Daily Archives: January 12, 2016

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Learning to Pray the Bible Way

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Matthew 7:7-12

God wants His children to ask for what’s on their hearts, because He delights to give. Even more, He wants to fellowship with us. What joy can be ours every time we meet our heavenly Father through prayer!

The privilege of supplication rests on our relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Only those who are part of God’s family can claim Him as their Father (John 1:12) and avail themselves of His pledge to answer prayer. He makes no such commitment to unbelievers. The single exception is the sinner who asks for forgiveness and receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As promised, his or her prayer is always answered with salvation (Rom. 10:9).

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Hold On!

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Read: Revelation 3:7-13

Bible in a Year: Genesis 29-30; Matthew 9:1-17

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have. —Revelation 3:11

A cowboy friend of mine who grew up on a ranch in Texas has a number of colorful sayings. One of my favorites is “It don’t take much water to make good coffee.” And when someone ropes a steer too big to handle or is in some kind of trouble, my friend will shout, “Hold everything you’ve got!” meaning “Help is on the way! Don’t let go!”

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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – For the Joy Set Before Him

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The Pixar Studios film, Inside Out, is a wondrously creative and insightful look into human emotion. Through the experience of the film’s main character, Riley, we come to see the world of her interior life—a world brought to life by making her emotions actual characters at work in her mind. The whimsy of Pixar’s animation to tell this story belies the deep existential themes the film explores. Namely, the film suggests that though often ironic, there is necessary relationship between sadness and joy in human experience. The film turns a critical eye toward trying to keep sadness at bay, or restricting its role in human development through the often well-meaning exhortation to simply ‘be happy.’

These themes were brought home to me at a funeral service for a family member. He was the fourth person to die in this family, and the fourth to die before the age of 70. As the extended family began to gather in the church library prior to the service, the grief was as palpable as if it was a figure in the room. Tears flowed freely, and we embraced one another in an attempt to offer comfort in the midst of the overwhelming sorrow.

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – The Importance of Brotherly Love

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“Let love of the brethren continue” (Hebrews 13:1).

Genuine love among Christians is a testimony to the world, to ourselves, and to God.

The importance of brotherly love extends well beyond the walls of your local church or fellowship hall. In John 13:35 Jesus says, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” In effect, God has made love for one another the measuring stick by which the world can determine if our Christian profession is genuine. That’s why it’s so important that we have a selfless attitude and sincerely place the interests of our brothers and sisters in Christ ahead of our own.

If you are a parent, you know what a delight it is when your children love and care for one another. Such harmonious relations make for a close-knit family and fulfill the words of the psalmist: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Ps. 133:1). God is both pleased and glorified when Christian brothers and sisters love each other and minister together in harmony.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Have You Put God in a Blessing Box?

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Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Ephesians 3:20, NJKV

There have been times when I have been guilty of trying to put God in a blessing box. What I mean is, I have decided where and how He will be able to bless me. Maybe you’ve done the same. “Lord, I will be blessed if I live in Florida, but not in Vermont.” “I will be blessed if I have a job using my gifts and talents, but not if I am in a job I don’t enjoy.” “I will be blessed if I am employed, but not if I must be unemployed.” “I will be blessed if I have children, but not if I am childless.” “I will be blessed if I am married, but not single.”

The Bible is filled with stories in which people tried to put God in a blessing box. He didn’t stick to their plan, but He blessed them all the same in ways they hadn’t imagined. Many had things happen to them that they would not have chosen for themselves, things that would have made it seem as if God’s blessings had been forfeited. The story of Joseph is one such example. As I was reading it this week, Genesis 39:1 jumped off the page.

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – The Majestic

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The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty.

Psalm 93:1

Recommended Reading

Psalm 93

Visitors to New York’s Central Park often pause to admire the twin-towered Majestic skyscraper at 115 Central Park West. It’s been home to such notables as Milton Berle, Walter Winchell, Marc Jacobs, and Conan O’Brien. Mob boss Lucky Luciano also lived there, as did mobster Frank Costello, who was shot in the lobby by a gunman shouting, “This is for you, Frank.”

