tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300992262024-02-02T18:01:56.405-05:00BibleFood for the Spiritually HungryRelevant devotions and news updates of current events from a Biblical standpoint.BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-82629486777062076122014-10-01T13:12:00.000-05:002014-10-01T13:12:31.062-05:00Devotion: "Life is a VAPOR"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Life is a lot of things, but today, I would like to briefly share that life is <b><u>a vapor</u></b>. This truth is found in the Bible<span style="color: #8a0000;">: </span><b><span style="color: yellow;">"You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:14).</span></b></div>
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Sadly, I lost a cycling friend Sunday. While we never met in person, he wrote me after <u>every</u> ride (3 times a week for over 2 years) with words of encouragement. I was devastated to find out Monday that he had been hit by a car and died at the scene. This isn't the first time someone I knew online died while cycling. Yet, I will continue to cycle my average 65-70 miles a week (thankfully I'm not on roads most of my rides as I live near the Silver Comet Trail with no cars), knowing that this activity, or <u>any for that matter</u>, could be my last.</div>
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Over the years I have known many who like a vapor appeared for a little time. Yet, not one of them knew that that day would be their last and their life would vanish away. Even a "long life" is little time in light of eternity.</div>
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I cried and have had much grief over my cycling friend's death this past Sunday. One because I never thought this would not happen to him as he was a very experienced cyclist (I felt like I knew him personally), but <u>mostly my grief is that I am not sure of his spiritual state and it just </u><u>hurts so much</u>. I have all kinds of questions running through my head. Did I show him Jesus? And even more, did I not seize opportunities to share Jesus with him? This isn't the first time I have battled these questions as people around me or cyber friends pass away suddenly. While we don't want to live in guilt (that doesn't accomplish anything), I do think a good question to ask ourselves is, "Am I sharing Jesus as often and unashamedly as He would have me do? Or do I keep my mouth shut because I don't want to offend anyone even when God has placed an opportunity to share Jesus with someone?</div>
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Now, onto my next thought, <u>are YOU absolutely sure that you are ready to meet Jesus?</u> Through</div>
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a myriad of circumstances (and the fact our days are numbered) your life could end soon, maybe even today! ARE YOU READY? You just never know and you don't get a second chance after death to make things right - what a sobering thought! As <span style="color: yellow;"><b>Hebrews </b><b>9:27</b></span> states<span style="color: #8a0000;">:</span><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: yellow;">"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment."</span><br />
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Closing words from <span style="color: yellow;"><b>Psalm 39:4-7</b> "Lord, remind me <u>how brief my time on earth </u>will be. Remind me that <u>my day are numbered</u>, and that my life is fleeing away. 5 My life is no longer the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you human existence i but a breath. 6 We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth for someone else to spend. 7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? <b><u>My only hope is in you</u></b>. </span><br />
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I have no desire to scare you into becoming a Christian. The Lord has to touch your heart, and you then need to repent of your sin and guilt before an almighty God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
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As a believer in Christ, you no longer fear death, but you live for Him knowing your days are numbered and you have a God given purpose on this earth in your allotted days on earth. My prayer for <b><u>you and me</u></b> is that we will <span style="color: yellow;"><b>"finish </b><b>this race"</b> <b>(II Tim 4:7) </b></span>and hear the words of our Lord say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"<span style="color: yellow;"><b> (Matt. 25:21).</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Is there some one you have delayed talking to about Jesus? </b></span><br />
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Please don't delay any longer! </b></span><br />
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<b>Maybe you don't personally know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and the Lord is speaking to you today, don't resist His love drawing you to Himself (Almighty God and Savior Jesus Christ).</b><br />
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Please feel free to forward this to others. <br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>Actually, please do forward it</b>.</span> </div>
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Thank you.</div>
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Jim Mazzulla </div>
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<span style="color: #820019;"><a href="mailto:biblefood@gmail.com">biblefood@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="http://www.biblefood.org/">www.biblefood.org</a></div>
BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-91646475595934995952014-09-24T15:01:00.001-05:002014-09-24T15:03:29.930-05:00My review of "David Wilkerson" book, A man who believed God!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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Normally, I don't write book reviews here, I have many book reviews at my other blog. (www.wordnowdevotional.blogspot.com) but I want to share it with you all here too!<br />
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As I write this review, I would like to give a little background of my connection to David Wilkerson's materials. I became a follower of Jesus (i.e. Saved, Born-again) in June 1975. Sadly, the group of people around me did not guide me in the truths of the Bible, but some time within the first year as a Christian I ended up reading "The Cross and the Switchblade." It was the reading of that book that made a huge and lasting impact on my life. It was also from reading that book that I believe the Lord spoke to my heart, "that is what you are called to do" (minister to people). It was then that I knew I had a call to ministry. So, amazingly that book set the course of my life in serving Jesus. Then, in the early 1980's I came across hisnewsletter from "World Challenge," which I still receive today. I have a box full of these short teachings by David Wilkerson.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDZanN3Bj8ebFcQYrQNC4eOhtQOU5RIjU7YrWAiGZ7nM5Ffz4S2hKY0yH6L8OQDsSD9Ht47Es8WhFkYGB7r-JFGa_BptJ5LmQGVDOhdIkD07Nfg9bU_qoA385pvmYsmmz4mNMtg/s1600/haveyoufeltlike1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDZanN3Bj8ebFcQYrQNC4eOhtQOU5RIjU7YrWAiGZ7nM5Ffz4S2hKY0yH6L8OQDsSD9Ht47Es8WhFkYGB7r-JFGa_BptJ5LmQGVDOhdIkD07Nfg9bU_qoA385pvmYsmmz4mNMtg/s1600/haveyoufeltlike1.jpg" height="200" width="116" /></a>I also have many of his books, some out of print, which I treasure knowing they are hard to find today (if not impossible). As the years went by, I found myself going through some real hard times spiritually (late 1980's) and found another book, "Have You Felt Like Giving Up Lately" (still in print) by David Wilkerson. Again, I don't recall how this book ended up in my hands, but it was most helpful during that trying time in my life (I have given and recommended this book to many over the years).<br />
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Also, in 1987 I was able to visit his new church, "<st1:placename w:st="on">Times Square</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype>" in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Manhattan</st1:city>, </st1:place><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place>. There, again, the Lord touched me in a mighty way through this then new church. So, while I have never personally carried on a conversation with David Wilkerson, there are over 35 years of my life being touched by this ministry and the man of God, David Wilkerson. I believe my review is qualified and not just a review with no background into David Wilkerson and his ministry.</div>
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<b>As I excitedly received a pre-release (from Zondervan) of this book, "David Wilkerson" authored by his son Gary Wilkerson, I couldn't wait to jump into these pages. </b>I always feel it is good to know the man behind the scene (so to speak), and over my 35 years of being touched by David Wilkerson, I really didn't know the man behind this great ministry. As I picked up this book and stated reading through its pages, I was so excited to learn more about the man David Wilkerson. It covers his entire life from his birth to his going home to Jesus. The childhood section was a little dry to me and it didn't interest me much, but it did give me a good background on his family and his childhood. The story covers much of his younger years and middle-aged years in ministry, and also covers his latter years, but not in as much detail, and then briefly mentions his death (by car accident). I learned much about this private "man of God" (a term I don't use loosely) and his triumphs and his failures. It was good to see what was going on behind the scenes. I think we often can idolize people (even ministers), and in reality they are people just like you and me. Gary and other family members, as well as friends and fellow ministers who knew him personally, share in this book and it's not all flattering. They show he was human just like you and me. He had his own set of fears, failures, and fame. Usually all we know about is a man's fame. This book will show all sides with due respect to this man of God. I feel through this book I have a clearer understanding of David Wilkerson and saw how one can be used of God, and what it takes to be a "man of God." One will see many things in this book, but one that sticks out to me was that he was a man of "prayer." His son Gary did a great job gathering information from family (especially Don, David's brother) and from many others who have been involved in his life and ministry over the years. </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: yellow;">I give this book a well deserved 5 stars.</span></span><br />
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<i style="background-color: #141414; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="background: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Note: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the words expressed here are my own.</span></i>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-4247626846164620642014-05-15T11:03:00.002-05:002014-05-15T11:06:59.744-05:00Guest Devotion: "The Oil Will Not Run Dry"<b>Today is a "guest devotion" from one of my internet friends I have known for about a decade now. This short thought from her heart , I felt needed to be shared with all of you. May it speak to your heart.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="margin: 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap; width: 60px !important;"><a href="http://inspiredfountainpen.wordpress.com/author/inspiredfountainpen/" style="color: #2585b2; display: block; margin-right: 10px;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjWwsyEf81lvLQVlYWkBtf7y3bDfdJy9wt5SO6Fh-cD3Au51iCojIrhyphenhyphenNypUTGGpcQJ2-tikmZ2wOIKgQzrqohDvUf9I4m6uCfiPS8Mxs7Z9lojcFKvaCkKx59oLhE-F8SM_Tfhwx5cemY6pe0gCEMH4RiCj3YXyIt20bWjLsYS8BfU_6DGVfdaECTEvXA=s0-d-e1-ft&d=identicon&r=G" width="50" /></a></td><td style="margin: 0px;"><h2 style="color: #555555; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://inspiredfountainpen.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/the-oil-will-not-run-dry-2/" style="color: #2585b2; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">The Oil Will Not Run Dry</a></h2>
<span style="color: #888888;">by <a href="http://inspiredfountainpen.wordpress.com/author/inspiredfountainpen/" style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136) !important;" target="_blank">Inspired Fountain</a> (By DeDe)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgjz68t7lQMrWS8AlMz-JYHKi2azI1BkzU1qhc4MPyAwZO_s2eGsFq-jfTIl7v6SxgBwUh_-K-x3ZJqZXYqPNDImRqMqWOr4ESeA_qKY0Rn92OQCWoEEW8YKw_HWCQx_w5gwlXZtaeCunaagPOll9JcpTz38oO696MqPZeCE5Py6zB2jcfyvg=s0-d-e1-ft" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="road ahead" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgjz68t7lQMrWS8AlMz-JYHKi2azI1BkzU1qhc4MPyAwZO_s2eGsFq-jfTIl7v6SxgBwUh_-K-x3ZJqZXYqPNDImRqMqWOr4ESeA_qKY0Rn92OQCWoEEW8YKw_HWCQx_w5gwlXZtaeCunaagPOll9JcpTz38oO696MqPZeCE5Py6zB2jcfyvg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); max-width: 100%; padding: 4px; text-align: justify;" /></a><strong style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">E</strong><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">ver hit that 'wall'? The wall commonly known as the athlete's wall. Picture a runner, nearing the end of the race, all energy has been spent, their breathing is labored, their body screams in agony. Doubt, fear, and confusion, even </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">anger now rages through them. "There is nothing left, I have nothing left to give!" is their cry. Yet and yet, they</span><em style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">do</em><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;"> finish the race.</span></div>
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<u>There are many 'walls' of life</u>. Moments when we feel we have little left to give, and what we do have, we feel we need to conserve it to make it to the next day. Perhaps, our supply is empty, seeing the bottom is too easy. For many of us, we have opted to just allow ourselves to dry up and die. I have been there, it is painful.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">This morning I was awaken very early in the morning. The calm of the soon coming dawn still lingered outside my window. My thoughts went to Elijah. How often do our thoughts go to Elijah at</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;"> </span><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_27036655" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:30 am</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">.? The story of the widow and her son came to mind, out of <b>1 Kings 17</b>. They had just enough flour and oil to make one last meal, after that nothing was left, they surely would die. In walks Elijah into their story, (God is always on time) asking her to make him a meal first. Telling him of her plight and empty cupboards, he tells her <b>"Don't be afraid"</b> God says, <b>"your supply of flour will not end, and the oil will</b></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;"><b>not run dry."</b> She does what he says, and miraculously there is plenty of continuous oil and flour.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgTWFZ1dJWXIZNAAD6LBcutneq0glIgHjbzoYCkSF0gAG45lvlCVZBgfqmmrtvA4uypKUr55uQGUIuv4buNvTXm2Qh5nDDCKLOOuzMoqyjrm7ApYAZ9KEreQd_yVxLKvuPYPDueBzHy92BUTXJWCkR9iMuaOVg6wcQuFPHCl1Kd=s0-d-e1-ft" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="200448042-001" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgTWFZ1dJWXIZNAAD6LBcutneq0glIgHjbzoYCkSF0gAG45lvlCVZBgfqmmrtvA4uypKUr55uQGUIuv4buNvTXm2Qh5nDDCKLOOuzMoqyjrm7ApYAZ9KEreQd_yVxLKvuPYPDueBzHy92BUTXJWCkR9iMuaOVg6wcQuFPHCl1Kd=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); max-width: 100%; padding: 4px; text-align: justify;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<em style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">'<u>The oil will not run dry</u></em><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;"><u>,' what a wonderful promise</u>. This encouraged me. Just when we think we have spent all that there is in us ... there will be more. More coming from HIM. More energy to face another day. When our breathing is labored ...more power to enable us to fight the good fight. When all that is in us SCREAMS ... there will always be more. The oil will not run dry, a continuous flow of God is offered to us. We accept the oil by doing what God asks of </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em;">us. Take what we have and give it to HIM, He increases it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #444444; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: justify;">
Whatever we are facing, whatever our race, "Don't be afraid", the walls of life are met with a jug of oil. Allow its continuous flow.</div>
