Devotionals

"The Locust" Exodus 10:1-20

March 30, 2023
The plague of the locust is the 8th plague to come upon Pharaoh and Egypt. Pharaoh is given a stern warning of the destruction of what is coming and even his advisors were encouraging him to send the people away but he refused to humble himself before the Lord. When the locust ...

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"Whoever Who Feared the Word of the Lord" Exodus 9:13-35

March 28, 2023
The Lord brings down on Pharaoh and Egypt a great thunderstorm. The hail brings great destruction on the people and land. God is using this to reveal His greatness amongst the world. These judgments should have convinced Pharaoh to repent but he was blinded by pride. There we...

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"Pharaoh and His Hard Heart" Exodus 9:1-12

March 23, 2023
The fifth and sixth plagues come on Egypt with clear distinction between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. God is demonstrating His great power over all of the idols of Egypt and the tyranny of Pharaoh. These judgments continue to come on them because Pharaoh was holding on to tho...

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"Gnats and Flies" Exodus 8:16-32

March 21, 2023
The third and fourth plagues come on Egypt as first gnats and then flies that take over the country. The magicians of Pharaoh are unable to duplicate this miracle and tell Pharaoh it is evidence of God's mighty power. God makes a clear distinction between the Egyptians and Isra...

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"The Frogs" Exodus 8:1-15

March 16, 2023
The second plague to come on Egypt was the land being over run with frogs. Pharaoh promised to let the people go but as soon as Moses made intercession for him and the frogs died, he changed his mind and refused to listen to God. The Egyptians had an idol they worshipped with t...

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"The Nile Turns to Blood" Exodus 7:14-25

March 14, 2023
The first plague to come on Egypt was God turning the Nile River into blood. Pharaoh had caused the death of many young Hebrews by having the baby boys into the Nile. God is showing that He truly is the Lord God Almighty but Pharaoh continues to harden his heart. Pharaoh's mag...

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"He Would Not Listen" Exodus 7:1-13

March 09, 2023
Moses and Aaron once again come before Pharaoh and display for him the miracle of the staff turning into a serpent. Pharaoh's magicians were able to do a similar trick but Aaron's staff consumed all of theirs. Still Pharaoh hardened his heart just as God said he would. All of ...

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"I Am the Lord" Exodus 6:1-13

March 07, 2023
God's plan to deliver His people was not altered by the simple rejection of Pharaoh. God reminds Moses of who He is as the Lord God Almighty, Jehovah. He was going to fulfill His covenant with His people Israel and Moses would lead them out of slavery and bondage but first a gr...

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"Why Did You Send Me?" Exodus 5

March 02, 2023
Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh to proclaim the Lord's word and they are rejected. Not only does Pharaoh refuse to let them go he brings even greater affliction on them by requiring them to find their own straw to make the same number of bricks. With the people in great d...

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"A Bridegroom of Blood" Exodus 4:18-31

February 28, 2023
Moses begins his journey down to Egypt with his family given the assurance that all those who sought to kill him were already dead. While on the way the Lord God stops him because he had failed to circumcise his sons. His wife is quite upset because she has nothing like circumc...

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"I Will Be Your Mouth" Exodus 4:1-16

February 23, 2023
Moses has many excuses for not receiving God's calling to go to his people as God's representative. He had lost all of his self-confidence over the last 40 years as a shepherd in exile. It is important for all of us to remember, God doesn't call us because of what we have to of...

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"I Am Who I Am" Exodus 3:13-22

February 21, 2023
The Lord presents Himself as "I Am" who is the uncreated, eternal, almighty God of the people of Israel. God is sending Moses to the elders and promising him the elders will listen to him and go before Pharaoh but Pharaoh will harden his heart until the Lord delivers them by His...

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Exodus 3:7-12 "Who Am I?"

February 16, 2023
In this passage we see that God sees the suffering of His people and is intent on delivering them. He calls Moses to go to Pharaoh but Moses questions why God would send someone as insignificant as him. He promises that He will go with Him and that Moses will not only lead the ...

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"Holy Ground" Exodus 3:1-6

February 14, 2023
Moses had spent 40 years shepherding the flock of his father-in-law. After murdering an Egyptian and fleeing into exile it would be easy for him to think he had missed his opportunity to be used of God. God rarely acts in the time frame we hope for but it is always the best. 4...

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"Moses Saved and Moses Lost" Exodus 2

February 09, 2023
Chapter 2 tells the story of faith of Moses' parents in saving their newborn son from death. They hid for 3 months and they his mother trusting God, made a small ark for him and left him in the river where God directed Pharaoh's daughter to see him and show pity. She adopts him...

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"The Evil One Expressed" Exodus 1

February 07, 2023
While Israel prospered in Goshen a new King comes to the throne and is intimidated by the Israelis strength in the land. We can see very clearly that he is inspired by Satan because he is seeking the destruction of the children of God. As the children of God we must never forge...

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"Judgment and Glory" Isaiah 66:15-18

February 02, 2023
On the last day all the nations will be brought together for the final judgment. Isaiah describes it as a judgment of fire. God's judgment is an expression of His love and brings about His glory. Our small minds may struggle with judgment but the greatness of God is expressed ...

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"Humble and Contrite" Isaiah 66:1-3

January 31, 2023
The Lord God is the Sovereign creator or all creation and lacking nothing. He doesn't need anything from us to be complete or whole but He does desire relationship with us. He didn't need a temple, offerings or sacrifices. He desires only our obedience for He desires our best....

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"Before They Call" Isaiah 65:17-25

January 26, 2023
Here the Lord declares through the prophet the promise of a new creation, a new heaven and a new earth. It is a new creation free from all the stain of sin and its horrible, destructive effects. Death, violence, sorrow will all pass away and all will be as the Lord intends. Un...

