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Christian Devotional – August 5, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 37:2–Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet. TRUTH: The new king of Judah wasn’t any better than the previous. He didn’t want to hear or know anything about God. Interestingly, in the very next verse, he called to Jeremiah and asked him to pray for him. The new king wanted God’s blessings without God Himself. Do we seek only the things of God instead of the Creator and Giver of those things? RESPONSE: Father, I love You and I desire You, and not just Your blessings. I want my relationship…
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Christian Devotional – August 4, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 36:24–The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. TRUTH: When confronted with God’s word, the king had no interest, no repentance, no remorse. He didn’t feel guilty and proceeded to throw the written word of God into the fire. God’s word is truth and when we are confronted with the truth of our ways, how do we respond? Do we turn with repentance and a desire to be made right with God or do we resist God’s instructions and refuse His corrections? RESPONSE: Father, I do not like correction, but I know that I can’t fully…
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Christian Devotional – August 3, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 35:13–Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘ Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instructions by listening to My words?” declares the Lord.” TRUTH: How do we know what God would have us do? We receive instruction by listening to God’s word. As we read, study, and meditate on the Word of God, the Bible, we see God’s character and His commands clearly before us as God speaks to us through His word. Are we listening? RESPONSE: Father, Your Word is the revealing of Yourself to me. I will treasure Your word and study…
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Christian Devotional – August 2, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 34:11–But afterward they turned around and took back the male servants and the female servants whom they had set free, and brought them into subjection for male servants and female servants. TRUTH: The Lord had given the people a specific command: free the male and female servants that you have. So the people obeyed and let them go. However, just after that, they went out and took their servants back. The Lord wanted the people to understand that partial obedience is still disobedience. They Lord wants us to honor the directions that He gives. He wants to help us, but we have to be willing to follow Him…
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Christian Devotional – August 1, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 33:3–Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. TRUTH: God hears us when we call on Him. He is very clear: call on Him and He will answer. He is the Author and Creator of all things and He knows everything. He will be there for us even when we don’t understand the situation we are in or why things are the way they are. He wants us to bring our questions to Him. He will answer when we call. RESPONSE: Father, I cherish how You respond to me even in my disappointments and doubts. Whether I…
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Christian Devotional – July 31, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 32:39–I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. TRUTH: When God promises to restore the people, one characteristic of their restoration is that the people will have a singleness of heart and action. As God restores us, He gives us the same singleness of heart and action. We desire the things He desires. We do the things He would do. We will seek Him and fear Him and love Him above everything else. Do we have Him as the single focus in our heart? If not,…
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Christian Devotional – July 30, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 31:18–“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me and I will return, because You are the Lord my God.'” TRUTH: The Lord disciplines us who have been unruly. He does this so that we will recognize that we have done wrong and will seek restoration. God’s desire is to restore us once we fall short of Him. However, we must choose to return. We must accept the discipline that we receive and learn from it. Do we accept God’s discipline and use it to look at our life and the opportunities to confess and be brought…
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Book Review – Through the Fog by Karina Harris
Through the Fog by Karina Harris is the second book in her Elements of Change series. I absolutely loved the first book and was thrilled when the second book became available. In this book, Jake is struggling with the fact that the woman he’s been in love with for so long, Ella, has become engaged to another man. He knows that they are right for each other, but how is he supposed to pick up the pieces and move on? Jake decides to change careers and goes and trains to be a deputy. Suzanna is happy that her friend Ella and her brother Alec have finally declared their feelings for each…
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Christian Devotional – July 29, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 30:22–So you will be my people and I will be your God. TRUTH: This statement sums up how we interact with God. It is to be a relationship. We belong to God and He belongs to us. The Lord desires to be close to us and be in a relationship with us. Do we seek the same thing? Are we trying to know and learn more about God in order to get more things from God or to deepen our relationship with God? RESPONSE: Father, I desire to know You more and to grow in my relationship with You. You are my God and I am Your child. I…
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Christian Devotional – July 28, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 29:13–You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. TRUTH: Jeremiah wrote a letter to the people who had already been taken captive and sent into exile. He didn’t write, “I told you so,” or even further condemn them. He sent them a letter of hope, a letter that even though things looked bad and they were reaping the consequences of their ways, the Lord still heard them, still had plans to prosper them and if they would seek Him, He would be there. No matter our sin, no matter our situation and circumstances, the Lord is waiting to be found if…