<div style="color: #444444; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: justify;">
In Him, DeDe ("<em>Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deed</em>s" - Heb. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_27036656" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10:24</span></span>)</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
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BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-79641622763837447432014-02-14T16:15:00.002-05:002014-02-18T23:35:13.654-05:00"I Have Failed, Can God Use Me?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVfkvksrPjQdL7Lc9AqfvBuyf7p1uud5bbYzd4Ieibkevja1lYIrJRnNciGQ2w91Wa-w0K8cAuaLSp3-mCArB3LKVlpVm-7v4ABn3u5IoG01VcfwdafaCWVeHYlGoczGn4DmO/s1600/failures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVfkvksrPjQdL7Lc9AqfvBuyf7p1uud5bbYzd4Ieibkevja1lYIrJRnNciGQ2w91Wa-w0K8cAuaLSp3-mCArB3LKVlpVm-7v4ABn3u5IoG01VcfwdafaCWVeHYlGoczGn4DmO/s1600/failures.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<h4>
<b><u>Matthew 26:33-35</u> (before Jesus was crucified)</b></h4>
<span style="color: yellow;">26:33 Peter answered and said unto Him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.</span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee that this night, before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me thrice.</span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">26:35 Peter said unto Him, Though I should die with thee, <u>yet will I not deny thee</u>. Likewise also said all the disciples.</span><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>John 21:14-17</u> (after Jesus resurrection)</b><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.</span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest </span><span style="color: cyan;">(Agapeo)</span> <span style="color: yellow;">thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love </span><span style="color: cyan;">(Phileo)</span><span style="color: yellow;"> thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.</span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest</span><span style="color: cyan;"> (Agapeo)</span><span style="color: yellow;"> thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love </span><span style="color: cyan;">(Phileo)</span><span style="color: yellow;"> thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-Jjlv0wmA0FBx0Px13a2q3u3x5XJEI6lJb2Yi_SnnCezDvOOeOvQotTNoj2Oh2k0bQN4jUKsvWi-iXczjCTj-jeXCWDOmy6gMi7pPPMEnyiYyFoFZUL_DakWts63Q1JVfCSa/s1600/FeedMySheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-Jjlv0wmA0FBx0Px13a2q3u3x5XJEI6lJb2Yi_SnnCezDvOOeOvQotTNoj2Oh2k0bQN4jUKsvWi-iXczjCTj-jeXCWDOmy6gMi7pPPMEnyiYyFoFZUL_DakWts63Q1JVfCSa/s1600/FeedMySheep.jpg" height="154" width="400" /></a><span style="color: yellow;">21:17 He saith unto him the <u><b>third time</b></u>, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest</span><span style="color: cyan;"><b> (Phileo)</b></span><span style="color: yellow;"> thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest </span><span style="color: cyan;">(Phileo)</span><span style="color: yellow;"> thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love </span><span style="color: cyan;">(Phileo)</span><span style="color: yellow;"> thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.</span><br />
<br />
This passage in John deals with Peter seeing Jesus after He was risen from the dead. Peter was understandably ashamed, as he had boasted prior to Jesus being crucified that he would never deny Jesus, but would die for him, yet when the true life test came, Peter denied knowing Jesus.<br />
<br />
Now let’s get some insight into this passage by looking at the Greek words Agapao and Phileo. <br />
<br />
For the sake of keeping it simple I’ll go with the following <u>basic definition</u> (someday maybe we’ll do an in-depth study on Agape).<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">Agapao</span></b> - An unselfish, unconditional, sacrificial love, and is often referred to as the God kind of love.<br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;">Phileo</span></b> - A friendship, fondness or to have the same interest with another person.<br />
<br />
Now let’s look at this passage again with the the <u><b>Greek meaning</b></u> to the words LOVE.<br />
<br />
21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.<br />
21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me <b>with an unselfish, unconditional, sacrificial love more than these</b>?" He saith unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that <b>I love you as a friend</b>." He saith unto him, "Feed my lambs."<br />
21:16 He saith to him again the second time, "Simon, son of Jonas, <b>do you love me with an unselfish, unconditional, sacrificial love?"</b> And he said unto him, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that <b>I love you as a friend." </b>He saith unto him, "Feed my sheep."<br />
21:17 He saith unto him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonas, <b>do you love me as a friend</b>?" And this time Jesus used Peter's word, <span style="color: cyan;"><b>"phileo."</b></span> Peter was grieved because Jesus said unto him the third time, <b>do you love me as a friend</b>? It hurt Peter deeply that Jesus had come to his level in essence saying, Peter, you do love me as a friend. And he said unto him, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that <b>I love you as a friend</b>." Jesus saith unto him, "<u><b>Feed my sheep</b></u>."<br />
<br />
<b><u>Note</u></b>: Some believe, as Bob Deffinbaugh states:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;">Peter was <b><u>grieved</u></b> because Jesus found it necessary to ask virtually the same question three times. I do not like to be asked the same question repeatedly. I conclude that either the person asking the question wasn’t paying attention (this could not be the case with Jesus), or that my answer was not acceptable or credible. <u>The three-fold repetition must have registered with Peter as being related to his three-fold denial</u>. Peter was grieved because he realized that the bold and even arrogant claims he had made proved to be empty. Peter is not distressed with Jesus; he is grieved over his own sin. <u>Jesus is not attempting to shame Peter; he is seeking to reaffirm his call to service</u>. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></i></div>
Either or both ways you look at this passage you find one thing for sure, Peter was feeling <b><u>inadequate</u></b> for the task of feeding Jesus' sheep. Jesus still told Peter feed my sheep.<br />
<br />
<b>Do you feel inadequate for whatever it is that God has called you to do? </b><br />
Are you saying Lord, I have failed you, I have acted ashamed of you when I should have stood up for the name of Christ? <br />
<br />
Lord, I just don’t feel I love you like I should, and Jesus may very well be saying, do what I have called you to do anyway! <u>Jesus knew what a man of God was <b>in</b> Peter</u>, and <u>Jesus knows what a Servant of God you can be</u>. Jesus hasn’t changed His purpose for you, so don’t doubt what God may have for you to do. Just like Peter we need to obey the Lord even during the growing process while we are feeling inadequate, not qualified for the task at hand. God says, <b>"Feed my Sheep."</b><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>So take this as an encouragement to obey whatever the Lord is calling you to do.</b></i><br />
<span style="color: #330066;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #330066;"></span>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-17491910285620188522014-02-12T21:21:00.002-05:002014-02-12T21:21:34.848-05:00"We Are ALL On A Mission From God"<i>BibleFood <b>"classic"</b> Devotional <span style="color: cyan;">[slightly updated] </span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: cyan;"><br /></span></i>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVql1SdZdRNnoUw7BhUMjOeZ9HcKhyphenhyphennmh_YbYT9lEFoCiLxKMU-fiu-SfW5wiGv3WqPMFIZ0J6C37wlCS0_M7mldCWZrfOWvRaAyB_odF5R8cOnen1ZjNmUpqkMiOAPsAsZu_a/s1600/acts1_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVql1SdZdRNnoUw7BhUMjOeZ9HcKhyphenhyphennmh_YbYT9lEFoCiLxKMU-fiu-SfW5wiGv3WqPMFIZ0J6C37wlCS0_M7mldCWZrfOWvRaAyB_odF5R8cOnen1ZjNmUpqkMiOAPsAsZu_a/s1600/acts1_8.jpg" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="color: yellow;">"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and YE SHALL BE WITNESSES unto ME both in JERUSALEM, and in all JUDAEA, and in SAMARIA, and unto the UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH." - Acts 1:8 </span></i><br />
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<br />
<br />
Over the years I have ministered to the lost and hurting through various means. Some periods in my life were more full of sharing Christ, other times just seemed as dry as could be. I have cried out to God to help me get back to sharing the Gospel with the lost and hurting more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKHqRCaThq6ElORv5Yhv7PfGrtmYldxOfkzBaa1y1hYc8bgva56g5iJw_v9hbc8EHYw42OsT4Y6YN3s0hSICndiWpsNascvym6SpRGvk5RRuQHkGXlTeOsWNh9elgZdN-2VVy/s1600/mission-field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKHqRCaThq6ElORv5Yhv7PfGrtmYldxOfkzBaa1y1hYc8bgva56g5iJw_v9hbc8EHYw42OsT4Y6YN3s0hSICndiWpsNascvym6SpRGvk5RRuQHkGXlTeOsWNh9elgZdN-2VVy/s1600/mission-field.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I believe God led me into a form of evangelism that I had not used often enough or effectively in the past. That is what I'll call "Lifestyle Evangelism." What I mean by that <span style="color: cyan;">[which is different than some people's definition]</span> is that <u><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">we don't just share Christ on our weekly "witnessing outreach</span></b></u>," where maybe every Friday night we flood the streets and pass out tracts, or every Saturday we go door to door witnessing, etc. <span style="color: cyan;">[don't even see this much anymore in 2014]</span>. <span style="color: #f1c232;"><b><u>In NO way are we not to do those things if God has put us in such an outreach, but don't think that's your only time to witness</u></b>.</span> There are still all the other days of the week to witness for God. We are truly ALL on a mission from God to be available <u><b><span style="color: #f1c232;">24 hours a day to share the Good News of Jesus Christ</span></b></u>.<br />
<br />
I don't consider myself an evangelist - I really don't. But I do believe I am on a mission from God to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. About 10 years ago I took a job that was not easy for me. ALL I would hear in my heart was "You are a missionary to your fellow employees." As long as I kept my focus on that I was fine, but when I started to just think of my job as a job, that is when I ran into problems (just being honest)!
Also, the LORD was moving me on to a new mission field [billiard industry, see my site at: www.christianpoolplayers.com], which involved what I consider a mission trip to work with a billiards/pool ministry (www.gospeltrickshot.com). It was a glorious time of taking an INTEREST in the lost and hurting people around me, and it was a great time of ministry. But that was only for a week!
So, did I come home and just stop sharing about the lost and hurting? <span style="color: #f1c232;"><u><b>Absolutely not</b></u>!</span>
I was called on a mission from God BEFORE I went to Las Vegas, while I was there, and now back in my homeland (Atlanta, Georgia)! THE MISSION STAYS THE SAME!!!
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;">Acts 1:8 says, "...YE SHALL BE WITNESSES unto ME both in JERUSALEM, and in all JUDAEA, and in SAMARIA, and unto the UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH."</span>
<br />
<br />
We are to be God's WITNESS of the Good News of Jesus Christ in our Jerusalem, then in whatever may be our Judaea, and our Samaria, and then to end all debates, God says, <b><span style="color: yellow;">"...UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH."</span></b> I guess that leaves NO place for us to not be His witnesses!!!
Does that mean we have to run up to everyone we meet and ask them do they know Jesus? Personally, I don't think so. But let me tell you when you look at EVERY place you go as your MISSION FIELD, i.e., your job, going to the grocery store, coaching kids in sports, filling up the car at the gas station, and where ever else your day brings you - I'll tell you it's exciting.
Do I share Christ everywhere I go? No! But I try to stay alert to God opening a door to minister with Christ to someone.<b> <span style="color: #f1c232;"><u>I believe the more alert we are in Christ and available. the more opportunities the LORD will put us in</u>.
</span></b>
I'm sure I have missed many opportunities to share Christ, but Praise God I'm learning to be alert and available as His minister (servant) on a 24/7 basis.
<br />
<br />
This devotion is NOT to get you into a guilt trip or bondage. I've known some who would try to put you in that state.<span style="color: #f1c232;"> <b><u>Just be available to God 24/7 and believe for opportunities</u></b>.</span> I'm telling you they'll happen!!!
<br />
<br />
I also want to close with what I'll call
"Friendship Evangelism," which is what God has used me most often in for the last year or so.
Without EVER compromising, I have built relationships with family, neighbors, coworkers, and strangers to give me opportunity to sow seeds (big or small) into people's lives over a period of time. In Las Vegas it was over a few days or a week. Here in Atlanta, GA, and on the Internet (in some cases) it is brief, and in other cases it has been over a year or more. But they are being built, and in God's timetable He will open opportunities to share Christ with them more and more. In some cases they will be even coming to YOU to have you tell them more about Jesus. <span style="color: yellow;">This is NOT loving the WORLD (I John 2:15-17). But loving THOSE IN THE WORLD, until we see them come from this dark world to being a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20)</span>.
<br />
<br />
Take this devotion as an encouragement, and allow God to open the opportunities, just be alert and available :-) <br />
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</script>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-62252378492520903502014-02-12T14:11:00.003-05:002014-02-12T15:24:27.566-05:00God's Pruning Process!<h1>
<span style="color: yellow; font-size: small;">I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every
branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does
bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1, 2</span></h1>
<div>
<span style="color: yellow; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As we look into the pruning process I must share my
wife's pruning ability. </span></i>When I first saw the pruning work of my
wife, Joyce, I thought she killed the plant or at least stunted its growth
forever. Boy, was I wrong! It grew back
and looked great! Now, if my wife does a
heavy duty pruning I trust her, as I have seen that her pruning is helping the
plant. Also, after my wife first prunes
a plant it is rather ugly, but given time it turns beautiful. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVFYGeMZeakwCYqECHD1q8XUWEZJN3jwPLKEKv6VumDfJzi4SYXN3XfKHIrZ4WNwyA613JF-OHEnfavdi41dEA0Vx1QI_tLCJ8Tq9HcNjJ9enRYY5_XCSnogIpRvJuFgk9_QqRA/s1600/pruning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVFYGeMZeakwCYqECHD1q8XUWEZJN3jwPLKEKv6VumDfJzi4SYXN3XfKHIrZ4WNwyA613JF-OHEnfavdi41dEA0Vx1QI_tLCJ8Tq9HcNjJ9enRYY5_XCSnogIpRvJuFgk9_QqRA/s1600/pruning.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a>Most of you know that trees need <a href="http://rightremedy.org/">pruning</a>
in order to <u><b>grow properly</b></u> and <u><b>bear fruit</b></u>. Pruning involves cutting off the dead
branches and cutting back the living branches, both to shape the tree or vine
and to <u><b>stimulate growth</b></u>. So much more with our
heavenly Father, as He is the perfect pruner, when He prunes us we know
that He knows what He's doing and the end result is you will be more beautiful
in God's vineyard. According to this verse, pruning sounds to me like
a painful process! However, as painful as it can be to go through this “process,”
it is necessary and worthwhile. Think about it, the branch that bears NO FRUIT
is history,<b> but it is the <span style="text-transform: uppercase;">fruit bearing</span>
branch that he PRUNES so that it will bear MORE FRUIT</b>. As Christians you are pruned NOT because you
have no fruit, but so you'll have even more.</div>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><br />
Here’s why:<br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><b>1. God's pruning is to get rid of stuff
in our life that is not healthy.</b></span><br />
Often we allow sin (always wrong and bad) or even weights (not necessarily bad/sin,
but not beneficial, something that holds us back) into our lives, and it
hinders us from bearing fruit or much fruit.
