Live Boldly
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More Than Conquerors
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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. – Romans 8:37-39 Doesn’t today’s verse just make you breathe a sigh of relief? When I speak this verse aloud I can feel the power in the truth that is reveals. As a sinner, I know the pain and weight of my sin on my soul. I also know the fear…
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Can anything?
Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? – Romans 8:35 Just read the updates on social media or watch the evening news and you might wonder where God is in all of this mess. Shootings, natural disaters, war, human trafficing and loss seem to daily make the headlines and catch our attention. It seems that the world has forgotten how to love, when the truth is that we have forgotten who love is. While we may forget, God never does. The depth of His love is ever present in the cross. It was on…
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Checkpoints Along The Way
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! – Lamentations 3:40 ESV For the month of April we will be studying Love. It is the first Fruit of The Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 and is the foundation for all of them. Love is required to obey the first and greatest commandment, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” as well as the second, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22: 36-40 The first post of this month presented a challenge to test or examine yourself by entering your name in the following passage…
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I Have a Verse for That
I have several family members who work with or use essential oils. If you know much about them, there are many different types and they are used for many different situtations. It seems that there is one for just about anything that ails you. Awhile ago I saw a T-shirt that had the saying, “I have an oil for that!” as it showed a gun shot wound. But while these oils may help with certain things they cannot fix everything. Thankfully we have access to something that can. God’s Word. No, rubbing it on a wound will not instantly heal it, but applying it to every situation we face will…
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The Godly Character of Love
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) We’ve all heard the words, “All you need is love,” and that is the plain and simple truth as long as you know who love is. That’s right, who. The bible tells us that God is love. When you read the verse above, every time the word…
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Treasure Hunting
The other day I went treasure hunting. I was looking for rustic flower pots and decor for my courtyard and decided to visit some local antique stores. It was so fun looking at all the history in the small shops and I even remembered having some of the items on display when I was younger. Those items brought back memories and feelings of nostalgia and made for a very enjoyable day. The next morning as I was reading bible passages that went with my studies I again experienced that same joy and excitement. The study took me to several verses throughout the bible and I found myself on a spiritual…
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Beyond the Moments
Blessed are those……… Matthew 5:4 Matthew chapter 5 is where Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount. It is the message that taught people what God’s Kingdom is meant to be like and it was radically different than what they had been taught or expected. They had an idea of what life would be like when the Messiah arrived, but when He did, it was as a humble servant, a suffering Savior and not a vengeful warrior. They could only see their current situation and not beyond. What they wanted was freedom from Rome and what they got was a whole new way of thinking, being and responding. Jesus was teaching them,…
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Take His Yoke
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle 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 Yesterday I shared about the beautiful throne room scene I received where I was able to lay my burdens down and receive rest from deep weariness just as today’s passage mentions. But the next words speak of taking on His yoke and learning from Him which sound like work. If what he promises us is rest, why does he tell…
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Deep Soul Weariness
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. – Psalm 42:11 Several months ago I was led to purchase a new bible study called, When Strivings Cease, by Ruth Chou Simons. I received it during a very busy season at work and decided to begin the study when things slowed down a bit. Little did I know that I would be living out just about everything the study taught about striving and the result was deep soul weariness. I was burnt out, tired, frustrated, disappointed and hurting all because I was striving to obtain the…
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My Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23 Jesus told us that He is the Good Shepherd and that His sheep know His voice and…