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Crave God’s Presence

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My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night, yes, my spirit within me seeks You earnestly; for [only] when Your judgments are in the earth will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God).—Isaiah 26:9

If we are hungry enough, we will get something to eat. And if we can’t eat before we leave home, we will go to a drive-thru at a fast-food restaurant. Or we will call a place that delivers food to bring us something to eat.

If we are hungry enough for God, we will find a way into His presence. We should be so hungry for the presence of God that we absolutely will not go out of our house or tackle any kind of project until we have spent some time with Him.

From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – Please Make the Pain Go Away

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Today’s Truth

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

Friend to Friend

As the basketball game heated up and the man-to-man coverage got up close and personal, he took an elbow to the ear. Seconds later his world went silent on the trauma side. Stunned, he continued to play and pointed to his ear as he ran down the court telling his coach about the situation.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Be Strong in Character

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“Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete” (James 1:2-4).

A friend of mine had been very successful in business, but after he became a Christian everything seemed to go wrong. Problem after problem seemed to plague him. Yet he never seemed to be discouraged or defeated.

As we counseled together, he assured me that there was no unconfessed sin in his life. So I rejoiced with him that God was preparing him for a very important responsibility in His kingdom. That is exactly what happened. He is now the director of a very fruitful ministry for our Lord. The problems and testing served to help equip him to be a better ambassador for Christ.

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Faith’s Action

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Read: John 5:1-17

Then Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. (John 5:8b-9a)

Notice that the first thing Jesus says to do is what the man could not do, what he had tried for 38 years to do. On what basis does Jesus say these words to him? Somehow this man senses what that basis was. Perhaps he was thinking, If this man tells me to rise (and I cannot rise), it must mean that he intends to do something to make it possible. Thus his faith is transferred from his own efforts to Jesus: He must do it. I can’t. The man must also have reasoned somewhat along these lines, If this man is going to help me then I have got to decide to do what he tells me to do.

That is a critical clue many miss when they are looking for help from God. There is always something God tells them to believe, and do, and act on. This is a word of action. Jesus does not say, Try to build up faith in your mind. Try to fasten your thoughts on this or that. He tells them to do something: Rise! Stand up! Obviously it was Jesus’ will that this man should do what he told him to do, and the moment the man’s will agreed with the Lord’s will the power was there. I don’t know whether he felt anything or not. All I know is that strength came into his bones and into his muscles and he could stand.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – In Orbit

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Read: Philippians 3:4-11

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (v. 8 NIV)

We conclude our reflections on the possibilities of knowing Christ by returning to Paul’s passionate words in Philippians 3. Knowing Christ was more important than anything in his life. His words reminded me of a little book by Joe Stowell, titled Simply Jesus and You.

Stowell points out that many of us have a mixture of Jesus and something else in our lives. Yes, we believe in Jesus, but we also believe that we need money or friends or a marriage partner or a good self-image.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; – Verbal Fitness

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This year, what if you put the same amount of energy into the fitness of your tongue as you might into the fitness of your body? According to the Bible, your words will reflect the health of your soul like your waistline reflects the health of your heart. The book of Matthew states that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks; the good person out of his good treasure and the evil person out of his evil treasure.

Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Power of a Godly Life

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At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.—2 Kings 5:2

In 2 Kings 5 we read of a young Israelite girl, whose name we don’t even know, that had been kidnapped and carried away to Syria. How easily she could have been bitter against God for allowing this to happen. And certainly she could have been angry with the people she was working for as a slave.

So when her master Naaman was stricken with leprosy, she could have thought, He deserves it. But that isn’t the way she felt at all. She was concerned for him. Her heart went out to him. And she saw the opportunity to tell Naaman about a prophet in Israel named Elisha who could pray for him. Elisha was Elijah’s successor. God was working through him and had used him to raise someone from the dead. Like Elijah, he had miracle-working power.

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Knows His Creation

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“He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” (Psalm 147:4)

Molly loved to visit her grandma on her farm in Missouri. Because Grandma lived so far away from all the city lights, Molly could see many more stars there than she could at her house in the city. She would lie in the grass on a summer night, just staring into the sky. It seemed like the longer she looked, the more stars there were. Millions and billions and trillions of stars.