<br />
Heb. 12:11 states: <span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;">"</span><b style="color: yellow;"><sup><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span></sup></b><span style="color: yellow;">For the moment all discipline seems </span><u style="color: yellow;">painful</u><span style="color: yellow;"> rather than pleasant,
but later it yields</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: yellow;">the peaceful </span><b style="color: yellow;"><u>fruit</u></b><span style="color: yellow;"> of righteousness to those
who have been trained by it."</span><br />
Heb. 12:1 states: <span style="color: yellow;">"...let us
also lay aside every </span><u style="color: yellow;">weight</u><span style="color: yellow;">, and</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: yellow;"> </span><u style="color: yellow;">sin</u><span style="color: yellow;">
which clings so closely, and</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: yellow;">let
us run</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: yellow;">with endurance the race
that is</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: yellow;">set before us..."</span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="color: yellow;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: yellow;">2. God’s pruning redirects our spiritual growth. </span></b><br />
Each branch that is cut stops the plant's growth in one direction and redirects
it in another. Sometimes God shuts a door in one area because He wants to
refocus our efforts, energy and gifting in another – often one where He knows
we’ll be more effective. If we exist to bring God glory and build His kingdom,
it’s not so much about where I want to go and what I want to do, but where He
can use me the most.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="color: yellow;">3. God’s pruning improves the quantity and quality of fruit in our
lives.</span></b><br />
Pruning at the right time and in the right place can actually increase the
number of shoots produced by a plant, thus, increasing its yield. A
temporary decrease in an area of your life will actually bring the increase!<b> </b>Don’t
give up on the vision God has given you, but press on. Your breakthrough could
be right around the next corner.<br />
<b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus
desires for us to bear fruit for him, we start with </span><u><span style="color: yellow;">fruit</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, then </span><u><span style="color: yellow;">MORE fruit</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and
then </span><u><span style="color: yellow;">MUCH fruit</span></u><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
I like what I have heard stated that we find ourselves in one of three states
right now. <br />
<br />
Either we are:<br />
<span style="color: yellow;">
1. Being pruned<br />
2. Healing/recovering after being pruned or<br />
3. We are in full bloom. </span>(But don’t get too excited if you are in full bloom,
because you are about to be pruned again.)<br />
<br />
If you are a Christian, you are going to be pruned. Count on it. None of us
are immune to it. You may not be in the pruning process right now…you may be in
full bloom, enjoying a relatively easy life. Praise God! Enjoy it! But don’t
get too comfortable…the scissors are going to come your way again!<br />
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BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-41521832044748813922013-12-16T20:29:00.002-05:002013-12-16T20:29:58.398-05:00Book Review of "Future Grace, The Purifying Power of the Promises of God"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The whole book has many great, encouraging words. A quote
from Piper about the purpose of this book is found on page 115, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"I am writing this book – if by any
means I might come into the deeper experience of living by faith in future
grace, and take as many people with me as I can."</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBzeaTYrWAmiPyazWsAh0uQkZa48w26Ay_h2bYJ6vA25uT8iCcRuD35Ycg14PcG4q2Df8cfcvQMC6C1iQdlUbEd2PvJVMYdLh6P08xjEaQ4H0AFQnG2TEyymQ6_h52nNh3ylZ/s1600/future-grace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBzeaTYrWAmiPyazWsAh0uQkZa48w26Ay_h2bYJ6vA25uT8iCcRuD35Ycg14PcG4q2Df8cfcvQMC6C1iQdlUbEd2PvJVMYdLh6P08xjEaQ4H0AFQnG2TEyymQ6_h52nNh3ylZ/s1600/future-grace.jpg" /></a><br />
Another thing I like in this book, as well as others by Piper, is his
transparency when he shares about his life and often his struggles (and then
his victories) with getting a hold of wonderful truths and promises in God's
Word (Bible).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I love John Pipers teaching, I have many of his books
and have listened to multiple sermons by him, my only problem is I find his
large books (like this one with 400 pages) have a lot of repetition in them,
which to a certain extent is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Repetition does help a point to sink in, but still a little too repetitious
in my opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The most incredible book I ever read by John Piper was "Finally
Alive" with only 208 pages, but it was incredible.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
At over 400 pages, "Future Grace" is one of his larger volumes, and
while there is a lot of repetition, he really hits on a lot of aspects of grace.
In the process, he also covers a lot about faith and taking hold of the
promises of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even deals with the
sin of doubt in a very effective way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book should encourage you in many aspects of your
Christian walk and taking God at His word. If He made a promise to you in
scripture, it is a DONE deal in future grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God's yes promises are yes, and we need to believe and take hold of them
with all of our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you read this
book, it may show you that you have not been taking hold of all the promises God
has for you by Future Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
This is a good book whether you read it quickly or take your time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe by the time you read the last page
(if not way before the last page), you will be able to say this booked enriched
my life and it was worth the read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah
Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive
review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. </i></div>
BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-63502566487126251462013-05-09T10:16:00.000-05:002013-05-09T10:16:15.168-05:00Review of "Humble Orthodoxy" a very good short book.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2vgj-oFy4H4m9QoRr2KiLjMrrrueXzmUziIqDtYSVFp6rtuZ_QXyvT-unXl1HH1gT_VRRu5q0vwya_O6CyY6Toyh4jccn53UAzRqbia2GfWFyZOhx27T57MLJalLK0psUZbJ/s1600/humble_orthodoxy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2vgj-oFy4H4m9QoRr2KiLjMrrrueXzmUziIqDtYSVFp6rtuZ_QXyvT-unXl1HH1gT_VRRu5q0vwya_O6CyY6Toyh4jccn53UAzRqbia2GfWFyZOhx27T57MLJalLK0psUZbJ/s1600/humble_orthodoxy.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Review<span style="font-size: small;"> of "Humble Orthodoxy"<br /></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I get into my review
let me encourage you get this book! It
is so needed by Christians today.</div>
<br />
My first thought in readying the title almost scared me away from this book,
just because seeing the word "orthodoxy" personally brings negative,
overly traditional connotations to my mind.
But then seeing "humble" in front of it got my curiosity, plus
I respect Joshua Harris as a Christian author and pastor. I'm
happy to have read this small book (<span class="readable">61 short pages plus an
added beneficial study guide)</span>. If you're a Pharisee in heart you really
need this book, but likely won't want to read it. As stated in his forward to the book,
"Pharisaism is a poisonous weed that grows in every garden of orthodox
religion." <br />
<br />
In this book the author, Joshua Harris, does not down play the importance of Biblical
truth, but stresses the importance of having the right spirit about these Bible
truths. The way in which Joshua uses <b>"orthodoxy" is "...right
thinking about God. It's about teaching
and belief based on the established, proven, cherished truths of the
faith."</b> I like that definition
of "orthodoxy." As he
expresses "humble orthodoxy" he says, <b>"We must care about truth, and we must also defend and <u>share
this truth with compassion and humility.</u>"</b> He says, <b>"We
don't get to choose between humility and orthodoxy. We need both." </b><br />
<br />
He brings balance to the whole subject of "biblical truth" and
"humility." We so often get in the ditch of all Bible teaching
(doctrine) and not an ounce of love and humility, or we get in the opposite
ditch of all love, love, love and no concern or priority put on Biblical truth
(orthodoxy). As I stated earlier (and worth repeating), I so love how Joshua
says we need Biblical truth (orthodoxy) and humility, it's not either or, but
both! <br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you prayerfully read this book, hopefully, you will see the need for both
and that they don't have to be viewed as oxymoron's, but can flow together. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In one to two short readings you will have read this short book. Even if you do
this book as a group, it is basically only going to be 4 sessions (utilizing
the study guide in the back of the book).
When you are finished you will have a lot to think about and pray about.
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
None of us has a right to be proud of the truth we do understand, even that
knowledge is all by God's grace! And
none of us has the right to dismiss/compromise the truth in the name of love or
humility. </div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Joshua says, "We can demonstrate a humble orthodoxy, holding on to our
identity in the gospel. We are not those
who are right; we are those who are redeemed". </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
To that I simply say, "AMEN!"</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">I received this
book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I was not
required to write a positive review. </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
</div>
BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-86290045123309505612013-03-13T16:55:00.001-05:002013-03-13T16:55:25.065-05:00Review: "Simply Jesus"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHkoILs3QZHwBQpzqAe9W9Qh3iDjO5R3b-Ng7IEVtIz0asz4dBU4gUy9H-SHsreQaLXvL14VeNi8CFs6Yrnw8ekP-u0-J6J4QhyphenhyphenPsywfeCauu3W6whDbKGKEVBdf41zKCA4NN/s1600/simply+Jesus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHkoILs3QZHwBQpzqAe9W9Qh3iDjO5R3b-Ng7IEVtIz0asz4dBU4gUy9H-SHsreQaLXvL14VeNi8CFs6Yrnw8ekP-u0-J6J4QhyphenhyphenPsywfeCauu3W6whDbKGKEVBdf41zKCA4NN/s200/simply+Jesus.JPG" width="139" /></a><b> </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Simply Jesus </b>by Joe Stowell</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Simply Jesus" is a book on really experiencing
Jesus in your life. That is not hard to do, as I believe this book shows.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a short book and easy read with only 62 pages, but
definitely worth the read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many authors
would have made this a 200+ page book with lots of drawn out repetition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like that this book said what was needed to
be said on this subject and did it in 62 pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He enhances the book by telling some stories which is a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also makes it clear that this is a 24/7
lifestyle, and you won't experience Jesus in the way he talks about unless you
give your heart to the Lord 24/7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
also shares how it is God working in us (grace) and not about our doing good
works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fruit will always be the result of
a life in communion with Jesus (see The Gospel of John chapter 15 and Matthew
7:17 & 18).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this short 9-chapter book you will find a wealth of good
information on knowing Jesus intimately mostly based on the truth found in
Phil. 3:7-11.<br />
<br />
This book is NOT to short and does NOT need to be longer, it is just the right
length to get those wonderful truths into our hearts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only negative would be the use of too many versions of
the Bible and some weak paraphrases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">I received this book from
WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.</span><span style="color: black;"><b> </b>I was not required to write a
positive review. </span>
</div>
BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-59708059894586855222013-03-03T15:28:00.001-05:002013-03-03T15:28:37.608-05:00Divine Appointments<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: Arial;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial;">The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD<br />
and he delighteth in his way. - Psalm 37:23 <br />
</span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">(This is one of my favorite verses in the
Bible)</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></i></div>
<span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;">"Our
Steps are Ordered by the LORD"</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;"> or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Divine
Appointments" </b>wherein God places us in situations for our benefit
and/or the benefit of others.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white; color: #003300; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As Oswald Chambers (Author of "My Utmost
for His Highest) put it, </span><i><span style="color: #003300; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">"<u><b>God is the Great Engineer</b></u>, creating circumstances
to bring about moments in our lives of divine importance, leading us to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>divine appointments</u></b>."</span></i><br />
<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;"><br />
Remember, Jesus at the well ministering to a woman who had been married many
times </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial;">(See John 4:5-42).</span></b><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: Arial;"> T</span><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;">his is a good example
of a <b>"Divine Appointments ."</b><br />
<br />
Another good example of this is found with Philip joining the chariot of the
Ethiopian eunuch who just happened to be reading </span><span style="background: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial;">Isaiah 53:7, 8</span><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;"> and didn't understand
it. Think about it, at EXACTLY that moment Philip shows up by the LORD's
leading and explains the passage in Isaiah to him and thus about Christ</span><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: Arial;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial;">(see Acts 8:26-39</span></b><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: Arial;">).</span><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: Arial;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;">I know a
minister who always seems to be running into <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">opportunities to minister to others </span>– because he is expectant and
available. Personally, I know that when I'm expecting and available, God uses
me and it seems like I have many more<b> </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">of these divine appointments</span>.<br />
<br />
What I want to deal with in this short devotion is that there are many
opportunities that are orchestrated by God for us to minister in some way to
others, but some-times we are not willing, or we are not paying attention, or
we are not looking and expecting these opportunities - these <b>"Divine
Appointments." </b></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="background: white; color: #003300; font-family: Arial;">An example
of this happened to a friend of mine and myself on a trip we took together a
few years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a pro pool
(billiards) player, and I run a pool/billiards ministry nationwide (<a href="http://www.christianpoolplayers.com/"><span style="color: #003300;">www.christianpoolplayers.com</span></a>).
