grace that we have an opportunity to have a relationship with Him. What grace!<br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-86707095423029842932016-02-21T13:36:00.003-08:002016-02-21T13:36:56.889-08:00Abundance in God
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<span>“O how abundant is your goodness</span> <span>that you have laid up for those who fear you,</span> <span>and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,</span> <span>in the sight of everyone.” Psalm 31:19 (NRSV)</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span>Recently, our state lottery awarded
hundreds of millions of dollars to three winners. Lottery winners are like
modern fairy tale heroes and heroines because from an earthly point of view,
winning a lot of money can solve financial problems and create a happily ever
after life for those who are so fortunate to receive the money. However, when
we have an abundance of food, comfort and convenience, our ability to
appreciate what we have diminishes and we forget that all good things come from
God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money can be a blessing, but only
if we remember that it belongs to God, not to us.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span>The reason that we can count our financial
problems as blessings from God is because His goodness surpasses the problems.
When we fear God and take refuge in Him in the sight of everyone, we create an
opportunity for God to be glorified through blessing us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person who wins millions of dollars will
have the opportunity to glorify God if he or she has sought refuge in God in
the good and bad times. God is good to us here on earth, even when it does not
seem like good things are happening to us. Our faith in His goodness will
always yield blessings in an everlasting eternity in which our treasures are
stored up for us.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-57758307556254637962016-02-17T07:05:00.003-08:002016-02-17T07:05:51.018-08:00God's right hand
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<span>“fear not, for I am with you,</span> <span>be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will
help you,</span> <span>I will uphold you with my victorious right
hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (RSV)</span></div>
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<span>The scripture above is a promise from God,
and promise that He will strengthen us, help us and uphold us with His right
hand so that we do not need to be afraid. There are many references in the
Bible to the hand or right hand of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hand has a very symbolic meaning in scripture, and it does in modern
times as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span>The right hand is a symbol of
courtesy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even people who have a
dominant left hand will shake hands with their right hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Extending the right hand of fellowship
welcomes people into our churches, into our homes or to a social gathering.
Gestures of greeting and celebration are made with our hands, such as waving,
and high five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span>Our hands are unique to humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No other mammal has the capability of manual
dexterity that humans have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When God is
described as having hands, it is not to equate God with humans, but to show the
relationship that God has with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
hands provide the action for our intentions, and it is the same with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Christ is described as seated at the
right hand of God, it is because Christ did what God intended, to save us from
sin so we can spend eternity with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span>God’s intentions are always carried
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His promises never fail because His
right hand is victorious. Grace is God’s promise to us that He will forgive our
sins if we ask Him to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we must
do is hold out our hand to receive the gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083006891157156091.post-74823120056513393342016-02-07T19:38:00.001-08:002016-02-07T19:38:04.573-08:00Good, good FatherGod is a good good father, and we are loved by God. It is who we are.<br />
<br />
Here is a beautiful song by Chris Tomlin<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBmwwwiHrOk<br />
<br />
God's goodness is greater than any good that we can imagine. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06138546272683102507noreply@blogger.com0