Month: November 2017

  Matthew 6:7-8 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. I remember once watching a mother and marveling at her mastery in handling several energetic young children. It was an amazing sight. In the midst of a whirlwind of activity, this seasoned pro intuitively met the needs of her kids. A meal was served, spills were averted, noses were wiped, …

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A Woman of Character. Abraham sent his trusted Servant Eliezer to to Aram Naharaim, which is the city of Haran to find a bride for the chosen son Isaac. He finds Rebecca at a well and begins a conversation with her which affirms that she is the Lord’s choice for Isaac. She exhibits the perfect characteristics of a woman. Rebecca’s Characteristics are: 1. Hard working 2. Efficient 3. Conscientious 4. Friendly 5. Helpful 6. Hospitable to strangers 7. Kind to animals 8. Willing to give of herself to others 9. Chaste 10. Unblemished character Watch this video on YouTube

House of Cards Monday, November 13, 2017 Pete Garcia Although it could be said that the old paradigms of power are shifting, they could more aptly be described as crumbling. Powerful men and women in industries once thought untouchable, are now being exposed for a variety of crimes, hypocrisy, and corruption with increasing frequency. Terrible crimes done in the dark and behind the scenes, are now being brought to light with an uncomfortable doggedness that has the pillars of power shaking. If the powers that be are already in the process of falling apart, and we haven’t even made it into the …

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“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6 KJV) Watching television, reading a newspaper, and/or scanning social media websites, you immediately recognize abundant negativity and distress. People immaturely bickering about stupid topics, calling others names to no purpose. Individuals harming others (robberies, murders, kidnappings, and so on). Trouble brewing at a local church once known for its loving atmosphere. A dysfunctional family waxing worse and worse. Economic, political, environmental, healthcare, and social woes. No matter the country, what a depressing state of affairs! I recently read online, “The more I deal …

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Psalm 139:17-18 (KJV) 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Have you ever tried to count the grains of sand on the seashore? For those of us who have tried it is absolutely impossible! There are so many in just a scoop of your hand that it becomes incomprehensible to think that we could even begin to count them. In this scripture verse, the psalmist tells us …

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Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.   When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that little things can be the special …

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This book was written in approximately A.D. 64-66 to the early Church believers in Christ who were Jewish, lived near Jerusalem, and who knew the author of this book (Hebrews 13:19,23). It appears from chapter two, verse three “having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard,” that they were second generation believers and not eyewitnesses to the ministry, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Since they were Jewish and probably orthodox the writer quotes frequently from the Old Testament of which a Gentile audience would have no experience. This is …

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“If you could spend the day with anyone from history, who would it be?”. How many times have we heard this question asked? And each time we hear it, we hear another answer to the question that makes us think about it again. The answers to this question pour out of us. We hear the names of history from Julius Caesar to Abraham Lincoln. We hear the names of the Bible from Abraham, Moses, to John. We hear the names of discoverers and literary minds, like Da Vinci, Aristotle, and William Shakespeare. And still others give us the name of …

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Reflections Ask, and it shall be given you. (Mat 7:7) What does it mean to ASK God? That is really the question about prayer, because we would be dishonest to say that God gives every time we ask. He doesn’t. There are many times when God is silent even when we think we have a great need. Of course, we must ask, “according to His will,” (I Jn. 5:14) That better defines the meaning. But it also raises another question: If we are, “to ask according to His will,” then aren’t we asking God to do what He already wants …

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Jeremiah 9:23-24 23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. Why does not the Lord do this and that, which we think He ought to do? It is simply this soul-craving to have proof and demonstration; and this …

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Distraction is the nemesis of focus. We are constantly tempted to pull away from a consistent focus on Christ. As a result, we often find ourselves being tossed to and fro by the concerns of life. Keeping focus on Christ means that we’re purposefully fading out everything that pulls us away from connecting with Him. It’s a disciplined lifestyle of choosing to see every blessing and struggle through the lens of Christ. How can we stay focused in a world of busyness? Focus on God Psalm 34:5 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not …

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God–the eternal God–is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet “underneath” thee “are everlasting arms.” Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ’s great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but …

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Acts 9:1-19 9 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art …

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Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses, By John William Waterhouse, 1891 Ezekiel 16:15 “15But thou didst trust in thy beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy whoredoms on every one that passed by; his it was.” (ASV, 1901) This is the second part of the parable and covers verses 15- 34. It begins with the success and beauty of the “Queen”, which is a reference to the blessings the Nation Israel enjoyed under the reign of King Solomon. God says,” But thou didst trust in thy beauty.” Israel had wealth, culture and beauty because she had …

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