He picked me up in Atlanta, GA
(my home at the time), and we drove to the event in Valley Forge, PA
(approx. 800 miles).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This event was a
pro event and also a pool expo with lots of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ministered to individuals at the event
(primarily amateur players), and my friend played in the pro event and
ministered to people, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the
event ends we head back for Atlanta,
GA. About a few hours into our
trip (approximately 2:30 in the morning) we both find we need a bathroom break
(God ordained as you'll see).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we stop
and go to the men's room. On the way out we both briefly share how the young
girl running the store has been put on both of our hearts and that we are to
share Jesus with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Long story short,
we both end up telling her God sent us there to tell her "Jesus love
you".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She opened her heart and
shared how her family are born again and that her brother is a minister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn't really get any more details than
that, but I'm sure her family was praying for her, and unknown to us, God was
going to use us to let her know that God knows her and cares about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>All I can say is it was an awesome
experience</u>.<br />
</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xJ0RTYFcAmD0RQWTx29xn9nzBJWz5QGfZM9dbkCx2Svpylu-ZJIwf11rsu0L3RWe2wgBicfmYfQE4O7pWFujiJGGHf_E3CPS-lJ7k1vlXQJ4XYkvKKMhIa8KB7n7xF47_DCL/s1600/available.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xJ0RTYFcAmD0RQWTx29xn9nzBJWz5QGfZM9dbkCx2Svpylu-ZJIwf11rsu0L3RWe2wgBicfmYfQE4O7pWFujiJGGHf_E3CPS-lJ7k1vlXQJ4XYkvKKMhIa8KB7n7xF47_DCL/s1600/available.jpg" /></a>Now, I want to encourage you in your everyday life to ask God to help you to
not miss His hand moving in so many of your life situations<b>.</b> Tell God
you are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>AVAILABLE</u></b> to be used by
Him in this way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I PROMISE you that as
you seek His face with a pure heart, and as you ask Him to use you, He will
give you<b> many opportunities.</b> What a blessing it is when you see God line
you up with people! There will be other occasions God will move, and you didn't
see it, but eternity will reveal it – Hallelujah! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
As I said previously, I know a minister who constantly has stories to tell
about God using him. He is not bragging on himself, he is just sharing. It is
because he is available, and he is expecting God to use him. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;">No matter
what I'm doing or where I go, I ask God to use me with the people I meet
everyday, to make "<b>My Steps to be Ordered by the LORD." </b><br />
<br />
May this devotion encourage you that God's many divine appointments out there<b>
</b>for all of us if we would just believe Him and be willing, ready vessels. <br />
<br />
The Bible says in<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: maroon; font-family: Arial;">2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be instant in season,
out of season." Also, in I Peter 3:15 "...be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you."</span></b><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;">This is
what we should be doing. We should always be ready; we should always be looking
for opportunities, and if you are a vessel like that, God will use you. <br />
<br />
I believe this is a great lesson for all of us. If we all start looking for
those <b>"Divine Appointments." </b><br />
<br />
If we all start being AVAILABLE to be used of the LORD, we will see things
happen that we would have never expected to see happen previously. </span><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;">If we were to multiply that by the MANY in the
Body of Christ, what <br />
a change that would make in the world we live in! Thank you, Jesus. </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #000042; font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">Jim</span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:Jim@BibleFood.org">Jim@BibleFood.org</a>
</span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial;">Website: <a href="http://www.biblefood.org/">www.biblefood.ORG</a></span></div>
BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-3468014961658175962013-02-02T11:51:00.000-05:002013-02-02T11:51:21.006-05:00Review: Live Second<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://biblefood.blogspot.com/">My review of: "Live Second"</a></span>
</h3>
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<span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;"><b>Periodically I review books for<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Thomas Nelson</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186035px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.981483459472656px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;"><b>This is my latest book review - I hope you find this helpful.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: #f1c232;"><b><span style="background-color: #f1c232;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span></span>Live</span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: magenta;"> Second</span> – 365 Ways to Make Jesus First</span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Before I get specifically into
the book <b>"Live Second"</b>, I will say I love the "I Am Second" website, video clips
(testimonies), and the fact that they have chapters all over the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also find "I Am Second" so refreshing
in a world where we are so me-centered (self-centered), as their entire premise
is that Jesus must be first in our lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
As I read through this book, <b>"Live Second"</b>, I was somewhat disappointed. There are days where
the devotions are great, others when there did not seem to be much depth in
what was said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 1 of each week was probably the part I liked most </b>where you are
directed to a specific video testimony on their site with a different person
each week. Very inspiring! But then the questions asked on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 1</b> after watching the video are the same generic questions each
week for the entire book. I believe questions related to the video testimony
would add so much to the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Talk with God"</b> are good, although
most were too brief, but at least they are directly related to the devotion for
each day. Where as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Live it,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you live more second today?"</b>
and then the "<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tell it. How will you
share what was learned?" </b>is repeated in so many devotions, that after
the first few devotions I feel it is not necessary to keep taking up space with
these repetitive questions. The space would be better used for longer devotions
or a longer section on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Talk with
God."</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I am only giving it <b>3 stars</b> for some
of the above stated improvements I feel are needed in his book. If you are part
of a "I Am Second" group and/or using this book for a group
discussion, although it still could be better, it definitely would be a good
addition to your "I Am Second" group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><u>If I ran an "I am Second" group I would encourage people to
use this book</u>. </div>
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</div>
<span style="color: #660000;">Note: Thomas Nelson gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. <span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span>I was not required to write a positive review, and these opinions are my own.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.2222px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.9815px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I also rate and review books from my personal library</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.2222px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.9815px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here they are:</span></i></b></span><br />
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186035px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.981483459472656px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #000066; font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/9797556-jim">View all my reviews</a></span></i></b>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-31408212677801849432012-12-25T12:39:00.001-05:002012-12-25T12:39:50.276-05:00Has God Failed You?<br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #000040; font-family: "AdLib BT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">"Has God
Failed You?"</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of
them:</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;"> for the LORD thy God, he<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>it is that doth go with thee;</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;"> he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: red;">Deuteronomy 31:6</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br />
Let your conversation<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>be without
covetousness; </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;">and be content with such things as ye have:</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;"> for he hath said, I will <u>never leave thee</u>, nor
forsake thee. </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red;">Hebrews 13:5<br />
</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><b><span style="color: #000040;">Have you ever felt like God failed you in an
area that you were believing Him to move in,</span></b></b></div>
<b>
</b><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">and the outcome just wasn't what you expected from God or
His Word (the Bible)?</span></b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000040;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #000040;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Some people are so sure they understand every aspect of God and scripture and
what He (GOD)</b></div>
</span></b><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000040; font-weight: bold;">has promised them, that they will<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">THINK</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="color: #000040; font-weight: bold;">they can demand God to do something they ask for</span> <b><span style="color: #000040;">because they think it is a "clear-cut
promise." They<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;">THINK<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #000040;">they can just claim it and it must happen! </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">I have even heard people say things along this line,
"God if you don't do this, based on the Bible, </span></b><b><span style="color: #000040;">then you are a liar, and I will no longer believe in
you." While they say they are not being irreverent </span></b><b><span style="color: #000040;">but holding God to His promises, I think it is quite an<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">irreverent</span></u><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="color: #000040;">way for a "man" to talk to God.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000040; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">There are promises in the Bible that I personally have stood on and they never
came to past. </span></b></div>
</b><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000040; font-weight: bold;">Maybe it was for someone's healing, or for a job,
etc, But you know if it doesn't turn out the</span> <span style="color: #000040; font-weight: bold;">way we expected, the fault is not with God being a
liar<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">(what a terrible way to think)</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="color: #000040; font-weight: bold;">but with our</span> <b><span style="color: #000040;">FINITE mind not understanding what God was doing in a
given circumstance. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">One thing is for sure God did NOT fail us</span></u><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>. </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span><b><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">The bottom line is that we misinterpreted scripture and
God's will in a given situation.</span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;"></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><b>I like the strong words found in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u><span style="color: red;">Romans 9:20</span></u><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><span style="color: red;"> </span></b></b></div>
<b>
</b><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">"Nay but O man</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color: green;">[<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">MERE MAN IN
COMPARISON TO GOD</span>]</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">, </span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">who art thou that repliest<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: green; font-variant: small-caps;">[ANSWER, QUESTION, DISPUTE, ARGUE, CONTRADICTS]</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-variant: small-caps;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;">against God. </span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why
hast thou made me thus?" </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">Also we see the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY correct Job on this
very attitude in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="color: red;">Job 40:2</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">"Shall he<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>[Job]<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>that contendeth<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: green; font-variant: small-caps;">[FINDS FAULT, ARGUES]</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-variant: small-caps;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">with the Almighty instruct<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: uppercase;">[</span></span><span style="color: green; font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: uppercase;">HAVE THE ANSWER FOR]</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Him?..." </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">Job saw how wrong his attitude was and in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><u> </u></span><u><span style="color: red;">verse 4</span></u><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #000040;"> </span></span><span style="color: #000040;">properly
answered the LORD with,</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">"Behold
I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I lay mine hands upon my mouth."</span></b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Boy can I relate to Job! I have needed to put my hand(s) over my mouth </b><b><span style="color: #000040;">and repent of some attitudes and words I felt when God
didn't do it</span></b><b><span style="color: #000040;"> the way I expected Him to. </span></b></div>
</b><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">Do you, for a moment, think God knew less</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color: #000040;">than you what was best in a given situation, </span></b><b><span style="color: #000040;">or why something happened and He didn't seem to
intervene? </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000040; font-weight: bold;">Do I have all the answers to all what happens around me
and you? -<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #002368;">NO!</span></u><span style="color: #002368;"><b> </b></span><b><span style="color: #002368;"><u>But at least we need to NOT blame God or get
upset with Him</u>.</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">In the future when you stand before God and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>He reveals Himself in ALL your past
situations</u>,</span></b><b><span style="color: #000040;"> you sure will wish you had just trusted the LORD
with that situation and just moved on!</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #002368;"><br /></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #002368;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>We must realize our understanding of things is limited</u>.<span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></div>
</span></b><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">As<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">I Cor. 13:12</span></u> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="color: #000040;">states,</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">"For now we see through a glass, darkly<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>[obscurely, blurred]; </span></b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">but then face to face, </span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">now I know in part<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: green;">[fragmentary fashion, incompletely]</span>; </b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">but then shall I know</span> <span style="color: green;">[fully, completely]</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">even as also I am known."</span> </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #400040;">Only in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #000040;">eternity, face-to-face with the LORD, will it all be
crystal clear. </span></b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000040;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #000040;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>As we think on the words in today's devotion and the scripture passages
referenced, </b></div>
</span></b><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">let us look inside our hearts to see if we have have a
wrong view of God</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">and of those circumstances that we just don't understand. </span></b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #000040;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #000040;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Today, by faith, GIVE them to the LORD and LEAVE them with the LORD, </b><b>and MOVE ON with God's plan for you.</b></div>
</span></b><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #000040;">TRUST Him with them, and someday in this life, </span></b><b><span style="color: #000040;">or more LIKELY in the life to come, He will make all
those things crystal clear.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #002368; font-family: "AR BLANCA"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: 'AR BLANCA'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #990000;">Just remember God has NOT failed you </span></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><b><u><span style="font-family: 'AR BLANCA'; font-size: 14pt;">and
He NEVER, NEVER, NEVER will</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: 'AR BLANCA'; font-size: 14pt;">!</span></b></span><span style="color: #002368; font-family: "AR BLANCA"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-74415632776753146402012-12-23T20:41:00.001-05:002012-12-23T20:41:08.334-05:00"Are you a ROCKMAN or SANDMAN"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrF0k_4z93It9WiBLeghuRtzY5tLNB9OnQ4E2AyDdcoBycyDzwmnGw7b79yVnAN-1EMIayev7rMT0bT3DECkoldq57zMpbGsrl48pGmLzvkGUabl8zgX7wF1tMXoh-6i39rzR/s1600/wism-man.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrF0k_4z93It9WiBLeghuRtzY5tLNB9OnQ4E2AyDdcoBycyDzwmnGw7b79yVnAN-1EMIayev7rMT0bT3DECkoldq57zMpbGsrl48pGmLzvkGUabl8zgX7wF1tMXoh-6i39rzR/s320/wism-man.gif" width="222" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzeyFoYY9IzVf002y92bNpK-rtUjjyRooPszZ3n7Wr8_dpVgJQbUN0I41ElWFrnqwCitkS7GobhDStJR-C_Iok4mTuPCzYle4MaHiRXBcsATyNFtzZ6G0vHg6pYWRNdjENqR9/s1600/matthew7-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<b>Scripture <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Reading</st1:place></st1:city>:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Matthew
