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Filled with the Spirit and Speaking in Tongues
I speak in tongues, but I know when I’m not full of the Spirit. We have to keep those two things separated. The realization hits me as I read through Acts again, preparing for my fall class. The Church knew the fullness of the Spirit. What I realized is this: I know I’m not filled with the Spirit when the miraculous is…
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You can hang up or hang on
I am working my way through Mark Batterson’s book The Circle Maker. It is something I’ve wanted to get to and finally walking through a Barnes and Noble last night, I picked up and started reading. It is a challenge to my very anemic prayer life right now. He talks about praying hard. We need persistence that simply won’t give up. There are times…
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The place of longing
There is a place of waiting God will take us. He will birth a dream in us and then it seems… the dream delays. The question at that point is this: “Will you keep pursuing? Will you keep asking? Will you keep longing for what God wants to do?” For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it…
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You never know the difference you will make
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esth. 4:14, NIV) Esther’s place as the queen was not seen as an accident by…
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Early Thoughts on Esther
Right off the bat, this thought: If you got it, flaunt it. It’s not just an American “value.” 4 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s…
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The difference between success and fruitfulness
There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success comes from strength, control, and respectability. A successful person has the energy to create something, to keep control over its development, and to make it available to large quantities. Success brings many rewards and often fame. Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability. And fruits are unique. A child is…
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Protestant Saints
Andy Crouch has a piece in the Wall Street Journal on saints, and they’re not just for Catholics anymore. We all have our favorites. We just don’t call them saints. My patron saint will be Dallas Willard.
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We will, quite simply, change your mind
It thought of that line in relation to how I want us to live as believers. It is too easy to get caught up in the blogosphere, the media, entertainment, etc., and form our opinions. There are some incredibly strong opinions about the church, and those with any measure of angst blog about it. The ones with real angst get the media…
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The hand of God with Ezra
One thing that has always stood out to me with Ezra was his commitment to the Law of the Lord. He gave himself to seeking the kingdom. There is this last line in Ezra 7:9 — “…for the gracious hand of his God was on him.” Followed by this explanation in v. 10: For Ezra had devoted himself to the…
