“Do You Need Some Rest?” 9/07/2021 Written by Beth Andrews for “Deeper Roots”

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Matthew 11:28-29 - YouTube

Written by Beth Andrews for “Deeper Roots”  @  https://dbethandrews.wordpress.com

Original post @ https://dbethandrews.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/hebrews-do-you-need-some-rest/

Hebrews: Do You Need Some Rest?

POSTED ON AUGUST 19, 2021 BY BETH ANDREWS

My sleeping angel, Joy.

I kept my phone close, anticipating a call about a test I had undergone. Cancer took my mom away too soon – and I knew that increased my risk. The call finally came late in the afternoon. “The images were clear. There was no sign of cancer.” Relief filled my heart and that night I got some much-needed rest.  But what if I decided the doctor was wrong? What if I doubted the results? What if I continued to worry and toss and turn at night?

The writer of Hebrews drew from the Psalmist’s recollection of the Israelite’s in the wilderness and God’s declaration that this unbelieving people “Shall never enter my rest” (Psalm 95:11; Hebrews 3:11; 4:3). At the threshold of the Promised Land, Moses sent out twelve spies into Canaan to explore the territory and assess the inhabitants from a military standpoint. They returned with a glowing report of “the land of milk and honey” (Numbers 13:27), and an alarming report of the people they would have to defeat to take the land. They said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are!” (13:31) The people grumbled and wanted to turn back to Egypt – to slavery. Only Joshua and Caleb urged them to trust the Lord and proceed – and only Joshua and Caleb survived God’s judgment.  Because of their unbelief, the whole company would wander for forty years until the last of the unbelieving generation fell in the desert.

The author used them as an example of people who “had the gospel . . . but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith” (Hebrews 4:2).  Faith, as the Bible uses it means belief and trust – with the implication that actions based on that trust will follow. Faith is not just ethereal thoughts – it is acting with confidence in what God has said. The Israelites heard about the Promised Land, but they doubted they could get the victory so they gave up on God’s rest. When the gospel is declared some will have faith and some will not. Some will rest in the promise of salvation and eternal life and some will live in hopelessness and anxiety.  The author adds, “Now we who have believed enter that rest . . .” (4:3a).

Beloved, are you weary? There is rest for those who trust in Jesus. Today and eternally.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS832US832&sxsrf=AOaemvK_4GX725b9K3rrsaouyrHHpGAkeQ:1631014734258&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=image+mat+11:28&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiU9-6u4-zyAhWH4J4KHYx7BIsQjJkEegQIExAC&biw=1365&bih=920#imgrc=MDbYRF-rt7gBYM

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“Trusting the Bible” 9/06/2021 Written by Patricia Ravens for “Our Daily Bread”

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional   

55 Bible Verses about Trust - DailyVerses.net

Written by Patricia Ravens for “Our Daily Bread” @  http://odb.org

[Click on the “Listen Online” link and listen to the audio version at the top, including the prayer at the end in the original post link below]

Original post @ https://odb.org/2021/08/17?utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20210816_Our+Daily+Bread+Daily+Devotional+Dynamic&utm_content=devotional_url

August 17

Trusting the Bible

When your words came, I ate them.

Jeremiah 15:16

 

Today’s Scripture & Insight:

Jeremiah 15:15–21

Billy Graham, the renowned American evangelist, once described his struggle to accept the Bible as completely true. One night as he walked alone in the moonlight at a retreat center in the San Bernardino Mountains, he dropped to his knees and placed his Bible on a tree stump, able only to “stutter” a prayer: “Oh, God! There are many things in this book I do not understand.”

By confessing his confusion, Graham said the Holy Spirit finally “freed me to say it. ‘Father, I am going to accept this as thy Word—by faith!’ ” When he stood up, he still had questions, but he said, “I knew a spiritual battle in my soul had been fought and won.”