7:24-27</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span>(It's
best to read the entire chapter)</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><i>7:24</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Therefore whosoever heareth these
sayings of mine,</strong> <strong><u>and doeth them</u>, I will liken him unto a <u>wise man</u>, which built
his <u>house upon a rock</u>:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>7:25<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house; and <u>it fell not</u>: for it was founded upon a rock.</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>7:26</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And every one that heareth these
sayings of mine, and <u>doeth them NOT</u>, shall be likened unto a <u>foolish man</u>, which
built his<u> house upon the sand</u>:</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>7:27</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and <u>it fell: and great was
the fall of it</u>.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>This is an interesting passage, yet it is quite a simple passage to see
<span style="color: #073763;">Jesus' "MAIN POINT."</span> Most of the time you hear people say we need to
be founded upon the ROCK which is JESUS, which is True, but that is not the
SPECIFIC principle Jesus was teaching here. Jesus was teaching what makes a
person have a solid foundation or an unstable foundation or what makes one a
"wise man" or a "foolish man," which comes down to ONE
thing, which is whether we DO what we hear or not. Let's look at the difference
between the "Wise Man" (Rock man) and "Foolish Man" (Sand
man).</b><br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: red; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 184.5pt;" width="246"><b>WISE MAN (built house on rock)</b></td>
<td style="background: red; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><b>FOOLISH MAN (built house upon sand)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt; width: 184.5pt;" width="246"><span style="color: #000099;">heareth these sayings:</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Doeth them</span></b><br />
rains descended<br />
floods came<br />
winds blew<br />
beat upon that house<br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">It Fell Not</span></b></td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0.75pt;"><span style="color: #000099;">heareth these sayings:</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Doeth them not</span></b><br />
rains descended<br />
floods came<br />
winds blew<br />
beat upon that house<br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Great was its fall</span></b></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<b>What is the difference? As you can see, <u><span style="color: #20124d;">the only difference is one was a
doer of what he heard and the other was not a doer of what he heard</span></u>. They both
heard the same thing, had the same set of circumstances, but one fell and one
did not, because one was a doer of the WORD and the other was a hearer only.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">James
1:22</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>says, <span style="color: #cc0000;">"But
be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>These scriptures makes it quite clear that we are deceived and in for a
great (big) fall if we think hearing alone will benefit our lives. We can hear
all the Bible studies, devotions, sermons, Christian conferences, Christian workshops,
etc.; but if there is NO application you are not on a good foundation. I will
say here that that should not be a discouragement from hearing (learning), as
it is the first step to being a DOER. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can't DO what I don't hear. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we need
to HEAR! Then, we need to DO! I personally don't do 100% of what I hear (even
though I should), but thank God I DO a lot of what I hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That DOING is where my foundation in Christ
is established. Just for the record, I am NOT talking about "good works,"
but BEING DOERS OF GOD'S WORD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
a difference. If God's Word clearly tells us something then our goal should be
to DO it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncuuuumcwwQ8r2IDc0Pv4Q6baH5lrOChI54rOjNNvdjaaq0jLYylIN92Js3PnpGaltYYJ4f1V52VRtT052za4SZtvYptU8iNVIUJGGSUT-9FmKmOs1swrNIY6t3sr2ywJuMJz/s1600/just-do-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncuuuumcwwQ8r2IDc0Pv4Q6baH5lrOChI54rOjNNvdjaaq0jLYylIN92Js3PnpGaltYYJ4f1V52VRtT052za4SZtvYptU8iNVIUJGGSUT-9FmKmOs1swrNIY6t3sr2ywJuMJz/s320/just-do-it.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Do you want to establish a
Firm (Solid Rock) Foundation? Then start putting God's Word to practice in your
life. I promise you God who can not lie will bless your life!</span></b><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
I appreciate all your hunger for God's Word and hope to impart
that which would make a Godly difference in your life.<o:p></o:p></h4>
BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-31720164527315424752012-12-15T01:31:00.002-05:002012-12-15T01:31:48.958-05:00The Devotional Life Is Almost Crowded Out<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I love writing devotions, but when I find a devotion by someone, such as this one, that though written so many years ago </span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(way before cell phone and computers)</span></span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">, all I can think is how "more" true this words ring today. <u>I must share this with others</u>. May it speak to you all in <span style="font-size: x-small;">this </span>modern day<span style="font-size: x-small;">s of </span>distraction, <span style="font-size: x-small;">often taking us away from that which matters most - Time alone in quietness with our Lord!</span> - Jim </span></span></b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="mailto:jim@biblefood.org"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">(jim@biblefood.org)</span></span></a></span><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Devotion by A.W. Tozer </b></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #990000;">And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business… </span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #990000;">That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without…. 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12 </span></b></i></div>
<br />
<u>We Christians must simplify our lives</u> or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity!<br />
<br />
<b>Modern
civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but
impossible, multiplying distractions and beating us down by destroying
our solitude.</b><br />
<br />
“Commune with your own heart upon your bed
and be still” is a wise and healing counsel, but how can it be followed
in this day of the newspaper, the telephone, the radio and the
television? These <u>modern playthings</u>, like pet tiger cubs, have grown so
large and dangerous that they threaten to devour us all. No spot is now
safe from the world’s intrusion.<br />
<br />
One way the civilized
world destroys men is by preventing them from thinking their own
thoughts. Our “vastly improved methods of communication” of which the
shortsighted boast so loudly now enable a few men in strategic centers
to feed into millions of minds alien thought stuff, ready-made and
predigested.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>Are you burning the candle at both ends...</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b> </b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b> </b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<b>The need for solitude and quietness was
never greater than it is today. </b>Even the majority of Christians are so
completely conformed to this present age that they, too, want things the
way they are.<br />
<br />
However, there are some of God’s children
who have had enough. They want to relearn the ways of solitude and
simplicity and gain the infinite riches of the interior life. They want
to discover the blessedness of what has been called <b>“spiritual
aloneness”</b>—a discipline that will go far in making us acquainted with
God and our own souls!<br />
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"></span>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-24112013921926076102012-12-09T17:01:00.000-05:002012-12-09T17:02:49.492-05:00My review of: "Twelve Unlikley Heroes"<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186035px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.981483459472656px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;"><b>Periodically I review books for<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Thomas Nelson</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186035px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.981483459472656px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;"><b>This is my latest book review - I hope you find this helpful.</b></span></span></div>
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I always enjoy reading John MacArthur, and this book was no exception. Though I wouldn't put this in my favorites of John MacArthur, I enjoyed his story telling and weaving scripture passages together by pulling scriptures on these 12 "heroes" together from Genesis to Revelation. I feel there were a little too many references to historians and Jewish tradition (but they are fallible). God's Word is infallible. Plus MacArthur makes some assumptions of things that "likely" happened in situations where scripture is silent. In these cases when scripture is silent, maybe we should be too, rather than make an assumption of what was likely happening. Overall I give it a 3.5 - 4.0 rating. I recommend this book, if you have not read any of John MacArthur you should really enjoy it. He is one of the best teachers out there. Also, please do consider reading some of his other great books.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Note: Thomas Nelson gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. <span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u><i><b></b></i></u></span>I was not required to write a positive review, and these opinions are my own.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.2222px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.9815px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I also rate and review books from my personal library</span></i></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.2222px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.9815px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here they are:</span></i></b></span><br />
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186035px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.981483459472656px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #000066; font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/9797556-jim">View all my reviews</a></span></i></b><br />
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<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186035px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.981483459472656px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i></i></b><br />
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186035px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.981483459472656px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i></i></b><br />
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186035px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 23.981483459472656px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: #3d281b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: xx-small;"></span></i></b>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-79140499572573242182012-10-12T21:33:00.001-05:002012-10-12T21:37:52.393-05:00"What is Regeneration? <div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Who ever wrote this did an excellent job and lots of scriptures. I can't really do any justice adding to it (so I didn't). I did <b>bold,</b> <u>underline</u> and <span style="color: #cc0000;">color</span> for emphasis. - Jim</i></span></span></div>
<span class="userContent"> </span><span class="userContent"><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="userContent"><b>"What is Regeneration? </b></span></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span class="userContent"></span></h3>
<span class="userContent">Another word for <u><b>regeneration </b></u>is<u><b> rebirth</b></u>, from
which we get the phrase “<u><b>born again</b></u>.” To be born again is opposed to,
and distinguished from, our first birth, when we were conceived in sin.
<u>The new birth is a spiritual, holy, and heavenly birth signified by a
being made alive in a spiritual sense</u>. Our first birth, on the other
hand, was one of spiritual death because of inherited sin. Man in his natural</span> state is <span style="color: #cc0000;">“<b>dead in trespasses and sins</b>”</span> until we are<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <b>“made alive”</b></span>
(regenerated) by Christ when we place our faith in Him (<span style="color: #cc0000;">Ephesians 2:1</span>).
<u><b>After regeneration</b></u>, we begin to see, and hear, and seek after divine
things, and to live a life of faith and holiness. Now Christ is formed
in the hearts; we are now partakers of the divine nature, having been
made new creatures.<b> God, not man, is the source of this </b>(<span style="color: #cc0000;">Ephesians 2:1,
8</span>). It is not by men's works, but by God’s own good will and pleasure.
His great love and free gift, His rich grace and abundant mercy, are the
cause of it and these attributes of God are displayed in the
regeneration and conversion of sinners.<br />
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<br />
<b>Regeneration</b> is part of
the "salvation package," if you will, along with <b>sealing</b> (<span style="color: #cc0000;">Ephesians
1:14</span>), <b>adoption</b> (<span style="color: #cc0000;">Galatians 4:5)</span>,<b> reconciliation</b> (<span style="color: #cc0000;">2 Corinthians 5:18-20</span>),
and many other salvation concepts. <u>Being born again or born from above
is parallel to regeneration</u> (<span style="color: #cc0000;">John 3:6-7; Ephesians 2:1; 1 Peter 1:23;
John 1:13; 1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18</span>). Simply put, regeneration is God
making a person spiritually alive, a new creation, as a result of faith
in Jesus Christ. The reason regeneration is necessary is that prior to
salvation we are not God's children (<span style="color: #cc0000;">John 1:12-13</span>); rather, we are
children of wrath (<span style="color: #cc0000;">Ephesians 2:3; Romans 5:18-20</span>). Before salvation, we
are degenerate. After salvation we are regenerated. The result of
regeneration is peace with God (<span style="color: #cc0000;">Romans 5:1</span>), new life (<span style="color: #cc0000;">Titus 3:5; 2
Corinthians 5:17</span>), and eternal sonship (<span style="color: #cc0000;">John 1:12-13; Galatians 3:26</span>).
This regeneration is eternal and begins the process of sanctification
wherein we become the people God intended for us to be (<span style="color: #cc0000;">Romans 8:28-30</span>).<br />
<br />
<u><b>The Bible is clear that the only means of regeneration is by faith in
the finished work of Christ on the cross</b></u>. <u>No amount of good works or
keeping of the law can regenerate the heart</u> which from birth is
“deceitful and wicked above all things” (<span style="color: #cc0000;">Jeremiah 17:9</span>). <u><b>This concept of
the new birth is unique to Christianity</b></u>. No other religion offers a
cure for the total depravity of the human heart, preferring instead to
outline an often massive body of works and deeds that must be done to
gain favor with God. God has told us, though, that<b> </b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>“by works of the law
no human being will be justified in his sight”</b> </span>(<span style="color: #cc0000;">Romans 3:20</span>). Total
regeneration of the heart is necessary for salvation. Paul explains this
concept perfectly in <span style="color: #cc0000;">Galatians 2:20</span>: <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>“I have been crucified with
Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the
life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave himself for me.”</b></span></div>
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<u><b>This is true regeneration</b></u>.<br />
<br />
Author Unknown (will post name if anyone knows)</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria;">Lord bless you all as you seek to serve God for His glory alone
:-)</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">You can now be added to get devotion automatically by signing up in <u>top right corner</u> of this blog - Thanks!</span></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria;">Jim (<b><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="mailto:jim@goproclaim.com">jim@goproclaim.com</a></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria;"> or</span></b><b><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
<a href="mailto:biblefood@gmail.com">biblefood@gmail.com<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria;">)</span></b></a></span></b></span></b></div>
BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-17936145687347024802012-10-05T22:24:00.001-05:002012-10-05T22:24:51.183-05:00"The Sad Truth of Biblical Illiteracy Among Us"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: rgb(249, 253, 255); color: maroon; font-family: "AR CENA"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">These [Berean's] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness of mind [all eagerness], </span><span style="background: rgb(249, 253, 255); color: maroon; font-family: "AR CENA"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">and searched [examining] the scriptures daily, whether those things were
so. - </span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: "AR CENA"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">Acts 17:11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPt-0et6W5_APViUJdagzGC2IBFSsLUVUz1fTMDP5YyzjTbYQHOak0mqSoPr71yRh7wRnA4BglwAK4RiNlN4YXri3GITroN-huS2s3KR7URyRTJ18FzegSbfiS6Qqi5i9cmoc/s1600/bible-illiteracy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPt-0et6W5_APViUJdagzGC2IBFSsLUVUz1fTMDP5YyzjTbYQHOak0mqSoPr71yRh7wRnA4BglwAK4RiNlN4YXri3GITroN-huS2s3KR7URyRTJ18FzegSbfiS6Qqi5i9cmoc/s1600/bible-illiteracy.gif" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Daniel Wallace states:<span style="color: navy;">
"…The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>intentional dumbing down
of the church</u></b> for the sake of filling more pews will <u>ultimately lead
to defection from Christ</u> (2006:337).<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Allistair Begg states:<span style="color: navy;">
"<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>People do not know their Bibles</u></b>.
In an earlier generation the average 13-year-old or 14-year-old certainly in <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country> would
have a far greater grasp of biblical parameters of truth than the average
graduate from an American seminary today". </span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Al Mohler:<span style="color: navy;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></i><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: Cambria;">The many fronts of <u>Christian compromise</u>
in this generation can be directly traced to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>biblical illiteracy</u></b> in the pews and the <u>absence of
biblical preaching and teaching</u> in our <u>homes</u> and <u>churches</u>.</span></div>
<br />
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">C.H. Spurgeon</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:<span style="color: navy;"> If you wish to <u>know God</u> you must <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>know his word</u></b>; if you wish to <u>perceive
his power</u><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>you must <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>see how he worketh by his word</u></b>;
if you wish to <u>know his purpose</u> before it<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is actually brought to pass <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>you can only discover it by his word</u>.
