What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately LXXIX (79)…
Greetings My Friends~
As a simple pilgrim
following the Lord Jesus
through the rainforests and deserts of this earthly life,
I would like to humbly share
some of what God has been bubbling up in my mind/heart lately
through the Bible.
I pray that these thoughts are
cushions in your shoes,
balm to your burns,
umbrellas for the rain,
and shade to the scorching heat
as you too follow the Lord Jesus each day.
(please click on the Bible books/chapters/verses below
to read the actual Scripture passages)
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Difficulties
Lord Jesus, transform us
to not run from our trials
but to face them head on,
keeping our eyes focused on Your face
and the trial You faced on the cross… (Hebrews 12:1-3).
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Eat The Entire Bible
Some eat a part of food & throw the rest out:
bread heels,
sandwich crust,
apple core.
Oh the nutrition we lose!
May we not do that to God’s Word
but feast on every crumb of Scripture:
“Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God“–
Matthew 4:4
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Getting New Stuff Doesn’t Make Us New
As 2019 approaches, we don’t need what is new
to find rest for our souls.
We need Him Who is old: Jeremiah 6:16—
“This is what the Lord says:
‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths…”
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Maturity
Characteristics of maturity for Christian widows
from 1 Timothy 5:9-10):
- faithfulness to husband
- well known for good deeds, such as:
- 1. bringing up children
- 2. showing hospitality
- 3. washing the feet of (serving) Christians
- 4. helping those in trouble
- 5. devotion to all kinds of good deeds.
Oh Father transform us to be mature!!!
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Hope & Prayer, Peanut & Butter
One characteristic of putting all of our hope in God
is to continue night & day to pray to Him for help–1 Timothy 5:5.
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Like Dynamite, Handle With Care
To mishandle the Word of God
is to reject the Word of God–Jeremiah 8:8-9.
Father help us correctly handle Your Word of Truth!
2 Timothy 2:15
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Prayer
A. Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves
to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Prayer was one of the four basic food groups of the early Church…
Today at best it can be a seasonal addition to the menu
for a select group of Christians…
B.Maybe the reason we don’t pray earnestly for long periods of time
isn’t a lack of time in our schedule,
but a lack of faith in our Savior…Luke 18:1-8.
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Examples Of Wickedness
The wickedness of Judah was
unrepentance mixed with much
energy, busyness & determination
as they fulfilled their own dreams in their own ways:
“Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle”
(Jeremiah 8:6).
Much movement doesnt always mean much maturity.
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Examples Of Rebellion
The terrible combination of the rebellion of Judah:
1. Not obeying the LORD
2. Not responding [with repentance] to His correction
3. Not believing, seeking & speaking the Truth (Jeremiah 7:28).
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Worship
When we worship anyone or anything other than the LORD
we not only provoke His anger,
we harm ourselves (Jeremiah 7:6, 18-19).