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"Choose Wisely" Isaiah 65:12-14

January 24, 2023
In this passage the Lord proclaims again that there are serious consequences for their choosing to rebel. He called them and they refused to answer; He spoke to them and they refused to hear. The consequences of sin are severe. Life is all about choices and choices have conseq...

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"Here I Am" Isaiah 65:1-2

January 19, 2023
The Lord announces the result of Israel's persistent rebellion is the opening of His hands to the Gentiles. He is the seeker of the hiders. It isn't that we were looking for Him but He came seeking us. When Adam and Eve hid they didn't seek the mercy of the Lord but the mercy ...

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"Polluted Garments" Isaiah 64:4-8

January 17, 2023
Isaiah calls them to remembrance, that there is no God like our God. There is no god that works in such amazing ways as our God. He had delivered Israel with His might hand and when we were enemies He sent His Son to deliver us and give us life. We are not worthy of a Savior b...

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"God's Love Fights For Us" Isaiah 63:9-10

January 12, 2023
In times of affliction it is easy to feel all alone and wonder where God is or why He is allowing us to go through this suffering. We are reminded that when we are afflicted He is always with us. It is difficult for us to understand the wrath of God because we miss understand t...

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"My Delight" Isaiah 62:1-5

January 10, 2023
The Lord is faithful to all of His promises. He makes us righteous and the expectation is that all will see the righteousness and light being expressed through His people. He gives us a new name. Our new name describes our character. Because He saves us and makes us new creat...

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"Rejoice and Exult the Lord" Isaiah 61:10-11

January 05, 2023
There is great reason to rejoice and give praise to God for Messiah has come to bring us healing, deliverance and righteousness. We aren't necessarily rejoicing in our circumstances but in the Lord who is always working on our behalf. We rejoice knowing He has not only saved us...

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"Anointed to Bring Good News" Isaiah 61:1=-2

January 03, 2023
Jesus reads this passage in the synagogue at the beginning of His ministry and tells them He is its fulfillment. Jesus' life was missional, God the Father sent God the Son, empowered by God the Spirit to remove all the obstacles to our being in relationship with Him. The Gospel...

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"My Refuge" Isaiah 57:13

December 29, 2022
The Lord rebukes Israel over the futility of their idols. They will cry out for help and their trust in the false gods will be revealed as complete futility. Those who put their trust in the Lord are those who are secure. In our time we need to remember that anything we bow do...

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"The Foreigner" Isaiah 56:1-8

December 27, 2022
The Lord proclaims that He will accept all who come to Him. He has come for the outcast. He will gather not only the outcast of Israel but of the world. He has come for more than just Israel but is the Savior of the world. He breaks down all the barriers and removes the separ...

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"He Abundantly Pardons" Isaiah 55:6-11

December 22, 2022
Here is the call to return to the Lord and receive forgiveness and pardon. We are warned not to delay but see our urgent need for Him. Our ways and thoughts are completely insufficient to give us what we need. We are to finite to comprehend His workings and so, we are called t...

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Isaiah 55:1-3 "Everyone Who Thirst"

December 20, 2022
Here we see God's call to all who thirst for righteousness. The Gospel is an open invitation to all of humanity to come and find satisfaction in Him. We come to Him, Jew and Gentile spiritually bankrupt and He gives us all we will ever need. There is no reason at all to look f...

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"The Lord Has Laid On Him" Isaiah 53

December 15, 2022
In this chapter we see a vivid description of the suffering of Messiah to bring forgiveness, peace and righteousness to mankind. Isaiah obviously was seeing this as applied the remnant of Israel that had been promised redemption. However, as we look back on the ministry of Jesu...

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"Beautiful Feet" Isaiah 52:7

December 13, 2022
Isaiah proclaims the beauty of those who bring the Lord's message of peace, happiness and salvation. Those in captivity needed Good News of their return to their land. At the birth of Jesus the Angel of the Lord came to proclaim Good News of the Savior. The apostles went thro...

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"Wake Yourself" Isaiah 51:15-17

December 08, 2022
God wants His children to understand that He alone is in control of all things. He is the one who stirs up the sea and causes the waves to roar all for the designed purpose of showing us our need for Him. We fall into a drunken state of illusion when we think this life is all a...

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"My Righteousness" Isaiah 51:1-6

December 06, 2022
Our God is a God of redemption and reconciliation. He offers to the faithful remnant that His promises our secure. He offers to us the promise of His righteousness which is the only true righteousness. The Bible is clear that all of our righteousness is like a filthy rag. We ...

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"A Certificate of Divorce" Isaiah 50:1-2

December 01, 2022
The Law only allowed for divorce in the case of immorality. Israel and Judah had both gone after other lovers in their pursuit of idols. Though God called them to repentance they refused. They went into captivity because of their persistent rebellion. God was completely justi...

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"Engraved on His Hand" Isaiah 49:13-16

November 29, 2022
When we are going through difficult times it is easy to feel like God has abandoned us. When we journey through great valleys in life we must remember that the Lord Himself has promised that He will never forget us. He promises to never leave us or forsake us, for He lives in u...

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"I Will Make You As A Light" Isaiah 49:1-7

November 24, 2022
It is a beautiful moment when the child of God realizes the Lord knew them by name and has a mission for their lives while still in their mothers womb. Isaiah was called to be a light to Israel and call them back to the Lord. Every follower of Christ finds true fulfillment when...

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"For My Own Sake" Isaiah 48:9-11

November 22, 2022
The grace of God is evident throughout the Old Testament. God is faithful to His covenant not because of our faithfulness but because His nature is to be faithful. He disciplines His children as an act of love to prepare them for the future. Though they had profaned His name i...

