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preacher31
THE ELEPHANT IN MY ROOM - Subscribe
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"If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer." Psalm 66:18-19 NLT Reflection: For us to attempt to approach God without first addressing the ways in which we have knowingly offended and wronged him is an exercise in futility. Sin is the "elephant in the room" that must be acknowledged and dealt with. Once we do that, we again enjoy sweet fellowship with God. Clean and forgiven, we can be sure he hears our pleas for help. Prayer: Lord, you do not listen to my prayers when I have unconfessed sin in my life. By your Spirit give me the humility I need to take a hard look at my soul. Show me, God, any wrong attitudes and actions that I need to acknowledge. I want to be right with you. I want to be close to you. Thank you for pledging to hear those who humble themselves and acknowledge their sin. May my sins, which block me from you when I don't confess them, become a bridge to you as I admit them, forsake them, and experience your forgiveness. from the Praying God's Promises in Tough Times by Len Wood (Tyndale) pp 8-9" |
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So much for shooting stars. I thought I knew what love was. Apparently love is getting hurt and still wanting to forgive the person. Nay. Love to me will always be that bi-curiosity that slowly transitioned into alcoholic haze and unsatisfied longing for what once was. Girls hurt me the most often. Guys send me into drunken slumber. I may never understand my sexuality. I may never know what love is. I wish to do away with close relationships. I want to pack up my Xu and move to a city where no one knows me or anyone I once knew. I want to live for me and my future. Life is an unnecessary, complicated nuisance. |
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preacher31
GODS GUIDANCE 11/16/2009 07:51 - Subscribe
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"I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me, I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me." Psalm 16:7-8 NLT The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:23-24 Giving thanks that God is near "Sometimes we try to "ride out the storms" i n our lives â€" doing this the best we can. We think, If I can just hang on and be strong, I can get through this. David knew he couldn't make it on his own. In the past, he had found help in the Lord God. And in this prayer, David again sought the Lord's protection: "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge" (v. 1). He rejoiced in the guidance and assistance the Lord had given him. Though his enemies were trying to shake and topple him, David stood firm because God was "right beside" him. In prayer today, acknowledge that God is right beside you â€" upholding and guiding you. Thank him that he helps you and does not leave you to struggle on your own. A prayer for today… Dear Lord, I will not be shaken, for you are right beside me… from The One Year® Book of Bible Prayers edited by Bruce Barton(Tyndale) |
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preacher31
ON YOUR BATHROOM MIRROR 11/14/2009 03:52 - Subscribe
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(THANKS JAN) This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where one could read it every day. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true. 1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for. 2.. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way. 3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you. 4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you. 5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep. 6. You mean the world to someone. 7. You are special and unique. 8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you. 9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it. 10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look. 11. Always remember the compliments you received.. Forget about the rude remarks. |
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once this was the miracle elixir it was the draught of life once this was the fountain from which all things sprang forth now so dark, so sweet the drink that keeps me gasping venomous addiction stealing my light now this desiccated waterway runs with rust and the blood of the life it once begot. |
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preacher31
H E L P 11/09/2009 07:20 - Subscribe
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Scripture: Psalm 121 1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help 2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul 8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. King James Version (KJV) Reflection: You know I don't know about you but lately I've been finding myself needing help. Money is really tight for me, and for most everybody, right now. What started me thinking about my situation was of course television. Here it is early November and Christmas retail sales advertising has been going full blast for the last 3 weeks. Well just like everybody else, I started worrying (already) about, "How am I going to pay for Christmas?" I've got a number of children and grand children and not enough money to provide Christmas presents for them. As I was pondering over my situation these 4 verses in Psalm 121 came into my mind. I looked up into the sky and prayed, and I immediately realized, deep in my heart and soul, where my help was coming from. My help, as it always has before, will come from the LORD. That's right, the same mighty and powerful God who created all the heavens and the earth. The same God who is going to help me and preserve me in my going out and my coming in. HE IS GOING TO HELP ME STARTING NOW, AND HE IS GOING TO HELP ME FOREVER MORE. A M E N ! |
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We used her and tortured her. We never expected her to burn. We carelessly mixed chemicals because we could. We watched as she survived the storm. We lit off fireworks because we knew no one would stop us. We observed the faulty wiring but did not feel it was worth the cost to repair. She felt sick and quietly begged for help. We did not hear her. We were too busy using her beauty for our own benefit. We believed she was strong, that she would live forever. She was unable to survive the blast. We did what we could but we could not save her. It was too late. But we will never learn. |
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preacher31
THE POWER OF DIVINE ENERGY 11/08/2009 10:50 - Subscribe