The young prophet Jeremiah fought spiritual battles too. Yet he consistently sought answers in Scripture. “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jeremiah 15:16). He declared, “The word of the Lord . . . is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones” (20:8–9). Nineteenth-century evangelist Charles Spurgeon wrote, “[Jeremiah] lets us into a secret. His outer life, especially his faithful ministry, was due to his inward love of the word which he preached.”

We too can shape our life through the wisdom of Scripture despite our struggles. We can keep studying, as always, by faith.

Reflect & Pray

How has your life been shaped by Scripture? As you accept it by faith, how do you expect your life to change?

Heavenly Father, show me new things about You as I read the Bible. Teach me Your ways. Show me Your love.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS832US832&sxsrf=AOaemvLYlE-J2-5emDGmJM-MbcKU6DuE8Q:1630848088848&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=image+trust+in+the+Bible&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjBiJLI9ufyAhUBF1kFHeF7AucQjJkEegQIBxAC&biw=1365&bih=863#imgrc=uz37jY_iXbyT7M

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“Taking Out Mountains” 9/05/2021 Written by Gabrielle Guthrie for “See, there’s this thing called biology…~insanitybytes”

Posted on September 5, 2021 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

A New Language (Eph 4:29)

Written by Gabrielle Guthrie for “See, there’s this thing called biology…~insanitybytes”  @ https://insanitybytes2.wordpress.com/

Original post found @ https://insanitybytes2.wordpress.com/2021/08/30/taking-out-mountains/

Taking Out Mountains

30MondayAug 2021

Posted by insanitybytes22 in Uncategorized

Tags  faith, forgiveness, grace, insanitybytes22, narratives, opinion, reblogs, rewriting the story

I thought this post of Pastor Randy’s called “It’s Right There In The Bible! NOT! Part 5” was really good. The whole series is good, but this particular post is about forgiving and forgetting and it contains some much needed wisdom.

I’ve spent a great deal of time studying Judas in the Bible, in part because I’ve needed to walk through a whole lot of forgiveness. That is a really amazing tale, a great story with so many huge revelations waiting for us! For me, I really needed to understand how Jesus managed His expectations of others. He knows who Judas is and what Judas would do. In many ways He even trusted Judas……to be Judas. So often our wounds come from expecting something from people that they just can’t give, or else trying to change them in our minds into someone they are not.

Sometimes I think forgiveness is kind of like peeling an onion. You’re doing pretty good, hardly even think about it anymore….and then you find yourself crossing the street to avoid someone. Or perhaps ducking behind the produce section. Or maybe you get hungry, angry, lonely, tired, triggered, and you realize there’s still a wound there or at least some scar tissue that hasn’t quite been abraded.

Regardless, forgiveness can be a real process and it can happen in stages.

The Lord is in the business of healing and restoration, your healing and restoration. Never mind the other guy. If you are wounded, it is your wounds the Lord wants to bind up. Ten fold. He doesn’t just get us back to “normal,” He gets us patched up and into extraordinary.

That truth is part of what enables us to, “love your enemies” or to “bless those who curse you.” This is not just an offense or a wound happening, this is an opportunity for the Lord to bless and heal me, to restore what I am losing ten times over.

I appreciated Pastor Randy’s post because he touched on something really important. He says, “but there is a way to forgive and forget. It’s in how we treat the memory of the wound. “ Absolutely! I call that seizing the narrative. We place ourselves in the Lord’s hands and we allow Him to rewrite the story.

When my son was young he went mountain biking, slid off the embankment and landed on a boulder cracking his helmet. He was okay, just a giant gravel rash with about half the road embedded in him. Lots of blood, lots of scrapes. His friends brought him home and I just wanted so badly to be a mom, to be a nurse, to scoop him up, to wail in despair and fuss, but I didn’t. The Holy Spirit was like, Nope, that’s not the narrative. The narrative is, Glad you had a good time. You should probably wash some of that dirt off.

I’ll never forget the look in his eyes, the relief. So not in trouble, not dying, and I had a good time? Yep, that’s the narrative. Not only that, now you own the bragging rights to the whole adventure.