The Scripture says that God, the Creator, knows the number of the stars. And not only that, but He also knows all of their millions and billions and trillions of names! His knowledge of His creation is infinite.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Everything for Us

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Today’s Scripture: 1 John 3:16

“He laid down his life for us.”

The law of God set forth in Scripture is a transcript of God’s own moral nature. It’s the law that was fully imprinted on Adam’s heart as part of his being created in God’s image. It’s the same law that the apostle Paul said is still written on people’s hearts regardless of how obscured it may now be (Romans 2:12-16). It’s a universal law applicable to all people of all times.

The apostle Paul was referring to this universal moral will of God when he wrote that Christ was “born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). Jesus was born under the law because he came to perfectly obey it in our place. He came to do what we, because of our sinful nature, could not do.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Money Hungry

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Today’s Scripture: Judges 17-21

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. – 1 Timothy 6:10

In Judges 18, a son steals money from his mother, but returns it for fear of a curse she pronounced on the thief. The silver in question is soon forged into the image of a pagan god, but in fact, this money had become a god in the lives of these two long before it took the form of an idol.

In chapter 19, we find the same theme, a Levite who cannot resist an offer of wages, clothing, and food. Clearly, these material concerns have crowded out his desire to serve the Lord. When a more attractive financial offer is made, he accepts it without seeking spiritual counsel or the will of God. If it would give him more money, that was all that mattered.

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint – A Possible Breakup: The Anglican Church Disagrees over Same-Sex Marriage

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According to Wikipedia, the Anglican Communion, which consists of the Church of England and those churches in other countries that are in full communion with it, has 80 million members.

Statistically-speaking, the name “Anglican,” as in “England,” is a misnomer. It should be more properly named the “African Communion.” As historian Philip Jenkins has noted, the typical Anglican is not a middle-to-upper-class Englishman, but instead, a poor African woman.

Demographic diversity poses no threat to the Anglican Communion. On the contrary, it has revitalized Anglicanism even as membership and participation has declined precipitously in England and North America. What poses a major threat, however, is theological diversity, a.k.a., apostasy and heresy, courtesy of the American Episcopal Church.

A recent story in Britain’s Daily Mail told readers that Church leaders from Africa and Asia, led by Bishops from Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, “are threatening to walk out of a crucial meeting chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury unless American bishops drop their support for gay marriage.”

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – PETER: SHAME IN FAILURE

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Failure has become a taboo word in our society. Teachers tell us to believe in ourselves. Motivational speakers pump us with slogans like “Where there is a will there is a way!” and “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.”

The apostle Peter is one of the most memorable characters in Scripture. He was enthusiastic, impetuous, and brave. His determination and strength distinguished him as someone who could be relied on to push through obstacles. These qualities fit the name Jesus had given him—the rock (see Matt. 16:18).

But the rock crumbled when placed under pressure. Peter had been so sure that, of all people, he would be strong enough to stand up for Jesus in any situation. At dinner when Jesus predicted that someone would betray Him, it hadn’t crossed Peter’s mind that it could be him (see John 13:21–24). He had protested against Jesus’ specific prophecy about himself; only hours later, he would fulfill that prophecy by vehemently denying that he knew Jesus. The rock turned out to behave like shifting sand.

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – ALABAMA WINS AGAIN: HOW TO LEAVE A LEGACY

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Last night’s college football championship game made history. Alabama had already won more titles than any other team. By beating Clemson, which was ranked number one in the country, the Crimson Tide added another trophy to their remarkable collection. (For more on the game, see Mark Cook’s 3 Aphorisms that Explain the Clemson Alabama Game.)

We want to leave a legacy. We want to build something that outlives us to show the world that we were here and our lives mattered. The builders of Babel are in the Bible because their story is our story: “Let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4).

God dispersed them, not because he opposes our leaving a legacy, but because he wants to build it. In the next chapter we find his promise to Abram: “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. . . . in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2, 3). The people of Babel wanted to build a city—God wanted to build a nation.

And not just any nation, but a people through whom he could bring the Messiah who would bless “all the families of the earth.” If you’re a Christian, you’re part of “Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29).

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