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Opposite the Intended Effect
Have you ever done something, intending it to turn out one way only to have it turn out completely different? This happens often to me with Pinterest projects and holiday baking. You see a picture of what you would like to create and the end result looks nothing like it. This happened to Paul in a different way in the book of Philippians. He had been imprisoned by his persecutors with the intent of quieting him from sharing the saving message of Jesus Christ. The end result was opposite of what they intended. “Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here and everyone else too,…
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Every Time You Cross My Mind
………..I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Doesn’t that just make you feel loved and valued! Those are the words in the first chapter of Philippians and are followed by, each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. That just makes me smile and think of those who cross my mind each day. Those thoughts are opportunities to send up a prayer for each person. Prayers of thanks, prayers of protection, prayers of comfort, prayers for salvation and many more. Paul, the writer of Philippians, said that he prayed with joy and confidence because he knew that the good work that God started in each one would be carried…
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Spilling Out
I began reading the book of Philippians this weekend and I really enjoyed the introduction that the Message translation provided. It began by saying that this was the apostle Paul’s happiest letter and that happiness is infectious. It continues, “But happiness is not a word we can understand by looking it up in the dictionary. In fact, non of the qualities of the Christian life can be learned out of a book. Something more like an apprenticeship is required, being around someone who out of years of devoted discipline shows us, by his or her entire behavior, what it is. Moments of verbal instruction will certainly occur, but mostly an…
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‘Tis the Season
Oh December! A season to be jolly. ’tis comes from ‘it is’, and is a form of very old English. In the song, ’tis the season to be jolly’ means ‘everyone should be happy at Christmas time’. Other holiday songs mention that it is the most wonderful time of the year. I was reading the book of Ephesians today and thought how similar it was to the holiday season. Many people look forward to the holidays with anticipation of family gatherings, gift giving and the promise of what the first Christmas gave us, a Savior. The book of Ephesians reminds us of the Love that God has for us and His…
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Seeking the Calm
On Tuesday evenings I attend a prayer group at church. It has become a part of my week that I look forward to with excitement and anticipation. One of the women that attends is named Gwen. I met her the first day that went to The Rock Church and have since found her to be a beautiful gift and mentor from God. As God would have it, on Tuesday it was just Gwen and I at the meeting. That gave us time to talk with each other on a personal level and share in a way that we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. When she began to pray she…
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A Thanksgiving Prayer
Happy Thanksgiving! There is much to be thankful for today and everyday. No doubt you’ve been making plans for family gatherings, been preparing everything that will be needed and waited in anticipation for your family and guests to arrive. It’s a celebration of Thankfulness for the many blessings that we have. I read a passage in Ephesians 1 from the Message translation that is a fitting reminder of the planning and preparing that God our Father has done for us and gives us a reason to celebrate and be thankful. The passage reminds us that “long before God laid the foundations of the earth He had us in mind and…
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I Am A Believer
Yesterday my doorbell rang and I opened the door to find two nice ladies who said they were Jehovah Witnesses and would like to share an encouraging word. I invited them in and they asked how I felt about the current world events, the school shootings and the natural tragedies that are taking place. They wanted to know if those events made me fearful and in need of encouragement. I told them that I am a believer in Jesus Christ and shared how He told His disciples that these things would happen and that they were signs of the end times. But….He also said fear not, for I have overcome…
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Mucho Value
On Tuesday’s I attend a prayer meeting at church where we pray for the requests that are made during the week and at Sunday services. We also receive a list of prayer requests from a women’s prison ministry. I am so blessed to be in attendance and witness what the Lord is doing and how He is answering prayers. In addition to that I believe that He has placed me here to be mentored by the other attendees. Listening to the many prayers that are given with the request that His will be done and that the words said would be from His Holy Spirit is helping to shape my…
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Anticipate the Good
While reviewing my clients travel documents I came across a quote in their African Safari pre planning kit. It was an Ethiopian proverb that read, “Anticipate the good so that you may enjoy it.” Many times I’ve seen the excitement and anticipation of clients as they wait expectantly for their travel dates to arrive. To be setting out on adventures and to finally be taking their dream vacations. Another couple who had been planning their 50th Anniversary trip for almost a year experienced a medical emergency two days before they were to depart. Thankfully, in time she will heal, but their trip had to be cancelled. Her comment was, “At…
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Better is One Day
This last month has been an exciting month of experiencing what God intended. As I’ve been changing my attitude and actions I have enjoyed days that have brought peace, hope and excitement. There have been many moments that I wished would last forever and that life would always be like this. Days like that only make me want more of them. Days filled with love, communication and a sincere desire to serve others from a grateful heart. I believe that God gives us the good days so that we will have something to remember through the not so good days. I knew that the enemy would eventually make an appearance…