Same situation, two entirely different responses and reactions, completely different narratives being written, and it changed everything. Not only was it the best thing I could do for my kid at the time, I can now look back at that memory and smile, because it was the day my son took out a mountain.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS832US832&sxsrf=AOaemvIcn1X6K_Bc6I-NvHwKHBGHZRzM9Q:1630765197317&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=image+eph+4:29&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjBzLDiweXyAhW-FlkFHVpVAYgQjJkEegQIBxAC&biw=1365&bih=920#imgrc=YzeFCilpWoeU0M

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“How To Know God’s Will For Your Life” 9/04/2021 Written by Dr. Lawson Murry for “SEIZE The DAY”

Posted on September 4, 2021 by Godsmanforever

Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Micah 6:8' iPhone Case flexible | Spreadshirt

Written by Dr. Lawson Murry for “SEIZE The DAY”  @  https://seizetheday-blog.com

Original post @ https://seizetheday-blog.com/2021/08/20/how-to-know-gods-will-for-your-life-2/

How To Know God’s Will For Your Life

AUGUST 20, 2021

6d62bade7f21ea8f8a470dd8c2e402d8--the-cross-cross-of-jesus

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV).

Here are ten things to consider if you want to know God’s will for your life:

  1. Read, reflect and respond to God’s Word. God speaks to us primarily through His Word. Know His Word and you’ll know His will. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” Psalm 119:105 (NIV).
  1. Confess sin. Sin separates us from God. When we sin, God won’t listen to us and we won’t hear from Him. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” Isaiah 59:2 (NIV).
  1. Do what He wants, not what you want. Who is the Lord of your life, you or God? If you’re not 100% convinced that God wants you to do what you’re thinking about doing, then you shouldn’t do it. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways submit to Him, and He shall make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV).
  1. Act on what you already know God wants you to do. God is very clear about how we should, or should not, be doing many things e.g. no sex before marriage. If we don’t obey all the general things taught in the Bible, it’s unlikely that God will reveal specific things to us. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” James 1:22 (NIV).
  1. Seek godly input. Our world view (values and philosophy) and direction in life is often a composite of the five people we spend the most time with. When you surround yourself with godly people they’ll be instrumental in helping you discern God’s plan for your life. “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers” Proverbs 11:14 (NIV). “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise” Proverbs 19:20 (NIV).
  1. Pay attention to how God has wired you. God’s plan/purpose/will for you will always be directly related to the gifts He’s given you. “All (the gifts) are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines” 1 Corinthians 12:11 (NIV).
  1. Listen to God’s Spirit. Discern what God is saying to you by listening internally to the One who is in you. ”But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” John 14:26 (NIV).
  1. Listen to your heart. God has already wired you to fulfil His plans and purposes for your life. In addition to listening to the Spirit, you must act on the desires that God has placed in your heart.  “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this” Psalm 37:4-5 (NIV).
  1. Use common sense. If you’re all thumbs and no fingers, you’re probably not meant to be a carpenter! “Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense” Proverbs 10:13 (NIV).
  1. Ask the Lord. Don’t miss the obvious. Sometimes we don’t know God’s will/plan/purpose because we didn’t ask! “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” Matthew 7:7 (NIV). “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” 1 John 5:14 (NIV).

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS832US832&sxsrf=AOaemvIA8x4Rii-B2xsJrCH_ww6bKkpZOg:1630758364743&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=image+micah+6:8&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJvK2oqOXyAhUnTd8KHYq8COoQjJkEegQIBxAC&biw=1365&bih=927#imgrc=-UVvU2fQAuDyJM

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“Don’t forget about God !!” 9/03/2021 Written by Louis Mize, a good friend

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

The Forgotten God (Psalm 50:22) | For You

Written by Louis Mize, a good friend  @  https://www.facebook.com/louis.mize

“Don’t forget about God !!”

