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"Daily Uplink" and "Read the Bible in a year"
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Daily Uplink
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Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1 NASB
Two young men hired famed pianist, Paderewski, for a recital to fund their college tuition. The students promised him $2,000. They raised $1,600, gave it to Paderewski, and promised to pay the balance. Paderewski said, "Deduct your expenses and 10 percent each for your work, and let me have the rest." Years later, Paderewski became premier of Poland when thousands were without food. He asked President Hoover for help. After they were fed, Paderewski met Hoover to thank him. "That's all right, Sir," was Mr. Hoover's reply. "You don't remember, but you helped me when I was a college student." (Edward W. Bok, Perhaps I Am)
What are you doing with your bread? Don't keep blessings to yourself. Take advantage of opportunities to be generous with others. God will bless you for your kindness in ways that will surprise you. Why settle for stale crumbs when you can get a...[more details]
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Isaiah 18-22
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Isaiah 18
Word About Cush
1Trouble will come to the land on the other side of the rivers of Cush where the sound of wings is heard. 2From that land men are sent by the sea in boats made from tall river-grass. Go, you fast men, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people who fill others with fear both near and far. Go to the powerful nation that rules over those who hate it, whose land is divided by rivers. 3All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, as soon as a flag is raised on the mountain, you will see it. As soon as the horn is sounded, you will hear it. 4For the Lord has said to me, 'I will be quiet and watch from the place where I live, like shining heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of fog in the heat of gathering time.' 5For before the gathering time, as soon as the bud blossoms and the grape is ready to eat, He will cut off the new branches with knives and will cut away the spreading branches. 6They will be left for the birds of the mountains and for the wild...[more details]
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Daily Uplink
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Forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. Colossians 3:13 NASB
Corrie ten Boom and her family were sent to the Ravensbruck death camp for aiding Jews. A miracle enabled Corrie to escape. Several years later while speaking, Corrie saw the cruelest guard at the camp waiting in line to talk to her. She hated him for his brutality at the camp and didn't want to face him. Imagine Corrie's anguish when the former Nazi asked her to forgive him! Wrestling with her own hatred, she did the hardest thing she ever had to do. She stretched out her hand and told the man she forgave him. With that gesture, Corrie freed herself from the last hold of Ravensbruck.
Don't let unforgiveness control your life. God wants to set you free from your prison of bitterness. Ask the Lord for grace to forgive. Release the one who has hurt you and both of you will be free.
POWER POINT: He who cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself. -George Herbert
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Isaiah 23-27
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Isaiah 23
Word About Tyre
1The special word about Tyre: Cry out in sorrow, O ships of Tarshish. For Tyre is destroyed, so that there is no house or safe place for ships. It is made known to them from the land of Cyprus. 2Be quiet, you people who live on the islands, you traders of Sidon. You sent men to cross the sea 3and go on many waters. The grain of the Nile, that was gathered beside that River, made money for Tyre who was the trader of the nations. 4Be ashamed, O Sidon, the strong-place of the sea. The sea speaks and says, 'I have not suffered or given birth. I have not brought up young men or young women.' 5When the news comes to Egypt, they will be in pain when they hear about Tyre. 6Pass over to Tarshish. Cry out in sorrow, O people of the islands. 7Is this your joy city, whose beginning was long ago, whose feet have taken her to live in places far away?
8Who has planned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose traders were princes and the honored of the earth? 9Th...[more details]
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Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives. Luke 3:8 NCV
A small town butcher cheated his customers. He would press on the scales with his thumb to increase the weight of the purchase. One day, a report circulated through the community that the butcher had accepted Christ. No one believed it. One customer believed the butcher's change was real. "I bought some stew meat," reported the man, "took it home, weighed it, and the two pounds I bought weighed exactly two pounds!" The town was convinced because the butcher's behavior revealed his changed life.
Does your life support your testimony? Does your walk with the Lord show? People today are not impressed with religion that makes no difference in how you live. They are looking for something genuine. Skeptics will be impressed with your faith weighed on heaven's scales
POWER POINT: Let your aims line up with your claims. -Unknown
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Isaiah 28-30
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Isaiah 28
Time Of Trouble For Ephraim And Jerusalem
1It is a time of trouble to the crown of pride and to the drunk men of Ephraim, whose shining beauty is a dying flower. It is at the head of the rich valley of those who have taken too much wine! 2See, the Lord has one who is strong and powerful, like a storm of hail, a destroying storm. As with a flood of powerful waters flowing over, He will bring them down to the earth with His hand. 3The crown of pride, the drunk men of Ephraim, will be crushed under foot. 4The dying flower of its shining beauty which is at the head of the rich valley will be like the first fig grown before the summer. When one sees it, he takes it in his hand and eats it. 5In that day the Lord of All will be a crown of shining-greatness, a beautiful crown to those who are left of His people. 6He will be a spirit of what is fair to him who judges the people. He will be a strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. 7These also walk from one side...[more details]
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Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 NIV
While slicing vegetables for a salad, Amanda cut her finger with the knife. The emergency room doctor stitched the wound and carefully bandaged it. He told her to keep it covered and clean. At school, Amanda lifted the bandage to let her curious friends see the impressive wound. The next day, Amanda woke up in pain. Her mother took her back to the doctor. The wound had become infected. The infection site was lanced, and the young girl was put on antibiotics.
Are you playing with your bandages? Nursing old wounds will lead to the infection of anger and bitterness. Forgive others who have hurt you in the past as Christ has forgiven
you. Make it a point to forgive and forget.
POWER POINT: Forgiveness is the fragrance a violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. - Mark Twain
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Isaiah 31-35
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Isaiah 31
Help Comes From The Lord, Not Egypt
1It is bad for those who go down to Egypt for help, and trust in the many horses and war, and in the much strength of their horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel or ask the Lord for help. 2Yet He is wise and brings trouble, and does not take back His words. He will go against the house of wrong, and against the helpers of those who sin. 3The Egyptians are men, and not God. Their horses are flesh and not spirit. The Lord puts out His hand, and the helper and the one who is helped will fall. All of them will be destroyed together.
