God's Grammer Rules

1. Never pose a menses where God puts a comma.

2. Never pose a comma where God puts a period.   
Joanna Weaver* 

I appreciate Joanna Weaver’s “Grammar Lesson.” It’s a lesson I demand to revisit from fourth dimension to time.

Sometimes God asks us to wait—He places a comma inward our lives. When that happens, nosotros demand to persevere, non operate away or larn ahead of God’s plans. (Isaiah 40:31)

At other times, God brings something to an end—He places a menses inward our lives. When this happens nosotros demand to deed forwards boldly together with confidently. (Philippians 3:12-14)

As nosotros abide past times God's grammer rules nosotros choke to a greater extent than aware of His purposes together with His dear written betwixt every trouble inward our life's story.

Are you lot struggling amongst your floor correct now? If so, inquire for God’s wisdom together with grace to facial expression or move.


* Having a Mary Heart inward a Martha World past times Joanna Weaver, Waterbrook Press, CO Springs, CO, 2000, pages 126,127.

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3 Ways To Expose Counterfeit Philosophies

The U.S. Secret Service says the best means to uncovering counterfeit coin is to teach familiar amongst existent money, looking for differences, non similarities.

They recommend you:
1. Look at the portrait because it should appear "lifelike" together with stand upwardly out from the background.
2. Look at the treasury seal, borders together with numbers which should appear distinct, non blurry.
3. Look at the newspaper which volition convey fibers "embedded," non only printed on the surface.

This is besides truthful when detecting counterfeit philosophies:
1. Look for God's "portrait." Is the truth God-centered or self-centered? 
1 Corinthians 6:6-16

2. Look at the details of the philosophy. Is it clearly Scriptural or does it blur the lines betwixt truth together with error? 
Acts 17:11

3. Look for the lineament of the philosophy. Is God's truth embedded inwards it or is it only a worldly philosophy amongst spiritual words on the surface? Colossians 2:8

Let's live on every bit careful almost counterfeit philosophies every bit nosotros are almost counterfeit money!

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Fault-Finding, Fear-Finding Missions

Moses did equally the Lord commanded in addition to sent out 12 leaders to explore the Promised Land (Numbers 13). 

He asked the leaders to study on the forcefulness of the people, the character of the land, soil, crops in addition to trees. And he asked them to discovery out how good the towns were protected.

This was a fact-finding mission, non a fault-finding or fear-finding mission.

They called it the "Promised Land" because God had promised to give it to His people. It was a foreshadowing of our Heavenly Home.

But the faithless, fearful bulk ruled. They exaggerated their fears claiming "We are similar Grasshoppers!"(1)

Crying in addition to complaining ensued, in addition to they never entered the land.

It's slowly to complain amongst the majority, simply It ever costs us blessings.

Is in that place an expanse of your life where you've allow fearfulness in addition to fault-finding proceed you lot from God's promises? Begin trusting the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).
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(1) See Grasshopper Faith

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Too Late

Sometimes God says "It's also late."

In Numbers 13 too 14, 10 Israelite leaders refused to believe God's hope to give them a land. They incited rebellion, longed for Egypt, too talked of stoning Moses. 

They'd seen abundant proof of God's faithfulness, only they refused to trust too obey God. 

"How long volition these people process me amongst contempt? How long volition they reject to believe inwards me?" (14:11) 

God is tedious to anger, abounding inwards love, mercy too forgiveness. However, if nosotros stubbornly reject to produce the things He asks, nosotros forfeit blessings (v.18).

The 10 faithless leaders died for their unbelief. And the residual of the people notwithstanding refused to repent. They attempted to accept the province without God's help too were soundly defeated. 

Using their storey of lost promises, Hebrews 3 says: "encourage 1 roughly other daily...so that none of y'all may hold upwards hardened past times sin's deceitfulness." (v.13)

Let's non exam God's patience. Let's trust too obey too have every approving He has for us earlier "it's also late."

