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To suffer without complaining and be misunderstood without explaining?
Are you able to give without receiving and to be ignored without grieving?
Are you able to ask without commanding and to love despite misunderstanding?
Are you able to turn to the Lord for guarding and to wait for His rewarding?
This anonymous poem had a powerful impact on me. Did it also speak to you about humility and the way Jesus handled life?
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Last week I told you about our new grandson. Now look at the very first Caleb in the Bible.
Caleb was a faithful follower of God. Caleb and Joshua were scouts sent to checkout the enemy who occupied the Promised Land. Other scouts said "no we can't go" the enemy is too strong. They are giants and we look like grasshoppers. Caleb said, we can conquer them and "don't rebel against the Lord and don't be afraid of the giants".
Caleb had a giant faith in God and he boldly stood up against the…
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To the experience of seeing a brand new baby. I watched this perfect little innocent gift from God shortly after he was born. He was perfectly formed with a beautiful pink body and fuzzy reddish blond hair. The scrub nurse did her job. I watched her literally scrub every inch of his tiny 7lb 4oz frame as if he had just emerged from a rough and tumble little league game.
New life, new bath, new people, new world to experience and a new everything to enjoy. I know because I'm his grandpa and I…
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On our recent trip to our Baja Mission, our missionary friend Angela told us about her losses. Her trailer burned to the ground while she was away in Canada. While we were returning home we also had a great loss. Our son's truck was stolen with the possessions of eleven of our team members. After we returned home we learned that our friends Seana and Ramon were evacuated from their home because of the firestorm in Escondido. All great tragedies!!! God is speaking--- Hold possessions lightly but …
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Yes! I'm thankful my home is not in Iraq. Yes! I'm thankful my income is not $2.00 per day. Yes! I'm grateful my house is not made of cardboard and plastic sheeting. Yes! I bless God for my daily "Lovastatin" that covers my cholesterol. Yes! I'm grateful for the measure of health that lets me exercise and run every day. Yes! I'm thankful I live in California even though it is the land of fruits and nuts. Of course I'm appreciative of the freedom to hop on a bus, train or plane and go anywhere I …
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Hardly true! That's teenage stuff. Adolescents think nothing bad will ever happen to them, they can do anything. Kids always want their kicks but never realize there is a kickback --which is way too expensive and sometimes even costing their lives or lives of others.
But this blog is not about teens. It is about adults who do the same things or act the same way. We adults also think invincible applies to us. We assume, "I'll never get terminally ill or robbed or involved in identity theft. …
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Are you disturbed by the silence of God? Some people are! They get nervous when He doesn't immediately answer. Many begin to question why. Some feel guilty, "I must have done something wrong - I don't have enough faith - He won't answer me because I am too weak." Still others deny His love or power. But these are all so very wrong. Listen to Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." Also, Psalm 23:2 "He leads me beside the quiet waters."
Please notice that the silence and quietness and g…
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Approximately 3000 people died in NYC at the World Trade Center. It was so sudden, so unexpected, so threatening to each one of us. Remember how the spiritual concern of people suddenly soared? Everyone seemed to go to church that next week. People started praying again. Churches blossomed out again. Many were afraid and some were even afraid of God. Was it a precursor to U.S. judgment? A simple breach of U.S. security? A wave of terrorism that will be with us forever?
Today few people talk a…
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Jesus said, "If you believe you will see the glory of God." Powerful words for Mary and Martha whose brother had just died! What a crisis to lose a loved one or to lose a job and income or any other valuable possession. Faith in action is believing in the face of adversity and opposition. So... what is God asking you to believe in spite of problems and pressure? Faith is nothing, exactly nothing, like a big fat zero, unless we engage it in action. Faith is just so many words unless we truly do s…
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People say it all the time... "Let Go and Let God", but no one really puts it into practice. Even if we do we soon, very soon take it back again. Let go means let go of fears, worries, insecurities, prejudice and most of all control. We are all control freaks. Jesus teaches us how to really let go. Remember "not my will but thy will be done". Pray it. Mean it! You can avoid disaster if only you will follow the master.
Yes of course, letting go is a struggle. Jesus had to pray this prayer thre…