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Post by John on Aug 20, 2019 17:20:04 GMT -5
I wonder if that was a true story?
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Post by John on Aug 20, 2019 17:29:40 GMT -5
Touched by Grace By: Sheridan Voysey
Click on this link for the audio message
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27
Today's Scripture & Insight: Luke 6:27–36 In Leif Enger’s novel Peace Like a River, Jeremiah Land is a single father of three working as a janitor at a local school. He’s also a man of deep, sometimes miraculous, faith. Throughout the book, his faith is often tested.
Jeremiah’s school is run by Chester Holden, a mean-spirited superintendent with a skin condition. Despite Jeremiah’s excellent work ethic—mopping up a sewage spill without complaint, picking up broken bottles the superintendent smashed—Holden wants him gone. One day, in front of all the students, he accuses Jeremiah of drunkenness and fires him. It’s a humiliating scene.
How does Jeremiah respond? He could threaten legal action for unfair dismissal or make accusations of his own. He could slink away, accepting the injustice. Think for a moment what you might do.
“Love your enemies,” Jesus says, “do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27–28). These challenging words aren’t meant to excuse evil or stop justice from being pursued. Instead, they call us to imitate God (v. 36) by asking a profound question: How can I help my enemy become all God wants him or her to be?
Jeremiah looks at Holden for a moment, then reaches up and touches his face. Holden steps back defensively, then feels his chin and cheeks in wonder. His scarred skin has been healed.
An enemy touched by grace.
Reflect & Pray What would your first reaction be in Jeremiah’s situation? How can you help a difficult person move closer to God’s purposes for them?
God, when faced with unfairness, injustice, or abuse, show me how to help my enemy move closer to You.
The ending of that story made me think of Jesus healing the Roman soldier's ear after Peter cut it off.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2019 17:49:39 GMT -5
I wonder if that was a true story?
From what I can see, the novel is fiction and the writer it seamed took the title from the lyrics of the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul", which was performed at his wedding. Enger wrote the novel to amuse his family, taking story suggestions from his children and giving the lead character asthma to encourage one of his sons, who also has asthma. There's more about the novel here but I found the devotional in it self very good. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Like_a_River
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Post by John on Aug 20, 2019 17:59:17 GMT -5
I wonder if that was a true story?
From what I can see, the novel is fiction and the writer it seamed took the title from the lyrics of the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul", which was performed at his wedding. Enger wrote the novel to amuse his family, taking story suggestions from his children and giving the lead character asthma to encourage one of his sons, who also has asthma. There's more about the novel here but I found the devotional in it self very good. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Like_a_River Thanks Les. I know the Lord is more than able to heal, so I was thinking that if it really happened, it was even more powerful.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2019 15:40:48 GMT -5
Life Changes By: Amy Boucher Pye
Click on this link for the audio message
Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24
Today's Scripture & Insight: Ephesians 4:20–24 Stephen grew up in a rough part of East London and fell into crime by the age of ten. He said, “If everyone’s selling drugs and doing robberies and fraud, then you’re going to get involved. It’s just a way of life.” But when he was twenty, he had a dream that changed him: “I heard God saying, Stephen, you’re going to prison for murder.” This vivid dream served as a warning, and he turned to God and received Jesus as his Savior—and the Holy Spirit transformed his life.
Stephen set up an organization that teaches inner-city kids discipline, morality, and respect through sports. He credits God with the success he has seen as he prays with and trains the kids. “Rebuilding misguided dreams,” he says.
In pursuing God and leaving behind our past, we—like Stephen—follow Paul’s charge to the Ephesians to embrace a new way of life. Although our old self is “corrupted by its deceitful desires,” we can daily seek to “put on the new self” that’s created to be like God (Ephesians 4:22, 24). All believers embrace this continual process as we ask God through His Holy Spirit to make us more like Him.
Stephen said, “Faith was a crucial foundation for me changing my life around.” How has this been true for you?
Reflect & Pray When you look back over your life, what comes to mind as key moments that prompted change? What long-lasting change resulted?
Jesus, You’re alive and working in the world and in my life. Help me become more like You day by day as I leave the old self behind.
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Post by John on Aug 21, 2019 17:30:18 GMT -5
I have heard of success stories like this, taking young people who were self destructive and giving them positive things to occupy their time. God was merciful giving this man a warning.