Standing On God's Word

Scripture tells us "always last prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks y'all to give the argue for the promise that y'all have. But produce this amongst gentleness as well as respect" (1 Peter 3:15).

When debating Bible truths, nosotros should:

1. Know what God's Word says then nosotros tin answer accurately - 2 Timothy 2:15.
2. Refrain from anger - James 1:19-20.
3. Avoid contentious debates - 2 Timothy 2:14.

This end indicate is the near difficult, equally Proverbs 26:4-5 illustrates:

"Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or y'all volition choke equally foolish equally they are. Be certain to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they volition choke wise inward their ain estimation." 

Obviously, at that spot are times to fence a fool as well as times to refrain from debate.    

2 Timothy 2:23 warns us non to "get involved inward foolish, ignorant arguments that solely starting fourth dimension fights." And Titus 3:10 tells us to answer divisive people twice, precisely non a 3rd time.

Because each province of affairs is unique, it's best to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance as well as never forget the importance of standing firmly on God's Word.
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Why Does He Honey Us?

“I don’t demand to hit out for His love,” the missy said, tears streaming downwards her face.

I’d merely shared the storey of God’s incredible dearest from Genesis to Revelation amongst a grouping of Hungarian women. And this adult woman wept because she realized, for the get-go time, how faithfully God has loved mankind despite our rebellion too wickedness throughout human history.

Another woman, amongst wonder too gratefulness inwards her eyes, asked me gently too reverently, “Why does He dearest us?” 

I answered honestly, “I don’t know.”

There's no human explanation.

God’s dearest is ‘unreasonable’— unexplainable!

He doesn’t dearest us because nosotros are deserving.

He loves us fifty-fifty though nosotros aren’t.

God “does non process us every bit our sins deserve” but loves us “while nosotros [are] withal sinners” (Psalm 103:10; Romans 5:8).

These women seat me to shame every bit I saw the dearest of God afresh through their eyes too asked myself why I am non daily overcome amongst such joy too wonder.

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image: William Hole, Bible Picture Gallery

 Bible Love Notes

We Serve A God Of Adventure

written inwards 2015...
 
When nosotros returned from overseas Christian operate in addition to moved about our children in addition to grandchildren inwards 2009, my married adult man in addition to I (in our slow 50's) idea it would live on the final of our 20+ moves together.

But before this year, spell praying virtually God's purposes for our lives, God spoke to our hearts. We felt He wanted us to move....we only didn't know where!

Eventually God unfolded His innovation for us to volunteer alongside a ministry building inwards some other state. 

In ii weeks, we'll live on leaving behind children in addition to grandchildren in addition to a community nosotros enjoy.

God doesn't inquire everyone to create this. That's His innovation for us. 

But He asks everyone to follow Him (Luke 9:23-25).

That agency nosotros all must live on willing to create what God asks, whether it's to walk across the street in addition to part Jesus alongside our neighbor, give sacrificially to deal God's work, repent of our sins, or read our Bible daily.

Where is God bespeak you lot to become alongside Him? What is He bespeak you lot to create alongside Him? Will you lot follow Him? You tin live on certain that He has an "adventure" of faith inwards shop for you!

This Piffling Lite Of Mine

Did you lot sing this children's vocal inward Lord's Day School?

"This picayune lite of mine, I'm gonna allow it shine."

Some claim it was written yesteryear African-American slaves hundreds of years ago. Others claim it was composed inward the 1920's. Whoever wrote it, it's lyrics are simple, nevertheless profound.

I idea of this vocal when reading Psalm 18:28:

"You lite a light for me. The LORD, my God, lights upward my darkness." NLT

But the lyrics own got it 1 footstep farther because the lite coming from Christ makes us "lights" too.

"Let your lite smoothen earlier others, that they may encounter your skilful deeds in addition to glorify your Father inward heaven." Matthew 5:16

This is a skilful truth to ponder. 

Are nosotros living "clean, innocent lives every bit children of God, shining similar brilliant lights inward a basis amount of crooked in addition to perverse people," asset firmly to God's Word? Philippians 2:14-16

Let's allow our lights shine.
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You'll also relish the 1-minute devotion "Shining inward the Darkness."

Why non add together closed to to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule yesteryear having a 1-minute devotion similar this 1 delivered to your electronic mail each weekday. Sign upward for a gratis subscription to Bible Love Notes in addition to instruct a gratis e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.

The Saddest Psalm

Many people experience that Psalm 88 is the saddest Psalm.

It has no resolution.

Most Psalms that start alongside sorrow destination alongside renewed promise inward the Lord. But inward Psalm 88, the psalmist's outlook is the same at the destination of the Psalm every bit it was at the beginning.

It's to a greater extent than a lament than a Psalm. H5N1 wretched song.

It ends alongside this wretched line: "darkness is my closest friend."

But several factors inward the Psalm give us hope.

Despite his feeling that God is ignoring him, the psalmist continues to attempt God.

He knows that God is the 1 who saves (verse 1). 

Job didn't write this Psalm, simply he could have, as well as the mass of Job gives us the resolution that this Psalm lacks: 

God is good. Even when nosotros don't experience His presence as well as don't empathize our circumstances, God is good (Job 38-42).
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Living Memorials

I honey Psalm 92. 

"The righteous volition flourish similar a palm tree, they volition grow similar a cedar of Lebanon; planted inward the identify of the LORD, they volition flourish inward the courts of our God."

"They volition yet acquit fruit inward former age, they volition rest fresh together with green." 

"They are living memorials to exhibit that the Lord is upright together with faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, together with at that spot is no unrighteousness inward Him."

Isn't that a wonderful matter to be...a living memorial.

Think close it.

Romans 12:1-2 says nosotros are living sacrifices together with Psalm 92 says we're living memorials.

We are walking, talking, breathing reminders of God's goodness.

Our lives show to the fact that life is hard, simply God is good.

People wound together with disappoint us, simply God is e'er faithful.

The globe blurs the lines betwixt proficient together with evil, simply God is pure together with holy.

Human honey is imperfect together with ofttimes painful, simply God's honey is perfect.

Amen!
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I encourage you lot to read these 1-minute devotions: 
4 Benefits of Reading the Psalms
Taking Our Emotions to the Lord inward Psalms

For a curt Bible written report on this devotion, banking concern check out today's Bite Size Bible Study HERE.

4 Ways To Endure To A Greater Extent Than Optimistic

Optimism...

Some people appear to live on born amongst it in addition to others without it.

But the Bible offers iv tips for becoming to a greater extent than optimistic no affair our temperament:

1. Be thankful!
“Be thankful inwards all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT

Thanking God in addition to others for what nosotros get got takes our focus off what nosotros don’t have. (See "Practicing Gratefulness")

2. Put others first.
“Do non exactly hold off out for your ain personal interests, but equally good for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4, NASB

Thinking virtually the needs of others gives us a role beyond our difficulties. (See "Beatin' the Blues")

3. Focus on the Positive.
“Fix your thoughts on what it truthful in addition to honorable in addition to right.” Philippians 4:8, NLT

Dwelling on the good—even something equally unproblematic equally overnice weather—cheers us. (See "A Half Full Faith")

4. Remember Jesus!
“In this globe you lot volition get got trouble. But accept heart! I get got overcome the world.” Jesus inwards John 16:33, NIV

Remind yourself that whatsoever happens, you lot get got Christ! (See "Inhale His Presence") 

If nosotros follow these principles, we'll get got a hope-filled, optimistic mental attitude toward life.
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Touched Yesteryear God

Oxytocin is a hormone released during human touch.* Besides helping people bond, it:

• Increases generosity, empathy, too trust
• Reduces fear, stress, depression, too physical pain
• Lowers blood pressure
• Improves sleep

It’s expert for catch health, both physical too emotional. 