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"I Will Do It" Isaiah 46:8-13

November 17, 2022
The Lord rebukes Israel for their idolatry and calls them to remember what had brought them to this place of peril and captivity. Despite all of their rebellion He was going to accomplish all of His purposes and fulfill all of His promises. The promises of God are our security ...

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"I Will Not Remember Your Sins" Isaiah 43:22-25

November 15, 2022
The Lord desires relationship with His covenant people. He completely deals with the issue of our sin to ensure our ability to be in relationship with Him. He blots out the record of our sins and chooses to remember them no more, all as a gift of His grace. This beautiful gift...

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"You Are Mine" Isaiah 43:1-4

November 10, 2022
The Lord wants His children to know they are His precious possession. He promises to never abandon us and protect us for He is our ever-present Savior. He does this not because we are good or obedient but because we are His beloved children.

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"Servant, Chosen, Friend" Isaiah 41:8-10

November 08, 2022
Isiah frequently rebukes Israel in their rebellion and warns the neighboring nations of judgment but he comes back to remind them in all the chaos of God's faithful promises. All of these promises are ours in Christ. We too are His servants, we too are His chosen people and we ...

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"Behold Your God" Isaiah 40:9-11

November 03, 2022
The people of God are called to be overwhelmed by the greatness of God that they freely and boldly proclaim the Good News. He comes to us as the Good Shepherd to gently care for His sheep. He lays down His life for us to give us His life now. This is Good News that needs to be...

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"The Word of our God" Isaiah 40:1-8

November 01, 2022
Isaiah had just told them of the future captivity in Babylon and now the Lord has him proclaim a message of comfort. The Lord is faithful to all of His promises even in our rebellion. He foretells of the ministry of John the Baptist and the Messiah who will bring complete forgi...

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"Hear the Word of the Lord" Isaiah 39

October 27, 2022
Envoys come to King Hezekiah from Babylon with gifts. After their departure Isaiah proclaims the word of the Lord that all of Hezekiah's possessions will be taken into Babylon and even some of his own sons will be eunuchs in the palace of Babylon. Strangely he was perfectly con...

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"I Have Seen Your Tears" Isaiah 38

October 25, 2022
King Hezekiah becomes ill and Isaiah the prophet tells them he need to get things in order because he's going to die. Hezekiah goes to the Lord in prayer asking for an extension of his life and the Lord gives him the promise of 15 more years and performs a marvelous miracle as e...

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"Do Not Be Afraid" Isaiah 36 & 37

October 20, 2022
As King Hezekiah works to reform Judah and tear down all the idols that had led the people astray the King of Assyria invades the land. He tells them not to resist for he is on a mission from God. He tells them not to trust the horses or chariots of Egypt for there is no help t...

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"Be Gracious to Us" Isaiah 33:2

October 18, 2022
In the midst of turmoil Isaiah reminds the people that God is going to fulfill all of His promises. They were being oppressed by kings whose language they didn't understand but one day they would see the King of Glory. All of this is a gift of God's grace. He is our Lord, the ...

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"King of Righteousness" Isaiah 32

October 13, 2022
When we look out at the chaos of the world it is easy to fall into despair. Isaiah reminds us that our King rules in righteousness. There is a day coming when He will bring everything into subjection to His authority and we who are His saints will rule and reign with Him over a...

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"Trust In The Lord" Isaiah 31:1-3

October 11, 2022
When faced with adversity Israel began to look to Egypt for deliverance instead of the Lord. They looked for their own solutions instead of consulting the Lord. All the solutions of men are just flesh and not Spirit. We who are the children of God must never forget that our se...

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"Bread of Adversity" Isaiah 30

October 06, 2022
Despite the stubborn rebellion of Israel God continues to deal with them as children. Their rebellion was leading them on a path of bondage and heartache. At all times He continues to love, be gracious and merciful. God's love is expressed in His discipline of us. He loves us...

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"The Potter and The Clay" Isaiah 29:16

October 04, 2022
It's so easy for us to question God and what He is doing or permitting in our lives and the world. We forget that we are His creation and He alone is the creator. He is sovereign over all and has no need to answer our question. I believe He answers our questions frequently but...

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"Their Hearts" Isaiah 29:13-14

September 29, 2022
The Lord understood very clearly that the people came before Him with false profession. They said the right things and they listened to the word but they had absolutely no intention of obeying Him. They had accepted religious substitutes taught by men to feel good about themsel...

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"Christ the Cornerstone" Isaiah 28:16-17

September 27, 2022
Isaiah proclaims the word of the Lord that He was going to establish a foundation, the perfect cornerstone in Zion. Those who entrust themselves to Him will not be put to shame. Jesus is the very cornerstone upon which all is built. He is our source for all and the foundation ...

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"You Have Done For Us All Our Works" Isaiah 26:12-13

September 22, 2022
The prophet realized all of the great victories of Israel were the mighty working of God. The believer is not left to his own resources to try and do great works for God. God gives us His life in order to do great and mighty works through us. He is our sufficiency. We are eac...

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"The Desires of our Soul" Isaiah 26:7-9

September 20, 2022
The Lord gives us the gift of righteousness through faith in the finished work of the cross. Because we are righteous our lives are to reflect this in how we live in the world. Knowing we are His beloved children and righteous transforms our desires. When we allow Him to live ...

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"Whose Mind is Stayed on You" Isaiah 26:3-4

September 15, 2022
There is a wonderful promise of perfect peace for those whose mind is fixed on the Lord. The world can seem quite chaotic and life can be full of tribulation. In these times we are reminded that Jesus is our peace. Despite all of the turmoil He removed all of the obstacles to ...

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"He Swallows Up Death" Isaiah 25

September 13, 2022
In this chapter Isaiah unfolds the faithfulness of God. We look out at the world and it can quite bewildering and yet we have the beautiful promise that He is working and in control of all things. He has a great feast prepared and on that day death will be destroyed and every t...