4For the Lord has said to me, 'As the lion or the young lion makes noise over the food he has killed, and when a group of shepherds go against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, or troubled by their noise. In the same way, the Lord of All will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.' 5Like flying birds, the Lord of All will keep Jerusalem safe. He will keep it safe and bring...[more details]
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And this is eternal life: that people know you, the only true God, and that they know Jesus Christ, the One you sent. John 17:3 NCV
A small town hosted a public speaking contest. The final two contestants were to recite the 23rd Psalm. The first man gave a superb rendition full of oratorical flourish. The second older man spoke with so much emotion that his voice cracked and he could barely finish. There was not a dry eye in the auditorium. The older man won. When asked why the older man won, the other man said, "I know the 23rd Psalm. He knows the Shepherd."
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Knowing about Him is not enough to get you to heaven. Replace head knowledge with heart knowledge. Meet the Savior and ask Jesus to come into your life.
POWER POINT: Make Jesus your best friend. -Unknown
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Isaiah 36-41
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Isaiah 36
Assyria Takes Cities Of Judah
1In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the strong cities of Judah and took them. 2The king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem with a large army. And he stood by the ditch of the upper pool on the road of the Fuller's Field. 3Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was the head of the house, and Shebna the writer, and Joah the son of Asaph, who wrote down the things that happened, came out to him.
4Rabshakeh said to them, 'Tell Hezekiah, 'The great king, the king of Syria, says, 'What is the reason for this hope you have? 5Do you think that empty words are plans and strength for war? In whom do you trust, that you have turned against me? 6See, you are trusting in Egypt, whose power is like a broken piece of grass. If a man rests against it, it will cut into his hand. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7But if you tell me, 'We trust in the Lo...[more details]
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No one has ever seen God. But God the only Son is very close to the Father, and he has shown us what God is like. John 1:18 NCV
The Sunday School teacher was sick so a last minute substitute was found. The sub handed out paper and crayons to the class of five-year-olds. Within a few minutes, most of the young artists were bored and began to find other things to interest them. One little girl continued to work intently on her picture. The curious teacher asked what she was drawing. She replied, "God." "But no one knows what God looks like," responded the teacher. "Well, they will when I finish the picture," she asserted.
What is your picture of God? Most people have a mental concept, but God has provided a clear snapshot of His character and nature. He revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. To know what God is like, look at Jesus and take the guesswork out of the divine.
POWER POINT: What I believe about God is the most important thing about me. -A.W. Tozer
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Isaiah 42-44
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Isaiah 42
The Servant Of The Lord
1'See! My servant, My chosen one! My much Loved, in Whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit on Him. He will say to the nations what is right from wrong. 2He will not cry out or speak with a loud voice. His voice will not be heard in the streets. 3He will not break a broken branch or put out a little fire. He will be faithful to make everything fair. 4He will not lose hope or be crushed, until He has made things right on the earth. And the islands will wait with hope in His Law.'
5This is what God the Lord Who made the heavens and spread them out and Who spread out the earth and what comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk in it, says, 6'I am the Lord. I have called you to be right and good. I will hold you by the hand and watch over you. And I will give you as an agreement to the people, as a light to the nations. 7You will open blind eyes. You will bring people out of prison, out of the pris...[more details]
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Daily Uplink
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He has clothed me with garments of salvation; he has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10 NASB
A mother called her young son into the house and handed him a shirt and pair of corduroy pants to try on. "Let's see how they fit," she said. The boy recognized them as his older brother's hand-me-downs. It seemed most of his clothes had a previous owner. He liked having something different to wear, but it would be nice to have something that hadn't belonged to his brother.
Have you worn hand-me-downs? The righteousness of Christ is one hand-me-down you shouldn't mind wearing. As a child of the King, God dresses you in the robes of righteousness. Thank the Lord and think of the robe of righteousness as vintage apparel.
POWER POINT: Christ's righteousness is not Christ's, but ours. -Martin Luther
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Isaiah 45-48
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Isaiah 45
Cyrus To Lead
1This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, whom He has chosen, whose right hand He has held, 'I send him to put nations under his power, and to take away the power of kings. And I will open doors in front of him so that gates will not be shut. 2I will go before you and make the hard places smooth. I will break the brass doors to pieces, and cut through their iron gates. 3I will give you riches hidden in the darkness and things of great worth that are hidden in secret places. Then you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. 4For the good of Jacob My servant and Israel My chosen one, I called you by your name. I gave you a name of honor, when you had not known Me. 5I am the Lord, and there is no other. There is no God besides Me. I will give you strength, even though you have not known Me. 6Then men may know from sunrise to sunset that there is no God besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. 7I make light and I make da...[more details]
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Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NCV
Billy Graham was once stopped for speeding in a small town, and was brought before a local judge. He pleaded guilty and was fined $15. The judge looked at Graham and asked, "Aren't you the famous preacher?" "Yes, I am," said Graham. The judge said, "It's still going to be $15. But, you've been a blessing to my family and me. I'm going to pay your fine." The judge took the money from his own wallet and let Billy Graham go. He paid nothing.
God can't ignore sin. The penalty must be paid. You are guilty and owe a debt you can't pay. The Lord provided payment through Jesus. Faith in Christ's sacrifice makes you right with God. Receive Him today. Court's adjourned!
