Tag Archives: faithwriters

Bible Studies, Devotionals, Mercy

In Moses Shoes

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It’s beyond comprehension. Such actions are despicable.

 

 

A spouse of 45 years has an affair.

To secure money for drugs, a teenage son or daughter steals from your purse.

The bank president embezzles ½ a million dollars and flees the country.

Deacons discover their pastor is involved in pornography.

‘How could you?’

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

And Aaron said to them, ‘Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.’ So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf.

Then they said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’

So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.’ Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play (Exodus 32:1-6 NKJV).”

‘Aaron, how could you?’

Put yourself in Moses’ shoes…

He had to confront his own brother, Aaron.

“And Moses said to Aaron, ‘What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them (Exodus 32:21 NKJV)?”

Moses sought mercy.

“Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written (Exodus 32:31-32 NKJV).”

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Prayer

A Call to Prayer

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You feel a sense of grief, a heavy heart; yet, you are not suffering the loss of a loved one.

It is a persistent burden over a personal problem or a sense of real need in the life of someone else. Maybe you have the condition of your church, city, state, nation or world grieving you.

You might have a strong impression of someone come to mind during the day or even awake you from a sound sleep.

It is a call to prayer.

Walk with me through scriptures.

Meet Abraham…

He cried out for Sodom.

“Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious. I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to Me. If not, I will find out.’

The men turned from there and went toward Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Abraham stepped forward and said, ‘Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are 50 righteous people in the city? Will You really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in it? You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of all the earth do what is just?’

The Lord said, ‘If I find 50 righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.’

Then Abraham answered, ‘Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord—even though I am dust and ashes— suppose the 50 righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?’

He replied, ‘I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.’

Then he spoke to Him again, ‘Suppose 40 are found there?’

He answered, ‘I will not do it on account of 40.’

Then he said, ‘Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose 30 are found there?’

He answered, ‘I will not do it if I find 30 there.’

Then he said, ‘Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose 20 are found there?’

He replied, ‘I will not destroy it on account of 20.’

Then he said, ‘Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. Suppose 10 are found there?’

He answered, ‘I will not destroy it on account of 10.’ When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned to his place (Genesis 18:20-33 HCSB).”

The LORD finished the time of communing with Abraham.

Abraham witnessed God’s intervention.

“Early in the morning Abraham went to the place where he had stood before the Lord. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of the plain, and he saw that smoke was going up from the land like the smoke of a furnace. So it was, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the middle of the upheaval when He demolished the cities where Lot had lived (Genesis 19:27-29 HCSB).”  

Concerned about the spiritual welfare of those you know? The LORD compels us to pray.

 “As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way (1 Samuel 12:23 HCSB).”

Christ followers have a responsibility and privilege to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18 HCSB).”

Christ set the example. He interceded for us. (John Chapter 17)

He intercedes now.

“Who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is the One who died,
but even more, has been raised;
He also is at the right hand of God
and intercedes for us (Romans 8:34 HCSB).”

 

 

 

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

What’s Your Excuse?

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Today, we hear a good bit of talk about bucket lists. So, what is your desire? Not sure if any kick a bucket before taking a last breath.

While I’m on the subject of buckets, try this one on for size.

Ever used this for an excuse? ‘I can’t carry a tune in a bucket!’

Chuckle, chuckle…

Supposedly, if the tune was put in a bucket, some could not ‘carry’ it.

Is that a groan I hear?

So what if you can’t hit the right key or harmonize? God hears your heart.

“… speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19-20 NKJV).”

Here is another comical quip. ‘I sing solo; so low, you can’t hear me.’

 Why not sing louder?

 “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day (Psalm 96:1-2 NKJV).”

 

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Relationships

Peer Pressure Temptation

We are wrong to think that peer pressure is something new. People emulate those they most admire. In turn, they want them to gain their approval. This is most noticeable in the adolescence and teenage years. Words wound; personal stories of the ‘fear of ridicule and rejection’ give credence to peer pressure scenarios. Adults can also be easily swayed.

Consider the case of Apostle Peter.

“ Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.  And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified (Galatians 2:11-16 NKJV).”  

I am free in Christ. His love reigns.

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Breaking the Bondage of Idolatry

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The bondage of idolatry is difficult to break.

“Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River, led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac (Joshua 24:1-3 NKJV).”

Abraham’s father, Terah, served false gods (with a little g).

Joshua did not mince his words.

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15 NKJV).”

Severing the chains of bondage to idolatry…

“And the people said to Joshua, ‘No, but we will serve the Lord!’

 So Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve Him.’

And they said, ‘We are witnesses!’

‘Now therefore,’ he said, ‘put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel (Joshua 24:21-23 NKJV).”

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Do Not Touch!

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Do not touch!

If the command paid financial dividends, parents would be wealthy.

I find no evidence of the heavenly Father voicing the command to Adam and Eve.

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’

And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’

Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings (Genesis 3:1-7 NKJV).”

Seeds of doubt quickly bore fruit; both Eve and Adam ate the forbidden fruit.

What did God say?

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die (Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV).”

Maybe, just maybe… Adam added the ‘Do not touch’ when instructing Eve.

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Bible Studies, Christmas, Devotionals, Salvation

Announcement & Affirmation

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“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them (Luke 2:8-20 KJV).”

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Christmas, Devotionals, Salvation, Women

Favoured & Faithful

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Mary was favoured.

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:26-37 KJV).”

Mary was faithful.

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38 KJV).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Christmas, Devotionals, Salvation

Terrified to Testimony

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“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds (Luke 2:8-18 KJV).”

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Family

Going Cold Turkey?

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Going cold turkey?

Even before making New Year’s resolutions, many resolve to quit smoking, drinking of alcoholic beverages or other addictive behaviors. Declining outside assistance of support systems or medications, they think positive thoughts.

Oops! Wrong cold turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Traditional family Thanksgiving dinners feature the fowl, stuffing and all the trimmings. The aroma of butter basted birds’ beckons from kitchens. Family and friends eagerly anticipate yearly gatherings around the dining room table.

Who gets to carve the turkey? 

Drama continues after carving and feasting. What do we do with leftovers? Is that cold turkey desired or dreaded?

Visualize the remains of that scrumptious Thanksgiving turkey; once plump, it is now a skeleton on a spacious platter. Does cold turkey foreshadow feelings of sadness? The realization that another family gathering has passed may send a cold chill…

I want to keep the fires of Thanksgiving aglow.

The resurrected Lord sustains me; Christ Jesus dishes out the trimmings of abundant life. Knowing that He desires to fill me with His Holy Spirit, I come to Him with a hearty appetite. Thanks-giving is not a tip on a plate; it is praise on my lips.

My heart overflows…

“Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him,  rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:6-7 HCSB).”

 

 

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