And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall perish.

Deuteronomy 8:19

It appears that some in America are forgetting the Lord our God. Forgetting God always leads to a dangerous and sinful walk. You can see it in the hearts of prideful people who have no regard for God. And as that forgetfulness leads to a sinful walk in a direction away from God, it leads to apostasy. And then apostasy leads to idolatry. And ultimately, idolatry leads to death.

It seems our government is forgetting the Lord our God. And as they forget Him, they leave people behind, STRANDED and ABANDONED. It is a result of cold, calloused hearts of forgetfulness and unbelief. And make no mistake about it, they have brought BIG TROUBLE to our country.

People are always trying to make us forget vital things. God is the most important and vital Person and Force in our lives. And while people around us show their deliberate intent to forget God and leave Him out of the decision making processes, you and I best be not counted among their number. Pray for our country my brothers and sisters. People STILL need the Lord. Never forget Him. And never forget what happened yesterday.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?q=image+Psalm+50%3A22&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwicipqv2-LyAhXNa6wKHZRCABEQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=image+Psalm+50%3A22&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1CqzgJYo9UCYNPdAmgAcAB4AIABjAGIAcACkgEDMi4xmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=vggyYZyzBc3XsQWUhYGIAQ&bih=927&biw=1365#imgrc=I-BftSIU29CEkM

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“It Runs Good But It Doesn’t Have Brakes” 9/02/2021 Posted by Pastor Randy Burbank for “Kingdom Pastor”

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Psalm 46 10 Print (You'll Enjoy) | Etsy

Posted by Pastor Randy Burbank  for “Kingdom Pastor”  @  https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com

Original post @ https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com/2021/07/24/it-runs-good-but-it-doesnt-have-brakes/

It Runs Good But It Doesn’t Have Brakes

JULY 24, 2021PASTOR RANDY

With frequent regularity, I browse Facebook Market place. Sometimes I may be looking for something specific–or I may just look at an item because it grabs my attention. Such was the case this morning with the above picture. I have this identical 4-wheeler–same year and model. So I took at look.

Did you read the description?

  • Runs and drives good

  • No brakes

  • New axle

  • New rear end

  • New Tires

Did you catch the second item? I highlighted it for you just in case you missed it. No brakes! Being a seasoned 4-wheeler operator, I know for a fact that without brakes–though it may run and drive real good–you will still need to stop. You can stop without brakes–it just takes a while longer. Unless–you run into something. For me at least–to run and drive good, brakes are essential.

What does this have to do with the Kingdom Life? We need to stop at regular and often frequent intervals. Without stopping to rest (I mean, God worked 6 days and rested on the seventh) it puts us in serious jeopardy. Stopping helps us gain perspective–and will give us that moment to focus on God, rather than everything else. You need to come to a complete STOP! Not those rolling stops at stop signs. Do that in front of a police officer and you may get a ticket for NOT stopping.

Remember the words of God to David:

“Be still, and know that I am God!

    I will be honored by every nation.

    I will be honored throughout the world.”

Psalm 46:10 (NLT)

The best part of your day is when you stand still in the presence of God. This will enable you to know who He is (He’s God, that means you’re NOT), how much He loves you, and how He will guide and help you through whatever comes your way. Be still, just be still!

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

Picture credit:  https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=AOaemvJhjGSDn22H67dQzDgT-hTC4r0RbQ:1630539599502&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=image+Psalm+46:10&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjr4fqs-d7yAhXTGVkFHdHWAj8QjJkEegQIBhAC&biw=876&bih=559#imgrc=FNMjmF-UWXwwoM

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“My thoughts on the 3 most important pieces of scripture for the ‘born again’ Christian” 9/01/2021 Written by bruce r. mills for “God’s group”

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”      http://odb.org

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

                     How does the blood of Jesus cleanse us from our sin? (1 John 1:7-10) - YouTube

Written by bruce r. mills for “God’s group” @ www.Godsmanforever.com

“The 3 most important pieces of scripture for the ‘born again’ Christian”