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"The Lamb The Ruler" Isaiah 16:1-5

September 08, 2022
Isaiah here describes the reign of Jesus as the Lamb of God. When Jesus was early in His ministry John the Baptist pointed his followers to Jesus and proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." But the Jewish people weren't looking for a lamb they...

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"I Will" Isaiah 14:12-16

September 06, 2022
This passage partially describes the fall of Lucifer. It was all rooted in "I will." Satan was deceived by pride and fell by asserting his own desires and will. In the end he will be cast into the lake of fire for eternal destruction. Jesus teaches us the opposite. In the ga...

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"The Lord Is My Strength" Isaiah 12

September 01, 2022
This is a beautiful chapter of praise to the Lord for who He is for us. It all begins with us being thankful for who He is and all does for us. We don't have to fear any circumstances because He is our salvation. We are called to proclaim His great deeds to the world.

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"The Root of Jesse" Isaiah 11:1-9

August 30, 2022
The prophet foretells of a time coming when a new king will arise from the line of David and will rule with a perfectly righteous reign. There will be perfect peace and complete freedom from danger. He speaks of the coming millennial kingdom of Christ.

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"Questioning God" Isaiah 10:15

August 25, 2022
In this chapter Isaiah foretells of the judgment that will come upon Assyria even though they are being used by God to accomplish His will in discipling Israel. They are about to go into captivity and the Lord promises them a remnant will return. In the middle of the chapter ve...

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"To Us A Son Is Given" Isaiah 9:2-7

August 23, 2022
Here Isaiah receives a prophecy that foretells of the coming Messiah who will establish the eternal throne of David. He calls us out of darkness into His light. His kingdom is not some future event it is now in each of our lives as we receive Him and allow Him to rule and reign...

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"Don't Walk in the Way of this People" Isaiah 8:11-15

August 18, 2022
The Lord warned Isaiah not to follow the path of rebellious Israel. They were on path of destruction. The rebellious people were full of fear and dread. We who are His children have no need to fear or dread for He is our God and working on our behalf. The Lord was a stumbling...

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"God With Us" Isaiah 7:10-15

August 16, 2022
Isaiah comes to the King Ahaz but he is uninterested in the Lord's promises or deliverance. He proclaims a sign that a virgin will conceive and bear a son and His name will be Immanuel which is God with us. Jesus is the fulfillment of this wonderful promise. In all of life, we...

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"Whom Shall I Send" Isaiah 6:8-13

August 11, 2022
Isaiah having see the Lord in His holiness and receiving cleansing hears afresh the calling of God. When he declared woe is me and understood his own need, with God's forgiveness was fully surrendered to do His will. As the children of God we have the great privilege to hear th...

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"Woe is Me" Isaiah 6:1-7

August 09, 2022
In this passage we see a turning point for Isaiah. He could see very clearly the sin, corruption, chaos and judgment coming on the land but he didn't recognize his own need. When we lose hope in the future, we need to remember God is still on His throne in perfect holiness. A ...

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"Woe is You" Isaiah 5:8-24

August 04, 2022
Isaiah continues his declaration of woe on the people of Israel. All of the problems they were currently facing and the exile to come were the direct result of their rejecting and despising God and His word. They were living a self-centered and self-absorbed life. They saw God...

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"Woe to the Wicked" Isaiah 3:8-15

August 02, 2022
In chapter 3 Isaiah declares woe and judgment of the people. The people had become so brazen in their sin, they no longer hid it but celebrated it. They were in complete defiance of God's presence. To sin is to bring evil upon one's self. Israel would suffer greatly for their...

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"Against All The Proud" Isaiah 2:8-17

July 28, 2022
In the second chapter Isaiah warns of the Day of the Lord in which He is going to deal with the idolatry and pride of Israel. Pride caused them to be blind to their sin and foolishness. They forgot their place as the called out people of God and began bowing down to figures of ...

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"I Don't Want Sacrifices" Isaiah 1:11-20

July 26, 2022

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"Love Incorruptible" Ephesians 6:19-24

July 21, 2022
In closing the epistle Paul ask for their prayers that he would be bold in his presentation of the Gospel. We have the great privilege of prayer and those who go for us and teach us need our faithful prayers. In the end we remember it is all about Him. His incorruptible love f...

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"The Whole Armor of God" Ephesians 6:10-18

July 19, 2022
To put on the whole armor of God is another way to say, put on Christ. He gave His life for us and to us, that He might be our source for all. We are called to find strength in Him. Our utter dependence upon Him is the answer to all the schemes and fiery darts the enemy has fo...

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"Bondservants & Masters" Ephesians 6:5-9

July 14, 2022
While we live in a much different time and culture Paul's instructions to bondservants and masters still has a great deal of application in our lives. As the children of God all that we do we do unto the Lord. How we live in the world matters and so as an employee we serve our ...

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"Fathers and Children" Ephesians 6:1-4

July 12, 2022
It is interesting that Scripture places the responsibility for spiritual growth and discipline as the responsibility of fathers. The Christian follower is to be careful not to provoke his children to anger but to nurture them in a relationship with the Lord and prepare them for ...

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"Husbands Love as Christ Loves" Ephesians 5:25-33

July 07, 2022
The husband has the great responsibility in the family to love his wife as Christ loves the church. This might seem humanly impossible but because He gave His life to us, it is always Him-possible. To love your wife with this selfless, sacrificial giving is to love yourself. T...

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"Submitting Ourselves" Ephesians 5:212-24

July 05, 2022
As we live in community we understand that each of us are called to seek the good of others. We no longer assert our own desires but seek what is in the best interest of others. Submitting ourselves to one another is all about living an interdependent life in the body and this ...