</b>1607.377<span class="apple-converted-space"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Have you ever said or
heard people say the Bible says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white;">“God helps those who help themselves,”.</span></b><span style="background: white;"> Really give me chapter and verse, <u><span style="color: #20124d;"><strong>it's not in the
Bible</strong></span></u>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When asked 82 percent of
Americans, said it was a Bible verse. Sadly, those who those identified
themselves as <u>born-again Christians</u> did better–<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">by one percent</span></u></b>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> [83% - Sad]</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong>That was my
introduction.</strong></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Today I was inspired and felt
grieved enough to write on the subject of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Biblical
Illiteracy."</b> The final straw, so to speak, was reading some responses
to someone's Bible questions to a Christian group on Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #006600;">In many ways this group thinks they are so "on the mark"
of Christianity</span></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
saddened as most of their answers to the Bible questions were general,
philosophical, and relational, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>but
not Biblical</u></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Spurgeon said it so well:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: navy;"> "</span></b></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Men talk about building upon Christ, and not upon the Scriptures; but <u>they
know not what they say</u>; for our Lord continually established his own claims
by appealing to Moses and the prophets. They would be Christo-centric, they
say: I only wish they would. But <u>if they take Christ for a centre, they will
inevitably have the Scriptures for a centre too</u>; and these men neither want
the one nor the other. </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: navy; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2212.364</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">As I talk about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Biblical illiteracy,"</b> I am
not talking about having to memorize the entire Bible, though memorizing is a
very good and profitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also not
talking about us all being Biblical scholars, although the Bible does say, <span style="color: maroon;">"…</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">be</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> ready
always to <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">give</span> an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and
fear</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">:</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria;">– I Peter 3:15.</span></b><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria;"> <br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Cambria;">I'm a pastor-teacher with a humble
intelligence, so everything doesn't come easy for me, I have to study a lot,
and I still forget things; but I don't use that as an excuse for being
Biblically ignorant (illiterate).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You or
I may not be able to rattle off scriptures on every subject, but how about an
overall understanding of the Bible and the doctrines (what the Bible teaches).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I really cringe at the answers you get in the "church" and
"born-again" crowd when you ask, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"how
do you know you are saved or are a child of God?"</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially, of the younger generations,
usually they hem and haw and give some really weak answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't want to give them the nth degree
(well I sort of do), but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">most don't have
a clue what "salvation" is!!!</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If they are saved, and some may be, it is in spite of their
ignorance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is still scary, sad, and sickening
how few really understand God, salvation, and THE BIBLE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I personally say I was
saved June 21, 1975, because that was when I gave my life to the Lord, though I
didn't really "understand" Biblically what was happening to me. I
simply (and amazingly) believed in Jesus as my Savior and Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immediately following I was so hungry to
learn more about Jesus, so <u><strong>I turned to the Bible and read, and read, and
read</strong></u>. Also, the Lord provided a very knowledgeable Christian brother (at a
distance, and this was before e-mails existed). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would write questions and wait for his
answers, which were always full of scriptures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I still have many of those letters 35 years later, and I thank God for
putting this Christian Bible literate man in my path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, in more recent years in the 1990's I met
a very Bible literate brother/minister that I can always throw questions to, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>on top of my own studying for answers, and
not as a replacement for my own studying</u></b>, <span style="color: maroon;"><strong>"…to see if these things be so"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Acts 17:11<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</strong></span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><strong>While there is a famine of
God's Word out there, there is hope for anyone to grow in the Lord</strong>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you really want to learn the things of God,
in addition to your own study time in the Bible, there are spiritual Bible
literate people to help (you may have to search and pray to find them).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: navy;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">This is a little bit of my
heart on a big and serious problem in the church of the 21<sup>st</sup>
Century.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Below are some passages
for you and me to ponder, meditate, study, memorize, think on, and let God use
to change our lives and help us to value God's Word to the utmost!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_E49-5FXyTAMR_ObdVvudnQNgcGnfNaY1yMrkM5cZ9nwYZdnWgOhk2DFrZFg-EceB53U6BjDM-5FzD-FTdu8hxCSnImqI7Y_fzQwhflrXqhZByvMWHe5dW05tqmwpcIPaV1u/s1600/study-the-word.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_E49-5FXyTAMR_ObdVvudnQNgcGnfNaY1yMrkM5cZ9nwYZdnWgOhk2DFrZFg-EceB53U6BjDM-5FzD-FTdu8hxCSnImqI7Y_fzQwhflrXqhZByvMWHe5dW05tqmwpcIPaV1u/s200/study-the-word.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"><strong>Study [be
diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing [handling accurately] the word of truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- 2 Timothy 2:15<i><o:p></o:p></i></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeeQzzBuo8SubNHBfpAaJTZ4SXSPZhdgSoxX2gQwPjj3NAMCMyeW1YoS4KBDV5SGCV1wpAic7EbD_crBSu1ZUDEA9TsVzFLFhaYTGVzpdrvApJoKl4lhQ6V9xz4VNgaSh-AJm/s1600/2tim3_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeeQzzBuo8SubNHBfpAaJTZ4SXSPZhdgSoxX2gQwPjj3NAMCMyeW1YoS4KBDV5SGCV1wpAic7EbD_crBSu1ZUDEA9TsVzFLFhaYTGVzpdrvApJoKl4lhQ6V9xz4VNgaSh-AJm/s200/2tim3_16.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><i><u><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable</span></u></i></strong><i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"> for</span></i><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"> <i><u><strong>doctrine</strong></u>,
for </i><u><strong>reproof</strong></u><i><strong>,</strong>for <u><strong>correction</strong></u>, for <u><strong>instruction in
righteousness</strong></u>: </i></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">17 That
the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. </span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">- <strong>2
Timothy 3:16-17</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #000048; font-family: Cambria;">Thanks for listening, and may you
grow in the Lord as you build on the solid foundation of God's Word (the
Bible).<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria;">If you want to know more or join us, please call me at
704-456-8771 or email me at: </span></b><strong><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="mailto:jim@goproclaim.com">jim@goproclaim.com</a></span></strong><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria;"> or</span></b><strong><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
<a href="mailto:biblefood@gmail.com">biblefood@gmail.com</a></span></strong><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria;">Lord bless you all as you seek to serve God for His glory alone
:-)<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #001d3a; font-family: Cambria;">Jim</span></b><br />
<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeeQzzBuo8SubNHBfpAaJTZ4SXSPZhdgSoxX2gQwPjj3NAMCMyeW1YoS4KBDV5SGCV1wpAic7EbD_crBSu1ZUDEA9TsVzFLFhaYTGVzpdrvApJoKl4lhQ6V9xz4VNgaSh-AJm/s320/2tim3_16.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 108px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1792px;" width="96" />BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-7629854326465532862012-09-29T17:57:00.001-05:002012-09-29T18:05:04.441-05:00Spiritual leprosy of all sinners!<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My apologies for not keeping current on these devotions, </i></span></span></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I have other blogs, and also tweet some inspirational and life stuff. </i></span></span></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My <u><b>other blog</b></u> you may be interested in is: <a href="http://blessedtobeachristian.wordpress.com/"><b>http://blessedtobeachristian.wordpress.com</b></a></i></span></span></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">and my <u><b>BibleFood tweets</b></u> are found at:</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/jimmazzulla"><span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">https://twitter.com/jimmazzulla</span></span></span></span></span></i></span></a></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">This blog will continue too - :-) </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Today's devotion is written by Charles H. Spurgeon in the 1800's.<br />It is taken from "The Morning and Evening Devotional" </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/morneve.toc.html">http://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/morneve.toc.html</a> </span></span></span></span></span></i></span></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">(Entire year of devotions is online for morning and evening of every day - FREE)</span> </span></span></span></span></i></span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WcYrFbUpkmiMjd8-AxR8u2_dFlrzVlUchCqPcqzY6ZfmSMfPe6sLheaW4hvf75BJV1UmrWuLOefQZcRIdaB9ViDaP_aXet5Ai8m6VilPMOpK6J6IyKuefJDImE-KP9EsbRXR/s1600/leprosy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WcYrFbUpkmiMjd8-AxR8u2_dFlrzVlUchCqPcqzY6ZfmSMfPe6sLheaW4hvf75BJV1UmrWuLOefQZcRIdaB9ViDaP_aXet5Ai8m6VilPMOpK6J6IyKuefJDImE-KP9EsbRXR/s200/leprosy.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span></i></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Spiritual Leprosy of All Sinners! </span></span></i></span></h2>
<h2 class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span></i></span></h2>
<div class="passage" id="d0929am-p2" style="background-color: #efefef; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><i>“Behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, </i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="color: #660000;"><i>he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague". Leviticus 13:13</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Strange enough this regulation appears, yet there was wisdom in it, for the throwing out of the disease proved that the constitution was sound. This morning [today] it may be well for us to see the typical teaching of so singular a rule. We, too, are lepers, and may read the law of the leper as applicable to ourselves. When a man sees himself to be altogether lost and ruined, covered all over with the defilement of sin, and no part free from pollution; when he disclaims all righteousness of his own, and pleads guilty before the Lord, then is he clean through the blood of Jesus, and the grace of God. Hidden, unfelt, unconfessed iniquity is the true leprosy, but when sin is seen and felt it has received its death blow, and the Lord looks with eyes of mercy upon the soul afflicted with it. <u>Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness, or more hopeful than contrition</u>. We must confess that we are “nothing else but sin,” for no confession short of this will be the whole truth, and if the Holy Spirit be at work with us, convincing us of sin, there will be no difficulty about making such an acknowledgment—it will spring spontaneously from our lips. What comfort does the text afford to those under a deep sense of sin! <u>Sin mourned and confessed, however black and foul, shall never shut a man out from the Lord Jesus. Whosoever cometh unto him, he will in no wise cast out</u>. Though dishonest as the thief, though unchaste as the woman who was a sinner, though fierce as Saul of Tarsus, though cruel as Manasseh, though rebellious as the prodigal, the great heart of love will look upon the man who feels himself to have no soundness in him, and will pronounce him clean, when he trusts in Jesus crucified. <u>Come to him, then, poor heavy-laden sinner</u>, </span></h3>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>Come needy, come guilty, come loathsome and bare;</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><i>You can't come too filthy—come just as you are.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><i><span style="color: #20124d;">My email: <span style="color: #073763;">Jim (</span></span><a href="mailto:biblefood@gmail.com">biblefood@gmail.com</a><span style="color: #073763;">)</span><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">Website:</span> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=30099226"></a><a href="http://www.biblefood.org/">http://www.biblefood.org/</a> </i></span></div>
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BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-66765268904063875392012-07-11T20:38:00.002-05:002012-07-11T20:38:33.117-05:00Book Review: "90 Days of God's Goodness"<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><strong>Periodically I
review a books for </strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><strong>WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000066;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><strong>This is my latest book review - I hope you find this helpful.</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000066;"></span>When I received Randy
Alcorn's book "90 Days of God's Goodness," I really wasn't sure what
I would think of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The subject sounded
great, but you can't always judge a book by its title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up to that point, I had only heard of Randy
Alcorn, I had never read any of his writings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I cautiously opened this book (as I do with most books), I found it
was well written, theologically sound, and so full of nuggets of truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author also shares many personal
experiences of Biblical truths as they applied to his life and also the lives
of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find that reading one
"reflection" a day was sometimes not possible for me, I wanted to
read more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<strong>This book gets <span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"5
stars"</span> from me, and I feel it would benefit anyone who reads it.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">~I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: #000066; font-family: Verdana;">I also rate and review books from my personal library</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: #000066; font-family: Verdana;">Here they are:</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-style: italic;">Jim's bookshelf: read</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7497897-radical" style="float: left; padding: 2px;" title="Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream"><img alt="Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream" border="0" height="70" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333580811s/7497897.jpg" width="50" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/347656.Don_t_Waste_Your_Life" style="float: left; padding: 2px;" title="Don't Waste Your Life"><img alt="Don't Waste Your Life" border="0" height="70" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173937894s/347656.jpg" width="50" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/260791.The_Pursuit_of_Holiness" style="float: left; padding: 2px;" title="The Pursuit of Holiness"><img alt="The Pursuit of Holiness" border="0" height="70" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328747939s/260791.jpg" width="50" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255458.Systematic_Theology" style="float: left; padding: 2px;" title="Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine"><img alt="Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine" border="0" height="70" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328224325s/255458.jpg" width="50" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/556629.The_Holiness_of_God" style="float: left; padding: 2px;" title="The Holiness of God"><img alt="The Holiness of God" border="0" height="70" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175783071s/556629.jpg" width="50" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123074.Evangelism_the_Sovereignty_of_God" style="float: left; padding: 2px;" title="Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God"><img alt="Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God" border="0" height="70" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171847995s/123074.jpg" width="50" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9797556-jim" style="color: #aaaaaa; font-size: 0.9em;">More of Jim's books »</a>
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<br /></div>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-59572345051310549672012-06-19T22:36:00.001-05:002012-06-19T23:13:12.735-05:00Stand For the TRUTH<content:encoded><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Be on the <u>alert</u>, <u>stand firm in the faith</u>, act like men [don't be cowards], <u>be strong</u>. - I Cor. 16:13</span></b></span></content:encoded><br />
<content:encoded><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></span></content:encoded><br />
<content:encoded><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Now I would remind you, brothers, of <u>the gospel </u>I preached to you, which you received,<u> in which you stand</u>... - I Cor. 15:1</b></span></span></content:encoded><br />
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<content:encoded>In the last few days I have had the <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">privilege </span></strong>of getting to know a little bit better the stand two Christians are taking for Christ and for the truth’s presented in the Bible, and also over the past few months I have had discussions with many who have made a stand for truth as presented in the Bible. </content:encoded><br />
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The one Christian, <a href="http://http//faithhopeandpolitics.com/">Madeleine McAulay </a>who I learned of (this week) took a firm, but loving standing for moral truth. This is not always easy in a world that is digressing more and more with time, calling evil good and good evil. (<span style="background-color: #f9fdff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! - Isa 5:20</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">). You stand for the truth get ready to be considered a hate-monger, etc. Now that’s one situation in the World.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #575757;"><span style="color: black;">At same time as this God honoring stand was going on,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> there was the pastor <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>full of hate</strong></span> for those in the world</span><span style="color: #575757;">.</span><br />
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He is such a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">false example.</span></div>
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Whereas, most Christians have compassion for those who have bought in to lies about morals, life, etc.<br />
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">We should wish no evil upon them, but speak the truth in love</span></strong>.<br />
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The second Christian, <a href="http://www.yasmeensuri.com/">Yasmeen Suri</a>, this week (who I was blessed to chat with) has also taking a stand against those who are living, experiencing, teaching error in the supposed Church leadership in our nation. Her is a woman who has had her eyes open to many false beliefs and teaching among Christian leaders (<span style="color: #840000;"><strong>sadly so-called</strong></span>). Her stand may cost her in some ways, but I believe God will reward her stand.<br />
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<span style="display: block; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="display: block; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GJ0jrdomA_U" style="background-color: white;" width="420"></iframe><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="display: block; text-align: center;"><i>Part One</i></span><span style="display: block; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="display: block; text-align: center;"><br /></span> <span style="display: block; text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8FAleNpxlxs" width="420"></iframe> </span><span style="display: block; text-align: center;"> <i>Part Two</i></span><span style="display: block; text-align: center;"><br /></span> So let’s look at ourselves are we standing for truth! If not why not. <strong>We may vary on beliefs in some areas but let’s not fall hook, line, and sinker for the many lies being perpetrated as truth.</strong> I am not even talking what I consider minor differences between denominations, but major truths that really can’t be taking in all but one way. As they are no where representative of the God of Christianity.<br />
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Again examine your beliefs based of the Word of God (BIBLE) and keep to your biblical convicts.<br />
Step forward Christians in the boldness and compassion of Christ.<br />
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I’m proud of both, and hope I would have the same boldness and compassion to speak for the truth.<br />
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Two things stick out to me. First, doing this in boldness for the Lord and secondly with compassion for those on the other side of truth.<br />
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<b>They (boldness/compassion) work great together. Amen!</b><br />
<br />BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-69058141465276303722012-04-21T11:49:00.001-05:002012-04-21T11:49:44.507-05:00Who's in Charge Here?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="line-height: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who's in Charge Here?</span></strong><strong style="line-height: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong></strong>We hear a lot about the sovereignty of God and the <u><i>doctrinal debates and heated discussions that follow</i></u>. So I was a little reluctant to share on this subject.