POWER POINT: What thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners' gain. Mine, mine was the transgression, but thine the deadly pain. -Bernard of Clairvaux
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Isaiah 49-53
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Isaiah 49
The Servant Of The Lord
1Listen to Me, O islands. Listen, you people from far away. The Lord called Me before I was born. From the body of My mother he said My name. 2He has made My mouth like a sharp sword. He has hidden Me in the shadow of His hand. He has made Me a shining arrow, keeping Me in His secret place. 3And He said to Me, 'You are My Servant Israel, in Whom I will show My shining-great ness.' 4But I said, 'My work has been for nothing. I have spent My strength for nothing. Yet for sure what should come to Me is with the Lord, and My pay is with My God.'
5And now the Lord speaks, Who made Me before I was born to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him. For I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and My God is My strength. 6He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the family groups of Jacob, and to bring back those of Israel I have kept safe. I will also make You a light to the nations...[more details]
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Daily Uplink
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So he (Jesus) rose from the table, took off his outer garment and tied a towel around his waist. Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. John 13:4-5 TEV
Let these words from Ruth Calkin search the motives of everything you do: "You know, Lord, how I serve you with great emotional fervor in the limelight. You know how eagerly I speak for you at a women's club. You know how I effervesce when I promote a fellowship group. You know my genuine enthusiasm at a
Bible study. But how would I react, I wonder, if you pointed to a basin of water and asked me to wash the calloused feet of bent and wrinkled women, day after day, month after month, in a room where nobody saw and nobody knew."
It is easy to serve the Lord when you are noticed or appreciated, but the true heart of a servant is tested through humility.
POWER POINT: Jesus, make me a foot washer like you. -Unknown
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Isaiah 54-58
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Isaiah 54
The Lord Loves Israel
1'Woman, be happy, you who have had no children. Cry for joy, you who have never had the pains of having a child, for you will have many children. Yes, you will have more children than the one who has a husband,' says the Lord. 2'Make your tent bigger. Spread out the curtains of your home, and do not hold back. Make your ropes longer and your tie stronger. 3For you will spread out to the right and to the left. Your children will own nations, and they will fill the destroyed cities with people.
4'Fear not, for you will not be ashamed. Do not be troubled, for you will not be put to shame. You will forget how you were ashamed when you were young. You will not remember the sorrow of being without a husband any more. 5Your Maker is your husband. His name is the Lord of All. And the One Who saves you is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of All the earth. 6For the Lord has called you like a wife left alone and filled with sorrow, like a wife...[more details]
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God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. Ephesians 2:10 NCV
A painter looked out from his studio and saw a stooped over beggar with dim eyes and a sad expression. The artist drew a picture of the man, but gave him a smile, a sparkle in the eyes, straight shoulders, and a firm, determined stance. He tore the sketch from the drawing pad and showed it to the man. The tramp asked, "Do you really see me that way?" "I do," replied the artist. "Then that's the person I will be," responded the man as he strode off with a spring in his step and a smile on his face.
What picture do you have of yourself? Do you see yourself as a work of art or a bad mistake? God sees you through eyes of love as a finished work of art. See yourself as the Lord sees you. You are a masterpiece in the making.
POWER POINT: You are God's work of art. -Unknown
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Isaiah 59-63
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Isaiah 59
Sin Keeps One From God
1See, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save, and His ear is not closed that it cannot hear. 2But your wrong have kept you away from your God. Your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. 3For your hands are sinful with blood, your fingers with wrong, your lips have lied, and your tongue talks about sin. 4No one wants what is right and fair in court. And no one argues his cause with the truth. They trust in what is false, and speak lies. They plan to make trouble and do what is sinful. 5They bring young ones from the eggs of deadly snakes and make traps as a spider does. He who eats of their eggs dies, and a snake comes out of the egg that is crushed. 6Clothing cannot be made from the work of the spider, so they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of sin. They hurt others with their hands. 7And they are quick to sin and to kill people who are not guilty. Their thoughts are thoughts...[more details]
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Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. James 2:17 NASB
Dave's cousin, Scott, was a wheeler-dealer who always had an angle or scheme. Scott said, "I have a great opportunity for you. There's a new stock listing you gotta buy! What do you say? How much can I count on you for?" "I'll take as many shares as you personally own," responded Dave. With that, Scott closed his brief case and walked out the door. He didn't own any shares himself.
Do you back up your talk about the Lord with actual commitment? People don't want to hear about a Christ in whom you don't really trust. If it doesn't work for you, why should they buy it? Faith without works is dead. If you want to turn people on to Jesus, get turned on first, yourself!
POWER POINT: Faith is more of a way of walking than a way of talking. -Unknown
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Isaiah 64-66
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Isaiah 64
1If only You would tear open the heavens and come down! The mountains would shake before You, 2as when fire burns the wood and causes the water to boil. Come and make Your name known to those who are against you, that the nations may shake in fear before You! 3When You did powerful things which we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains shook before You. 4From long ago no ear has heard and no eye has seen any God besides You, Who works for those who wait for Him. 5You meet him who finds joy in doing what is right and good, who remembers You in Your ways. See, You were angry because we sinned. We have been sinning for a long time, and will we be saved? 6All of us have become like one who is unclean. All our right and good works are like dirty pieces of cloth. And all of us dry up like a leaf. Our sins take us away like the wind. 7There is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us, and have given us...[more details]
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Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Romans 15:1 NASB
As a young slave, Booker T. Washington was forced to wear a flax shirt. Wearing a new flax shirt was torture. The rough, cheap cloth scratched and chafed his skin, making him miserable. His older brother, John, realized how much Booker hated flax shirts so John volunteered to wear his little brother's new shirt for several days. John wore the shirt until it was broken in. When it was finally softer to the skin, he gave it back to Booker to wear.
Jesus endured the cross on your behalf. He did this for your salvation. Ask the Lord to show you people in your daily life who could use a helping hand. You might not have to give them the shirt off your back, just wear theirs for a little while.
