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The Silence is Broken
Imagine how you’d feel if God stopped speaking to you. Absolute silence. Even as a dedicated follower. What if that silence lasted for a very long time? Would you start to think God had simply stopped working, that He was just idle? This is how the Jewish nation may have felt. After the prophet Malachi closed the Old Testament with his prophecy, God’s direct, prophetic voice fell silent for approximately 400 years. The next time a divine message would be given was to the priest Zechariah as he served in the Temple. Despite him and his wife, Elizabeth, being advanced in years and past the age of childbearing, God declared…
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Always in a Hurry
I recently wrote devotionals for encouraging.com. This week I am reposting, Always in a Hurry. Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 Scottish missionary Mary Slessor said, Christ was never in a hurry. There was no rushing forward, no anticipating, no fretting over what might be. Each day’s duties were done as each day brought them, and the rest was left with God. How…
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Repair Our Broken World
We often wonder what our purpose is in today’s world—and why Jesus doesn’t just return now to make all things new. As I finished Kristi McLelland’s Luke in the Land Bible study, she guided us into the book of Acts on the final day. Luke, who authored both the Gospel of Luke and Acts, originally wrote them as one continuous narrative. In Acts, we don’t simply see Jesus as resurrected and ascended—we see Him as having left instructions for His followers as they waited for His return. His resurrection wasn’t the conclusion of the story but the beginning—the launching point of the apostles’ mission, and the beginning of our mission,…
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Our Gifts, God’s Purpose, and the Echoes of Samson
What are your talents? Your spiritual gifts? Your unique abilities? How are you using them—and how often do you reflect on whether you’re using them to serve the Lord to the best of your ability? I’ve been asking myself the same question. While reading the story of Samson in Judges 13–16 this week, I was reminded of how God entrusts each of us with gifts for a purpose. Samson was given extraordinary strength and a calling to use that gift for God’s glory. Yet, he misused it. He revealed the secret of his strength to someone who betrayed him, and in that moment, the gift was lost. Like Samson, we…
- Spiritual Growth, Knowing God's Will, Leadership Lessons, Lessons, Struggle and Loss, Test, Trial, What I'm Reading
Step By Step
My D-Group is reading through the Bible chronologically and recently transitioned from the end of Genesis into Exodus. Each time I read through the Bible, I discover deeper truths. As I came to Exodus 1:8-10, I was reminded once again of God’s sovereignty as He works out His plan for the restoration of His people. “A new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and powerful than we are. Come, let’s deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply further, and when war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us,…
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No Disappointments
Theologian and hymn writer Frederick William Faber said, There are no disappointments to those whose will are buried in the will of God. How can that be true? Haven’t we all faced disappointments? We understand God is sovereign, and He decides the course of our lives. He is our ultimate authority, so he chooses what to give us and what to withhold. But does that mean we have to be happy with His choices? What about the alternative? We choose our will rather than God’s. Surely, we understand that it will not end well. We are not all-knowing and all-wise. He is. Isaiah 48:17 speaks of God’s guidance and care…
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Always In A Hurry!
Scottish missionary Mary Slessor said, “Christ was never in a hurry. There was no rushing forward, no anticipating, no fretting over what might be. Each day’s duties were done as each day brought them, and the rest was left with God.” How does that hit you? I remember reading this and thinking, why can’t I be like that? Truth: Jesus was unlike any other human since He was also God. But I think He was trying to teach us something. Before I retired, I recall that most days, I left the office thinking I should have gotten more done. Often, I took work home in those pre-remote work days! In…
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In The First Waking Moments
What happens when you first have an awareness of waking up in the morning? To where or what does your mind turn? A dream you just had? Your overfull to do list? Your cell phone? Your current crisis? Your commute in heavy traffic to work? Your health concern? I’d have to answer yes to all of these at one time or another. May I suggest another option? If we remember Who is in charge of our day, it might prompt us to turn our eyes upward and know Jesus cares about every single thing on our hearts and on our to do list. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Everything others see…
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Spiritual Game Changers Part 2
Two weeks ago I started this list with #1-5 in Spiritual Game Changers Part 1. Please scroll back to read that first if you missed it. Here are the last 5: What else would you add? A lifetime is not long enough to get to know the One Who knows us best and loves us most! Banner photo by Jose Castillo on Unsplash, inset photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
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Spiritual Game Changers Part 1
At this stage of life, and I have a lot of life behind me (although I’ll never get old!), I’ve looked back over my years and my walk with Jesus and thought about what has given me the ability to keep breathing when life is difficult. Especially if one difficulty leads to another and another. What is it that causes us to walk in faith throughout our lives? What keeps our focus on those things that will sustain us on into eternity? How do we allow God to use every circumstance in our life to draw us into a deeper walk of faith? Here in part 1 are the first…