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<span style="font-size: small;">So I'll give a little introduction to why this subject has come to mean so much to me.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">My story: I was brought up believing we "control" our destiny and sometime the devil does, and sometimes God does. But God only controls our destiny when we don't let the devil or self in. So basically, God is in control in a very limited way. In 1988 it all came to a head when my world went into a whirlwind of stuff. I was convinced the devil and I had so messed up things that God couldn't fix the mess. Then in 1992 I heard a message of a cassette tape by a minister, that started to open my eyes just a little bit about our sovereign God. Then, I really started to see and understand our God is sovereign in 2002/2003 AND am still growing in that understanding. But atleast I can now answer the question: </span>Who's in Charge Here</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"> <u>with my Almighty and Sovereign God</u>.</span></i>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am not a know it all, but I do hope that some of what follows from the scriptures will minister hope, peace, and a belief in a God who is bigger and watch's over ALL your circumstances. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">For the sake of devaluing my thoughts and exalting the Bible I have put in smaller font my "commentary". So that if you are having a hard time with "me" then atleast read the scriptures put in </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">red </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">for ease in reading.
I'm always here for God's body and to Glorify God in all I say and do!
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<span style="font-size: small;">Today, we will <strong>lightly </strong>cover that exact subject, as it is quite vast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The </span><em>Sovereignty of God</em><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is the biblical teaching that </span><strong>all things are under </strong><strong>God's rule </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>and contro</strong>l, and that nothing happens without His direction or permission.</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;">God’s Tapestry</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;"><em></em></span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;">God weaves the strands of life</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;"><i>Into a perfect tapestry. </i></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;"><i>And though His plans for us </i></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;"><i>May sometimes seem a mystery. </i></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;"><i>If we but trust Him, </i></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;"><i>Even when we do not understand, </i></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;"><i>Our lives can be great works of art, </i></span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;">designed by His own hand…</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;"><em></em></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: small;"><strong><em>by Emily Matthews</em></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong> </strong><strong> </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Sometimes we are exhorted to try to make our own way through life. </em><em>This is an </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>unbiblical </em><em>idea. It is the Lord who orders our steps. He is weaving </em><em>together a beautiful </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>tapestry in </em><em>our lives and in this world. This tapestry is </em><em>to be a display of His glory. </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>If I </em></span><em style="font-size: small;">try to weave it </em><em style="font-size: small;">myself, it would turn out to </em><em style="font-size: small;">be rather ugly. God is the Weaver.</em></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">How far does God's authority really extend? Is He sovereign over everything or just some things? Is He intimately involved in the details or just the general plan? And if He's not in charge, then who is?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><i>Three Options: Yes, there are actually only three options to choose from:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">1. </span>Chance<span style="font-weight: normal;"> - There is no God. Everything that happens is unplanned and accidental.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">2.</span> Dualism<span style="font-weight: normal;"> - Authority is shared between two (or more) gods who are at cross</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><i>purposes with one another.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">3. </span>God controls <span style="font-weight: normal;">and has authority over everything.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><i>Let's look at this not from an emotional standpoint, but based on what the Bible says:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i>1. The LORD is Intimately Involved with All Things:</i></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i>He determines the roll of the dice -- </i></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><strong>The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. - </strong><strong>Proverbs 16:33</strong></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><strong><br /></strong></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><strong></strong></i></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Not one sparrow alights upon the ground apart from God's direction -- </i></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><strong>Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. - </strong><strong>Matthew 10:29</strong></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><strong></strong></i></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i>God directs through the decisions of government leaders -- </i></span></strong><i style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><strong>The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. - </strong><strong>Proverbs 21:1</strong></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i>God causes affluence and creates calamity -- </i></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><strong>I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. </strong></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><strong>I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, </strong></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><strong>I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. - </strong><strong>Isaiah 45:5-7 </strong></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><strong></strong></i></span></div>
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<i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><strong><br /></strong></i><br />
<i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>The LORD has a plan and </strong><strong>works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will</strong></span><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"> Ephesians 1:11</span> </strong></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><strong></strong></i></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Therefore, no plan of man can succeed against the LORD -- </i></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><strong>There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. - </strong><strong>Proverbs 21:30</strong></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i>2. The LORD Directs the Decisions and Destinies of Men and Women\</i></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><strong><span style="font-size: small;">A man's mind may plan his way, but the LORD is the one who determines his steps - </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Proverbs 16:9</span></strong></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><strong></strong></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><i><strong>No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. </strong><strong> -- </strong></i></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Psalm 75:6-7</span> </i></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"><strong></strong></span></em></div>
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<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><em><strong>My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. -- </strong></em></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Psalm 1</i></span></strong><i style="font-size: medium;"><strong>39:15-16 </strong></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">3. The Scriptures Are Not Afraid to Confirm t</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>hat Even the Actions of </strong><strong>the</strong><strong> Wicked are</strong></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: small;"> Ultimately Under God's Control:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><em><strong>The LORD works out everything for His own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster</strong></em><strong> (Proverbs 16:4).</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The evil actions of Joseph's brothers were ordained by God to accomplish His purposes.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><em><strong>Joseph said to his brothers, <span style="color: #cc0000;">"But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance."</span></strong></em><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong> </strong><strong> -- Genesis 45:7</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><em><strong>You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. - </strong></em><strong>Genesis 50:20 </strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The decisions of Herod, Pilate, Caiaphas, and others to destroy Jesus were part of the plan of God </span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><em><strong>Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. </strong></em><strong>-- Acts 4:27-28 </strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Even Satan works under God's control and unwittingly accomplishes God's purposes. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">Compare 1 Chronicles 21:1 with 2 Samuel 24:1. See also Job 1:20-22; 2:10; 42:11.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Summary:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">The biblical view of man -- indeed, of the whole universe -- pictures a God who has made men in His image and the world to reflect His goodness. It reveals Him busily involved in all the processes of nature and society, upholding the universe by the word of His power, working all things according to the counsel of His will and for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. He is shown to be the God who "doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">While God certainly does use<i> <u>secondary causes</u></i> -- like genes, the environment, and all the other "impersonal" forces -- at bottom, He is at work in them all, accomplishing His good purposes to glorify Himself by the manifestation of His mercy and His justice. The whole universe is personally attended to by the living God; and men.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">What a far cry from the picture of an impersonal, uncaring, even savage universe that is painted for us by the best minds of evolutionary science. </span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">This is not an impersonal cosmos, and the people with whom we share it are not simply the products of chance, time, and impersonal material particles and processes. </span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">And we must give more acknowledgment and thanksgiving to God who visits His creation for the purposes of His glory than this sad generation has been willing to give.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">THE BIG QUESTION: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">What Difference Does It Make to Believe That the LORD is Sovereign and thus in Control of All Things?</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">It challenges our small-minded images and concepts of God. -- We live in an age when the world and many churches are willing to acknowledge the existence of a god. But the god that is acknowledged by the world and preached about in many churches is not the powerful, sovereign, all-ordaining LORD of the Scriptures. This modern version of deity is an emasculated caricature of the God of the Bible. He is a buddy who we can use in times of trouble, but don't need to bother about when things are going good. Or He is the "good" god who fights against Satan, sickness, and weak finances when <em>we</em> give Him permission (-- this is just another form of dualism).<div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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The true God that we see in the Bible is <span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.</em> (1 Timothy 6:15-16).</span><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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We need to get our view of God up to Biblical standards</u>, no matter how difficult it may be to reconcile man's freewill, the problem of evil, and God's sovereignty. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">These questions have Biblical answers, but we will only understand them when we are willing to believe what the Bible says about the LORD. The Bible affirms a completely sovereign God who is involved <em>at some level</em> in every action, every event, and every decision ever made throughout all eternity.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We realize our absolute dependence upon God for any blessing, any mercy, or any goodness. </span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">My times are in your hand (Psalm 31:15). </span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">We are completely dependent upon God for anything good that happens to us. People who have a proper view of God have a deeper trust in God, are more humble, and are less fretful during times of trouble.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><u>We find a greater security in the Christian life when we accept that less depends on us and more depends on God</u>. The God we read about in the Bible is not only willing, but able to keep us -- <span style="color: #cc0000;">Jude 1:24 <em>To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.</em></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em></em>John 6:39 <em>Jesus said, "And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I WILL raise him up at the last day."</em></span><em><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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</em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Romans 8:38-39 <em>For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</em></span><em><div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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</em>Nothing good, bad, or evil will happen to me without first passing through my Heavenly Father's hands, so I know that <span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>all things do work together for the good</em> for me (Romans 8:28)</span>.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">God's </span></span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">plan</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"> for your life</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 16px;">far exceed</span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">the circumstances </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">of the day.</span></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">n closing, my prayer is NOT that this devotion/teaching will cause any conflict in the hearts of saved man, but that we will truly see who's in charge and accept His working in our lives, EVEN when it doesn't all make sense now, as someday it will (most likely when we see Him face to face in Eternity).</span></strong><br />
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To contact me<br />
Email: Jim (<a href="mailto:biblefood@gmail.com">biblefood@gmail.com</a>)</div>
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Website: <a href="http://www.biblefood.org/">http://www.biblefood.org/</a></div>
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</h1>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-76332589036886920312012-04-07T13:11:00.000-05:002012-04-07T13:11:51.288-05:00Devotion: "Liar? Lunatic? or LORD?"<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;"><b>Devotion: "Liar, Lunatic, or LORD" </b>by Josh McDowell</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Jesus' distinct claims of being God eliminate the popular ploy of skeptics who regard Him as just a good moral man or a prophet who said a lot of profound things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">So often that conclusion is passed off as the only one acceptable to scholars or as the obvious result of the intellectual process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">The trouble is, many people nod their heads in
agreement and never see the fallacy of such reasoning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Analyzing Jesus' Claim
To Be God</span></strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">C. S. Lewis, who was a professor at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cambridge</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> and once an agnostic,
understood this issue clearly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">He writes: "I am trying here to prevent
anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm
ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to
be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and
said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would
either be a lunatic -‑ on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg ‑-
or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this
man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Then Lewis adds: "You can shut Him up for
a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His
feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing
nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to
us. He did not intend to."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">In the words of Kenneth Scott Latourette,
historian of Christianity at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Yale</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>: "It is
not His teachings which make Jesus so remarkable, although these would be
enough to give Him distinction. It is a combination of the teachings with the
man Himself. The two cannot be separated."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Jesus claimed to be God. He didn't leave any
other option open. His claim must be either true or false, so it is something
that should be given serious consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Jesus' question to His disciples, "But
who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15) has several alternatives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">First, suppose that His claim to be God was
false. If it was false, then we have only two alternatives. He either knew
it was false or He didn't know it was false.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">We will consider each one separately and
examine the evidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.5pt;">Was
He a Liar?<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">If, when Jesus made His claims, He knew that
He was not God, then He was lying and deliberately deceiving His followers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">But if He was a liar, then He was also
a hypocrite because He told others to be honest, whatever the cost, while
He himself taught and lived a colossal lie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">More than that, He was a demon, because He
told others to trust Him for their eternal destiny. If He couldn't back up His
claims and knew it, then He was unspeakably evil. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Last, He would also be a fool because it was
His claims to being God that led to His crucifixion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Many will say that Jesus was a good moral
teacher. Let's be realistic. How could He be a great moral teacher and
knowingly mislead people at the most important point of His teaching ‑- His own
identity? You would have to conclude logically that He was a deliberate liar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">This view of Jesus, however doesn't coincide
with what we know either of Him or the results of His life and teachings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Wherever Jesus has been proclaimed, lives have
been changed for the good, nations have changed for the better, thieves are
made honest, alcoholics are cured, hateful individuals become channels of love,
unjust persons become just.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">William Lecky, one of Great Britain's most
noted historians and a dedicated opponent of organized Christianity, writes:
"It was reserved for Christianity to present to the world an ideal
character which through all the changes of 18 centuries has inspired the hearts
of men with an impassioned love; has shown itself capable of acting on all
ages, nations, temperaments and conditions; has been not only the highest
pattern of virtue, but the strongest incentive to its practice.... The simple
record of these 3 short years of active life has done more to regenerate and
soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophers and all the
exhortations of moralists."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Historian Philip Schaff says: "How, in
the name of logic, common sense, and experience, could an imposter -‑ that is a
deceitful, selfish, depraved man -‑ have invented, and consistently maintained
from the beginning to end, the purest and noblest character known in history
with the most perfect air of truth and reality? How could He have conceived and
successfully carried out a plan of unparalleled beneficence, moral magnitude,
and sublimity, and sacrificed His own life for it, in the face of the strongest
prejudices of His people and age?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">If Jesus wanted to get people to follow Him
and believe in Him as God, why did He go to the Jewish nation? Why go as a
Nazarene carpenter to a country so small in size and population and so
thoroughly adhering to the undivided unity of God? Why didn't He go to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> or, even more, to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Greece</st1:place></st1:country-region>, where
they believed in various gods and various manifestations of them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Someone who lived as Jesus lived, taught as
Jesus taught, and died as Jesus died could not have been a liar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.5pt;">Was
He a Lunatic?<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">If it is inconceivable for Jesus to be a liar,
then couldn't He actually have thought Himself to be God, but been mistaken?
