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Tag Archives: Bible
Will You Speak First?
Several people from several different churches tell me that they are leaving their congregations because no one speaks to them. Let’s examine this with great care.
Where does it say that the other guy has to speak first? What if all the congregants are thinking the same thing? What if everyone leaves their church and moves to the other churches where no one speaks?
Where in the Bible does it say we must be spoken to at our whim or that being offended is a reason to move on? It doesn’t. However the Bible does say this.
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. (Proverbs 17:9, NIV)
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.(Proverbs 19:11b, NIV)
Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. (Ezekiel 18:30b, NIV)
See you all in church.
Prayer- Lord, make us a people of common sense before it is too late. For the Christ who died so that we could love and be loved…Amen.
Steal This Book
The most stolen book of all time? Unfortunately, it is not the Bible! It is “Steal This Book” by Abbie Hoffman.
Book sellers had to remove it from shelves because people did just that. They stole the book.
A Bible is a book that is considered an authority on a particular subject. That’s why we have shelves full of books called names like The Gardener’s Bible, The Tattoo Bible or The Baker’s Bible.
What if we labeled The Bible as ‘Be Kind to One Another,’ ‘Hug an Enemy’ or even ‘Grab Onto God and He Will Grab Onto You?’ Would more people want The Good News? Would you?
Many people buy Bibles because they notice the difference in their Christian neighbor, co-worker or friend’s life and they want the same. The best Bible is one that is lived out in our lives.
Prayer- Lord, let our lives be an open book that others can read from cover-to-cover and find You in it. Yours for holy living in Christ! Amen.
Nothing Fancy
We meet once a week and hardly ever get through more than 3 chapters. We take turns reading. We interrupt each other when we have questions. We do not use in depth concordances. We just read God’s Word, the Bible. We started at the first of the book, Genesis and we are reading in order till we finish Revelation. About ½ hour before quitting time, we go to prayer. I must say it is one of the most fulfilling studies I have ever done. Nobody is translating for us. No one is telling us what the Word should mean. We just let God speak to us, and we love it.
Rise Above
Ever had one of those days when everything is your fault? No one wants to hear what happened but they all want to judge the result? Isn’t it fun? Ever want to tell them all what for?
But then you read your Bible verses for the day and they say something like this.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, as a sheep before his shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
How did Jesus ever do it? Keep his mouth shut, I mean.
Well, He is God, and God can do anything He wants.
Unfortunately, you and I are not God. However, if we have asked Jesus into our lives, we do have the Holy Spirit living in us. That means we have the power to do what God tells us to do.
James 1:26 says that if we consider ourselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on our tongue, we deceive ourselves and our religion is worthless.
Drat! Just when I’d decided to defend myself too!
Here is the truth of the matter. God is our defender. He is strong and He will take up the case against us. (Proverbs 23:11)
Note my huge sigh of relief here!
Now if I can just find that roll of masking tape…….
Brenda J. Wood
www.heartfeltdevotionals.wordpress.com
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