Life Abundant

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“Boundaries” by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

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This Could Mean So Many Things....

“Do not give heed to everything that people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you; your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.” -Ecclesiastes 7:21 NRSV

When I read this, there were at least 2 lessons I took away.

1. You can’t listen to everything everybody says. That advice is not limited to naysayers, sometimes people with good intentions give silly advice. Ask God for the discernment to know when to close your ears.

2. Mind your business, listening to gossip doesn’t really produce much fruit. You may hear something you don’t want to, and you can’t even be mad because “remember when you said such and such...” its a viscious cycle of telephone. Close your ears.

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“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

- Deuteronomy 31:6

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“God trains us in this way, throughout our lives, in difficult and dark seasons, in seasons we don’t understand or even in ones we don’t see value, He is training us for our assignment— to fulfill our purpose.”

Christine Caine | “Unshakeable”

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Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.

Proverbs 24:16

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“Maybe we need to stop talking to God about our problems and start talking to our problems about God.”

- Mark Batterson “Draw the Circle”

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Creativity

I was feeling a little stuck so I looked up Bible verses about creativity, and of course there are answers!

Check these out:

“I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall compare with you.” - I Kings 3:12

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them so that they may all see your progress.” - I Timothy 4:14-15

“Do you see those who are skillful in their work? They will stand before kings they will not stand before obscure men.” - Proverbs 22:29

Sometimes you just need a little reminder.

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“Like Noah, who kept building an ark day after day, we keep hammering away at the dream God has given us. Like the Israelites, who kept circling Jericho for seven days, we keep circling God’s promises. Like Elijah, who kept sending his serving back to look for a rain cloud, we actively and expectantly wait for God’s answer.”

- Draw the Circle, Mark Batterson

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“God is honored when we act as if He is going to answer our prayers. After hitting our knees, we need to take a small step of faith. And those small steps of faith often turn into giant leaps.”

- Draw the Circle, Mark Batterson

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When your focus is broad enough to include Me in your thoughts, you feel safe and complete. When your perception narrows so that problems and details fill your consciousness, you feel empty and incomplete.

Sarah Young, “Jesus is Calling”

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You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. ‭‭

Isaiah‬ ‭26:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ http://bible.com/111/isa.26.3-4.niv

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Don't Be Afraid to Talk About Sin 😱

I think people avoid talking about sin often. Why? Because self reflecting is difficult and often does not feel good. You have to ask yourself and be honest "have I been a good person? Do I treat people with respect and with the love of God even when they get in my nerves?" Or you may say to yourself "man, if this was exposed I don't know what I'd do" because it's just that bad. A step in avoiding sin/ poor behavior/ lack of loving behavior/ lack of respectful behavior is to talk about it. Talk about it, be real about and learn to live without dwelling in it ☝🏽 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ http://bible.com/111/1jn.1.7-8.niv

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The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have?

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭8:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ http://bible.com/111/jer.8.9.niv

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if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever.

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭7:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ http://bible.com/111/jer.7.6-7.niv

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"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" - Galatians 5:25

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/1th.5.16-18.nkjv

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Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭11:28-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