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"Filled With the Spirit" Ephesians 15-20

June 30, 2022
We are reminded to be very intentional in how we live in the world. We are to wise and careful to make the best use of the time we have in this life to proclaim our King and advance His kingdom because the days are evil. The controlling force of our lives is to be the Holy Spir...

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"Wrath from Love" Ephesians 5:6

June 28, 2022
The wrath of God flows from the love of God for the preservation of His children and Kingdom. All that God does flows from who He is and He is love. He has no wrath for His children for Jesus has taken all of our sin and transgressions and put them upon Himself on the cross. T...

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"Walk as Children of Light" Ephesians 5:8-14

June 23, 2022
The way we live in the world is to be a reflection of who we are and whose we are. Because we are now children of the light that is to be evident in the way we live. We no longer serve self but seek only that which is pleasing to Him. Because we are light it exposes what is hi...

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"Let No One Deceive You" Ephesians 5:3-7

June 21, 2022
There is an absolute distinction between how the sinner and the saint lives in the world. While all kinds of immorality, covetousness and filthy language are perfectly normal in the system of the world they have no place in the lives of those who are citizens of His kingdom. Th...

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"Imitators of God" Ephesians 5:1-2

June 16, 2022
Because we have His divine life in us our lives are to be expressions of His life. To be imitators of God is not us trying our best to look like God but our surrender to His indwelling presence and allowing Him to express His life through us. We know this is becoming experienti...

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"Don't Grieve the Holy Spirit"

June 14, 2022
Paul gives us an important reminder that we give the devil and opportunity to entangle us and at the same time grieve the Holy Spirit in us when our attitudes and actions don't reflect who He is in us and how He desires to live through us. He calls us to put off all that is cont...

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"Speak Only What Builds Up and Gives Grace" Ephesians 4:27-29

June 09, 2022
In this section we are reminded that there are several ways in which we can give the devil and opportunity in our lives. One of those in forgetting that our lives are to be missional and the reason for working is not accumulating more but enabling ourselves to help others. Then...

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"Be Angry and Sin Not" Ephesian 4:25-27

June 07, 2022
Paul spends a lot of time reminding of who we are in Christ and whose we are so that we will see clearly what attitudes and actions suit us as the beloved of God. Since we have put away falsehood then we are liberated to speak the truth in love to others. Our lives are missiona...

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"The New Self" Ephesians 4:17-24

June 02, 2022
We should not be surprised when we see the sinful patterns of the unbeliever. They are living out of their sinful nature because they are alienated from the life of God. They have hardened their hearts to His gift of freedom and life. The believer, however, is to live a comple...

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"Growing Up" Ephesians 4:14-16

May 31, 2022
Spiritual maturity isn't about how long we've been believers but expressed in how we have come into a responsive relationship with His indwelling life and seek to be expressions of His love and life to others. Paul calls us to grow up so that we won't be easily deceived by false...

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"Equipping the Saints" Ephesians 4:11-13

May 26, 2022
Jesus gave gifts to His people, the church, in order to prepare them for the ministry He calling each one of them to. Every child of God is called to be a minister and we gather together that those gifted with a special office would use their individual gifts to prepare others f...

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"Ascended and Descended" Ephesians 4:7-10

May 24, 2022
Jesus left Heaven, took on human flesh and journeyed to the cross in order to restore us to relationship with the Father. He paid the price for our sin and after giving up His life as the perfect one-time sacrifice for sin, went to the grave and on the 3rd day rose again as our ...

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"The Worthy Walk" Ephesians 4:1-6

May 19, 2022
All who are in Christ are one in Him. How we relate to one another and live in world must be an expression of His divine life in us. When we allow Him who is our life to live His life through us it is always going to look, act and sound like Him.

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"The Love of Christ" Ephesians 3:14-21

May 17, 2022
Christ love for us is the foundation of all. He gave His for us, so He could give His life to us and therefore be the source for all we would ever need in us. As we are rooted in His love we will be strengthened in the inner man.

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"Boldness and Access with Confidence" Ephesians 3:1-13

May 12, 2022
Paul who at one time had been a persecutor of the church had been brought to Christ and transformed. He who at one time had been a very zealous Jew was not the apostle to the Gentiles. He understood it was his stewardship of God's grace to proclaim to the Gentiles what God had ...

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"Access to the Father" Ephesians 2:15-22

May 10, 2022
In Christ there is no longer Jew and Gentile. God abolished the Law and all the distinctions in order to reconcile Jew and Gentile into one body through faith in the finished work of the cross. We are now citizens of His kingdom and members of His household with direct access t...

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"He Himself our Peace" Ephesians 2:11-14

May 05, 2022
God didn't choose us because we were good or had something to offer Him or even what we might do for Him in the future. We were all alienated from God without hope. It is there He came to be our perfect sacrifice. Through His shed blood we are brought into intimate relationshi...

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"Rich in Mercy, Great Love" Ephesians 2:1-10

May 03, 2022
First comes the bad new. We were all sinners and following our selfish desires, children of disobedience as the spiritual children of the devil. But God! He is rich in mercy and has great love for us and brings us the gift of salvation by grace through faith. If that weren't ...

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"Immeasurable Power" Ephesians 1:19-23

April 28, 2022
Paul so desires the believers to understand they have not been left to their own resources. They have the same immeasurable, great power that raised Jesus from the grace and put Him on His throne at the right hand of the Father in complete dominion over all. This is the power i...

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"Love, Wisdom, Revelation" Ephesians 1:15-18

April 26, 2022
Paul heard of their faith and the fruit of their faith was love for others. He gives thanks and prays that God will fill them wisdom and bring them revelation of all they have in Him and all He desires to do through them.

