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PATCHES
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 1:27 am Post subject: |
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by Neil Anderson
May 8
SOWING AND REAPING
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap
The Scriptures are full of warnings about self-deception. James 1:26 reminds us that we deceive ourselves when we think we are religious but do not bridle our tongue. There is nothing that grieves God more than when we bad-mouth people instead of building them up with our speech. We are never to use our tongues to put others down. Instead we are to edify one another in what we say and thereby give grace to those who hear us. If your tongue is out of control, you're fooling yourself to believe that you have your spiritual life together.
We also deceive ourselves when we think we will not reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). As Christians we sometimes think we are exempt from this principle, but we are not. Even though our sins are forgiven, we will have to live with the results and consequences of our thoughts, words and actions whether good or bad.
Since I was privileged to be raised on a farm, I witnessed every year the law of cause and effect. If we didn't sow good seed in the spring, we didn't reap a good crop in the fall. If we didn't feed the sheep, they died. Our young people have difficulty grasping this simple sow-and-reap truth. Living from weekend to weekend or party to party, they fail to prepare themselves for the future.
Your life may be measured by what you reap, but it is determined by what you sow. For example, if you want a friend, be a friend. What you get out of life is what you put into it.
Prayer:
Lord, guard me from the self-deception of thinking You will always cover for me or pull me out of the jams I get myself into. Help me learn to sow what I hope to reap.
_________________
 
  
  
Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His word. |
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JohnnyReb
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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PATCHES
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| Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 2:45 am Post subject: |
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you are so welcome. will be taking it slow.
_________________
Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His word. |
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PATCHES
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Location: Randolph County, N.C.
14357
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| Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:00 am Post subject: |
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SOURCE: CROSSWALK DEVOTIONAL'S
Mom's the Word
by Laura MacCorkle, Senior Entertainment Editor
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:9-10, NIV
Spelled forwards or backwards, there's no mistaking the word mom. We all know what it stands for.
Turned upside down, it also reads wow. And that's something I wholeheartedly agree with-especially now that I'm old enough to understand everything that my mom did and has done for me over the years. All I can say is "Wow!"
I also think of the word instruction when I think of my mom - or any maternal figure who was influential in my life. I probably didn't like it at the time. Okay, I know I didn't like it at the time, as I always seemed to have my own agenda. But years later, I greatly appreciate the words of instruction that were given to me. My mom's words included, but were not limited to:
If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
When in doubt, don't.
Chew with your mouth closed.
Because I said so.
So? Sew a hole in the ground. (Not really sure what that was for.)
Do your best.
Did you wash your hands? Let me smell them.
Try it. You might like it.
Hide God's Word in your heart that you might not sin against him.
Now what did Mommy say?
I continue to hear these words of instruction in my head as an adult. They're part of my mom's imprint on my life. They impart lessons of kindness, perspective, right and wrong, responsibility, attentiveness and obedience. And if I show any signs of the beginning of wisdom, I'll continue to heed these words and hopefully someday impart them to my future children.
The Bible speaks of the great value and importance of instruction and how we should perceive such words and their meaning in our lives:
"Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life" (Proverbs 4:13).
"He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded" (Proverbs 13:13).
"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD" (Proverbs 16:20).
"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise" (Proverbs 19:20).
"Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge" (Proverbs 23:12).
You may not have always agreed with the instruction imparted to you over the years. But, as I now am, I hope that you are cherishing the treasures given to you by your mother or anyone who has filled this role in your upbringing.
My mother sowed seeds into my life. She consistently worked my strong-willed soil. And the lack of an instant bumper crop didn't discourage her. Undeterred, she kept coming back and doing her part to ensure that good things were planted into my life. She added to my heart and to my mind, so that these instructions would hopefully take root and one day bring forth spiritual fruit.
I've not become a mother yet, but I've done my fair share of babysitting and taking care of children of all ages. So I have a tiny glimpse of what is involved in this process.
To "train up a child in the way he should go" takes patience. Sacrifice. And most of all, a great love. Your mother is an earthly example of how our heavenly Father takes care of you and provides life-giving-and life-saving-instruction through his Word.
Thank God for your mother today. And take time to honor her this Mother's Day for all that she means to you as your mom.