After all, it's possible to be both sincere and wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">But we must remember that for someone to think
himself God, especially in a fiercely monotheistic culture, and then to tell
others that their eternal destiny depended on believing in him, is no light
flight of fantasy but the thoughts of a lunatic in the fullest sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Was Jesus Christ such a person?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Someone who believes he is God sounds like
someone today believing himself Napoleon. He would be deluded and self‑deceived,
and probably he would be locked up so he wouldn't hurt himself or anyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Yet in Jesus we don't observe the
abnormalities and imbalance that usually go along with being deranged. His
poise and composure would certainly be amazing if He were insane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Noyes and Kolb, in a medical text, describe
the schizophrenic as a person who is more autistic than realistic. The
schizophrenic desires to escape from the world of reality. Let's face it;
claiming to be God would certainly be a retreat from reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">In light of the other things we know about
Jesus, it's hard to imagine that He was mentally disturbed. Here is a man who
spoke some of the most profound sayings ever recorded. His instructions have
liberated many individuals from mental bondage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Clark H. Pinnock asks: "Was He deluded
about His greatness, a paranoid, an unintentional deceiver, a schizophrenic?
Again, the skill and depth of His teachings support the case only for His total
mental soundness. If only we were as sane as He!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">A student at a <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state> university told me that his
psychology professor had said in class that "all he has to do is pick up
the Bible and read portions of Christ's teaching to many of his patients.
That's all the counseling they need."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Psychiatrist J. T. Fisher states: "If you
were to take the sum total of all authoritative articles ever written by the
most qualified of psychologists and psychiatrists on the subject of mental
hygiene ‑- if you were to combine them and refine them, and cleave out the
excess verbiage -‑ if you were to take the whole of the meat and none of the
parsley, and if you were to have these unadulterated bits of pure scientific
knowledge concisely expressed by the most capable of living poets, you would
have an awkward and incomplete summation of the Sermon on the Mount. And it
would suffer immeasurably through comparison. For nearly 2,000 years the
Christian world has been holding in its hands the complete answer to its
restless and fruitless yearnings. Here ... rests the blueprint for successful human
life with optimism, mental health, and contentment."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">C. S. Lewis writes: "The historical
difficulty of giving for the life, sayings and influence of Jesus any
explanation that is not harder than the Christian explanation is very great.
The discrepancy between the depth and sanity...of His moral teaching and the
rampant megalomania which must lie behind His theological teaching unless He is
indeed God has never been satisfactorily explained. Hence the non‑Christian
hypotheses succeed one another with the restless fertility of
bewilderment."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Philip Schaff reasons: "Is such an
intellect ‑- clear as the sky, bracing as the mountain air, sharp and
penetrating as a sword, thoroughly healthy and vigorous, always ready and
always self‑possessed -‑ liable to a radical and most serious delusion
concerning His own character and mission? Preposterous imagination!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14.5pt;">Was
He Lord?<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">I cannot personally conclude that Jesus was a
liar or a lunatic. The only other alternative is that He was the Christ, the
Son of God, as He claimed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">When I discuss this with most Jewish people,
it's interesting how they respond. They usually tell me that Jesus was a moral,
upright, religious leader, a good man, or some kind of prophet. I then share
with them the claims Jesus made about Himself and then this material on the
trilemma (liar, lunatic, or Lord).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">When I ask if they believe Jesus was a liar,
there is a sharp "No!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Then I ask, "Do you believe He was a
lunatic?" The reply is, "Of course not."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">"Do you believe He is God?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Before I can get a breath in edgewise, there
is a resounding, "Absolutely not."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Yet one has only so many choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">The issue with these 3 alternatives is not
which is possible, for it is obvious that all 3 are possible. Rather, the
question is, "Which is more probable?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">Who you decide Jesus Christ is must not be an
idle intellectual exercise. You cannot put Him on the shelf as a great moral
teacher. That is not a valid option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">He is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord and
God. You must make a choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">"But," as the apostle John wrote,
"these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and" ‑- more important ‑- "that believing you might
have life in His name" (John 20:31).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13pt;">The evidence is clearly in favor of Jesus as
Lord. Some people, however, reject this clear evidence because of moral
implications involved. They don't want to face up to the responsibility or
implications of calling Him Lord.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #660000;">Note: This devotion is not original with me, I found it at:</span> </span><a href="http://www.ccci.org/">http://www.ccci.org</a><br />
<br />
I look forward to bringing and writing many devotions in the future.<br />
<br />
In His Service,<br />
Jim<br />
Email: biblefood@gmail.com<br />
Website: www.biblefood.org<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-67627966927396025842012-02-10T14:46:00.002-05:002012-02-10T14:46:46.628-05:00Devotion: "Why Did This Happen, God?"<strong>"Why Did This Happen, God?"</strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">" For now I see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know </span><span style="color: #990000;">in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known". - I Cor. 13:12</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I see through a glass, darkly/dimly (based on I Cor. 13:12)</td></tr>
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<u>We often find there are things in life that happen which we JUST don't understand</u>. I have had my share of circumstances where I could question God on things that have happened in my life or around me. I could say, <strong>"Why did this happen, God?"</strong> With all my studying of the scriptures and what I believe the Bible teaches, I still have times where things that have happened just don't make sense; deaths, illnesses, accidents, relationship breakdowns, and the list goes on. We believe we know why some of these happen, but there are other areas where we just draw a blank. No matter how diligently we study the Word and seek God for answers, we often come up blank or assume the WORST, that God has failed us. </div>
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A close friend and I were discussing this issue. We began discussing "Christians" who have fallen away from the LORD; and in many cases, there is some ANGER and BITTERNESS with God over things that have happened in their lives or around them.<br />
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Without getting into ALL the theological debates of our often futile attempts to explain these things, I would like to personally share how I have dealt with these "Why, God?" areas in my own life. I feel this will HELP and ENCOURAGE some of you, and prayerfully, BRING SOME OF YOU OUT OF A BACKSLIDDEN STATE. </div>
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<u>How I have dealt with this is so basic and practical, yet it has helped me stay in love with my LORD; therefore, I ask you to NOT take my answer too lightly</u>. In spite of my knowledge of the Word of God and thinking I know what the Bible answer is for a given situation,<strong> I have learned to acknowledge that God is all-knowing and JIM is not.</strong> I see through a spiritual glass or mirror (Thank God, I see!), but ever so darkly, dimly. Now, in ALL my knowing, I ONLY know in PART a fragment of the Truth. But, Praise God, the day is coming when I will get to the other side and I will see clearly, knowing even as I am known! <span style="color: #cc0000;">(I Cor. 13:12)</span></div>
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I exhort you today, do not get angry or bitter with God concerning things that happen in your life or around you; even if, because of your theological beliefs, you're convinced that you are SO RIGHT and God is so wrong. <u>Let me submit for your consideration that your THEOLOGY IS WRONG if it justifies your anger or bitterness with God</u>. <strong>It may not be until you get to the other side that you will fully understand how or why something has happened.</strong> But when that day comes, whether in this lifetime or on the other side, you will surely see that God was ALWAYS just. All things will then make sense and you will see that all anger and bitterness toward God was unfounded. You will then wonder how you could have been so foolish or blind as to think that being angry or bitter with God was appropriate. </div>
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So, if you have any area in your life (and I have many) that just makes no sense, a "Why, God?" area, please leave it alone. <u>God in His time will give you the answer even if it is on the other side after your life on earth ends</u>. </div>
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Do not let the incomprehensible get in the way of your love walk with Jesus!</div>
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If this lesson spoke to you, you may want to pray this prayer:</div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">Heavenly Father,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">There are things that have happened in my life, around me, and in this world that have made me angry or bitter with You. I ask You to forgive me for the anger or bitterness. I ask You to help me trust You enough to leave the incomprehensible happenings alone and for You to answer in Your time, even if that time is after I leave this world to be with you in Eternity. Let me ever remember that I see everything dimly and that I know only in part. Thank You, that someday all of this will make sense and I will see that You, never for a moment, stopped being a loving God.</span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;">In Jesus' Name, Amen!</span><br />
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My email: Jim (<a href="mailto:biblefood@gmail.com">biblefood@gmail.com</a>)<br />Website: <a href="http://www.biblefood.org/">http://www.biblefood.org/</a>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-70148751614485637742011-11-29T17:49:00.001-05:002011-11-29T19:28:17.774-05:00"Torn – Trusting God When Life Leaves You in Pieces" (BOOK REVIEW)<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>Join for free to get notified of new devotions</strong></span> <br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today's Review</span> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I was given this book to <u>read and review</u>. Periodically I will do a book review for Multnomah Books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Here's my review</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I admittedly went into reading this book cautiously because I wasn't familiar with the author and wasn't thrilled with some people who had endorsed this book. However, the subject matter got my attention, <b>"Torn – Trusting God When Life Leaves You in Pieces."</b> <u>This is something I could relate to</u>. <b>As I read this book, you see that the subject matter is primarily the sovereignty of God in suffering. </b> While the book starts with the "Why God?" question, it does a good job of getting us off the "why" question and onto "who" - who will you trust during trials and suffering? Basically, he really never answered the "why question," but the way in which he didn't answer it is, in my opinion, the right way. I agree with him not getting caught up in the "why, why, why?" question and moving on to who are you going to trust through this trial? I have seen many try to answer the "why question" and were unable to do so to my satisfaction or anyone else's. It's the WRONG question to be asking! The author then goes on to, "who are you going to trust" and "how are you going to trust him?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This book is pretty basic on the subject of suffering, but it does a good job overall. <u>I think this book would benefit many new Christians who think that now that they are following Jesus, they will never have another problem again – Wrong! Wrong! Wrong</u>! I am so appreciative of this subject being properly dealt with where anyone reading it can understand it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">While this book uses a lot of scriptures (well over 100), most of them are not directly shown in the text or in a footnote. So, I found myself turning to the notes in the back of the book constantly. I much more prefer the text being right there in the chapter or at least footnoted on the bottom of the page. Also, some of the passages need a little closer examination from the context of what was written. He also seems to try to sound "cool" by referencing secular material, movies, etc. Being cool in my eyes or more importantly the Lord's this is not necessary, but it may go along with the fact that the author is pastor of a mega-church in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Las Vegas</place></city> - just my observation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">My overall rating for this book is so-so. For the new believer or someone taught (erroneously) that we are not to suffer as Christians, I would give this 4-5 stars. For anyone who has been in the Bible (rightly dividing the word of God) for any length of time, this book has little to offer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><u>I have no doubt this book will minister to some, and to that end I pray the Lord uses it</u></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>NOTE</b>: I have not stopped writing devotions on Galatians or other subjects. It just takes time, so as we move in and then pass the holidays I hope to send out more devotions and spiritual nuggets of truth from the Bible and men of God.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">In His Service,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Jim</span>BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30099226.post-85054359460576993002011-11-10T14:59:00.001-05:002011-11-10T19:56:33.374-05:00Devotion: Preparation is VitalToday's devotional nugget:<br />
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I read this today and just felt it was too good to keep to myself so I'm sharing it with you all :-) - Jim<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David kills the lion</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">"Preparation is Vital"</span></strong> by A.W. Tozer </div>
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<em><span style="color: #660000;">Moreover David said, "The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." --1 Samuel 17:37</span></em><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David kills the bear</td></tr>
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The whole Bible and all past history unite to teach that battles are always won before the armies take the field. The critical moment for any army is not the day it engages the foe in actual combat; it is the day before or the month before or the year before....</div>
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<strong>Preparation is vital</strong>. The rule is, prepare or fail. Luck and bluster will do for a while, but the law will catch up with us sooner or later, usually sooner.... </div>
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It did not take Moses long to lead the children of Israel out through the Red Sea to deliverance and freedom; but his fittedness to lead them out was the result of years of hard discipline. <u>It took David only a few minutes to dispose of Goliath; but he had beaten the giant long before in the person of the lion and the bear</u>....</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David kills Goliath</td></tr>
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<strong>Preparation is vital</strong>. Let this be noted by everyone. We can seek God today and get prepared to meet temptation tomorrow; but <u>if we meet the enemy <strong>without first having met God</strong>, the outcome is not conjectural; the issue is already decided. We can only lose</u>.BibleFood Devotional Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05019210071302876304noreply@blogger.com0