 

As “born again” Christians, God has given us a roadmap that will guide us down the right path in life…Proverbs 3:5-6…  [If you are not yet a “born again” believer, open the P.S. below]

I am sure you have all heard it said, that the word BIBLE is an acronym for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”…  There is so much truth is this statement, because God’s Word is filled with scripture which tells us how important it is to spend time (hopefully every day) reading, meditating, digesting, and applying God’s inerrant Word, the Bible, to our lives…  [See 1. Below for an app for an audible Bible in one year-  No more excuses for not finding the time to be in the Word EVERY DAY !! ]

We should all aspire to become disciples of Christ…  This is what Jesus tells us about being His disciple, in…

John 8:31-32…  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  (ESV)

Abiding in God’s Word, from my John McArthur notes in my study Bible, tells us abiding in God’s Word means we are to persevere in obedience to scripture…  “A genuine believer holds fast, obeys, and practices Jesus’ teachings”…  How are you going to learn what Jesus is teaching us in His Word, unless you open, read, digest, and apply what Jesus teaches us, on how we are to live our lives ??

Jesus tells us this in…Matthew 4:4 ( and again in Luke 4:4)…  But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  (ESV)  This Word from God is found in the Bible…

Just as we need physical food and water to survive…we need spiritual food (from the Word) to nurture and mature us in our walk with the Lord…  As “born again” Christians we are called to place the Lord first and foremost in our lives…  And when Christ is first, with all of our sins confessed, repented of, and turned from…at that moment in time we are filled with the Holy Spirit…  Here is the second of the 3 most important scripture verses for the “born again” Christian…  [The 1st most important of 3 scripture verses is to follow]

Ephesians 5:18-20…  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (NKJV)

I wrote two days about the difference between the filling of the Holy Spirit the moment we are saved by God through saving faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ…and the second filling of the Holy Spirit which produces a moment by moment walk with the Lord, once the believer is “born again”…  You can read about this first filling of the Holy Spirit when we are first saved by God’s grace in Reference 2. below…

But after we become redeemed, “born again” children of God, what happens when we sin ??   God’s inerrant and infallible Word tells us we must confess our sins to God, repenting and turning from them ??   1 John 1:9…  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (NKJV)

This is the first and most important scripture verse we must follow, if we want to remain walking with the Lord as a “Christ-centered”, “Spirit filled” Christian… Every believer should know this scripture verse by heart, because it will probably be used several times a day, depending on how may times we are convicted by the Holy Spirit that we have sinned…  This continuous and ongoing confession of any sins is the focal point for the Christian who wants to live a life that will be pleasing to God…

But what will happen if we decide that we like our sins more that living in obedience to the will of God for our lives ??  Friends I’m afraid God will not bless us like He wants to…  We see this very plainly in the following scripture penned by Solomon, the wisest man there ever was…  (1 Kings 4:30)

Proverbs 28:13…  He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.  (NKJV)

Any unconfessed sins lurking in the heart of the believer will hinder (if not break) their fellowship with the Lord…   God hates sin, and He sees the sin/sins residing in our heart…  And if we are attuned to what the Holy Spirit is urging us to do, and we want God’s blessings… we will be convicted by the Holy Spirit to get right again with the Lord, after confessing, repenting, and turning from any and all sins…

Once the “born again” Christian is cleansed “from all unrighteousness”  (1 John 1:9), and they are “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18-20), they are then able to Walk in and by the full power of the Holy Spirit…

Galatians 5:16…   I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  (NKJV)

This, the 3rd of the 3 most important scripture verses for the believer, is where we want to do our best to remain in, so as to walk as perfectly as humanly possible…  I spent a day writing about this 2nd filling of the Holy Spirit, that you can read in Reference 3. below…

There you have it my friends !!  The 3 most important pieces of scripture for the “born again” Christian who is doing their best to be perfect as the Lord is perfect…