POWER POINT: True service is love for Christ in working clothes. -Unknown
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Jeremiah 1-3
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Jeremiah 1
The Call of Jeremiah
1These are the words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the religious leaders at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. 2The Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his rule. 3It came also in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem were taken away.
4Now the Word of the Lord came to me saying, 5" Before I started to put you together in your mother, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart as holy. I chose you to speak to the nations for Me." 6Then I said, " O, Lord God! I do not know how to speak. I am only a boy." 7But the Lord said to me, " Do not say, ' I am only a boy.' You must go everywhere I send you. And you must say whatever I tell you. 8Do not be afraid of them. For I am with you to take you out of trouble," says the Lord...[more details]
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God disciplines us to help us, so we can become holy as he is. Hebrews 12:10 NCV
In the classic story, The Velveteen Rabbit, the toys in the nursery are intrigued with the idea of becoming real. The Skin Horse is one of the oldest toys said, "Real isn't how you are made. It is a thing that happens to you. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept."
Holiness takes time. Becoming like the Lord often meets with trials, disappointments, and pain. Don't be discouraged if life seems hard. The Lord works on deep things during such times. Humbly trust what God is doing. He's making you real!
POWER POINT: The true Christian ideal is not to be happy, but to be holy. - A. W. Tozer
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Jeremiah 4-6
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Jeremiah 4
God Asks Israel To Turn From Its Sins
1" If you will return, O Israel," says the Lord, " return to Me. If you will put away your false gods from Me and be faithful to Me, 2and promise, ' As the Lord lives,' by what is true and right and good, then the nations will be happy in Him. And in Him they will have honor."
3For the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, " Break up your ground which has not been planted, and do not plant seeds among thorns. 4Set yourselves apart to the Lord, and put away the flesh from your heart, men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Or My anger will go out like fire and burn with no one to stop it, because of the sinful things you do."
Armies From The North Are Coming
5Make it known in Judah and Jerusalem, and say, " Sound the horns in the land." Cry out and say, " Gather together, and let us go into the strong cities made ready for battle." 6Lift up a flag toward Zion! Run to a safe place, do not stand still. For I am bringing m...[more details]
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Long ago, before He made the world, God chose us to be His very own, through what Christ would do for us; He decided then to make us holy in His eyes without a fault we who stand before Him covered in His love. Ephesians 1:4 LB
A little boy went to buy a present for his mom. He told the clerk he wanted to buy a slip, but didn't know her size. The saleswoman asked if she was fat, thin, tall, or short. "She's just perfect!" exclaimed the child. She sent him home with a size M. Several days later, the mother returned to exchange the gift. She was a size XL and needed something a little bigger.
Do you see yourself through the eyes of God? Your heavenly Father doesn't focus on your weaknesses or failures. He sees you wrapped in the love of Christ, holy and blameless. He chose you before the foundation of the world and doesn't plan to make an exchange.
POWER POINT: Accept His love even when you feel most unacceptable. -Unknown
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Jeremiah 7-9
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Jeremiah 7
Israel Must Not Trust In Lying Words
1This word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2" Stand in the gate of the Lord's house and make this word known: ' Hear the Word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who go through these gates to worship the Lord!' '' 3The Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, " Change your ways and your works for the better, and I will let you live in this place. 4Do not trust the lies that say, ' This is the house of the Lord, the house of the Lord, the house of the Lord.' 5For if you for sure change your ways and what you do for the better, if you are fair as you judge between a man and his neighbor, 6if you do not make it hard for the stranger from another land, or the child whose parents have died, or the woman whose husband has died, and do not kill those who are not guilty in this place, and stop going after other gods, for that will destroy you, 7then I will let you live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and e...[more details]
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To win the contest you must deny yourself many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that will never disappear. 1 Corinthians 9:25 LB
"Dad, can I fly the kite?" The new kite was up in the sky and Caleb wanted to try it. I handed him the string and said, "Hang on tight." The kite started to lose altitude. "What should I do?" he yelled. I showed him what to do and the kite sailed back up. "To get a kite to fly the highest, keep the string tight!" (Steve Klipowicz)
Has your spiritual energy drooped lately? Get rid of some of the slack in your line. Lazy summer days and vacations can entice you to let up in your prayer time, Bible reading, or church attendance. Renew your commitment to spiritual discipline. Tighten up on your string and get ready to fly higher.
POWER POINT: No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined. -...[more details]
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Jeremiah 10-13
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Jeremiah 10
True Worship And False Gods
1Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O people of Israel. 2The Lord says, " Do not learn the way of the nations. And do not be afraid of the things seen in the heavens, even if the nations are afraid of them. 3For the ways of the people are of no use. They cut wood from the trees. A workman cuts it with an ax. 4They make it beautiful with silver and gold. They put it together with nails so that it cannot fall apart. 5Their false gods are like a wooden man set up in a vegetable field to make birds be afraid and stay away. They cannot speak. They must be carried, because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot hurt you. And they cannot help you." 6There is no one like You, O Lord. You are great, and Your name is great in power. 7Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For You should be honored with fear. Among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their lands, there is no one like You. 8They are all po...[more details]
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The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. Mark 4:28 NASB
The Chinese bamboo tree has an unusual growth pattern. People will plant it in water and fertilize it regularly for four years. In that time, very little growth occurs. The farmers keep tending the plants or else they would die. In the fifth year, the tree is watered and fertilized as before, but within five weeks, the tree explodes with new growth. Shoots of up to ninety feet have been observed!
Are you discouraged in your personal growth in the Lord? Don't despair. Keep nurturing your relationship with the Lord. Tend and water with prayer and Bible reading. Be patient. God will bring the increase.
