darylmerrill.com

3w2. ENFP. Top 5: Ideation, Activator, Positivity, Competition, Strategic.

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Christianity = All I have is yours.

Socialism = All you have is mine.

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Baptism

Baptism is one of the most beautiful pictures of the gospel. It doesn't save us, but it reminds us of the One who does.

As we are lowered into the water, we remember that Jesus Christ died for our sins. He took our place, bore our shame, and was buried so we could be forgiven. As we rise from the water, we celebrate His resurrection and the new life He gives to everyone who trusts in Him.

Romans 6:4 reminds us that through baptism we identify with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. It is a public declaration that because He died, we have been forgiven, and because He lives, we have the promise of new life.

Every baptism is a testimony to God's amazing grace. It points us away from ourselves and back to Jesus—the One who died for us, rose again, and invites us to walk with Him in newness of life.

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Courage is a choice.

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God Is For You

"May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace." — Numbers 6:24–26

Everything in our relationship with God begins with one simple question: What is God really like?

For many people, the answer is shaped more by their experiences than by Scripture. Some picture God with a frown, waiting for them to fail. Others wonder if He is distant or disappointed. But in Numbers 6, God gives us a picture of His own heart.

He says, "I want to bless you. I want to protect you. I want to smile on you. I want to show you grace. I want to give you my favor. I want to fill you with my peace."

What an incredible reminder for people who, like Israel, are still walking through the wilderness. We all face trials. We all make mistakes. We all know what it feels like to wander. Yet God's heart toward His children has never changed.

His blessing is more than material provision. It is the deep assurance that we belong to Him. His protection doesn't mean we'll never face trouble, but it does mean we'll never face it alone. His smile reminds us that we are loved. His grace meets us in our failures. His favor assures us that He sees us and has not forgotten us. And His peace steadies our hearts, even when life feels uncertain.

The greatest reason we can live in this blessing is because of Jesus. On the cross, He took our curse so that we could receive God's blessing. Because of Christ, we can live every day knowing that our Heavenly Father is for us.

Today, choose to believe what God says about Himself. Let His blessing shape the way you see Him, the way you see yourself, and the way you walk through this day.

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Fear arises when we imagine that everything depends on us.

—Elizabeth Elliot

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Found this in my grandpa’s Bible.

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The devil doesn’t operate in power, he operates in deception.

—Steve Sampson

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My past is forgiven.

My future is secure.

God is with you in the present.

And the present is all you have.

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What or whom we worship determines our behavior.

—JOHN MURRAY

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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

‭‭—Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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God doesn’t want our success; He wants us. He doesn’t demand our achievements; He demands our obedience.

—CHARLES COLSON

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The Reformation was connected to a political revolution in Germany.

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32 lessons learned in 32 years of marriage.

Leslie and I are celebrating our 32nd wedding anniversary on the 28th, so I thought I would share with you 32 lessons learned in 32 years of marriage.

Love your spouse. (Use 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 as a guide.)

Marriage is different than what I expected.

Marriage is better than what I expected.

Being a parent can be the hardest job on the planet. (So work together.)

Be strong when your partner is weak.

Spend time together. 

Have a TV show you enjoy and watch together. (And share the remote.)

Sarcasm is not your friend.

Encourage each other.

Have a regular date night.

Embrace your differences. (Don’t try to change each other.)

Marriage is difficult, but totally worth it.

Go to counseling.

Use fun nicknames.

Remember you’re on the same team.

Be generous. 

Make memories. 

Eat ice cream together.

Figure out what is important and let the little things go.

You won’t always win.

Sometimes things don’t work out like you planned.

Honor and respect each other.

Submit to one another in love.

Talk it out.

Pray out loud together. 

Have fun together.

Laugh together.

Don’t give up.

Stay close. Watch for drift.

Kiss when you head out for the day. Kiss when you get home.

Be present and enjoy the moment, because one day these will be the “good old days.”

An empty nest is really quiet.

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You will rarely outperform your self-image.

—James Clear

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Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

—Common Book of Prayer

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God, and God alone, is man’s highest good.

—Herman Bavinck

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Jesus isn’t a King who asks you to spill your blood for Him and His Kingdom, He is the King who spilled His blood for you.