11 Sunday Aug 2013
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In the second verse of Psalm 107 we read, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say…” What is it that God has done for you? What do we need to remind ourselves of the countless ways God has blessed us? When we live in God’s presence and recognize all He has done for us, we are not able to keep our blessed experiences to ourselves.
10 Saturday Aug 2013
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Psalm 106:44-46 is a wonderful picture of God’s love for His people who deserve nothing more than judgment for their sins, 44 Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; 45 for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. 46 He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy. God does not limit Him grace and mercy based on our faithfulness to Him.
09 Friday Aug 2013
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God is worthy of our praise and honor. He loves us and created us out of His goodness and desire for relationship with us. In our reading in Psalms today, Psalm 106:1 says it perfectly, Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. God’s love is never ending. No matter what we do His love knows no limits. Let us remember this today and live as though He is standing beside us in all we do.
08 Thursday Aug 2013
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Psalm 105 talks about the many times God was with His people. When we look to God for wisdom and strength, He gives it to us. It may not be given in the form we would have imagined, or even liked, but God is always there for us. Psalm 105:4 says, Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. As long as we continue to look to the Lord and His strength, He will provide it for us. He never leaves us, He is always there for us.
07 Wednesday Aug 2013
Posted in Reflection
For our reflection post this week I wanted to share a short and interesting video with a great message for us all. As most of you know, I am a big fan of Francis Chan. He is that rare individual who practices exactly what he preaches. I hope you enjoy the video. We will be back to our reading on Thursday.
If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.
06 Tuesday Aug 2013
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As we read the history of Israel and Judah, it is always difficult to read about all the ups and downs they go through. There are some kings that serve the Lord, but then there are others who choose to live for their own glory. We must always choose to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God and for His glory. When we follow God and live our lives to serve Him, He is able to guide us. But there are always consequences to living our lives for ourselves instead of serving God. Let us all work to serve God in all we do.
05 Monday Aug 2013
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We have talked before about the significance of seemingly minor decisions having a major impact in future events. Today, we read once again about a minor issue in the life of Solomon that would later have a major impact on his life. I am talking about his wife, Pharaoh’s daughter. While on the surface this may not register as an issue, the reality is that her presence in Solomon’s life would eventually cause him to turn away from God. Pharaoh’s daughter was not the only catalyst, but it was one of the circumstances that caused Solomon to be lost for a portion of his life. Through God’s grace he would eventually turn his life around, but not before it made a significant impact on his life. The lesson for us is to be aware of seemingly innocent decisions we make and understand the potential impact it can have on our lives. We must always have our eyes fixed on our relationship with God and allow Him and the Holy Spirit to guide us in every decision we make. He will never steer us in the wrong direction.
04 Sunday Aug 2013
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In 2 Chronicles 16 Solomon prays a prayer of dedication for the temple. As you read the prayer you hear Solomon’s voice almost knowing the fate of the Israelites. He knows no one is perfect and they will suffer for their sins. His prayer is for the people is to remember God’s presence in the lives of the Israelites no matter how far they stray away from God. This is a great reminder for us too. No matter how far we stray from God, His presence in our lives will never be diminished; it is our focus on Him that changes. 1 Chronicles 7:14 strengths this thought as Solomon’s prayer is answered by God with these words, If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. We must humble ourselves to the point where we know we are nothing without God’s presence and leading in our lives.
03 Saturday Aug 2013
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It always impresses me that Solomon asked God for wisdom above all else. With wisdom, Solomon was able to accomplish more that any man had ever been able or since. God blessed him beyond measure because he looked first to having the proper tools rather than being given what most people think they want. We must focus on what we need to serve God as opposed to what we think we want in order to serve him. In the end, all we really need is the power, protection, and will of God to accomplish mighty things.
02 Friday Aug 2013
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It is important for us as believers to remember the purpose of the Law in the Old Testament; to show us our need for salvation from our sin. Paul spells this out in 1 Corinthians 15:56, The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But then he goes on to show us the beauty of God’s grace through Christ’s sacrifice to us in verse 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. In the end, God gave us victory over our imperfection. Even the worst sinners have the opportunity to take part in God’s grace. We must never take it for granted that we are incapable of salvation without the Love of God and the gift he has given us through His grace and mercy.
Daily Devotion 