2023 February
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Strange Instructions
“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands” (2 John 6). A distinguished Indian evangelist named Sadhu Chellappa was on a mission trip to a village north of Madras, when in the middle of the night he suddenly sensed God speaking to him: “Leave this house quickly and run away!” Not
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Understanding Your Gift
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. – 1 Corinthians 12:1 In First Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, the apostle Paul is teaching us about the role of spiritual gifts in the Church. He correlates these gifts to a human body, telling us that each person’s gift helps the
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, it is not up to you to fulfill the purposes I have for your life. The minute you try to help me is the minute I take my hands off your life. I do need your participation, but there is a place where you hinder my work. The best way to describe how our
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How God Uses Pain
“I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things” (Isa 45:7). God will use pain in order to create a love relationship with His creation. This statement may challenge your theology. However, consider that God allowed Jesus to experience incredible pain in order to
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, some of my children were forced into maturity before their time. Something happened to their earthly fathers that did not allow them to protect their own children as I desired. When that happens, the enemy comes and steals their innocence like a blue jay robs a nest. The child immediately loses his knowledge that
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Obedience With a Cost
Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all. – Exodus 5:23 Have you ever felt like you have been obedient to the Lord for something He called you to do and all you get are more
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Empty Mangers
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. – Proverbs 14:4 When Jesus came into this world, He chose to be born in a most unusual place-a manger. It was no more than a livery stable with goats, oxen, and other livestock animals.
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, real strength comes in weakness. I know you get tired of hearing that. You feel like this is where you live most of your time. You look around and see people who appear to be happy. But you are looking at what you think you don’t have, rather than at what you do have.
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Being Chosen
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” At once they left their nets and followed him (Matt 4:19-20). Do you recall how good it felt when you were chosen to be on a team? It makes one feel special to be preferred over another. During the time of Jesus
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Deep Things
“He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light” (Job 12:22). One of the great mysteries of the Kingdom is how God uses the darkest times in our lives to reveal greater depths of understanding of His ways. The only way we can receive these deeper things is to be
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, there is a lot of bad news going on all around you. However, my true sons will not be afraid of evil tidings because their hearts are steadfast, trusting in Me. If you live as an orphan you will respond to bad news by seeking to protect yourself and insulate yourself from any possible
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Giving Him the Key
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 A friend of mine tells the story of an encounter he had with a very important government official – the head of
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Listening to the Father’s Heart
Son, I created you to create. I made you in my own image. I am the great creator. My Son was a creator as well. “For by Him all things were created, through Him and for Him. And He is before all things and in Him all things consist” (Col. 1:16, 17). Work was created
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A Talking Donkey
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day?” – Numbers 22:30 Most workplace believers I know tend to be task – oriented, motivated visionaries. And they will do just about anything to make their projects successful. This great strength can, if not properly bridled
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Manifest vs. Market
“Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water” (Num 20:7-8). The Bible says that Moses had a unique walk with God. God said Moses was the most humble man on earth and He spoke with him