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Scripture: "I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." Philippians 4:13 NLT Man is never so tall as when he kneels before God â€" never so great as when he humbles himself before God. And the man who kneels to God can stand up to anything. Louis H. Evans1 Reflection: When I woke up the other morning, one of the first things I did was turn to the news on TV. I was greeted by the news that unemployment is now in the double digits 10.2 %. People are out of work, over 44 million have no health care. A homeless person has now been joined by homeless families. Many, in this country, have found themselves in the position of having almost nothing especially concerning financial resources. The Apostle Paul often found himself in this same position of having "almost nothing" (Philippians 4:12). But notice that even in his bleakest moments, when his stomach was literally empty and growling, Paul's spirit was full (v. 11). Paul experienced genuine contentment in difficult times. How did he do this? Paul relied on the strength of Christ to get him through. God's strength is a kind of divine energy that can sustain you through economic difficulties or troubles of any kind. PLEASE YOU MUST REMEMBER THROUGH THE POWER OF THIS DIVINE ENERGY, THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD IS THERE FOR YOU!! RELY ON THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST TO GET YOU THROUGH Prayer: Oh Lord with Your divine assistance I know I can press on. With your help and strength, I can do whatever you ask of me. Give me a second wind. I look to you in trust because I know you are faithful. In Jesus name Amen |
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preacher31
COMING TO GOD 11/06/2009 07:11 - Subscribe
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And through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. Colossians 1:20, NLT Christ's death provided a way for all people to come to God. It cleared away the sin that keeps us from having a right relationship with our Creator. This does not mean that everyone has been saved, but that the way has been cleared for anyone who will trust Christ to be saved. We can have peace with God and be reconciled to him by accepting Christ, who died in our place. Is there a distance between you and the Creator? Be reconciled to God. Come to him through Christ. (From Life Application Daily Devotion |
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preacher31
DOES ANGER CONTROL YOU 11/04/2009 07:42 - Subscribe
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Scripture And "don't sin by letting anger control you. " Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27, NLT Reflection: The Bible doesn't tell us that we shouldn't feel angry, but it points out that it is important to handle our anger properly. If vented thoughtlessly, anger can hurt others and destroy relationships. If bottled up inside, it can cause us to become bitter and destroy us from within. Paul tells us to deal with our anger immediately in a way that builds relationships rather than destroys them. If we nurse our anger, we will give Satan an opportunity to divide us. Are you angry with someone right now? What can you do to resolve your differences? Don't let the day end before you begin to work on mending your relationship. |
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I allowed myself to fall in love. It was a mistake that felt too right. All I knew was alcohol and casual sex. He turned me around and made me feel things. I thought I deserved those feelings. I thought that feeling was worth potential pain. I realized I was right all along. It is better not to feel. It is better not to trust. I would rather have a stranger lie to me. At least I know they lie. I would rather have her telling me the way it is than having him pretend he is in love with me. I regret the loss of my best friend. I will never have another Chelsea. There is no one left to tell me the truth. |
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preacher31
DO WE PRETEND 11/01/2009 08:27 - Subscribe
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Scripture: Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12:9-10, NLT Reflection: Most of us have learned how to pretend to love others--how to speak kindly, avoid hurting their feelings, and appear to take an interest in them. We may even be skilled in pretending to feel moved with compassion when we hear of others' needs, or to become indignant when we learn of injustice. But God calls us to real and sincere love that goes far beyond pretense and politeness. Sincere love requires concentration and effort. It means helping others become better people. It demands our time, money, and personal involvement. No individual has the capacity to express love to a whole community, but the body of Christ in your town does. Look for people who need your love, and look for ways you and your fellow believers can love your community for Christ. From "Life Application Daily Devotion" September 20, 2009 |
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preacher31
ALL SAINTS EVE! 10/31/2009 07:28 - Subscribe
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A reformer's refuge "A mighty fortress is our God. A bulwark never failing. Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woeâ€" His craft and pow'r are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not His equal." A Mighty Fortress is Our God Martin Luther (1483-1546) God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalm 46:1-3 NLT The great reformer "After posting his ninety-five theses on the door of Wittenberg's Castle Church in October 1517, Martin Luther faced many years of trials and persecution. And during the years of the ensuing Protestant Reformation, Luther came to know better than most the gracious power of God's sheltering hand. He confidently stepped forward to defend the truth he found in God's Word, despite excommunication from the Roman church, continual threats to his life and freedom, and times of intense spiritual battle. In the comforting words of Psalm 46, Luther found the inspiration for this hymn that would become the battle cry of the Protestant Reformation. Many who suffered for their faith during that time found solid comfort in Luther's words of faith and praise. "A might fortress is our God!" from The One Year® Book of Hymns by Mark Norton and Robert Brown (Tyndale) entry for October 31 |
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preacher31
GUESS WHO WILL BE IN HEAVEN 10/29/2009 05:44 - Subscribe
