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Christian Devotional – June 3, 2013
VERSE: Acts 2:36–Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. TRUTH: Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, gives the people the message of Jesus Christ during Pentecost. This verse tells the people that no matter what they believe or what they expect, God had a plan for Jesus and His plan was accomplished. Even though the people had crucified Jesus, God was still victorious and raised Him from the dead. God made Jesus to be both Lord and Messiah. Are we living our lives based on God’s plans and declarations for our life or are we still trying…
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Christian Devotional – June 2, 2013
VERSE: Acts 1:14–They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers. TRUTH: These early followers of Jesus understood the importance of prayer and praying together. Being able to be constantly together in prayer allowed God to mold and shape their hearts to be obedient to His will. They were able to share each others burdens and to love one another. Do we take the time to join in prayer with other believers? Or, are we trying to live the Christian life by ourselves? God designed us to need each other and we must come together to pray and…
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Christian Devotional – June 1, 2013
VERSE: Ezekiel 48:35–“The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on will be: The Lord is there.” TRUTH: The final word from Ezekiel describes the geographical layout of the land with the divisions among the tribes. Here at the very end, the Lord gives the name of the city with the sanctuary that He has been describing for the past several chapters. This city will be in the heart of the land. The name of the city will be “The Lord is There.” This beautiful name describes exactly what God wants for the places He is going to dwell. As God…
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Christian Devotional – May 31, 2013
VERSE: Ezekiel 47:12–Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. TRUTH: Because the water that provides for these trees flows from the holy sanctuary of God, the fruit will have some of the same properties as God Himself. When we are spending time with God and allowing Him into our life, then we will become more and more like Him. He will move in us and move through us…
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Christian Devotional – May 30, 2013
VERSE: Ezekiel 46:11–At the feasts and the appointed festivals, the grain offering is to be an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram, and with a lamb as much as he pleases, along with a hin of oil for each ephah. TRUTH: So many of the offerings that are described in the Old Testament are very set and rigid in what is to be given and how much. However, here the people are told that with the lambs, they can give as much as they please. If God told us that we could give Him as much as we please, how much would that be? How much are…
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Christian Devotional – May 29, 2013
VERSE: Ezekiel 45:9–This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have gone far enough, princes of Israel! Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing my people declares the Sovereign Lord. TRUTH: The princes were not doing all that God had intended for them to be doing. They were using their power to oppress the people so God tells them, “Enough!” Will we listen when God tells us what we are to do? Will we hear Him when He tells us that we’ve gone far enough with our sin? RESPONSE: Lord, I want to serve You, but sometimes my sin gets in the…
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Christian Devotional – May 28, 2013
VERSE: Ezekiel 44:23–They are to each my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. TRUTH: The priests had several very important jobs. They were to minister before the Lord and they kept the temple sacred. Along with that, they were to teach the people the difference between what is common and what is holy. They wanted to keep those separate and by teaching the people, they would be able to worship God in a way that is pleasing to God. RESPONSE: Father, You have showed Yourself to me, now I pray You will give me the…
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Book Review – Wounded Heroes Book One: Kill Shot by Anne Patrick
Recently I started reading the Wounded Heroes series by Anne Patrick. The First book in the series: Kill Shot, introduces us to Kory Wagner. Kory has been back in the United States for about 8 months after her discharge from the Army. As a decorated infantry combat medic, she made a name for herself being willing to go places right in the thick of danger. Shortly after she got back, her sister was killed by an apparent drunk driver. But the more she looks into her sister’s death, the more it seems that someone here wants her dead, too. As Kory is searching for answers to her sister’s death, Sheriff…
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Christian Devotional – May 27, 2013
VERSE: Ezekiel 43:2–and saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. TRUTH: Oh, to behold the glory of God as Ezekiel did coming in a rush and filling the land with His glory! The Lord is indeed radiant and His glory is seen throughout the earth. He is mighty and powerful and truly spectacular. Do we stand in awe of the amazing power and glory of God? RESPONSE: Father, I know that I get caught up in the mundane routine of life and do not focus on the fact…
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Christian Devotional – May 26, 2013
VERSE: Ezekiel 42:20–So he measured the area on all four sides. It had a wall around it, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common. TRUTH: God showed Ezekiel that there is to be a separation between what is holy and what is common. Those things which are holy are to be set apart. They are to be reverenced and respected. God is holy. Do we treat Him as such? He is to be set apart and reverenced. Because we belong to Him as His followers, we are also to conduct ourselves as holy and set apart. Do we make a distinction…