Tag: indianola
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Be Excellent in what is Good
Romans 16:19 I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. It is easy to be lost. I am very good at it. It isn’t being lost that I have trouble with. I have trouble with finding my way. If someone wants directions, they won’t get it from…
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Loving for Real
Over the last couple of weeks, we have been examining Paul’s challenge to the church in Rome regarding love. He calls us to love without hypocrisy. He calls us to commit to loving in a profound way. Love is different from being nice. Love is real. Love is committed. Love rejoices with those who rejoice.…
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Vacation Bible School Conferences
I have a new respect for Vacation Bible School conference leaders. First, they have to work through the stereotype that they are just sales people for the curriculum. Second, they are trying to get excited people who are not ready to think about a summer outreach in the middle of winter! I am serious. I…
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God’s Love Shown
How do we know people love us? Sometimes we know because they tell us. However, most often we know that people love us because of what they do. These actions are pictures of love. One of the great surprises we experience in life is the love of others. We are surprised that others value us. …
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The Needed Mercy of God
I was contemplating mercy this week. Mercy is unusual. It is a reality that can only be accepted by those who need it. And yet, many who need it refuse to admit that they do. Why do we need mercy? We need mercy because of sin. Sin make us lost. Being lost makes us separated…
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Loving the Lost
My wife says often, “If wishes were fishes we would all be in the sea.” We wish a lot of things. As a Christian, I wish often that the people around me all knew Jesus. Sometimes, I even think so highly of them that I avoid thinking about their lostness. I avoid seeing that they…
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I Beg You, Pray
Superman is invulnerable. Pastors are not. Pastors have flaws, temptations, and struggles. Pastors have insecurities. Pastors do not always know exactly what should be done next. Pastors yell or want to yell at their kids. We are clay called to shine the light of Christ. What is the answer? Pastors need prayer. They carry the…
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Conquering in Christ
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:28 It breaks my…
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Not About Me
Isn’t church all about me? Isn’t it about my wants, my wishes, my hopes, and my dreams? Are you saying right now, “No, of course not! It’s about Jesus!”? It is about Jesus, but do we make it sometimes about us? Paul spoke to the Corinthian church about something like this. He said, “For I…
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Praying with Confidence
Think for a moment who you call when you need help… It probably is a short list. Yet, the people on it are people that you can call on with confidence. How do you know that? You know it because those people have shown that they are committed to you. They have been there when…
Pastor John D Jakes 