Intersecting Faith & Life: I don't know what your relationship is like with your mother. She may not be here any longer. Or you may not have had a strong or healthy connection. This Mother's Day, however, think of someone (your mom, a relative, a teacher or any another godly woman you see as a mentor) who has given you valuable instruction. Let her know how much she has meant to you and what an impact she has made in your life.
_________________
Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His word. |
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JohnnyReb
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| Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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PATCHES
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Location: Randolph County, N.C.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:08 am Post subject: |
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by Neil Anderson
June 2
FOCUS ON THE SIGNIFICANT
1 Corinthians 3:14
If any man's work . . . remains, he shall receive a reward
Significance is a time issue. What is forgotten in time is of little significance. What is remembered for eternity is of great significance. Paul wrote to Timothy: "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness . . . since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" 1 Timothy 4:7, 8. If you want to increase your significance, focus your energies on significant activities: those which will remain for eternity.
Brian was a pastor of a small church who attended one of my classes at the seminary. He was in his mid-thirties and married when he found out he had cancer. The doctors gave him less than two years to live.
One day Brian came to talk to me. "Ten years ago somebody gave a prophecy about me in church," he began. "They said I was going to do a great work for God. I've led a few hundred people to Christ, but I haven't had a great work for God yet. Do you think God is going to heal me so the prophecy can be fulfilled?"
My mouth dropped open in shock. "You've led a few hundred people to Christ and don't think you have accomplished a great work for God? Brian, I know some big-name pastors in large churches who can't make that claim. I know some great theologians who have probably never led anyone to Christ. If a few hundred people are believers today because of you, and they have influenced who knows how many other people for Christ, I'd call that a great work for God." (Brian is now with the Lord, having completed his significant ministry of reaching hundreds for Christ.)
As children of God, we are in the significant business of collecting treasures for eternity. What we do and say for Christ, no matter how insignificant it seems in this world, will last forever. There are no insignificant children of God, because our life is eternal.
Prayer:
Lord, I desire to use wisely the time You have allotted to me. May my life count for gold, silver and precious jewels, not wood, hay and stubble.
_________________
Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His word. |
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PATCHES
Vice-Administrator / Lead Chaplain
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Location: Randolph County, N.C.
14357
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| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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by Neil Anderson
June 3
FENCES AROUND THE LAWS
Romans 6:14
You are not under law, but under grace
In His ministry, Jesus often violated the traditional instructions surrounding the observance of the Sabbath because they were a clear distortion of God's commandment. A common practice, born out of a desire to protect a known law or principle, is to establish additional rules to keep us from breaking the laws or violating the principles. We establish fences around the laws, but within a short time the fences become laws.
For instance, we are not to be unequally yoked 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15. To ensure that this doesn't happen, we sometimes build a fence around the law by establishing additional rules such as, "You can't associate with or date a non-Christian." That may be advisable in some cases, but don't make it a law. Some have gone to the extreme by requiring that their children never associate with non-Christians. This makes the Great Commission a formidable task!
Here's another example. A common practice in many churches, left over from the Prohibition era, is to require total abstinence from alcohol. Again, that may be wise in many cases, but the Bible instructs against strong drink and drunkenness and teaches us to do all things in moderation. The major biblical concern is not the alcohol, but whether we're being a stumbling block to a weaker brother. Total abstinence may actually keep some from the medicine they need or it may be detrimental when relating to a weaker brother.
The point is that we can easily distort the true Word of God by adding our own traditional practices and making them equal with the original intent of God. We may need to stand against Pharisaic practices as the Lord did--before we find ourselves in bondage to man-made traditions.
Prayer:
Dear Father, make me sensitive to the spirit of Your law and nonjudgmental toward others no matter what their practices may be. Help me preserve the unity of the Spirit.
_________________
Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His word. |
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PATCHES
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Location: Randolph County, N.C.
14357
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
1 Kings 3:9 NIV
Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong
Discernment is an overlooked spiritual discipline in many churches. But in reality, spiritual discernment should be our first line of defense against deception. It's that "buzzer" inside, warning you that something is wrong. For example, you visit someone's home and everything appears in order. But you can cut the air with a knife. Even though nothing visible confirms it, your spirit detects that something is wrong in that home.