POWER POINT: It takes six months for a squash to grow; sixty years for an oak. -Unknown
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Jeremiah 14-17
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Jeremiah 14
No Water - No Food
1The Word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah when there was no water: 2" Judah is full of sorrow and her gates are weak. Her people sit on the ground in sorrow, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. 3Their men of honor have sent their servants for water. They have come to the wells and found no water, and returned with their jars empty. They have been put to shame and troubled, and covered their heads. 4The ground is dried up because there has been no rain on the land. The farmers have been put to shame and have covered their heads. 5Even the deer in the field leaves her young one which has just been born, because there is no grass. 6The wild donkeys stand on the open hill-tops. They breathe hard for air like wild dogs. Their eyes become weak because there is nothing to eat.
7" Even when our sins speak against us, O Lord, do something for the good of Your name. For we have fallen away from You many times. We have sinned against You. 8You are the Hope...[more details]
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Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.1 Timothy 6:18 NCV
A farmer left a hoe and rake for a blacksmith to repair. They were fixed and ready in one day. The farmer picked up the tools and gave the blacksmith a silver dollar. He refused payment saying there was no charge for such a small job. The farmer persisted until the blacksmith replied, "Can't you let a man do something to stretch his soul?"
Does your soul need a little stretching? Do something for someone today that's out of the ordinary. Give a gift or provide a service that is not expected. Your act of kindness will bless someone. The exercise might do you a little good!
POWER POINT: Not what you get but what you give measures the worth of your life. -Unknown
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Jeremiah 18-22
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Jeremiah 18
The Pot-Maker And The Clay
1The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, 2" Go down to the pot-maker's house, and there I will let you hear My words." 3So I went down to the pot-maker's house, and saw him making one on the wheel. 4But the pot he was making of clay did not come out like he wanted it. So the pot-maker used the clay to make another pot that pleased him.
5Then the Word of the Lord came to me saying, 6" O people of Israel, can I not do with you as this potmaker has done?" says the Lord. " Like the clay in the pot-maker's hand, so are you in My hand, O people of Israel. 7If at any time I speak about a nation, to pull up, and to break down and to destroy, 8and if that nation I spoke against turns from its sin, then I will change My mind about the trouble I planned to bring upon it. 9If at another time I speak about a nation, that I will build and plant it, 10and if it does what is sinful in My eyes by not obeying My voice, then I will change My mi...[more details]
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Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. Proverbs 4:23 NCV
Residents in Florida woke to a terrifying surprise. The street in front collapsed due to a huge sinkhole, engulfing cars, sidewalks, and lawn furniture. Sinkholes develop in droughts when underground streams dry up. Without the water, the surface collapses. The resulting cave-in can lead to a massive crater in the ground.
Christians can experience spiritual sinkholes when the inner springs of the heart grow dry due to neglect. Believers can collapse without much provocation because they haven't maintained their inner life with the Lord. Take time to seek the Lord. Walk with the Lord on solid ground!
POWER POINT: Beware if the barrenness of a busy life. -Unknown
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Jeremiah 23-25
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miah 23
The Right And Good Branch
1" It is bad for the shepherds who are destroying and dividing the sheep of My field!" says the Lord. 2The Lord God of Israel says this about the shepherds who are caring for My people, " You have made My flock go everywhere and have driven them away, and have not cared for them. See, I am about to punish you for your sinful things you have done," says the Lord. 3" Then I Myself will gather those who are left of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them back to their field. And they will have many children. 4I will have shepherds over them who will care for them. And they will not be afraid any longer, or filled with fear, and none of them will be missing," says the Lord.
5" See, the days are coming," says the Lord, " when I will raise up for David a right and good Branch. He will rule as king and be wise and do what is right and fair and good in the land. 6In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will b...[more details]
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We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5 NCV
Harriet grew up in a Christian home and trusted the Lord at an early age. However, life was not without its problems. Two of Harriet's brothers committed suicide. A third was jailed for his beliefs in evolution. Her sister rejected Christ. Three of Harriet's six children died tragic deaths. From her pain, Harriet Beecher Stowe was able to identify deeply with the heartbreak of African-American slaves. The outcome was the writing of Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Have you experienced loss and tragedy? Don't fall into bitterness and despair. Ask the Lord for comfort. He can turn the tide in your storm-tossed heart. Ask Christ to take your pain. He can give you a song instead of a sigh.
POWER POINT: God does not comfort you to make you comfortable, but to make you a comforter. - J. Henry Jowett
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Jeremiah 26-29
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Jeremiah 26
Jeremiah's Trial
1In the beginning of the rule of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying, 2" This is what the Lord says: ' Stand in the open space of the Lord's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the Lord's house. Tell them all the words that I have told you to say to them. Do not leave out one word! 3It may be they will listen and everyone will turn from his sinful way. Then I may change My mind about the trouble I plan to put on them because of the sinful things they have done.' 4And tell them, ' This is what the Lord says: " If you will not listen to Me and follow My Law which I have set before you, 5and if you do not listen to the words of My servants who speak for Me, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened, 6then I will make this House of God like Shiloh. And I will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth." ' ''
7The religious leader...[more details]
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Truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. James 1:25 NCV
Are you unhappy with your looks? Dr. Jonas Domanskis, a plastic surgeon, will give advice in regard to your appearance, on his web site. By visiting the doctor via the Internet, he will tell you how plastic surgery can improve your features. On your monitor, the doctor will cut out your bad parts and paste in new features to show you how you can look after surgery. For only $250, you can get a clear picture of the new you!
Want to improve your spiritual profile? God's Word will provide you with a clear picture of what you look like and how God can make improvements. Ask the Lord to show you what needs changing and to show Christ's resources in the Bible. Don't fret over the cost of the operation. This extreme makeover has already been paid for.
