Religion & Spirituality

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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

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Mistakes – #1

Have you ever made a mistake?
Of course you have; many you couldn’t undo or change.

Don’t feel alone. The Bible is full of men and women that made mistakes – some minor and some really major.

In the case of Abram and Sarai, they had no children but a promise from God that their descendants would be like the stars of the heavens.

But maybe they figured their problem was bigger than their God. So she took matters into her own hands.

Gen 16:2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

If God is restraining you it’s either because He doesn’t want you to have it or it isn’t the right timing for it.
In this case it is the latter, this wasn’t the right time for Abram and Sarai to have a child. That day is coming but it is not today.

God’s delay is not a weakness. Patience in waiting on God is a virtue that you can ill-afford to tamper with.

God’s promises don’t need your help. God has been running the universe just fine without you winding up the mechanism. Let Him do what He does best.

God’s plans will be fulfilled. Every promise made will come to pass. If the Bible says it, you can believe it will happen.

Never believe your problems are bigger than God can handle. If you think you can do a better job than God then your ego may be bigger than God can handle!

Abba Father, help e leave the ego behind, wait, and depend on You! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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God’s Prescribed Sacrifice

“It is only by obedience that we understand the teaching of God.” ~Oswald Chambers

Gen 15:17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.

Abram obeyed God and had taken the five sacrifices and prepared them.

This obedience became a reassuring teaching from God – teaching involving the future of his descendants. (Gen 15:13-16)

Then a firepot and burning torch went between the pieces.

The pieces were the complete blood sacrifices the Law would prescribe. Those sacrifices would be offered by the priests.

In this text, God, Himself, burns the sacrifice…

…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Col 2:17

1 John 3:16 He laid down His life for us.
Heb 7:27 He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

For all the sacrifices that mankind can offer, it is the one offered by Christ, the complete Sacrifice, that satisfies the Father.

No matter what trouble may come, the Father will fulfill His promise to deliver His people.

That promise is yours when you accept God’s sacrifice for you – His own Son!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

YES&AMEN

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Big Promise

My promises to others are small. I try not to commit to what I cannot do. And sometimes I forget something, so I try to keep notes in my iPhone.

You don’t want to promise what you cannot deliver to begin with. Time and effort work against promises

I know I have broken promises, both intentionally and unintentionally. And promises have been broken to me.

God is the opposite of you and me.

Gen 15:5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

God’s promises are big. I mean to say your descendants will be as numerous as the stars is a huge commitment. It’s happened! How many descendants of Abraham have there been through the ages – both born naturally and adopted and grafted in!

It’s not the only promise He has made!

Isa 1:18 “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Matt 28:20 “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Rom 10:13 “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Heb 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

1 John 1:7 the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Acts 1:11 This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.

Rev 22:20 “Surely I am coming quickly.”

Abba, I have yet to see a broken promise from You. I believe them all, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Wait for the Best!

Gen 15:3-4 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”

Abram was willing to settle for Eliezar of Damascus to be his heir; he was willing to forgo the stress of waiting and wondering for it just to be over and life move forward.

There are times you can be so desperate to move forward you will compromise for something less than God wants for you.

God has a plan. His plan is perfect. Your plan is flawed, unless that plan is to wait on God.

There are people right now settling for less than God wants for them. They are living in their sin when God wants them to live in Christ.

Some are praying to trees or dead religious leaders when God wants to answer their prayers.

You may be struggling to make ends meet or you may make lots of money but aren’t truly fulfilled or happy. God wants you to be dependent on Him for all you need, including happiness and joy.

Don’t settle for less. Wait on the Lord.

Ps 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Ps 27:14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Isa 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Abba, I want the most that You desire to give to me. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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What will You give me?

Gen 15:2 Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me…

What did Abram already have?

The Bible reports he was rich in gold, silver, and cattle. He had a beautiful wife that was desired by other men even though she was in her 70’s.

He had trained servants that could take on the armies of four different kingdoms. He had the promise of possessing all the land.

And most importantly, he had God!

It’s not what you have from God that you are concerned about – it’s what you don’t have.

Though Abram was a rich man with a lot to be happy about, he had no children.

Gen 15:2
Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

Abram had one other thing – God’s promise of an heir from his own body, but it was one promise he struggled to patiently wait on.

Look around your home at all the things you possess. It’s proof that people are never satisfied. Garage sales are further proof of too much around the house.

Can your possessions compare to the gift of eternal life from God?

Matt 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

How much of your life can you give God credit for having?
Are you coming to Him and asking for more?
Can you wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled?

Abba, I am rich because of You! My greatest possession is my salvation. Every day I only ask that I can encourage someone else, in Jesus name, with the Good News.YES&AMEN