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PG4Him
Senior Member
Essay Moderator
Posts: 3,570
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Post by PG4Him on Aug 21, 2019 18:31:39 GMT -5
God knows who will turn to Him when they get a chance to repent, and those who won’t. It actually doesn’t have much to do with their lifestyle at the time. Rahab was a harlot, but she was smart enough to save herself from God’s wrath. Many young people do turn to Jesus when they start to feel conviction.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2019 16:47:40 GMT -5
More Than Hacks By: Dave Branon
dzxuyknqkmi1e.cloudfront.net/odb/2019/08/odb-08-22-19.mp3
He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name. Psalm 111:9
Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 111 I recently found a “hack” (a clever solution to a tricky problem) when one of my grandchildren warmed her toy rabbit on our fireplace glass. The resulting globs of fake bunny fur weren’t pretty, but a fireplace expert provided a great hack—a tip for how to make the glass look like new. It worked, and now we no longer allow stuffed animals near the fireplace!
I bring up hacks because sometimes we can view Scripture as a collection of hacks—tips to make life easier. While it’s true that the Bible has much to say about how to live a Christ-honoring new life, that’s not the only purpose of the Book. What Scripture provides for us is a solution for mankind’s greatest need: rescue from sin and eternal separation from God.
From the promise of salvation in Genesis 3:15 all the way to the true hope of a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1–2), the Bible explains that God has an eternal plan for rescuing us from our sin and allowing us to enjoy fellowship with Him. In every story and every suggestion for how to live, the Bible is pointing us to Jesus—the only One who can solve our biggest problem.
When we open God’s Book, may we remember that we’re looking for Jesus, the rescue He offers, and how to live as His children. He’s provided the greatest solution of all!
Reflect & Pray How has Jesus and His promise to rescue those who believe in Him touched your heart and life? Why is it vital to see that the Bible consistently points to Christ?
Father, thank You for the salvation You provided through Jesus. Help me to honor You by keeping focused on our Savior and His amazing love for me.
To learn more about who Jesus is, visit christianuniversity.org/NT111.
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Post by John on Aug 22, 2019 16:58:00 GMT -5
More Than Hacks By: Dave Branon
dzxuyknqkmi1e.cloudfront.net/odb/2019/08/odb-08-22-19.mp3
He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name. Psalm 111:9
Today's Scripture & Insight: Psalm 111 I recently found a “hack” (a clever solution to a tricky problem) when one of my grandchildren warmed her toy rabbit on our fireplace glass. The resulting globs of fake bunny fur weren’t pretty, but a fireplace expert provided a great hack—a tip for how to make the glass look like new. It worked, and now we no longer allow stuffed animals near the fireplace!
I bring up hacks because sometimes we can view Scripture as a collection of hacks—tips to make life easier. While it’s true that the Bible has much to say about how to live a Christ-honoring new life, that’s not the only purpose of the Book. What Scripture provides for us is a solution for mankind’s greatest need: rescue from sin and eternal separation from God.
From the promise of salvation in Genesis 3:15 all the way to the true hope of a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1–2), the Bible explains that God has an eternal plan for rescuing us from our sin and allowing us to enjoy fellowship with Him. In every story and every suggestion for how to live, the Bible is pointing us to Jesus—the only One who can solve our biggest problem.
When we open God’s Book, may we remember that we’re looking for Jesus, the rescue He offers, and how to live as His children. He’s provided the greatest solution of all!
Reflect & Pray How has Jesus and His promise to rescue those who believe in Him touched your heart and life? Why is it vital to see that the Bible consistently points to Christ?
Father, thank You for the salvation You provided through Jesus. Help me to honor You by keeping focused on our Savior and His amazing love for me.
To learn more about who Jesus is, visit christianuniversity.org/NT111.
I like that, but I would point out one thing. The Bible is not a book of suggestions. God actually expects his children to follow his teachings. It is not just about making life easier, though I do believe that when we obey, it is for our profit.
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michaelcla22
New Member
Life is a journey not a destination so do your best.
Posts: 15
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Post by michaelcla22 on Sept 19, 2019 6:57:15 GMT -5
For the Spirit god gave us does not makes us timid, But gives us power, love, honesty and self-discipline.
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