Tag: Baptist
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Blessings… What are they for?
Why do good things happen to people? That’s not the usual question, is it? Usually we ask the opposite – why do bad things happen to people? However, we should be asking the same question of our blessings. We should be asking why is God blessing us at this time and place. Before we start…
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Little Things Matter
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” – Luke 16:10 This verse catches me in every context I read it. Jesus says it in both Luke 16 and in chapter19. In Luke 16,…
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Meaning, Purpose, and the Paycheck
What makes your work meaningful for you? Is it the paycheck? Are you climbing the ladder? Is that enough for you or do you need more? What if you are retired? Does getting out of bed in the morning excite you? What about you stay at home moms? Is your work meaningful to you? There…
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What are You Capable Of?
Everyone has an idea of what they are capable of. Sometimes it comes from training. Our athletes, soldiers, and doctors have this idea. They have been trained for a job. It becomes second nature to them and they know that they can do it. Their training has tested them. Their training has also showed them…
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The Heart of It
A friend of mine has been reminding me much these last few weeks of the true meaning of Christmas. He is working hard not to forget it. So, here goes… The true meaning of Christmas… Luke 1: 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee…
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Preparing for Christmas – Faith Struggles
But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. – Luke 2:19 Sometimes we forget how much of a struggle Christmas was for the first people who experienced it. I think of the struggle of Mary and Joseph as they made their way to Bethlehem. I think of the struggles of everyone who…
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God Prepares, Shouldn’t We?
When we think of Christmas preparations we usually think of trees and lights and tinsel and stuff. However, someone else prepared for the coming of Jesus. No, I am not talking about Mary or Joseph. I am talking about God. And I am not talking about the immediate preparation of angels or stars or wisemen.…
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The Power of Thankfulness
There are things which are deceptively powerful. Those tiny air fresheners for cars are not for everyone. For most of my family, they are just too powerful for us to enjoy the scent. Yet, you can’t deny their effect! In the Christian life we have such a deceptively powerful ally to our walk of faith.…
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Seeing Life Through Thankfulness
At this time of year we hear people say words of gratitude. We have thanksgiving services. We gather together for the thanksgiving meal. Yet, being truly thankful can be a struggle. There are many obstacles to thankfulness. It’s interesting to me that in the Bible it is the struggling who seem to have a good…
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Gratitude… Moving from Self to God
When was the last time you thought of how important gratitude is to following Jesus? Although I have many thoughts on the subject, I am not the first or the most eloquent thinker about gratitude. The following is a quote from Pastor John Piper. He has spoken and written extensively about gratitude and how it…
Pastor John D Jakes 