24 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in Reflection
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We hope you enjoy today as a day of reflection and worship. This is a great day to catch up on reading and spending time with family and friends.
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.
23 Saturday Jul 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
Today we begin the book of Ephesians. It was written as a letter to the church at Ephesus in order to strengthen the body of believers there. At the end of the first chapter, Paul emphasizes this in Ephesians 1:22-23 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness if him who fills everything. The fullness comes from Christ’s ability to fill the church with His gifts and blessings that can only come from Him. When we trust in Christ we have the ability to receive gifts that cannot come from anywhere else.
22 Friday Jul 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
Philemon 1:16 describes all of us as believers in Christ: no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. Before we knew Christ and trusted in Him for our eternal salvation, we were slaves. After, we became magnitudes better than slaves; we became brothers. Nothing can bless us more than that.
21 Thursday Jul 2016
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As we finish the book of Acts, Paul finally made it to Rome and was able to share his experience and the truth about Jesus. Some heard and believed, while others heard and did not believe. In Acts 28:26-27 Paul quotes from the prophet Isaiah 6:9-10, 26 ” ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” 27 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ “ Paul’s example of obedience shows us it is our job to share the gospel of Christ, not to convince people or to judge them if they don’t believe. Only God can change a person’s heart.
20 Wednesday Jul 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
In Acts 27:35, Paul is a great example of how we should act when we are in the middle of a difficult time, After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. There will be very few times when we are not faced with some sort of difficulty in our lives. But if we stop and give thanks to God and wait for His strength, we can face anything with confidence. God has an understanding of every situation in our lives. We just need to take the time to draw strength and guidance from Him.
19 Tuesday Jul 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
In today’s reading, Paul appears before Agrippa and in essence gives his testimony to the king and his entourage. Paul ends his testimony with Romans 26:29 when he says Paul replied, “Short time or long – I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Paul’s ultimate desire was to bring everyone to the saving grace and acceptance of Jesus. I often think about how Paul felt when he endured all he had in the service of our Lord. He had no idea the millions of people who would be saved over the course of 2,000 years because of his service. How many of us realize the impact of our lives on eternity. I think if we did, we would act very differently than we do.
18 Monday Jul 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
In today’s reading we see Paul being brought up on charges before the Roman leaders. The key take-away is Paul’s confidence in the truth. Paul has no doubt in God’s plan for his life and was willing to die for the truth. When we go beyond trying to be right and trust in the truth, God’s plan and perfect will are always done according to His promises. It is not our job to convince others of the truth; it is our job to present it and stand behind it. God will do the rest.
17 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in Reflection
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We hope you enjoy today as a day of reflection and worship. This is a great day to catch up on reading and spending time with family and friends.
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.
16 Saturday Jul 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
In today’s reading we see that life does not have to be fair. Paul remains in prison for over two years, not because of his guilt, but because of politics. God never promised us life would be fair, but He does command us to trust in Him. His plan is perfect and in the end He will be glorified His will be done.
15 Friday Jul 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
Today we read about Paul and his dispute with the Sanhedrin, which were the religious leaders in Jerusalem made up of Pharisees and Sadducees. Paul was able to use their differences in belief to divide them and cause confusion among themselves. The unfortunate thing is that the same thing happens to our modern day Christian church. We have allowed ourselves to focus on items that mean little in the light of eternity. It divides us instead of unite us in the eyes of the world. If we look to God and understand our instructions are simply to love Him and love others, our lives would be much simpler and the world would be drawn more to what God has to offer. We are here to share God’s love, not His judgement.
Daily Devotion 