John

The Humdrum Of Life – Ecclesiastes 1

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Ecclesiastes 1

Imagine being the greatest and richest king of all time. Everything you wanted to see, do, or own was yours for the taking. This was the life of Solomon. He had the world at his feet. He experienced everything life had to offer and denied himself nothing, “All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure” (vs. 2:10)

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Loving One Another – John 13

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John 13

When you think of Jesus what’s the first thing that pops into your head? For me it’s His love. A love so strong, Jesus laid down His life to call me His own. And I in return love Him. But that isn’t enough. Because Jesus wants more than my love. He wants me to love others with the same passion that I reserve for Him alone. …

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March 1st – 1 John 5:14-16

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1 John 5:14-16

The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that there is a great spiritual war waging all around us. As such, we are commanded to be warriors in God’s army. Soldiers armed against the Enemy’s attacks, and at the ready with our spiritual weapons. And some of the greatest ammunition we have is prayer. Prayer is an unbreakable bond between us and God. And a great privilege, for it allows us to get closer to our heavenly Father. There is no special formula, ritual, or words that have to be said. All God wants is for us to come to Him in complete and humble faith. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we have unlimited access to the Father and His throne. And He wants to hear from us! James 4:2 tells us we don’t have, because we don’t ask. So today I challenge you to ask! Go to God in prayer. Give to Him your heart and all it holds. And have unshakable faith that if it is His will, He will see it done!

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February 25th – Colossians 2:6-7

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Colossians 2:6-7

In Colossians the apostle Paul admonishes believers to walk in Christ just as they received Him. So what does that mean? It means that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. So to walk in Jesus means a continuous, daily walk in faith. Not an easy task. But not impossible when our foundation is built on the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus and the Word of God. And that foundation, whose roots of faith run deep in our hearts and minds, allows us to withstand any attack of the Enemy. When we invited Christ into our hearts, we began a wonderful, loving, relationship with our Heavenly Father. A relationship that grows and blooms only when we are walking in Jesus. And so with hearts overflowing with thankfulness, each day we should walk hand in hand with the One who loves us most!

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February 22nd – Luke 8:15

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Luke 8:15

What exactly is good soil in Jesus’ parable found in Luke? It is a heart that is open, honest, and humble. A heart that is genuinely and sincerely  searching for the truth and longing to abide in Christ. Would this describe your heart? This type of heart is the first prerequisite to growing and producing fruit in our faith. Because fruitfulness is the natural result of a heart that is surrendered to God. One that not only studies God’s Word, but is careful to obey it. (Ezra 7:10)

So what is the key to bearing godly fruit? Jesus explained it in John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Bearing fruit in the Christian life requires abiding in Jesus. He not only promises that those who abide will “bear fruit” (John. 15:2), but “bear much fruit” (v. 8), and “bear fruit…that will last.” (v.16). And don’t we all want that?

Each minute of each day we should walk a surrendered life. Inviting Jesus to come in and live His life through us in order for Him to love and serve others through you. And ultimately when that happens, not only will you be amazed at all HE can do through you, but Jesus will be glorified and you will be blessed!

Blessings!

Sue

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January 24th – John 14:27

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John 14:27

After suffering a childhood trauma, I was diagnosed with PTSD. And as a result, I know first hand the debilitating effects anxiety can have mentally and physically in a person’s life. Feelings of panic. Spiraling irrational thoughts. And paralyzing fear. I used to deal with the anxiety by hiding myself away from the world. The safe little bubble I created kept the anxiousness at bay. But that’s no way to live. Because God wants us to live full abundant lives. To experience the peace that Jesus died to give us.

I wish I could tell you there was a magic pill, a fool proof therapy, or a sure fire yoga pose to combat fear. But there’s not. Because what works for one may not work for the next. And even as a Christian, I fight the battle of anxiety every day. But I don’t fight it alone. This is a war I wage together with God. The moment I feel the fear start to creep in, I cry out to my Father, sharing with Him every thought and feeling. I visualize His hand firmly gripping mine. And I recite out loud Bible verses reminding me of the Lord’s promise of peace. A promise that tells me if my fears never come to pass, or if my greatest dread is realized, Jesus is there.

We can’t just wish our fears away. We need to act on God’s Word instead of reacting to the situation. Today I challenge you to dig deep in finding the root of your anxiety. Begin with your doctor. Make sure there isn’t an underlying physical issue causing your symptoms. Talk to your minister, rabbi, pastor or priest. Ask around for recommendations for a good counselor. Share your feelings and struggles with those around you. And above all else, turn to the Lord. He loves you and wants to see you living in His peace. A peace, that dries our tears, quiets our fears, rejoices during trials, and sings in suffering.

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December 26th – John 1:14

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John 1:14

As we celebrate the season, we give thanks to God for coming in the flesh through His precious Son, Jesus Christ. But after the presents are opened, the meal eaten, and friends and family go home, Christmas isn’t over. Christmas is every day when we follow the example of our Lord, and let the Word become flesh through us. For God gives each of us the same calling He gave to that small Babe lying in a manger. To lead the hurting, sick, and desperate back to Him. Our Father in heaven wants us to be living examples of the Word of God. To let our lights shine brightly, becoming beacons for the way, the truth, and the life. All for the “glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” So may we follow our Lord and Savior, and make Christmas a way of life, and not a story to be told once a year.

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November 27th – John 10:11

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John 10:11

The term “sheep” is the current insult of the day. It’s used to describe people who blindly follow the crowd without doing any critical thinking of their own. But for me, I see being called a sheep as a badge of honor. For I follow the Good Shepherd. And He will never lead me astray. It is said the reason people are followers, is because our hearts are created to long for connection. Connection with each other, but most importantly, connection with God. And as our Good Shepherd, the Lord cares about every member of His flock, and wants a close, intimate relationship with each of us. So much so, that He laid down His life to save ours. And so with a heart overflowing with thankfulness, I will gladly follow my Shepherd, Savior, and Friend. For from His great love, He will never abandon nor forsake me, His lowly sheep. And His path leads to an eternity of love, peace, and righteousness.

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What A Friend We Have In Jesus – Matthew 26

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Matthew 26

“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” This hymn by Joseph M. Scriven, is one of my absolute favorites. It always brings up wonderful memories of my Grandmother and her sisters gathered around the organ singing with glee. And it’s also the first thing that enters my mind when I read Matthew chapter 26. …

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October 30th – 1 John 3:18

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1 John 3:18

I’ve heard it said that words without action are like a heart without a beat; both are useless. The apostle John tells us that as God’s children, we need to be doers. Because for a Christian, the word love should be a verb, not a noun. It’s easy to use our mouths to proclaim our devotion, but it is our actions that truly show the state of our hearts. If our hearts are filled with God’s love for others, that love will be manifested into loving works, not empty words. For Jesus Himself actively put into practice the love He preached. Throughout His time on this earth, Christ healed, taught, fed, and comforted others in both “deed and truth.” And in the greatest example of all, He sacrificed Himself so that we could live eternal. So if we say we are His followers, it’s not enough to just feel love towards others. We are to act on that love, exampling the selfless, sacrificial, agape love, God shows to us.

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