Matthew 5:48…  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.  (NKJV)

 

We can never achieve perfection as these words spoken by Jesus tells us in the Book of Matthew…  But this perfection should be what we strive for day in and day out…if we understand and put to use these 3 most important pieces of scripture…

Every believer will mature in their walk with the Lord at a different pace…   One thing is for sure, we will all be conformed into the image of Christ by the time we draw our last breath here on earth…  The apostle Paul pens this…

Romans 8:28-30…  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.  (NKJV)

But if every believer could experience the benefit of the blessings God wants to shower upon His obedient children, at an earlier age…they would find out that they will make less mistakes in life if they do their best to walk in and by the full power of the Holy Spirit sooner, rather than later…  The apostle Paul pens this…

Ephesians 3:20…  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  (NKJV)

This “power that works in us” is God through the indwelling Holy Spirit He has given to every believer…

Since God is Sovereign, and He never makes any mistakes…doesn’t it make sense to seek the Lord’s will before you decide upon an occupation…or the school God wants you to attend…or the right partner you should marry for a lifelong relationship made in heaven  ??  I rest my case for applying these 3 scripture verses to your life !!

Gracious God and heavenly Father…  I am sooo thankful for Your Word that You gave us to guide and direct our lives…  I pray Father that every reader, no matter where they stand in Your eyes, will find something in Your living and powerful Word (the Bible), (Hebrews 4:12) they can use to draw them closer to You…  I pray Father that hearts and lives would be changed by You this day, in Jesus’ most precious name, and for His sake…Amen…

Blessings in Christ, bruce

References:

  1. Read or listen to the Bible in a year app found @   www.Bibleinoneyear.org

  2. First filling of the Holy Spirit –    https://godsmanforever.com/2021/08/05/how-do-i-know-if-the-holy-spirit-is-in-me-8-05-2021-posted-by-bruce-r-mills-for-gods-group/

  3. 2nd filling of the Holy Spirit –  https://godsmanforever.com/2021/08/10/walk-by-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-8-10-2021-written-by-bruce-r-mills-for-gods-group/

P.S.  When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

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Trust in the Lord: September 2021 Scripture Writing Plan 8/31/2021 Written by Elihu Anderson for “Elihu’s Corner”

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Godsmanforever

 

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org 

 

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional 

 

Amazon.com: Arthuryerkes Proverbs 3:5-6 Pallet Sign Scripture Signs Trust in The Lord Pallet Bible Verse Sign Christian Decor Christian Wood Sign Plaque Home Decor : Home & Kitchen

 

Written by Elihu Anderson for  “Elihu’s Corner”  @   http://elihuscorner.com/

 

Original post @ https://elihuscorner.com/2021/08/31/trust-in-the-lord-september-2021-scripture-writing-plan/

 

Trust in the Lord: September 2021 Scripture Writing Plan

August 31, 2021Elihu

The last two years have been quite the “adventure.”

Usually, adventure triggers images of excitement or glamour, but there is also the little matter of discomfort and even danger—near-death experiences, large bugs, deadly snakes, dehydration. diseases.

Adventure is not all it’s cracked up to be.

I remember lamenting the lack of exciting historical events as a teenager in the 90s. I loved swing music and 1940s styles and was fascinated by World War II History. My dad, who was a young adult in the late 60s and 70s and fought in the Vietnam conflict, held back a chuckle as he noted that interesting history isn’t always as awesome as it seems.

He was right.

A few years after my teenagery complaint, I saw some tragic history unfold on September 11th 2001. I watched with my own eyes as our country transformed over the next years—deteriorating into division and anger. Friends died overseas. Rights were oh-so-slowly stripped away. Just when I thought we’d had enough, Covid hit. I didn’t see that one coming. Even when they started implementing lock-downs, I didn’t foresee how long-lasting nor how devastating the impact would be.

Yet, here we are.

