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Christian Devotional – June 16, 2013
VERSE: Acts 15:11–No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. TRUTH: As far back as the first believers, people were trying to add requirements to the gospel message. The core question became, “What does a person have to do to be saved?” The Jews were trying to tell the Gentiles that they had to be circumcised first. Paul took the stand that is listed here. Salvation is through grace and people come to the Lord just as they are. People don’t have to fix their lives first in order to come to Jesus. There are no extra requirements.…
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Christian Devotional – June 15, 2013
VERSE: Acts 14:17–Yet He has not left Himself without testimony; He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. TRUTH: No matter our circumstances God has worked in our life to testify of His great love for us. God gives us so many of the wonderful provisions and we should recognize and acknowledge His hand in all that we see around us. God loves us and He provides for us in so many ways that testify to His presence and mercy in our lives. RESPONSE: Father, You move and work in…
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Christian Devotional – June 14, 2013
VERSE: Acts 13:45–When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. TRUTH: The Jews who heard Paul’s message didn’t get upset or angry until they realized that more people were coming to hear Paul’s message than came to h ear their message. Jealousy is such a dangerous thing because it can be over just about anything. Are we going to miss what God is doing in our lives and in the lives of those around us just because we get jealous about how God is moving and working? RESPONSE: Lord, search my heart and root…
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Christian Devotional – June 13, 2013
VERSE: Acts 12:9–Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. TRUTH: Can you really blame Peter for assuming this was just a vision? He had been fast asleep when the angel got him up. None of us, no matter who we are, always see God’s actions clearly 100% of the time. Peter was obedient and closer to God than many people and even he didn’t catch on right away. Still God moved and worked in His life and he didn’t resist. Peter eventually realized God’s plan. Are we open to…
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Christian Devotional – June 12, 2013
VERSE: Acts 11:17–“So if God gave them the same gift He gave to us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” TRUTH: Peter had gone and shared with the Gentiles, and now some of the Jews were upset. When they criticized Peter, he simply gave a recounting of what happened and then ended with this statement, “If God wants to do something, who am I to think I could stand in God’s way.” We are to have the same idea about the plans God has for us. When God wants to do something, regardless of the criticism of…
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Christian Devotional – June 11, 2013
VERSE: Acts 10:15–The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” TRUTH: Peter had grown up with a very clear idea about people who were considered clean and people who were not. Now that Jesus had come and had died and rose again to provide salvation for all people, God had to help Peter learn to change his perspective. God’s message of hope and salvation is for all people and everyone can know and have an opportunity to accept Jesus. Do we only share with certain people? Do we only want certain people in our church? God desires all people to…
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Book Review – Wounded Heroes Book Three: Betrayal by Anne Patrick
The third book in the Wounded Heroes series by Anne Patrick is titles Betrayal. Sergeant Drew Presley is just back from the front lines of Iraq and is now ready to track down the murderer who killed his wife, Nora, eighteen months ago. He had come back for the funeral, but had chosen to finish out his service before returning, trusting in the local police to do their job. Now, since no arrests have been made and no progress has been apparent on the case, he’s going to figure it out himself. However, the close-knit residents of Dauphine Island in Maine aren’t willing to give up their secrets easily. Drew’s…
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Christian Devotional – June 10, 2013
VERSE: Acts 9:16–I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. TRUTH: Jesus has appeared to Saul and Saul has been miraculously transformed from being a destroyer of Christians to a believer on Christ. However, he has been left blind by the encounter. God comes to Ananias and tells him to go to Saul and pray for him. When Ananias hesitates, God reveals this information about His plans for Saul. This verse is amazing and terrifying at the same time. I and amazed that God has set plans and thoughts regarding His desires for us. This is terrifying because sometimes I know that these plans may involve…
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Christian Devotional – June 9, 2013
VERSE: Acts 8:21-22 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that He may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. TRUTH: Our motivation matters to God. Simon had done many wonderful and amazing things before the people, but when the apostles came, Simon tried to buy their power from them. That selfish and self-serving motivation is sinful and Peter confronted him with the words above. The best part of these verses is that even in the midst of the sin and wrong, there is still…
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Christian Devotional – June 8, 2013
VERSE: Acts 7:53–you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it. TRUTH: Stephen gives an amazing defense. He has been accused and is on trial so he stands before them to tell them what he believes. Things are going well until he makes his final statements, in the end they become extremely upset with him and stone him. Why? He actually accuses his accusers of committing a crime. They had the truth, but they did not obey it. There are very few things that make me as sad as seeing people know and understand the truth about Jesus Christ, but refuse to obey.…