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God is Messed Up
We don’t like to say it in so many words. After all, he might actually exist and if that were true… he wouldn’t like it if we told him his ways were messed up. So, we go with, “The Church is messed up. Christians are messed up. Religion is messed up.” Ezekiel 18 pulls no punches. It’s not God. It’s…
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Give Up Reputation for Lent
1 After a few days, Jesus went back to Capernaum, and people heard that he was at home. 2 So many gathered that there was no longer space, not even near the door. Jesus was speaking the word to them. 3 Some people arrived, and four of them were bringing to him a man who was paralyzed. 4 They couldn’t…
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Thoughts on Prayer
There is a need for prayer eagles who will mount up in the full assurance of faith that they are indeed “seated with Christ in the heavenlies,” and then from this position move to resist the enemy and overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony in the power of the Spirit of God.…
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The Place of Glory
3 Who among you is left who sawthis house in its former glory?How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it appear as nothing to you? 9 This house will be more gloriousthan its predecessor,says the LORD of heavenly forces. I will provide prosperity in this place, says the LORD of heavenly forces.(Haggai 2:3,9, CEB) In this passage the story…
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Anxiety is Spiritual Warfare
7 Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. 8 Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:7-8, CEB) Anxiety confuses our thinking. We create “what if” scenarios, along with “If only” scenarios. When that happens, the enemy roars. He smells the blood. Anxiety has…
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Giving Without a Second Thought
A refreshing look at James 1:5 from the Common English Bible. First, the NIV 2011: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Common English Bible: 5 But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to…
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Choosing the Good Part
The stories of Luke 10 give me pictures of ministry priorities. In the sending of the 72, it is remembering the call of God. Jesus asks the 72 to go and do what they had watched him do. Teach what he had taught them. Know your call. The parable of the good Samaritan is a nice bridge. One emphasis is…
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The Lesson of the Controlled Burn
Last week when I arrived at the retreat center for my silent prayer retreat the staff let me know they would be doing a controlled burn in the meadow near my cabin. It saved me from panicking when I saw the smoke a few hours later. Being a guy, I had to walk over to see what was happening. The…
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Observing the Pattern of Prayer… and Action
I am reading/praying my way through Luke right now. One thing I truly love about Luke’s take on the life of Jesus is in the intricate tie between prayer and activity. In Luke 5 there is the constant rush of ministry activity. Healing, teaching, deliverance ministry, but Luke adds in, “Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” (v. 16)…
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The great cloud of witnesses
Having finished Robert Benson’s book In Constant Prayer for a book review, there are some powerful thoughts from his work I wanted to share. His admonition is to take up the duty of prayer. Specifically, take up the ancient practice of the “offices.” Pray the daily office. The office is just a collection of words. But words are powerful things.…
Tag: Prayer