In more recent news, there’s the sad state of affairs in Afghanistan. Brothers and sisters in Christ still face the ultimate sacrifice, and I continue to pray not only for their safety, but for their resolve. A hurricane just pummeled Louisiana. Thousands are without power. Thousands more are suddenly homeless.

Sometimes, I feel like I’m in one of those awful movies that just keeps getting worse.

In times like these, Samwise Gamgee’s speech from The Two Towers always comes into my mind:

“It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?

But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why.

But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back. Only they didn’t, because they were holding on to something…That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.”

In spite of all the evil, God still reigns. These trying times test our faith in the Lord. While we may never see “good times” again on this earth, we will have an eternity of joy with the Lord. May you and I both emerge from this testing with a stronger and more refined faith. When your heart is overwhelmed, make it a habit to send your fears to the Lord. Keep bringing them back whenever they arise until you trust in God overpowers your fears.

For our scripture writing plan this month, we are going to focus on passages that remind us to place our trust in the Almighty God. He is unshakeable, unconquerable, and incorruptible.

Yes, our country could collapse.

Yes, we might end up with some form of “big brother.”

Yes, natural disasters will strike again and again.

Through it all, God is our rock and our fortress. Trust Him to watch over you in this adventure of life and pray that through it all, He will be glorified.

This month’s PDF is black and white only! Going forward I will always include one full color and one black and white for those who want to save ink. To download, click the link below:

September 2021 Scripture Writing PlanDOWNLOAD

For your young scripture writers, Sara McBroom has once again put together these awesome tracing and copying sheets! To download the PDF files, click the links below!

kids scripture writing copying september 2021DOWNLOAD

kids scripture writing tracing september 2021DOWNLOAD

I also want to say a special thanks to both Sara McBroom and Liz Smith, my sisters in Christ who help me with these plans each month. For this month’s plan, Liz provided many of the scriptures and the idea of trusting in the Lord for this month’s theme. I am so grateful for their time and efforts!

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below! If you are in need of a different theme, there is a scripture writing tab in the categories section! I am working on a way to have a full list readily accessible so you can select by theme. We have almost 3 full years of scripture writing plans!

May the Lord bless you as you draw near to Him.

Related

Hosea – God’s Unfailing Love: July 2021 Scripture Writing PlanJune 30, 2021In “God’s Love”

New Beginnings: Scripture Writing Plan January 2021December 31, 2020In “Scripture Writing Plans”

Rest, Refuge, and Peace: Scripture Writing Plan April 2019March 29, 2019In “Scripture Writing Plans”

Published by Elihu

Elihu Anderson is a California refugee currently thriving on the West Texas plains. She is the founder of elihuscorner.com and is a contributor to Kirk Cameron’s website TheCourage.com. When she isn’t writing, reading, or teaching, she is sipping on some iced homemade chai and enjoying time with a good friend. Come by and say hi at elihuscorner.com or visit me on Facebook.com/elihuscorner View all posts by Elihu

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

 

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

 

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

 

Picture credit:  https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=AOaemvJXE1O1ITyYn6KjlnuZAW44aRDBkg:1630409874565&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=image+proverbs+3:5-6&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjR96SLltvyAhVSgp4KHcRVCnUQjJkEegQIDhAC&biw=1365&bih=927#imgrc=OGsb8eg2iRVDuM

 

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“Jesus Makes Us Capable” 8/30/2021 Written by Dawn Ivey for “Drawing closer to Christ”

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Godsmanforever

“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Tim Burt on Twitter: "Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us... http://t.co/aMxKVrCEs9"

Written by  Dawn Ivey for “Drawing closer to Christ”  @  https://drawingclosertochrist.com

Original post @ https://drawingclosertochrist.com/2021/08/30/jesus-makes-us-capable/

 

Jesus Makes Us Capable

 

AUGUST 30, 2021 ~ DAWN

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV, “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,in persecutions,in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

 

It is human nature for us to want to be self-sufficient and in control of our lives. We think we can take care of ourselves by ourselves. But the truth is that in our own strength, we are not capable. We need God’s strength to sustain us because we fall short in many ways. Even when we go through seasons that seem like we “have it all together,” one thing can suddenly happen that reminds us we need the Lord. Life can change quickly.

