And Samuel said, Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king. 1 Samuel 15: 22-23 Obeying God is better than sacrifice. Obeying God comes from a true heart. Obeying God is better than the outward form of worship, service, or personal gift. Saul’s sin was placing his ideas over God’s. People will…
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Reflection Day
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 Today is Reflection Day! I love reflection day. It’s a time for me to go back and reflect on what God has spoken to me. It gives me time to pray and seek God about what he wants to change in my life. It gives me time to make a game plan of putting action to what God is telling me and asking of me. Reflection Day gives me a slower pace to grasp what God is telling me. It gives…
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Abram Believed God
And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you can number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15: 3-6 God made a promise to Abram. A commitment that to man seemed impossible. However, Abram believed the Lord. What comes to mind when…
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Joyful!
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Roman 12:12 God is honored when we put our hope and trust in him. He is glorified when we rejoice in our hope. Be joyful in one hope can be found when we are serving God. As we go through affliction, we should be patient. God will allow us to suffer as Jesus suffered, and in that suffering, we need to be patient with God. When we rejoice in our hope, we can then be patient in our sufferings. We must patiently endure it. Then we need to be faithful in our prayer.…
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Reflection Day
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 Today is Reflection Day! I love reflection day. It’s a time for me to go back and reflect on what God has spoken to me. It gives me time to pray and seek God about what he wants to change in my life. It gives me time to make a game plan of putting action to what God is telling me and asking of me. Reflection Day gives me a slower pace to grasp what God is telling me. It gives me more time to listen…
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Prayer Time
Our Father in heaven, Your name is honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.] Let’s take some time and focus on prayer. Look up these verses and glean from them. Prayer! It’s a conversation with God. Do you struggle with praying? Is it intimidating to you to pray to God? Is there a right way to…
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Finishing The Race: Part 3
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. Preach the Word with endurance – to the end of the race. Preach the Word, even when it is unpopular. We need to tell people the truth, even when they don’t like it. We need to be like Jeremiah, who prophesied that the Babylonians were coming to conquer Judah. The Jews called him a liar and threw him in the dungeon. He stood firm for the…
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Finishing The Race: Part 2
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4: 1-2 Are you willing to finish the race well? Finishing the race well, We, as God’s servants, must emphasize the Word. Paul commands Timothy to Preach the Word. This powerful statement has echoed through the centuries and is one that should not be taken lightly. Preach the Word, no…
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Finishing The Race: Part 1
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it” 2 Timothy 3:14 In Paul’s day, people like to watch athletes run races. Athletes would train for nine months. Thousands of people would watch the runners. Paul compares our life o earth to a race. The prize at the end of the long race is the race. We don’t have to be the fastest, the quickest, or the first to complete the race. We must please God and remain faithful to the end of the race. If we finish…
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Choosing To Be A Vessel: Part 1
In a large house, there are articles of gold and silver and wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, applicable to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 Read 2 Timothy 2: 14-3:9. In Timothy’s time, what were examples of vessels of honor and dishonor? Whom did these vessels represent? The problems the false teachers are causing in the house churches of Ephesus. Paul sees a contrast between a godly leader in Timothy and the ungodly leaders. …