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Showing posts from August, 2013

From Brita to Bible: Finding Peace in Unexpected Places

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How is a Brita water bottle like God? I like filtered water.  Let me rephrase that - I like very cold clean water to drink. The cheapest thing I have going is those Brita sports bottles.  They rock! I keep three in the fridge and maybe take one out to keep near me.  When it isn't cold anymore i simply put it back in the fridge.  I drink so much water that i need to have three to guarantee at least one is really cold at any one time.  You know, cuz it takes a while to cool them off. I got home last night, and i couldn't find my blue water bottle.  I was so upset. This was a legitimate crisis (in my mind lol....). I considered buying a new one, but realized that I had simply misplaced the blue one.  So, I somewhat blocked it out of my mind and calmed down.  I got still.  I quieted my mind. Psalms 46:10   Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Then a thought oc...

Falsely Accused: Finding Strength and Vindication in Faith

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 When False Accusations Sting: My Journey Through Spiritual Warfare Let me tell you, the spiritual warfare has been real this week. Just getting this video message out felt like a fight. It shouldn't be this difficult, right? But as I prayed about it, a sense washed over me: some of you are facing accusations, even from within the church family. It's a confusing situation. These attacks can come in various forms, from online slander to accusations based on twisted interpretations of scripture. It's easy to feel hurt, isolated, and desperate to defend ourselves. But here's what I'm learning: this isn't a random struggle. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 54:17 that "no weapon formed against thee shall prosper..." We might face trials, but God's ultimate vindication is promised. Here are a few key takeaways that have helped me navigate this season: * Discerning Truth Through the Holy Spirit: When someone throws accusations your way, especially ones that ...

How is your communication with God?

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Relationship with Christ has a lot to do with communication. Sheep hearing His voice can mean  simply knowing who the Shepard is and following the sound of His voice.  Much like the children of Israel following the glory cloud.  They saw the cloud, and even followed it,  but lacked clarity in vision -  therefore lacking clarity in purpose.  They dared not draw near because they were afraid. This poorly developed relationship caused many trips around the mountain. Intimacy with Christ brings us to a more defined level of communication. As a dumb sheep we may simply see an inkblot on the page not discerning the minutia of God's plan  But the more intimate we become with God the more profound our communication. Our discernment has more sparkling clarity. Intimacy moves us from the shaky faith of Gideon needing many confirmations to the unwavering faith of Paul who offers himself up freely to be beaten for a man he never physically met. . How ...

From Hearer to Doer: Igniting a Passionate Faith

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Are You Just Saying "Yes Lord" or Are You Truly Living for Him? I wanna light a fire in your spirit and challenge you to examine your walk with the Lord. We all know the frustration of those "hearers only" churches, filled with empty rituals and hollow promises. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself:  Is my faith more than just words? Romans 6:16 lays it bare: "We are slaves to the one we obey."  We serve one master – sin or righteousness. There's no middle ground.  Jesus Himself said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46)  Imagine an angel following you today, seeing only your actions, not hearing your words. Would their report say your true Lord is Jesus?   The Missing Ingredient: Relationship The secret weapon for obedience isn't willpower, it's relationship .  Think about a tree. We're the branches, Jesus is the mighty trunk.  The xylem and phloem, the tree's circulatory syst...