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"The Holy Spirit Guarantees our Inheritance" Ephesians 1:11-14

April 21, 2022
When we believe the Gospel we receive a beautiful inheritance in Him. We receive the Holy Spirit who is His life in us and the guarantee that we will receive all that God has promised us. It is never about our faithfulness but His. This is what gives us great security.

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"Adopted, Redeemed, Forgiven" Ephesians 1:5-10

April 19, 2022
The will of the Father was to be in relationship with us and so He sent His Son to pay the price we could not pay in order to redeem us to Himself by the shedding of His own blood and secure us to Himself as beloved sons, completely forgiven so nothing could ever change our relat...

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"Chosen, Holy Blameless" Ephesians 1:3-4

April 14, 2022
Paul reminds us that we have now all spiritual blessings in Christ. He chose us before the foundation of the world to be in Him holy and blameless before Him in love. This liberates us to a life of intimacy with Him knowing He is the initiator and securer of our relationship. ...

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"Grace & Peace" Ephesians 1:2

April 12, 2022
Grace and peace are inseparably linked. There is no peace with God or experience of the peace of God apart from receiving the fullness of His grace. Grace removes all that hindered our being in beautiful relationship with the Father and Son. Whenever you find yourself to exper...

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"Grace & Peace" Ephesians 1:2

"Saints" Ephesians 1:1

April 07, 2022
Paul identifies the believers as saints. It is absolutely important that we recognize that when we are born-again we receive a new nature. We become the possession of God and have His life in us. This makes us a holy people. It doesn't we can't sin, it simply means we are no ...

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"Should Not I Pity?" Jonah 4:5-11

April 05, 2022
Jonah sits outside the city of Nineveh hoping for its destruction. He was full of anger and hatred for his enemies and wanted nothing but their judgment. He was full of self-righteousness and was blind to his hypocrisy in desiring grace and mercy for himself and his people but ...

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"Do You Do Well To Be Angry" Jonah 4:1-4

March 31, 2022
Amazingly Jonah's response to the grace, mercy and love of God toward the Ninevites in their repentance was bitterness. He certainly understood the beautiful character of God but he didn't want his enemies to be recipients of what he had so freely received. It is always dangero...

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"When God Relents" Jonah 3

March 29, 2022
Jonah receives the word of the Lord for the people of Nineveh the second time and goes into the city proclaiming destruction to come in 40 days and the people called out mightily to God in repentance and God showed them great mercy. We must never forget that God calls each of us...

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"Salvation Belongs to the Lord" Jonah 2

March 24, 2022
In the belly of the fish Jonah cries out to God and the Lord hears his prayer. There is no place or time that our Lord doesn't hear our prayers. Not only does He hear our prayers but He delivers us. Salvation belongs to the Lord. If we were the authors of salvation we could c...

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"In the Belly of the Fish" Jonah 1:11-17

March 22, 2022
The seaman didn't want to do harm to Jonah even when they understood he was the reason their lives were in peril. Jonah tells them to throw him overboard and though they were reluctant they obeyed and the sea was calm and they feared the Lord greatly and made sacrifice to the Lo...

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"I Fear the Lord" Jonah 1:7-10

March 17, 2022
While the unbelieving seaman were trying to identify who was responsible for the danger they found themselves in they discover that Jonah is guilty of attempting to flee from the presence of the Lord. He identifies himself as a Hebrew and one the fears the creator God. This sti...

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"I Fear the Lord" Jonah 1:7-10

"When God Sends A Storm" Jonah 1:4-6

March 15, 2022
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Jonah Runs from God's Commission Jonah 1:1-3

March 10, 2022
Jonah was a prophet of God but he didn't have God's heart for the world. God commissions him to go to a people and warn them but he heads in the opposite direction trying to flee the will and purposes of God, failing to realize there is no escaping the presence of God.

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"Examine Yourselves" 2 Corinthians 13:4-5

March 08, 2022
In closing out his letter to the church Paul calls them to examine themselves to ensure they are in the faith. He wanted them to have assurance they were truly those who had entrusted themselves to Jesus and were indwelt with His life. This indwelling power is our great privile...

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"My Grace Is Sufficient" 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

March 03, 2022
We all want to be strong and healthy but Paul shares with us the important lesson he received from the Lord. He was being afflicted and he prayed 3 times for God to deliver him but the Lord only responded, "my grace is sufficient for you." Paul learned to be content in his weak...

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"Satan Disguises Himself" 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

March 01, 2022
Paul reminds us to be a discerning people. Not everyone who comes in the name of God is from God. There are those false teachers who boast about themselves and promote themselves in order to profit themselves and lead the church into deception. Just as Satan disguises himself ...

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"Comparing Ourselves" 2 Corinthians 10:12

February 24, 2022
Paul had to defend his spiritual authority because false teachers often attacked him. He refused to compare himself to others and reminds us that is never wise to compare yourself to any other. All that we are and have comes to us from God as a gift of His grace. It is never a...

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"Divine Power" 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

February 22, 2022
We must remain keenly aware of the spiritual battle that is taking place. It is easy to think that our problems are all physical, other people but we are ultimately in a spiritual battle and we must wage this war with the divine power God has given us to break down the spiritual...

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"Enriched to be Generous" 2 Corinthians 9:10-15

February 17, 2022

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"A Cheerful Giver" 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

February 15, 2022

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"Genuine Love" 2 Corinthians 8:8-9

February 10, 2022

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"The Grace of God" 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

February 08, 2022
When you think about the grace of God, do you think about giving? Paul tells the Corinthian believers of the beautiful example of the Macedonian Christians who gave sacrificially in spite of their afflictions and poverty. Their passion was the King and His kingdom and they want...

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Bringing Holiness to Completion" 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1

February 03, 2022
Paul reminds us that we are the temple of the living God and that changes how we live in the world. We have the wonderful promise of His indwelling presence. As His beloved children we must not allow ourselves to be distracted from our King and His kingdom. Instead we cooperat...

