22 Sunday Dec 2013
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We are in a tough part of the Bible. While this is all very important when taken in context as a whole, it is a bit difficult to pull nuggets of information from a few chapters at a time. The key to today’s reading is to remember that in the end, God’s plan will be fully revealed. We must trust that His plan is perfect and everything works to lead us to what is described in these passages.
20 Friday Dec 2013
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Isaiah 59:1 hit me right between the eyes today, Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. When we think no one can help us, we must remember that God is able. He may choose to wait, but He is able to do anything including perform miracles. We must never stop asking God for help and we must never stop expecting God to act in our lives. No task is ever too big or too small because He loves us.
16 Monday Dec 2013
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11 Wednesday Dec 2013
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Sometimes we feel alone when we do what is right. We never need to feel alone because God stands with us. Isaiah 51:7 says, “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults. We must never fear the insults of others for our faith. We need not water down our beliefs. We must always show our faith in love and be a reflection of Christ, but fear should never enter into the picture.
10 Tuesday Dec 2013
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This world tells us we must be tough, strong, powerful and harsh in order to survive in it. But God has a different plan in Zechariah 4:6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. The key word here is Spirit because the only things of lasting value come from God’s Spirit leading us. As we make the decision to live our lives for God, we must trust less in our own strength and abilities by trusting God and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
09 Monday Dec 2013
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Today we begin another one of the minor prophets, Zechariah. This book is written to the Jews in Jerusalem to give them hope by revealing God’s future deliverance through the Messiah. It was written between 520-480 BC when the Jews returned to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon to rebuild the temple. Zechariah and Haggai confronted the people and encouraged them to complete it. God, through Zechariah, gave the people all they needed to complete the rebuilding of the temple if they were simply obedient. Zechariah 3:7 says, This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.’ God gives us everything we need to be a part of His perfect plan if we simply trust and obey Him.
06 Friday Dec 2013
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Today we are in the very short book of Jude, which was actually a letter to Jewish Christians and believers everywhere to reveal the full identity of Christ and to give hope to people everywhere. I found it interesting how Jude, the brother of James and Jesus, ended the letter in verse 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. The hardest people to convince who we really are, are the people who are closest to us. Based on this last statement in his doxology, Jude knew exactly who Jesus was.
02 Monday Dec 2013
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Today we read the short book of Nahum which was written as an announcement of judgement on the Assyrians who conquered Judah. The prophesy of Nahum is focused on Nineveh which was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. The book of Nahum is meant to bring comfort to Judah who was the subject of the Assyrian domination. The main message in this book is that God’s timing is perfect. It is hard to be patient for God to relieve us of stress or hurt, but sometimes He is simply preparing us for His blessings that are yet to come. Patience is tough, but God’s blessings are always worth the wait.
22 Friday Nov 2013
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God is the only one we can truly put our trust in. When we put our faith in other people, they will eventually disappoint us. Psalm 146:3 says, Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. Even the people closest to us; our spouses, parents, and close friends cannot be fully trusted to fulfill our happiness. Only God can truly be trusted with our hearts. When we trust in Him, He protects us from others potentially hurting us and gives us the joy we need.
13 Wednesday Nov 2013
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I love the analogy Jesus gives of being the gate for his sheep in John 10:7, Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. A shepherd act as a gate into the pen for the sheep. He is the one who allows sheep in and out and protects the sheep. In the same way, Jesus is our gate and our protector. He is our protector in salvation from our sins and from the evil of this world. Some people may resent Jesus for being the gate to eternal life, but it is through Him that salvation is made simple by believing in Him and accepting His sacrifice.
Daily Devotion 