POWER POINT: God's Word can change your heart. -Unknown
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Jeremiah 30-31
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Jeremiah 30
Israel And Judah To Be Free Again
1The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2" This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ' Write in a book all the words which I have spoken to you. 3For the days are coming,' says the Lord, ' when I will bring back My people Israel and Judah from where they are held.' The Lord says, ' I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers before them, and it will be theirs.' "
4These are the words which the Lord spoke about Israel and Judah: 5" The Lord says, ' I have heard cries of much trouble, of being afraid, and there is no peace. 6Ask now and see, can a man give birth to a child? Why do I see every man with his hands on his body like a woman giving birth? Why have all faces turned white? 7That day will be very bad! There is none like it. It is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he will be saved out of it. 8On that day,' says the Lord of All, ' I will break the cross-bar off from their neck, and will t...[more details]
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Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18 NIV
In the late 1800's, a wealthy plantation owner died and left $50,000 in trust to James, his elderly former slave. The old man was notified of the inheritance. The money was deposited in a local bank for him. James then asked if that meant he could have a dollar to buy a sack of corn meal to make mush. The elderly man had no idea how much $50,000 was and what that amount could do for his lifestyle.
Are you aware of the riches God has in store for you in His word? Every promise of God is yours through Christ. These riches can't help you unless you know what they are. Ask the Lord to open His Word to your heart so you might grasp what God has provided for you through Christ. Knowing the Word will get you a lot more than a bowl full of mush.
POWER POINT: Don't live below the level of God's Word. -Unknown
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Jeremiah 32-34
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Jeremiah 32
Jeremiah Buys A Field
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2At that time the army of the king of Babylon was around Jerusalem. And Jeremiah the man of God was shut up in the open space of the prison, in the house of the king of Judah. 3For King Zedekiah of Judah had shut him up, saying, " Why do you speak these things in the Lord's name? You have said, ' This is what the Lord says: " I am giving this city to the king of Babylon, and he will take it. 4King Zedekiah of Judah will not get away from the Babylonians. For sure he will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon. He will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. 5He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and he will be there until I visit him," says the Lord. " If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not win." ' ''
6Jeremiah said, " The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, 7' Hanamel, t...[more details]
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So we do not give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 NCV
A traveler to Italy watched a lumberman who would occasionally jab a log to separate it from the others as it traveled down the river. When asked why he did this, the lumberjack said, "The logs all look alike, but a few are very different. The ones I let pass grew in the valley protected from the storms. Their wood is coarse. The ones I separate grew on the high mountain slopes. They grew from saplings beaten by the winds. This toughened the trees and gave them a fine and beautiful grain. We save them for choice work. They are too good to make into plain lumber."
Have you lived through a lot of stress and trials? God lets His children experience duress in order to deepen and mature them. Only through trials does the beauty of holiness develop in your life. As you trust the Lord and patiently endure, the Lord will work the character...[more details]
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Jeremiah 35-37
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Jeremiah 35
The Rechabites
1This is the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2" Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them. Then bring them to one of the rooms of the house of the Lord, and give them wine to drink." 3So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons, and all those of the Rechabite family. 4And I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, the man of God. This room was near the room of the leaders and above the room of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the doorkeeper. 5Then I set jars full of wine and some cups in front of the men of the Rechabite family. And I said to them, " Drink wine." 6But they said, " We will not drink wine. For Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, told us, ' You and your sons must never drink wine. 7You must never build a house. You must never plant seeds. And you must neve...[more details]
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I have tested you in the fire of suffering, as silver is refined in a furnace. Isaiah 48:10 GNT
During the 1800's, gold miners in one area of Colorado discovered that much of the gold existed as telluride ore, a brittle, silvery-white compound. This mixture was high in gold content, but there were no known refining methods to extract the gold, so the ore was thrown away. One day, a miner mistakenly put a lump of ore into his potbelly stove. Later, he stirred the ashes and found flakes of gold. The heat burned off the tellurium, leaving pure gold behind.
Has the heat of life been turned up lately? Don't panic. God is still in control. The Lord uses the trials and stresses of life to purify your motives and deepen your faith. The same trials that test you will help you discover that God's grace is 24-carat gold.
POWER POINT: You must submit to supreme suffering in order to discover the completeness of joy. -John Calvin
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Jeremiah 38-41
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Jeremiah 38
Jeremiah In A Dry Water Well
1Now Shaphatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah heard Jeremiah telling all the people, 2" The Lord says, ' He who stays in this city will die by the sword and by hunger and by disease. But he who goes over to the Babylonians will live. He will get away with his life and live.' 3The Lord says, ' For sure this city will be given to the army of the king of Babylon, and he will take it.' " 4Then the leaders said to the king, " Now let this man be put to death. For he is making the hearts of the men of war weak who are left in this city, and of all the people, by saying such words to them. This man does not care about the well-being of these people, but instead wants them hurt." 5So King Zedekiah said, " He is in your hands. The king can do nothing against you." 6So they took Jeremiah and put him into the well of Malchijah the king's son, in the open space of the pris...[more details]
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The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 NIV
Built to be unsinkable, the RMS Titanic sunk in a few hours after grazing an iceberg. Researchers have discovered the probable reason for the disaster may have been in what appeared to be bad rivets. Samples of rivets brought up from the ocean depths reveal an unusual amount of slag in the metal. Slag was the mark of poor manufacturing, making the rivets brittle and prone to breakage. A few bad bolts ruined the maiden voyage of the world's greatest ship.
Don't let weakness ruin your walk with the Lord. Daily prayer, Bible reading, and regular church attendance may not seem like much, but are the rivets that hold together a vibrant relationship with the Lord. Don't neglect the little things. They are often the very things that will help you keep afloat!