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"New Creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

February 01, 2022
When we put our trust in His finished work on the cross, He transforms our very being. To be in Christ is to be a new creation. We are no longer sinners separated from God but reconciled to Him. It is all through His beautiful work on our behalf. He became what we were, sinne...

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"Aim to Please Him" 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

January 27, 2022
How we live in the world as disciples of Jesus matters. While Paul faced frequent hostility and even death; he wasn't afraid of death because that would just mean a greater experience of the presence of Christ. The aim of our lives is to please Him in all things. Paul reminds ...

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"Jars of Clay" 2 Corinthians 4:7-11

January 25, 2022
The beauty of the Gospel is that is always about Him, His finished work on the cross, His faithfulness and His life being expressed through us. We believers are not the focus, we are often weak but He lives in us in order to express His great power through us. We are never left...

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"House Built on the Rock" Matthew 7:24-27

January 20, 2022
To be a hearer of Jesus' words but not a doer is to build a life a faulty foundation. He tells us that when we hear and apply these truths to our lives it is building life on a solid foundation. He is the rock on which disciples are to build their lives. He gave His life to us...

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"I Never Knew You" Matthew 7:21-23

January 18, 2022
Jesus encourages the people to be discerning for their are many false prophets then as there are today. We know the tree by the fruit not what they profess. He tells them that there are those who do many mighty works in His name that don't truly know Him. To truly know Him, no...

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"The Narrow Gate" Matthew 7:13-14

January 13, 2022
Immediately after giving the people what we call the "Golden Rule" He tells them the gate that leads to destruction is easy and wide. He calls them to enter the narrow gave, though difficult, it leads to life. The narrow gate is only hard in that it is only entered into by grac...

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"The Golden Rule" Matthew 7:12

January 11, 2022
With the Golden Rule Jesus establishes a new paradigm where we don't treat people as they treat us but we treat others as we desire to be treated. This is the fulfilment of the Law. It isn't a reciprocal relationship but one that flows from His indwelling presence. He lives in ...

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"Ask, Seek, Knock" Matthew 7:7-11

January 06, 2022
Jesus invites us into an intimate, trusting relationship with our heavenly Father. We are invited to come to Him with boldness and confidence knowing that when we ask, seek and knock. He hears us and gives us every good gift.

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"A Log In My Eye" Matthew 7:1-5

January 04, 2022
Jesus tells us very clearly that we are not suited to be judges. It doesn't mean that we abandon discernment but we refuse to put ourselves in the place of judging others. Most of our judging of others is a way of avoiding our own issues. Jesus calls those who have a log in th...

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"He Values You" Matthew 6:25-30

December 30, 2021
Jesus tells us to be anxious for nothing. Look at the birds and the flowers of the field. Clearly our Father takes care of them are we not more valued than they? Of course we are. We know our worth and value to Him by what He was willing to pay for us. The Father saw you and...

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"Two Masters" Matthew 6:24

December 28, 2021
Jesus tells His listeners that no one can serve two masters. You will end up loving one and despising the other. Our hearts can only be devoted to one. He tells them you can serve God or money but not both. This is a message our world needs to hear because many fail to realiz...

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"Advent Conspiracy" Merry Christmas

December 23, 2021
Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate the birth of our Savior and the beautiful gift of eternal life through faith in His finished work. I encourage you to make this Christmas and ever Christmas about the Christ, our King and His kingdom. I invite you to participate in our...

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"Where's Your Heart?" Matthew 6:19-21

December 21, 2021
Jesus calls those who would follow Him to not follow the hopeless pattern of the world and invest all of their treasures in earth. Treasures invested in the world can't give us the security we hunger for. He calls us to lay up treasures for ourselves in Heaven where there is tr...

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"When You Give" Matthew 6:1-4

December 16, 2021
Jesus wanted them to understand that giving wasn't to be done to impress others but to be done in secret. The way of the world is to give in order to attract attention to oneself or to try and show how they are better than others but Jesus says those people have their reward. O...

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"Loving Your Enemies" Matthew 5:43-48

December 14, 2021
Jesus teaches those who would follow Him that there is a completely different way of thinking and living in the world as His disciples. While the religious world they lived in told them to love their neighbors and hate their enemies; He calls them to love their enemies. To be a...

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"He Came to Fulfill" Matthew 5:17-20

December 09, 2021
Jesus tells them that His purpose in coming was not to do away with the Law but to fulfill it. The purpose of the Law was not to show us a path to righteousness but to show us the sinfulness of our sin and our desperate need for a Savior. Through His perfect sacrifice on the cr...

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"Salt and Light" Matthew 5:13-16

December 07, 2021
Christ who is the light of the world, puts his life in us that He might shine His light through us. We must be very careful that we don't get distracted by various things that end up serving as a basket that hides the light in us. Each of us are called to be salt and light in t...

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"Hunger and Thirst" Matthew 6:6

December 02, 2021
It is interesting how the human condition is never satisfied. We always seem to want something more or something better. We have misconstrued the blessed life with the accumulation of more. Jesus reminds us that those who are truly blessed and truly satisfied are those that hu...

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"Favor and Good Success" Proverbs 3:1-6

November 30, 2021
It is so important for us to remember the truth of God's word and remember that all of His commands are centered in His love for us. When we walk in surrendered obedience to His indwelling presence we experience all of His promises and peace the world doesn't understand. We can...

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"There is Freedom" 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

November 25, 2021
Paul reminds the readers that there very religious people whose hearts were hardened to the Gospel of Jesus because they were trying to establish a righteousness apart from Christ. It was though there was a veil over their understanding. The veil is only removed from Christ. W...

