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Your name

A name says a lot about a person. There are names that you hear and associate with different things.

For instance, if you hear Wright Brothers you may think about flying.
John Adams may bring a thought of statesman or president.
Billy Graham is associated with preaching or evangelism.
You may not know anything else about any of these people other than those simple things.

There other names about people you know personally and you may think drug user, drunk, creep, teacher, good person, athlete, grandmother, or any number of things.
The fact is you will associate some characteristic with a name.

And your name is associated with a characteristic by others.

Gen 17:5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham;

Abram had his name changed by God to Abraham. Abram is lost in meaning and Abraham becomes the new association. Abraham is the father of Isaac. Abraham is the one that pleaded for Sodom and Gommorah. Abraham is the Patriarch of Israel.

What does your name say to others? Do they think bad or good? Do others think of Christ at the mention of your name or do they think about sinfulness?

By the way, Abram is never mentioned in the Bible again. He is known by the name of change – Abraham!

Abba, I want my name to be a reflection of You! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Better Friends

1 Cor 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

For years I have said, “You have to get some new friends” to certain individuals. The problem is while they are striving to better themselves, they have friends that continually drag them down.

There are those people that have toxic personalities and unknowingly want to fulfill the old saying ‘misery loves company’.

Evil company deceives!
“Oh, come on! No one will know”
“Just one drink won’t hurt!”
“You’ll get home in plenty of time!”

Such things said are as deceptions.

If such company wants you to hide what you’re going to be doing or they have to assure you that it’s not going to hurt – then stay away from it.

Surround yourself with those that will help you; those that will encourage you to do better and not drag you down.

Separate yourself from poisonous, toxic people that will lead you into sin.

Abba, give me those that will encourage me. And let me be an encouragement to others that are trapped by their friends. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Assembly

Ps 26:5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers,

Just as Christians assemble together in a church – evildoers also assemble together.

All it takes is some commonality between them. It doesn’t matter if it’s a gang or a gathering of terrorists.

Why do people gather at a bar? To drink, to get a buzz, and even to get drunk. Do you find non-drinkers gathered drinking in a bar? Not likely.
Do you find a non-gang member gathering with the gang or a non-terrorist grouped with the terrorists? Not likely!

Like minded people gather together.

The like-minded men of Sodom gathered at the house of Lot. Gen 19:4
A gang of at least 42 young men gathered together and made fun of the prophet Elisha. 2 Kings 2:23, 24
Demetrius gathered together his fellow idol-makers. Acts 19:23-34

So who do you gather with?
What type of people are you like minded with?
Are you getting together for something honorable, evil, or just “fun”?
And is your fun honoring God?

Abba, I love gathering with your people, whether it’s in church, at work, or in my home. I abhor the gathering of those that seek to do evil but I know that Jesus died so they may also have forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, and gather together with Your people also. YES&AMEN

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Fruit of the Spirit

Gal 5:22-23 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Over the weekend we had the Fruit of the Spirit VBS. During the first song I remember someone saying, “That’s what I need; self-control!”
My response was you start with love!

The fruit of the Spirit is a staircase.

What you will need first is love! You cannot have kindness or gentleness without it. You can’t have joy or peace if you have hate.

Love is the key – the first step to the fruit of the Spirit.

Self-control is last on the list. Before you will attain it completely you will have to have things like patience, faithfulness, and gentleness. Self-control is not possible without them.

The great thing is the fruit of the Spirit is not dependent on others. You can have it without any help and despite any opposition. It’s all about your personal relationship and availability to the Holy Spirit.

John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Abba, I want to be an orchard of good fruit for You! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Get back to spiritual basics

This morning I was up at 3am and turned on the TV. Wagon Train was on and I tuned in just in time to hear this old man pray. It was quite a prayer. At the end of it he received an answer to his prayer and shouted, “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!”

The show was filmed in 1961 and I thought how far we have gone off the straight and narrow path.

That became a subject last Wednesday evening. The American church and American Christian has become too sophisticated and has strayed away from God.

Other nations around the world are responding to the Gospel and seeing the evidence of the miraculous power of God.

I have heard testimonies of healings; even those being raised from the dead. None of these stories originate in the USA.

The word of God tells us why.

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

The TV show from 1961 praised God in the dialogue. TV today curses Him.
Indeed we have left our first love.

Rev 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked —

It is time for the American church to return back to the basics of God. Back to faith. Back to believing. Back to living in the bounds of Christianity!

Abba, in Jesus name I want to live in the Spirit and not in the physical! I want to return to the simplicity of the faith. YES&AMEN

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Remove the boundary of sin!