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Poem I was shocked, confused, bewildered As I entered Heaven's door, Not by the beauty of it all, Nor the lights or its decor. But it was the folks in Heaven Who made me sputter and gasp- The thieves, the liars, the sinners, The alcoholics and the trash. There stood the kid from seventh grade Who swiped my lunch money twice.. Next to him was my old neighbor Who never said anything nice. Herb, who I always thought Was rotting away in hell, Was sitting pretty on cloud nine, Looking incredibly well. I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal? I would love to hear Your take. How'd all these sinners get up here? God must've made a mistake. And why's everyone so quiet, So somber - give me a clue.' 'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.. No one thought they'd be seeing you.' JUDGE NOT. |
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preacher31
THINK ABOUT THIS 10/27/2009 07:09 - Subscribe
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'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence... ' The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.' Something good will happen to you today; something that you have been waiting to hear. |
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I imagine that nothing can be said or done to make his mistakes disappear. He says he's here now and that should be enough to prove that I'm important. It could also just go to show what a coward he is. Anything he says from now on will have no meaning. He told me he loved me and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life making up for all the pain he caused me. He said those things while waiting for the right time to dump me and pursue a real relationship with her. He screwed it up with her and now he's stuck with me. So of course he's going to try and make this work, he has no better options. Do I allow myself to be taken in by the flowers, treats, rocks, and cliches? Of course not. This is me we're talking about. I'll go about this until I find someone better. I'll listen to the words, pretending they are true long enough to get through another night. I'll pretend I'm not hurt by the months of lies. I'll fall into a peaceful slumber when he says he stays up late talking to god-knows-who online. I'll smile when he spouts off all the things that usually make girls feel loved. I'll feel better when I replace him. Until then I suppose I'll give him the picture perfect, reality-free relationship he once had online. |
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I will never be anything more than just Grampa. To anyone. I will never be the love of anyone's life. I am now and forever will be the girl who was just good enough. |
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preacher31
TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT 10/23/2009 06:29 - Subscribe
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Scripture: "But Jesus said, "You feed them." "But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?" For there were about 5,000 men there. Luke 9:13-14, NLT" Reflection: It was the middle of the day, probably around lunch time. People had been waiting a long while to see and hear Jesus. They were hungry and tired, and on top of that there was over 5,000 them (not counting women and children). This was no small crowd. When the disciples expressed concern about how the crowd of thousands would eat, Jesus offered this surprising solution. "You give them something to eat: The disciples were set back by this proposal. Notice their response to Jesus' solution. They protested, focusing their attention on what they didn't have (food and money). How many times, in our life, have we focused on the things we didn't have. Do you honestly think that our God would ask us to do something that we and He together couldn't handle? WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE DO HAVE, JESUS CHRIST! Don't let your lack of resources blind you to seeing God's power. Prayer: Thank You God that I have you. I pray that I focus on my relationship with You and on Your power and strength. Not on what I don't have. Because when I have You God I have everything. In Jesus name amen. |
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preacher31
FEELING OLD 10/21/2009 07:32 - Subscribe
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Just in case you weren't feeling too old today. The people who are starting college this fall were born in 1991. They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up. Their lifetime has always included AIDS. The CD was introduced two years before they were born. They have always had an answering machine.. They have always had cable. Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show. Popcorn has always been microwaved. They never took a swim and thought about Jaws. They don't know who Mork was or where he was from. They never heard: 'Where's the Beef?', 'I'd walk a mile for a Camel ', or 'de plane Boss, de plane'. McDonald's never came in Styrofoam containers. They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter. Pass this on to the other old fogies on your list. Notice the larger type? That's for those of us who have trouble reading. P.S. Save the earth.. It's the only planet with chocolate. |
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preacher31
TAKE A LITTLE TIME AND PRAY 10/17/2009 04:48 - Subscribe
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Scripture: Luke 6:12 (New King James Version) The Twelve Apostles 12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Reflection: When you have a decision to make how do you approach making that decision. Do you seek other people's advice, do you research a lot, do you spend days seeking advice from experts, maybe you even look at self-help gurus. Then as an after thought you spend five minutes with God. But before Jesus chose His twelve apostles, He spent the night in conversation with His father. I mean we are talking about the Son of God and He didn't think it was a waste of His time and spent the whole night in prayer. What about you? Do you pray when you have a decision to make. Do you pray when you are looking for a job, when you hire or fire someone. When you change jobs, careers, or locations, do you seek your father's counsel. Do you have other important decisions that would benefit from godly wisdom? (are there any other kind of decisions?) ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN PRAYER! Prayer: Oh Lord I want to walk as one of your blessed children. "Order my steps in thy word" What is Your Word concerning my life and the decisions I must make? Oh Lord give me a greater hunger to spend time with You, to hear Your Word of life, Your Wisdom, Your Counsel, |