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"If You Confess With Your Mouth" Romans 10:1-13

November 23, 2021
Paul reminds them that the offer of salvation is freely offered to all who will receive the gift of righteousness by faith. To entrust yourself to His death, burial and resurrection as the perfect sacrifice for sins is to recognize that He is Lord. He alone has the right to rul...

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"Peace of God" Philippians 4:4-7

November 18, 2021
Paul reminds us to rejoice always because we are never left to our own resources. He lives in us and we can trust that He is working all things for our good. When we find ourselves anxious it reminds us to surrender all things to His care. To give thanks and know that He is wo...

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"Ministers of the New Covenant" 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

November 16, 2021
God gave His life to us that He might live His life through us. We don't make ourselves sufficient or qualified to represent Him but He most certainly does. He has called each one of us to ministers of the New Covenant. The Spirit of God in us, living through us, proclaims to ...

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"The Aroma of Christ" 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

November 11, 2021
Christ secured for us a life of victory not defeat. As we allow Him who is our live to live His life through us it isn't one of constant defeat but of conquering. Our lives are to be a sweet fragrance of His life. When we allow Him to live through us it always, looks, sounds a...

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"I Will Fear No Evil" Psalm 23

November 09, 2021
In this psalm we see that God is our Good Shepherd. He supplies all we ever need and always leads us in path that is in perfect harmony with who He has made us to be as His children. That doesn't mean a life without challenges. There are times we will find ourselves walking th...

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"All the Promises of God" 2 Corinthians 1:20-22

November 04, 2021
We have the assurance of all God's promises not because we are faithful but because He is faithful. We have nothing to boast about. He who died as us and for us that He might live through us works through us for His glory. He has anointed each of us for the great privilege of ...

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"My God Will Supply" Philippians 4:14-19

November 02, 2021
If we can trust God with our soul, can we trust him with our money? The answer is obvious but it is often very difficult for us because we see the money, the possessions as ours. When He purchased us to Himself, the reality is, all that we have is His and we are simply His stew...

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"You are a God of Seeing" Genesis 16

October 28, 2021
In this chapter we read the story of how Sarai decides to help God fulfill His promises and it all goes wrong. She gives her maid to Abram to produce a child and it all goes sideways. Hagar is fleeing from Sarai and we see how God pursues her in the wilderness. Hagar discovers...

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"The Love of the Lord Never Ceases" Lamentations 3:20-26

October 26, 2021
Jeremiah writes this book in a time of great despair for himself and the nation of Israel. I love how he talks about in this time of humility he remembers the character of God and reminds the people of the steadfast love and mercy of God. He is our hope. It is never about our ...

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"Seek First" Matthew 6:31-34

October 21, 2021
It is really easy for us to follow the pattern of the world and make our pursuits in life the same as the world. To think life is all about what we can accumulate, how we can secure our future, and live a life of comfort. Jesus tells us not to be anxious about the future or all...

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"Delight Yourself in the Lord" Psalm 37:1-5

October 19, 2021
There are times when you look into the world and it seems like the wicked prosper. This psalm reminds us not to fret about what we see going on in the world or allow ourselves to be envious. We are called to trust in the Lord, commit ourselves to Him and trust that He will and...

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"I Will Be With You" Isaiah 43:1-2

October 14, 2021
God doesn't promise a life free from trials or hardships but He does promise to be with us through it all. We don't have to live in fear because is the one who formed us, called us, redeems us. He knows us by name. He is the one who pursues us and promises to never leave us. ...

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"Count it all Joy" James 1:2-4

October 12, 2021
What is your response to trials and hardships? James reminds us to count these things a joy. It is a very different thing than happiness. Happiness is based on our circumstances but joy is deeper, it is an inner peace and contentment knowing that our Abba is working in ever ci...

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"He Bore Our Sins" 1 Peter 2:24-25

October 07, 2021
We need to hear the gospel all the time. We need to be reminded the good news is not only did Jesus die on the cross to forgive us of our sins and give us a heavenly home. He gave His life for us so He could live in us and live His life through us. It is Good News to know that...

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"What are you Thinking About" Philippians 4:8

October 05, 2021
As believers we need to be very careful with what we allow ourselves to think about. The things we think affect how we feel and act. Paul calls the believers to think on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable. We shouldn't be focused on the l...

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"I Know My Plans for You" Jeremiah 28:10-14

September 30, 2021
The prophet Jeremiah had a very challenging calling. There doesn't seem to be any evidence that people responded to his message but he remained faithful to calling the people to remember the promises of God to them. They suffered horrible consequences due to their rebellion, ho...

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"Power Perfected in Weakness" 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

September 28, 2021
We all want to be strong because we see that we see that as the pathway to success. Paul reminds us that it isn't our strength that glorifies God but our utter dependence on Him that glorifies God. It is His grace that meets us in our insufficiency and reveals His power in our ...

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Jesus sums everything up with His disciples

By Tim Ekno
May 27, 2021
Hi Friends, Jesus sums everything up with His disciples with the commandment to love one another in the same way that He has loved them. It is essential for us to live as those who are loved fully, completely and unconditionally or we will never find ourselves able to love...

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How do you see yourself as a child of God?

By Tim Ekno
March 21, 2021
Hi Friends, How do you see yourself as a child of God? Many Christians think of themselves as sinners saved by grace. It is true that we were all born sinners but when we receive Christ as our life we receive a new nature. We are now saints. It doesn't mean we never sin it just ...

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God has equipped you to be a vessel of love

By Tim Ekno
April 30, 2020
Hi Friends, God has equipped you to be a vessel of love and life to the world. We aren't sufficient in ourselves but He is our sufficiency. He is our source for all. He has set us free from the demands of the Old Covenant. The New Covenant is not about our performance but His on...

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