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Small Things > “Big” Things

Small Things > “Big” Things | Are you willing to face persecution for your faith? If so, do you think you would be able to stand strong in the face of... #scripture #righteousness #beatitudes #bible #persecustion

Are you willing to face persecution for your faith?

If so, do you think you would be able to stand strong in the face of persecution for the sake of Christ? That’s a big question. Truthfully, we don’t really know how we would respond to the kinds of threats and danger that many Christ-followers endure every day. I think many of us imagine (or at least hope) that we would be steadfast in Christ.

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Joyful... Always?

Joyful… Always?

“Always be joyful”

Simple. So simple. And deeply beautiful. I want to always be joyful. You want to always be joyful. So, are you?

Truth be told, I’m not. I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to have joy lately. In fact, joy was my theme for April. (I wish that meant it was an especially joyful month, but alas—no.)

You may or may not have heard  how “joy” is different from…

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Simple Presence

Simple Presence - Just as the very presence of a loved one may bring comfort, so it is with God—if we would only be mindful of His presence. #anxiety #bible #god #overwhelmed #joy #psalm #godwithus #godspresence #holyspirit #comfort #mindfulness

Reflection on Psalm 94:19

“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Psalms 94:18-19

Just as the very presence of a loved one may bring comfort, so it is with God—if we would only be mindful of His presence.

Not only that, but His Spirit dwells in is and one of His names is “Comforter.”…

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According to Who?

According to Who? Paul the missionary writes this as he ends off a letter to His faithful financial supporters. He has asked them to... #bible #God #glory #needs #help #billgates #riches #missions #money #missionary

Reflection on Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Paul the missionary writes this as he ends off a letter to His faithful financial supporters. He has asked them to continue their support. But at no point does Paul plead, beg, guilt, shame or attempt to evoke pity. He explains,

I am not saying this…

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(No) "Small Thing"

(No) "Small Thing" - This is the outpouring of David’s heart in the face of God’s generous blessing to a man who was once a lowly shepherd boy. He says to God, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my ... #bible #worship #blessing #jesusisking #kingdavid

Reflection on 2 Samuel 7:22

How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

This is the outpouring of David’s heart in the face of God’s generous blessing to a man who was once a lowly shepherd boy.

He says to God, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house [family], that you have brought me this far?”(v.18).…

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Eiréné-Maker

Eiréné-Maker: We may think this means we merely “keep the peace”—no matter what happens we just put up with it. We don't make a fuss, we just suck it up, etc. This is not.... #peace #peacemaker #beatitudes #bible #jesus #jesusquotes

Reflection on Matthew 5:9

“Peacemaker”… a maker of peace. A peaceful person. Perhaps you see where I’m going here: have you considered what it means to be a “peacemaker”? Often (especially) in Christian circles we may think this means we merely “keep the peace”—no matter what happens we just put up with it. We don’t make a fuss, we don’t stir the pot, we just suck it up, get over it, let it go

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In the Gap

In the Gap: What happens in the gap between lament and praise? #bible #god #emotions #lament #praise #psalms #grief #prayer #pain #suffering

What happens in the gap between lament and praise?

How can we pour out grief, sorrow, disappointment, anger and all the dark things we feel [as the first 29 verses] followed by sincere, confident, thankful praise [verses 30-36]? David goes from drowning to delighting… how?

Something significant and profound happens in that gap. So pray without ceasing, whatever your circumstances. The Lord,…

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Give: How-To

Give: How-To: "Each of you should give...” Give what? Is this just referring to money? I would suggest... #bible #god #money #generosity #cheerful #stewardship

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 9:7

🌼 “Each of you should give…” Give what? Is this just referring to money? I would suggest, no. This could be our time, our love & care, our skills, our resources…aaaaand, yes, also our actual hard-earned money.

🌼 “…what you have decided in your heart to give…” What does this imply? That you’ve made a decision—that you’ve thoughtfully considered what you have…

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A Comprehensive Beatitude

A Comprehensive Beatitude: We’re probably so familiar with this verse that we missed something particularly important: Jesus is speaking about the... #bible #beatitudes #pure #heart #jesus

Reflection on Matthew 5:8

We’re back in the beatitudes. Jesus is telling us just what type of people God blesses and are blessed [happy]. We’re probably so familiar with this verse that we missed something particularly important: Jesus is speaking about the heart. “Yes?” you ask, “as opposed to what?” The focus of that day—especially of the religious leaders—was lawful conduct. Jesus often…

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Zechariah 14:9

“The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.” And He is. And He will be worshiped.

Let us bow down and worship with grateful hearts our eternal king, King Jesus.

#bible #God #jesusisking #worship

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Deceitful & Beyond Cure

Deceitful & Beyond Cure: Our own hearts are "beyond cure," and God is just, so what happens now? #God #justice #mercy #bible #heart #conduct

Reflection on Jeremiah 17:10

God sees the heart—our true motives. God knows our deeds—good and bad, and from what motives they spring.

God is just: He judges rightly what we deserve. Yet, He is inconceivably merciful: withholding the punishment our sins deserve in order to restore us.

In this passage, Israel is deep in sin, and a day of disaster is coming. Yet, God is merciful.

This…

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Unforced Renewal

Unforced Renewal: We can't just push ourselves to feel differently or to change. (We've all tried and failed at this, right?) But... #forgiveness #bible #psalms #hope #God #heart

Reflection on Psalm 51:10

In other versions: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”We sometimes feel helpless to change ourselves, especially in regard to sin. It’s not something we can just force ourselves to do. But God has the power to change and renew us—in fact, He is pleased to transform us into “clean” (holy), pure, righteous, steadfast people—and He…

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Daily Examen

Simple, 4R’s

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Emote to Know

God created us, in His image. God created us with emotions. Emotions can point us to a deeper knowledge of who we are, what we desire, and what we truly believe about God.

Every emotion, though horizontally provoked, nevertheless reflects something about the vertical dimension: our relationship with God.

“The Cry of the Soul” – Allender & Longman

When we are in relationship with God and in…

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Thessalonica's Prayer List

Thessalonica’s Prayer List

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

Notice Paul’s requests:

“for us” – for himself and his partners, Silvanus and Timothy (1:1)

“that the word of the Lord may speed ahead…” – for the sake of the gospel (their…

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Wisdom Says Pursue & Find

Meditation on Proverbs 21:21

Wisdom calls us to pursue righteousness. We know this is good. And by it we will find…

✅ Life: right[eous] living = wise choices, integrity, obedience to God, upstanding relationships. The natural by-product of these are a “healthy” and blameless life. This is “true” life, fullness of life, the kind of life we desire.

✅ Righteousness: wait, what? This is…

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The Conclusion of the Matter

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 12:13

The book of Ecclesiastes begins:

The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

And it ends:

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all…

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