Paul said that He boasted about his weaknesses, because through them, He experienced the power of Jesus Christ. We often struggle to make things happen in our own strength, but when we give our life over to Jesus, day by day, one situation at a time, we will find that through His power, we become strong and capable. Even when we experience feelings of fear or uncertainty, we can find the courage to keep progressing step by step.

Photo by: Cottonbro of Russia 

 

Do you boast about your weaknesses knowing that through them Jesus can still use you to accomplish His will? The closer I have gotten to Jesus, the more I am understanding what Paul meant. There is a freedom that comes when we begin to understand that in Christ, we don’t have to be perfect. When we humble ourselves before the Lord, He lifts us up in due time (1 Peter 5:6). Apart from Him, we can do nothing; even overcoming our weaknesses requires His help. Trust Jesus to sustain you. He loves you, even when your performance is not perfect.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

 

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

 

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

 

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“Mercy for the Believer” 8/29/2021 Posted by Alister Begg for www.truthforlife.org

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Godsmanforever

Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie    http://www.harvest.org/devotional

Great Verses of the Bible: Psalm 51:1-2 | ThePreachersWord

Posted by Alister Begg   for   www.truthforlife.org

Original post @ https://www.truthforlife.org/daily/?tab=devotional&date=08%2F29%2F2021%3Fsrc%3D21ELHV0&utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotion%20Emails&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=153338219&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8D5Wl5srYwJcES6nGEQQUe3Xq0K8ksI7O058x-PwmjXLfyYbQTfdzSdbvyuV0zxPmnkBqTRaFmuQZ8GYSYQpVUQvhwdMWbTLQrb8TuWD2NxLuDFGY&utm_content=153338219&utm_source=hs_email

Mercy for the Believer

 

Have mercy on me, O God.

Psalm 51:1

When one of God’s choice servants, William Carey, was suffering from a dangerous illness, the inquiry was made, “If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?” He replied, “Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, ‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.’” In the same spirit of humility he directed in his will that the following inscription and nothing more should be cut on his gravestone:

WILLIAM CAREY, BORN AUGUST 17th, 1761:
DIED—
“A wretched, poor, and helpless worm
On Your kind arms I fall.”

Only on the footing of free grace can the most experienced and most honored of the saints approach their God. The best of men are conscious above all others that they are men at best. Empty boats float high, but heavily laden vessels are low in the water; mere professors can boast, but true children of God cry for mercy upon their unprofitableness.

We need the Lord to have mercy upon our good works, our prayers, our preaching, our offerings, and our living sacrifices. The blood was not only sprinkled on the doorposts of Israel’s houses, but upon the sanctuary, the mercy-seat, and the altar, because as sin intrudes upon our holiest things, the blood of Jesus is needed to purify them from defilement.

If mercy is needed to be exercised toward our duties, what will be said of our sins? How sweet the remembrance that inexhaustible mercy is waiting to be gracious to us, restore our backslidings, and make our broken bones rejoice!

C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg.

Copyright © 2003, Good News Publishers and used by Truth For Life with written permission.

Today’s Bible Reading material is taken from McCheyne Bible reading plan and used by Truth For Life with permission. Scripture quotations are taken from Holy Bible: English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, Good News Publishers.

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P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !!  If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ??  Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…   https://godsmanforever.com

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

You say you are a “born again” believer…  BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ??  If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/

Picture credit: https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=AOaemvK4Q8gg4xolqjJG1fLEmxPWp_ivnQ:1630237475530&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=image+psalm+51:1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiB84Ltk9byAhWPnOAKHXSABSgQjJkEegQIBxAC&biw=1365&bih=927#imgrc=Xf8ScEAKM7E9NM

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