The first step to understanding discernment is to understand the motive which is essential for employing it. In 1 Kings 3:9, Israel's king Solomon cried out to God for help. God answers: "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart" (verses 11, 12). The motive for true discernment is never to promote self, to amass personal gain, or to secure an advantage over another person--even an enemy.
The Greek word for discernment-- diakrino --simply means to make a judgment or a distinction. Discernment has one primary function: to distinguish right from wrong. In 1 Corinthians 12:10 discernment is the divinely enabled ability to distinguish a good spirit from a bad spirit.
Discernment is not a function of the mind; it's a function of the Holy Spirit which is in union with your soul/spirit. When the Spirit sounds a warning, your mind may not be able to perceive what's wrong. Have the courage to acknowledge that something is wrong when your spirit is troubled. Share what you are sensing with others, and ask the Lord for wisdom.
Prayer:
Thank You, Father, for the discernment Your Holy Spirit provides. Without You I couldn't avoid the land mines the enemy places in my path.
_________________
Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His word. |
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PATCHES
Vice-Administrator / Lead Chaplain
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Joined: 23 Mar 2007
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Location: Randolph County, N.C.
14357
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:46 am Post subject: |
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by Neil Anderson
June 24
TEMPTATION'S HOOK
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied
Food is the ultimate appetite, since it is necessary for survival. So we eat to live, but when we begin to live to eat, food no longer satisfies. Instead, it consumes us, and millions of people feel powerless to control their appetite for food. When your body is deprived of necessary nutrients, you naturally crave those foods which will keep you healthy and keep your immune system functioning. If you eat to satisfy those natural cravings, you will stay healthy and free. But when you turn to food to relieve anxiety or satisfy a lust for sweets, salt, etc., you will lose control and the results will negatively affect your health.
It is no coincidence that Paul mentioned misuse of food in conjunction with his sober warning that "in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1). One of the evidences of the last days will be those who "advocate abstaining from foods" (verse 3) which are intended to meet a legitimate need. Every eating disorder I have dealt with had a spiritual component, yet virtually no counselors treating anorexia and bulimia expose the spiritual problem. A pastor's wife wrote to me after a conference:
Dear Neil,
I was bulimic for 11 years. But now I can be in the house alone all day with a kitchen full of food and be in peace. When a temptation or lie from Satan pops into my mind, I fend it off quickly with the truth. I used to be in bondage to those lies for hours and hours each day, always fearing food. Now I'm rejoicing in the freedom which the truth brings.
Temptation's hook is the devil's guarantee that what we think we want and need outside of God's will can satisfy us. Don't believe it. You can never satisfy the desires of the flesh. Only sustaining right relationships, living by the power of the Holy Spirit, and experiencing the fruit of the Spirit will satisfy you.
Prayer:
Father God, protect me from giving in to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Keep me abiding in You so I can bear the fruit of righteousness.
_________________
Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His word. |
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PATCHES
Vice-Administrator / Lead Chaplain
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Location: Randolph County, N.C.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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SOURCE: DR. JACK GRAHAM
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
--Ruth 1:16
If you ever want to see the picture of true commitment, read the book of Ruth.
Ruth’s commitment to her family and God changed the course of her life. And the scene when Ruth made her commitment to God is one of the great confessions of faith in the Bible and all of history.
There on the road to Bethlehem, Ruth accepted God’s grace. He had brought her to the road to Bethlehem… and she was persuaded in her faith, even though her own mother-in-law told her to “turn back.”
Now, Orpah, Ruth’s sister-in-law, came to the crossroads with her and cried and wept and was full of emotion. But she turned on her heel, and she went back into Moab and died without God.
Ruth came to that same crossroads at Bethlehem, and she clung to her commitment. And as a result, her entire life was changed forever.
You know, that’s what commitment to Christ really is. It’s not fence-straddling. It’s cross-bearing! Jesus said, “It’s not always going to be easy. If you’re going to follow Me, take up your cross… don’t take the easy way… take up your cross and follow after Me.”
I challenge you to make your commitment to God total and final! Get rid of the escape clauses, the fine print, and the footnotes on the contract of your commitment to Him.
_________________
Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His word. |
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