Sin can be embarrassing. There are things you do that you just don’t want anyone to know about.

You create a boundary that holds in sin. You believe it is safe. You believe it is secret. No one knows.

God knows. His word tells you what to do with it.

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

God says you shouldn’t bind yourself to that sin but loose yourself from it.

The confession of sin is one of the hardest acts you will ever do. I know because I have done it before. I discovered that God’s promise of healing far outweighed my fear of embarrassment.

One other thing I’ve noticed. Confession of sin will loosen others to also confess.

Don’t keep things to yourself – no matter how embarrassing.

If your marriage is haven’t problems share it with your church. If you’re addicted to porn, it’s embarrassing but confess and start healing. If you can’t control your mouth then confess it and start healing.

I know this may step on some toes but one thing I just don’t understand is the unspoken prayer request. In my opinion it sounds like something embarrassing. I’m not saying just blurt it out. Use some discretion and get some healing.

Abba, Your word is healing. Following all that You say is meant to heal and complete me. Teach me Your ways, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Camp Lesson – Boundaries

The lesson at church camp was about boundaries. It’s a subject that touches the youngest to the oldest. Each of us has a boundary.

One teacher put “Caution” tape around the seats where the class would be held. The boys stood around and looked at the tape and tried to decide what to do.

Finally one boy lifted the tape, went under it, and sat down. Another boy followed suit. And another and another until they were all sitting down.

Prov 22:28 Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.

That’s the way it continues to be with God’s word – it has given boundaries that should not be crossed and slowly, one by one, they have been.

The line has been crossed when it comes to the abortion, same sex marriage, and the respect of God.

Once the boundary has been crossed or moved it is extremely difficult to return.

Do not cross the boundaries Father has given. Others will but you must keep yourself from doing it. When you stand before God and give your account, He isn’t going to accept the excuse that everyone else was doing it.
That didn’t work with your parents – it won’t work with Him either.

Abba, help me to see the boundaries You have given and not cross them. Give me the strength to encourage others to stay also. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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45-minutes of reasoning!

Isa 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

As great as the service with no lights was – the next night was even better.

Pastor Todd expounded and explained the word of God to the simplest degree. The Holy Spirit moved and reasoned with everyone in the worship center. The result was a 45-minute altar call!

I honestly have never seen so many teenage boys and girls crying in my life. They brought their friends to the altar, hugged each other, and prayed.

Todd offered the mic to anyone that had a testimony.

I listened as kids cried and shared their hurts and pains – divorces, the death of a parent, and the concern over a friend.

I learned that God’s grace and power does not run out or run low.
His promise to dismiss sin and replace it with forgiveness and love does not run out.

God’s love and grace did not run out with the end of church camp. Both stand ready today to change your life!

Come reason with God and listen to what He has to say to you. Find the forgiveness you need to make your sinful life as white as snow!

Abba, Your grace and love are addicting. I need it every day! I need the cleansing every day. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Light in the Darkness

On Wednesday night at church camp a storm rolled in just as the preaching started. The lights flashed once and a few moments later went out completely.

It didn’t take long for 455 people to get noisy in the near pitch black room. Some were a little disconcerted about what to do. Others were a bit nervous because of the dark.

The speaker calmed everyone and gave many something to do – get out your cell phones and turn on the light.

A majority of the congregation had a cell phone and did just that. It was one of the most awesome services I have ever witnessed.

Alter call brought many forward to pray and seek God.

It is written let your light so shine before men, Matt 5:16

Each born-again believer has the Light inside them – a light that needs to shine in the darkness of this world.

Your Light drives away darkness and calms the fear of those that see it.

Share the Light of God’s word with someone today!

Abba, I will let my light shine today. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN

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Mistake – #4

Today’s devo comes to you from Daniel Springs church camp in Gary, Texas.

When something goes wrong and you get the blame, don’t you feel like running away or crawling into a hole and pulling the dirt over the top of you?

There are many times I’d like to run away and hide.

Gen 16:6 And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

Perhaps Sarai thought this would get rid of her mistake if she caused Hagar to run away. So she was very mean to her.

Hagar ran away, taking Ishmael with her. Now Sarai doesn’t have to look at them. The boy is not around for Abram to be a father to, and the problem is solved.

But God found Hagar and sent her back!

You cannot run away and hide from your problems or from God. You cannot run away from sin.

In Eden, Adam ate from the forbidden tree. He then tried to hide from God. It didn’t work.
Confession is the only remedy for sin.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Abba, I have made many mistakes in my life. You sent Your Son to pay for my mistakes. I confess them and You have cleansed and forgiven me, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN