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Devotional – August 1, 2011
VERSE: Psalm 46:1–God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. TRUTH: God is so many things to us: our strength, our refuge, our help. No matter what we are facing, God is present with us in the midst of it. Do we trust in His guiding presence, even when we can’t feel Him? RESPONSE: Lord, You are present with me in the midst of everything I go through. Lord, help me trust in this presence even when I can’t feel it.
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Devotional – July 31, 2011
** Today is the last day of the Twitter contest. Be sure to get entered for you chance to win today’s prize, a magazine subscription to Just Between Us Christian Women’s Magazine. For info on how to win, check out http://blog.kristiburchfiel.com/2011/07/22/twitter-contest—amazing-prizes-are-great-resources-for-women.aspx **VERSE: Psalm 45:17–I will cause Your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the peoples will give You thanks forever and ever. TRUTH: As we look forward to the time when Christ will be set in His position over everything, we see how God has prepared all to remember and give thanks for Jesus Christ. Are we praising and thanking God now for the position He already holds,…
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Devotional – July 30, 2011
VERSE: Psalm 44:1–O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us the work that You did in their days, in the days of old. TRUTH: We are responsible for sharing the story of how God works in our lives with our children and others. This doesn’t mean just a telling them of God’s greatness, but explaining how we know of God’s greatness because of the difficulties God helped us overcome. If we can’t share our shortcomings with our children, they will never fully understand the power and grace of God we tell them about. RESPONSE: Lord, help me to be real with my children so they will truly…
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Devotional – July 29, 2011
VERSE: Psalm 43:5–Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. TRUTH: Whenever we face problems and difficulties, our hope is found in God. We can praise Him even through the hard times. Are we focusing on God through the difficulties? RESPONSE: Lord, no matter ho I feel, You are my hope and I will praise You today.
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Devotional – July 28, 2011
*** Having finished 1 Corinthians, we are switching back to the Psalms. We’re ready for Book 2, which consists of Chapters 42 through 72. ***VERSE: Psalm 42:1–As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my souls pants for You, O Lord. TRUTH: Do we long for and seek after God like He is the only thing that matters? Do we cling to Him as though we are desperate and desolate without Him? God knows how much we need Him in our everyday life. Do we know that and act upon it? RESPONSE: Lord, without You I am nothing. I cling to You desperately. I need You and desire You…
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Devotional – July 27, 2011
VERSE: 1 Corinthians 16:9–for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. TRUTH: These two generally go together. If we have a wide door open to us, we should expect many adversaries. Do not be discouraged, but know that God has opened a wide door and we are to follow Him in obedience, regardless of the number of adversaries. RESPONSE: Lord, help me to walk through the wide doors with confidence, knowing that even though there are many adversaries, You have overcome them all.
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Devotional – July 26, 2011
VERSE: 1 Corinthians 15:17–and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. TRUTH: The resurrection of Christ is a demonstration of the transforming power of God. God can change us and transform us and He showed it when He raised Christ from the dead. This is what our faith is in. Are we living today as one who is being transformed by the power of God? RESPONSE: Lord, You have all power and You are able to transform anything into what You desire. I have faith that in Your timing You will transform me into exactly what You want me to be.
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Book Review – A Star for Anana by Carolyn Davis
Life lessons are frequently easier for children to learn when animals are involved, which is why I so enjoyed “A Star for Anana” by Carolyn Davis. Anana is a polar bear cub who is busy being taught life lessons by her mother. However, she’s not always paying attention to her mother. When Anana and another young cub get lost, she’s able to remember the lessons her mother taught her, along with receiving help from a special star, in order to find her mother again. I really enjoyed the beautifully illustrated book. Carolyn’s writing style makes it possible to see and appreciate the all that the young cub is feeling and…
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Devotional – July 25, 2011
VERSE: 1 Corinthians 14:40–But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. TRUTH: Paul has just given a lot of instruction on specific uses of gifts in the church. He ends with this general statement that is an excellent guide for how to conduct ourselves in all things and at all times. RESPONSE: Lord, as I go through my day today, help me to be orderly and proper so that You may be glorified.
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Devotional – July 24, 2011
***Quick Reminder – If you haven’t already gotten entered for the Twitter contest, be sure to get entered for the amazing prizes that are being given away. Detail on how to enter are at: http://blog.kristiburchfiel.com/2011/07/22/twitter-contest—amazing-prizes-are-great-resources-for-women.aspx ***VERSE: 1 Corinthians 13:1–If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. TRUTH: The tongue can be powerful in sharing God’s truths and words, but it must also be used to convey God’s love along with those truths. If we do not share God’s love along with God’s truth, we are only sharing a part of who God is.…