I am fascinated past times the complex, specific ways God has created our bodies for friendship, family pets, love, marriage too parenthood. Oxytocin is non an accident of development but a business office of God’s intelligent, loving design.

It's an indication that nosotros are designed for community, meant to interact amongst other human beings, non exactly on social networks, but confront to face. It way nosotros demand each other to live on healthy.

Why non view how you lot mightiness ameliorate the wellness of an elderly friend, troubled child, lonely neighbor, parent, or friend past times exactly giving them a hug, a crush of the hand, or a friendly pat on the dorsum today.

“Behold, what way of dear the Father hath bestowed upon us” 1 John 3:1
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Sources: 10 Surprising Benefits of Sex;  About Oxytocin;  Med Terms
You mightiness too bask 6 Benefits of Kissing Your Spouse.

Why non add together some to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule past times having a 1-minute devotion similar this 1 delivered to your electronic mail each weekday. Sign upwards for a complimentary subscription to Bible Love Notes too become a complimentary e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.

The Strongest Heritage

I've lived all over the U.S., from California to New Jersey, South Carolina to North Dakota. I've lived 8 years overseas together with traveled inwards scores of unusual countries. And I've learned that most people shout out upward their county, region, race, civilization or subculture are the best.

This is fine unless it divides us, makes us experience superior, makes us insensitive to others, or makes us prideful.

God's household unit of measurement is our most of import heritage together with His household unit of measurement is multi-cultural, multi-racial, together with multi-denominational.

If heritage, family, income, education, country, race, or civilization makes us experience superior, we're grieving the Holy Spirit. (See Ephesians 4:29-32 & James 2:1-9)

"Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, together with self-control" are to a greater extent than of import to God than culture, race, linguistic communication or heritage (Galatians 5:22-23).

We must surrender anything together with everything that pulls us from dear for God together with others. And this way carefully thinking most the things nosotros tell together with practice inwards calorie-free of the Golden Rule.

Why? Because Jesus is our truthful home, family, together with heritage.

The Hope Of The Palm Tree Inwards Psalm 92

written inwards 2015...

50 years ago, archaeologists discovered a 2000-year-old scandalise containing palm seeds. They planted i of the seeds inwards 2005, in addition to it grew a salubrious palm, which produced dates (Smithsonian).

Pretty incredible.

Recently, the Lord led my hubby in addition to me (both inwards our 60's) to move out our introduce domicile nigh children in addition to grandchildren to deed to operate amongst a ministry building inwards unopen to other state.

After 20+ moves during our 45 years of marriage, nosotros see we'd moved our last, simply God had dissimilar ideas.

And He gave us the almost beautiful hope i morn when nosotros were reading Psalm 92:

The righteous volition flourish similar a palm tree ... planted inwards the family of the LORD, they volition flourish inwards the courts of our God. They volition withal ship fruit inwards quondam age, they volition remain fresh in addition to green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, in addition to in that place is no wickedness inwards him.” Psalm 92:12-15 

I'm praying that God volition brand us fruitful palms equally long equally nosotros alive in addition to thence nosotros tin proclaim His truth inwards all that nosotros do. It's too my heart's wishing that nosotros volition move out "seeds" of organized faith that attain fruit long later on our earthly lives are over.

Would you lot similar to pray this same prayer for yourself?

8 Narcissist Problems

Our civilization is devolving, taking on to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than narcissistic* characteristics.

This is partly due to dis-proven self-esteem philosophies, in addition to partly due to man's style to resist God's ways.

Below are 8 narcissistic characteristics and
✤ 8 Christian characteristics alongside Scripture.

It's expert to periodically examine ourselves in addition to allow God's Word right us (James 1:22-25;  2 Timothy 3:16-17).