POWER POINT: No life ever grew great without focus, dedication, and discipline. -Unknown
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Jeremiah 42-45
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Jeremiah 42
The People Want To Go To Egypt
1Then all the captains of the armies, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people both small and great, came near 2and said to Jeremiah the man of God, " Hear what we ask of you. Pray to the Lord your God for us, for all these people who are left. As you see, only a few of us are left out of many. 3Pray that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go and what we should do." 4Then Jeremiah the man of God said to them, " I have heard you. I will pray to the Lord your God as you ask. And I will tell you the whole answer that the Lord gives. I will not keep anything from you." 5Then they said to Jeremiah, " May the Lord be true and faithful to speak against us if we do not do all that the Lord your God tells you we must do. 6If it is good or bad, we will listen to the voice of the Lord our God to Whom we are sending you. It will go well with us if we listen to the voice of the Lord our God."
7At the...[more details]
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Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 NIV
A sculptor ruined a huge piece of Carrara marble. It sat in the courtyard of the cathedral in Florence, Italy, for 100 years. In 1505, young Michelangelo was asked if he thought anything could be done with it. He measured the block and made a sketch of his vision. For three years, he skillfully chiseled and shaped the marble. One of his students saw the towering figure of David and exclaimed, "Master, it lacks only one thing, and that is speech!"
God is in the salvage business. He takes ruined lives and shapes them into works of art through His grace. Let the Master take His chisel of love to your heart. Your heavenly Father will work to make you a chip off the old block!
POWER POINT: A weakness yielded to God can become the strongest thing about you. -Unknown
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Jeremiah 46-48
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Jeremiah 46
God Speaks Through Jeremiah About Egypt
1This is the Word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the man of God about the nations. 2This is what He said about Egypt, and about the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was by the Euphrates River at Carchemish. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had won the battle against Pharaoh's army in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah. 3" Get your coverings ready and go out to the battle! 4Get the horses ready and get on them! Take your places with your head-coverings on! Make your spears shine, and put on your heavy battleclothes! 5What do I see? They are filled with fear and are turning back. Their strong men are beaten and are running away without looking back. Much fear is on every side," says the Lord. 6Do not let the fast man run away. Do not let the strong man get away. In the north by the River Euphrates they have lost their step and fallen. 7Who is this that rises like the Nile, like rivers of ris...[more details]
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"Not even soldiers you have captured in combat should be put to death. Give them something to eat and drink, and let them return to their king." 2 Kings 6:22 GNT
Pastor Peter Miller was a personal friend of George Washington. Miller had an enemy, Michael Witman, who did all he could do to oppose the pastor. Witman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to plea for Witman's life. General Washington refused a pardon. "He's no friend. He's my bitterest enemy," exclaimed Miller. Washington was impressed and granted a pardon. Peter Miller then took Michael Witman back to his hometown, and was no longer his enemy, but was now a friend. (Stephen Olford)
Do you have a personal enemy who tries to make your life miserable? Try the grace treatment. Treat your foe in a manner that isn't really deserved. Grace can melt the hearts of the worst enemy. Think of Christ's cross. It on you didn't it?
POWER POINT: I will not permit any ma...[more details]
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Jeremiah 49-50
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Jeremiah 49
God Speaks Through Jeremiah About Ammon
1About the sons of Ammon, the Lord says, " Does Israel have no sons? Does she have no one to receive what she leaves? Why then has Malcam taken Gad as his own? Why do his people live in its cities? 2But the days are coming," says the Lord, " when I will blow a horn giving the sound of war against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. And it will become a waste. Its towns will be set on fire. Then Israel will take the land from those who had taken it from her," says the Lord.
3" Cry out, O Heshbon, for Ai has been destroyed! Cry out, O people of Rabbah. Put on clothes made from hair and cry in sorrow. And run this way and that way inside the walls. For Malcam will go to a strange land, together with his religious leaders and his important men. 4How you speak in pride about the valleys! Your valley is flowing away, O daughter without faith who trusts in her riches, saying, ' Who will come against me?' 5I will bring much trouble upon you,...[more details]
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God, examine me and know my heart; test me and know my nervous thoughts.
Psalm 139:23 NCV
Frank's computer was malfunctioning. He was frustrated because important projects were due. Periodic maintenance is necessary to avoid breakdowns. He ran a diagnostic check. The hard drive was full of program fragments and files improperly stored and slowing it down. A defrag program properly sorted stored information. The computer now runs smoothly.
Is your spiritual life bogged down? Defrag your spiritual hard drive. Wrong attitudes and sinful thoughts in your heart can bog down your spirit. Periodic maintenance is needed. Ask the Lord to search you and remove the weakness. It's a good way to 'boot up' your walk with God.
POWER POINT: A man of mediation is happy, not for an hour or a day, but in the circle of all his years. -Isaac Taylor
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Jeremiah 51-52
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Jeremiah 51
Babylon Is Destroyed
1The Lord says, " See, I will raise up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon and against the people of Chaldea. 2I will send strangers to destroy Babylon like a wind that blows straw away. For they will be against her on every side and leave her land empty in the day of her trouble. 3Do not let the bow-man use his bow. Do not let him stand up in his heavy battle-clothes. Do not leave her young men alive, but destroy all of her army. 4They will fall down dead in the land of Babylon and be killed in their streets."
5For Israel and Judah have not been left alone by their God, the Lord of All, even though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel. 6Run away from Babylon! Let every man save his life! Do not be destroyed in her punishment, for it is time for the Lord to punish her. He will make her pay for her sins. 7Babylon has been a gold cup in the Lord's hand, making all the earth drunk. The nations have drunk her wine, and so...[more details]
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Remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. Deuteronomy 8:2 NASB
A young minister applying for a pastorate had to interview with Mr. Smith, the head deacon of the church board. The interview was scheduled for 5AM. Later, at a board meeting, Smith reported, "The young man is a good candidate. I tested his self-denial and promptness by asking him to come at 5AM. I checked his patience by making him wait two hours. I probed his temper and humility by asking him simple questions. He has the makings of a good leader!"
