Category Archives: Christian Growth

Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

Doorman

 

 

photo credit: vincentag <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/165551863@N02/42734671594″>Yes, knock in</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep (John 10:1-2 NASB).”

Jesus is the doorman.

“So Jesus said to them again, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:7-9 NASB).”

Jesus, as the door, knocks at your heart’s door.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:20 NASB).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Lipreading

photo credit: nicola.albertini <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/12615522@N02/6317803326″>Let me explain…</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

Can you read lips?

God can… and does.

“Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’  And He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,’ he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:

‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
‘But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Matthew 15:1-9 NASB).’”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

In His Presence

 

 

 

{Image: crosscards.com}

In His presence…

“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want.

He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.

He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with  oil; My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.”

Psalm 23 (AMP)

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

With a Grateful Heart!

Give Thanks mobile phone wallpaper

{Image: crosscards.com}  

We make the choice.

Will be grumble?

I’d rather be grateful!

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations (Psalm 100:1-5 NKJV).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

The Yes Man

href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

 

 

photo credit: lusciousblopster <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/10620680@N08/28948675678″>IMG_2755B</a&gt; via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

Some never rock the boat.

They avoid confrontation at any cost.

These individuals tell others only what they want to hear.

We want to be agreeable. We want to be accepted but at times we must risk rejection.

At times, we must lovingly offer advice and words of correction.

There is only one ‘Yes Man’ that rightfully fills the role.

Jesus does not say yes to keep the peace.  

He says ‘Yes’ to the Father’s promises!

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No,’ but has proved to be ‘Yes’ in Him [true and faithful, the divine ‘Yes’ affirming God’s promises].  For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] ‘Yes.’ So through Him we say our ‘Amen’ to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:19-20 AMP).”  

He says ‘yes’ and we say, Amen.

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

The Last Round

photo credit: Tom Simpson <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/11279883@N00/35913805001″>Button from Muhammad Ali’s Feb. 20, 1976 fight against Jean-Pierre Coopman in Puerto Rico</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

Whatever Laila wants, Laila gets; or so it seemed.

She was unstoppable in the boxing ring.

Fighting was in her blood.

Laila Ali is a beautiful daughter of Cassius Clay, Jr.

I’m a child of the King.

Don’t look for me in a boxing ring; yet, I do try to keep in shape.

“Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;  but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:25-27 NASB).” 

This may be the final round. God gives the victory!

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

It’s a Gift!

photo credit: suzyhazelwood <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/139228535@N05/24363296257″>DSC04796-02</a&gt; via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

It’s a gift!

I like to receive presents. Who doesn’t?

Excited, I’ve unwrapped gifts from family and friends.  

I recall the Christmas of 1967.

It was the last I’d spend living at home with my parents. I married a few days later on December 30th.  Strange as it may seem, I opened 2 timely gifts. My parents gave me a fashionable wrist watch; fiancé Norm gave me a dress watch with silver band. They were both special gifts.

The Father has given me His gift of peace.

“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character] (Isaiah 26:3 a AMP).”

Jesus has given me the gift of peace.

“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] (John 14:27 AMP).”

The Holy Spirit has given me the gift of peace.

“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace… (Galatians 5:22a AMP).”

It’s a gift. Won’t you receive it?

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Hymns

Jesus Saves!

photo credit: wuestenigel <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/30478819@N08/41809020075″>View of beach through orange lifesaver</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

Jesus saves.  

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB).”

Saved, saved! Jack P. Scholfield, 1911 [Public Domain]

  1. I’ve found a Friend, who is all to me,
    His love is ever true;
    I love to tell how He lifted me
    And what His grace can do for you.

    • Refrain:
      Saved by His pow’r divine,
      Saved to new life sublime!
      Life now is sweet and my joy is complete,
      For I’m saved, saved, saved!
  2. He saves me from every sin and harm,
    Secures my soul each day;
    I’m leaning strong on His mighty arm;
    I know He’ll guide me all the way.
  3. When poor and needy and all alone,
    In love He said to me,
    “Come unto Me and I’ll lead you home,
    To live with Me eternally.”                                                                                         “… and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:28-30 NASB).”

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

SIT UP & BEG

photo credit: molossus, who says Life Imitates Doodles <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/32865643@N07/26350137727″>Postcards for the Lunch Bag -Beagle</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

Sit…

Speak…

Shake…

Fetch…

Stay…

Roll over…

It IS hard to each an old dog new tricks; especially if I’m the old dog.

I’m on & off the computer daily.

As long as I use functions I’m familiar with I manage fine. Move me out of my comfort zone  and I’m ready to sit up and beg…

Help; I need a teacher!

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye (Psalm 32:8 NKJV).”  

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

More Than Duty

 

photo credit: wallyg <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/70323761@N00/3655803246″>Virginia – Arlington National Cemetery: The Tomb of the Unknowns</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0 /”>(license)</a>

The United States remembers their unknown fallen at the ‘Tomb of the Unknowns’ in Arlington National Cemetery.

Soldiers around the world unite to honor the memory of those killed in battle. It is more than duty; it is a desire to keep memories of the fallen fresh in our minds.

It is especially painful to survivors when their husbands, wives, sons or daughters bodies have not been found and identified. This led to resting places in numerous nations for those listed as ‘unknown soldiers.’

Apostle Paul walked the streets of Athens and felt sadness as he observed the worship of idols. It compelled him to share his knowledge of Jesus and the resurrection in synagogues and the market place. The crowds thought the message was strange but they enjoyed discussions about new ideas. (Acts 17:15-21)

Paul seized the moment as an opportunity for evangelism.

“And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you (Acts 17:22-23 NASB).”

Apostle Paul introduced them to their Creator, the giver of life.

God does not record a list of unknowns.

“O LORD, Thou has searched me and known me (Psalm 139:1 NASB).”

He knows you; He knows me.

“Thou does scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways (Psalm 139:3 NASB).”

Nations are unable able to identify all fallen soldiers; yet, God calls them all by name.

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