Tag: faith
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Live Out Your Faith
Sometimes I forget how valuable lived out faith really is. I know that the Bible says our testimony is precious, but I forget why. As I studied what the Bible says about faith does this week, I was reminded… Acts 3:16 says, “And his name — by faith in his name — has made this…
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The Resurrection – Real Hope
There are some who question the importance of Jesus’ literal resurrection. They say, “Why do we hold onto these superstitious notions of a bodily resurrection? It’s not needed. It is enough that Jesus rose spiritually and lives in the hearts of his followers. That is sufficient.” Is it sufficient? Not according to the followers of…
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Love Jesus and People, the Words Will Come
We all do it. We have an important meeting with an old friend or a time of encouragement with someone who is struggling, and what do we do? We worry about what we will say. When we are trying to witness to a lost co-worker or friend, what do we do? We worry about what…
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Good Enough?
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. – Galatians 2: 21 This passage always makes me pause. Why? It’s because of how little Peter did to bring it about. I know, as a leader he should have considered the consequences of his choice.…
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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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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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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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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…
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Surviving Disappointment (Part 3, the one about bitterness)
Consider the alternative… When we feel disappointment sometimes we give ourselves permission to be angry for a while. That’s actually okay. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging how someone has hurt us. In fact, it is healthy to be honest about our feelings. However, there are enough scriptures that warn us about holding onto our…
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Surviving Disappointment (part 1)
We have all experienced it. Maybe it was when you were little and Grandpa promised you an ice cream cone, and then you were disappointed when no ice cream cone came. Maybe it was in middle school when you experienced your first crush, and your beloved didn’t return your affection. It may have even happened…
Pastor John D Jakes 