One swallow does not make a spring nor one hot day a summer; nor will a few minutes of frantic praying before service bring out the tender buds or make the flowers to appear on the earth. The field must be soaked in sunshine over a long period before it will give forth its treasures. The Christian’s heart must be soaked in prayer before the true spiritual fruits begin to grow.
Your greatest obstacle in fulfilling God’s purposes in your life is the skills you have acquired to perform well in your work life. One of the great paradoxes in Scripture relates to our need to depend on the Lord; yet at the same time, we’re instructed to use the talents and abilities God gives us to accomplish the work He gives us to do. You see, God allows us to develop skills, but these must be continually yielded to God’s Spirit. There will be times when God will use these skills to accomplish His purposes. There will be other times that God will not use any of our skills just to ensure that we know it is by His power that we can do anything.
What are the most common mistakes people make when trying to apply Scripture to their life, and how can you avoid them? That’s the topic of this week’s “How to Study the Bible” lesson. Read it here: http://bit.ly/1RdoDQw
Now the God Who helps you not to give up and gives you strength will help you think so you can please each other as Christ Jesus did. Then all of you together can thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“We can look the part by having the best gear (our Bibles, our WWJD amulets, our fish bumper stickers); by refraining from certain behaviors such as smoking, drinking, or cussing; or by going to church and singing in the choir. We certainly can be perceived as a successful Christian by looking the right way, having the right “accessories,” and acting the right way. But if all of this does not stem from who we really are at our core, our faith is just a sham.” - Christine Caine
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If God were to put my salvation in my hands, I should be lost in ten minutes; but my salvation is not there—it is in Christ’s hands.
Paul’s shortest letter is also one of his most challenging for modern audiences to read. Here’s what you need to know to explore the New Testament book of Philemon: http://bit.ly/1OwwRn1
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
Unashamed: An Interview with Christine Caine
Shame can take on many forms. It can afflict the most successful, confident, and high-achieving person, as well as the broken, abused and downtrodden. We interviewed author and speaker Christine Caine to hear her thoughts on guilt, shame, and how you can break free of both: http://bit.ly/21SWvKr