Are you made of the right stuff? Do you have the qualities of a servant-leader? The Lord will send trying circumstances to show you what you are made of. Respond faithfully to what He brings. He is looking for good men and women.
POWER POINT: Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You pla...[more details]
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Lamentations 1:1-3:36
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Lamentations 1
Jerusalem's Sorrows
1How empty is the city that was once full of people! She was once great among the nations. But now she has become like a woman whose husband has died. She who was once a queen among the cities has become a servant made to work. 2She cries hard in the night, with tears on her face. She has no one to comfort her among all her lovers. All her friends have not been faithful to her. They have turned against her. 3Judah has been taken away to a strange land where she suffers much and is made to work hard as a servant. She lives among the nations, but has no rest. All those who went after her have taken her in her trou-ble . 4The roads of Zion are filled with sorrow, because no one comes to the special suppers. All her gates are laid waste. Her religious leaders are crying in sorrow. Her pure young women are troubled, and she herself is in bitter suffering. 5Those who hate her have power over her, and all goes well for them. For the Lord has made her...[more details]
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I will sing to the Lord, I will sing and make music to the Lord, the God of Israel. Judges 5:3 NIV
A king hired a famous musician to build a wonderful harp. The king's family spent many happy hours listening to the music. No one could tune the harp when it fell out of tune, so it sat covered for years. One night, an old man seeking shelter and a meal, noticed the harp and asked why it was covered. The king said no one could tune it. The visitor asked to play it. Soon, the melodious music of days gone by was heard. The elderly man was the one who made the harp. (Bessie Kennedy, Open Windows, 03/09/93)
Have you been out of tune lately? Do you feel your life is not in harmony? Stop trying to pluck your own strings. The Lord made you and He knows best how to direct your life. Yielding to the Lord will give you a lot less to harp about.
POWER POINT: I go out to preach with two propositions in mind. First, everyone ought to give his life to Christ. Second, whether or not...[more details]
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Lamentations 3:37-5:22
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Lamentations 3
37Who has said that something would happen and then it did happen, unless the Lord has said that it should be? 38Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and bad come?
39Why should any living man complain about the punishment of his sins? 40Let us test and look over our ways, and return to the Lord. 41Let us lift up our heart and hands to God in heaven, saying, 42'We have sinned and would not obey You, and You have not forgiven us. 43You have covered Yourself with anger and have followed us, killing without pity. 44You have covered Yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through. 45You have made us a waste and something that is not wanted among the nations. 46All those who hate us have spoken against us. 47Fear and a trap have come upon us. We are laid waste and destroyed. 48My eyes flow with rivers of tears because my people are destroyed. 49Tears flow from my eyes all the time without stopping, 50until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees...[more details]
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I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind. Jeremiah 17:10 NIV
Dave's car was having problems. Whenever he took it on the highway, it would start to develop a wobble in the wheels. The wobble increased as the car went faster. Maintaining highway speeds was almost impossible. Several mechanics looked at the problem to no avail. One day, a new mechanic found the problem. There was water in the front tire. Whoever changed that tire let too much water into the tire when the tire rim was moistened before installation. The trapped liquid presented no problem until centrifugal force threw the wheel out of balance.
Does your life have a wobble? Fear and anxious thoughts can go unnoticed until outside pressure suddenly spins you out of control. Ask the Lord to search your heart. Allow Him to remove harmful attitudes so that your life keeps rolling right along.
POWER POINT: Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into w...[more details]
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Ezekiel 1-4
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Ezekiel 1
Ezekiel Sees God's Throne
1On the fifth day of the fourth month in the thirtieth year, while I was by the Chebar River with the Jews who had been taken away from their land, the heavens were opened and I saw God in a special way. 2(On the fifth day of the month in the fifth year that King Jehoiachin had been living in a strange land, 3the Word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the religious leader, son of Buzi, in the land of the Babylonians by the Chebar River. There the hand of the Lord came upon him.)
4I looked and saw a wind storm coming from the north. There was a big cloud with lightning coming from it and with a bright light around it. Inside the fire was something like shining brass, 5and in the fire was what looked like four living beings. They looked like men, 6but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7Their legs were straight, and their feet were like those of a calf. They shined like bright brass. 8Under their wings on their four sides were hands like a m...[more details]
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After you suffer for a short time, God, who gives all grace, will make everything right. He will make you strong and support you and keep you from falling. 1 Peter 5:10 NCV
A young army recruit was about to make his first parachute jump. His sergeant reminded him, "Count to ten and pull the rip cord. If it snags, then pull the ripcord for the auxiliary chute. After you land, our truck will pick you up to take you back to the base." The paratrooper took a deep breath and jumped. He counted to ten and pulled the first cord. Nothing happened. Then, he pulled the second cord. Again, nothing happened. As he careened rapidly earthward, he muttered to himself, "What do you bet that the truck won't be there to pick me up either!"
Are you having one of those days? Before you hit ground, turn to the Lord.
He allows troubles and trials, but promises to personally pull you out of the pits. Trust
the Lord. He'll catch you before you crash.
POWER POINT: Men honor what lies...[more details]
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Ezekiel 5-8
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Ezekiel 5
Ezekiel Cuts His Hair With A Sword
1'As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword. Use it to cut the hair from your head and face. Then weigh and divide the hair. 2A third part you must burn in the fire in the center of the city, when the days of the battle are completed. Then take a third part and cut it up with your sword as you move around the city. And a third part you must throw to the wind. For I will pull out a sword behind them. 3Take a small number of the hairs and tie them in the cloth of your coat. 4Take some more of them and throw them into the fire, and burn them up. A fire will spread from there to all the people of Israel. 5The Lord God says, 'This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with lands around her. 6But she has turned against My Laws worse than the nations and the lands around her. The people of Jerusalem have turned away from My Laws and have not obeyed them.' 7So the Lord God says, 'You have been more sinful than the nation...[more details]
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