1. The narcissist refuses criticism.
✤ The Christian listens in addition to heeds constructive criticism - Proverbs 15:31.
See: Accepting Correction Collection 

2. The narcissist uses people.
✤ The Christian considers others ameliorate than himself - Philippians 2:1-4.
See: Others First 

3. The narcissist exaggerates her importance, achievements in addition to talents.
✤ The Christian has a realistic persuasion of herself (Romans 12:3).
See: Bragging is Not Biblical

4. The narcissist expects exceptional consideration.
✤ The Christian focuses on treating others considerately (Romans 12:10).
See: 18 Characteristics of Biblical Love

5. The narcissist requires constant attention.
✤ The Christian draws attending to God, non self (Psalm 103). 
See: Self Esteem or God Esteem 

6. The narcissist is frequently jealous.
✤ The Christian rejoices when others succeed (Romans 12:15).
See: God Hates Epicaricacy 

7. The narcissist disregards people's feelings in addition to lacks empathy.
✤ The Christian treats others every bit he wants to last treated (Matthew 7:12).  
See: Empathy

8. The narcissist is obsessively selfish.
✤ The Christian denies himself (Matthew 16:24).
See: Will You Give upward your Seat? 



source: Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Why is Narcissism Increasing
 
For to a greater extent than on this devotion, banking concern jibe out today's Bite Size Bible Study.
 
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Scrape…Scrape…Scrape

Scrape…scrape…scrape…

One past times 1 he scraped old flyers from poles on the Budapest sidewalk. 

I was sitting inward my favorite restaurant, writing. Well, actually, I was looking out the window...and I saw him.

I lived inward Budapest almost five years as well as this was the solely fourth dimension I ever saw individual doing this thankless job.

I’d seen those sidewalk poles sum of old flyers announcing sale items, concerts, or flats for rent. But I’d never idea well-nigh individual cleaning them.

Scrape…scrape…scrape…he did his job, although no 1 noticed, as well as no 1 stopped to give cheers him.

Scrape…scrape…scrape…
I wondered if he felt unappreciated. 

Whether you're a waiter, a stay-at-home mom, a businessman, a soldier, or a practiced neighbor, you've in all probability experienced times when your efforts went unnoticed.

The practiced tidings is that God e'er notices our efforts.

"Whatever yous do, operate at it amongst all your heart, every bit working for the Lord, non for human masters, since yous know that yous volition have an inheritance from the Lord every bit a reward. It is the Lord Christ yous are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24)

Scrape…scrape…scrape… 
Thank-you, Lord, for that promise.

Why non add together simply about to a greater extent than of God's Word to your schedule past times having a 1-minute devotion similar this 1 delivered to your electronic mail each weekday. Sign upwards for a gratis subscription to Bible Love Notes as well as travel a gratis e-booklet. Find out to a greater extent than HERE.

Free Or Slave?

Freedom. We dear it. We struggle for it. We stand upward for it inwards high regard.

God too loves freedom:

"It is for liberty that Christ has gear upward us free. Stand firm, then, together with produce non permit yourselves locomote burdened 1 time to a greater extent than yesteryear a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

But Christ's Definition of liberty is dissimilar from the world's definition.

We scream upward liberty is doing whatever nosotros desire - no rules, no boundaries. But Jesus said, "Very genuinely I say you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin" (John 8:34).

"Not everything is beneficial" together with nosotros must non locomote mastered yesteryear anything (1 Corinthians 6:12).

Genuine liberty leads to righteousness. simply it's non almost law-keeping; it's almost "love-keeping."

"Anyone who loves me volition obey my teaching." John 14:23 

Being a Christ-lover agency living inside His guidelines, limitations, together with expectations because nosotros dear Him.

"The entirely matter that counts is organized faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6

That's what frees our souls!

Inaccurate, Illogical, Popular

If mortal said: "Don't larn to the shop or you'll waste matter your time. First banking concern agree the pantry, brand a list, together with hence larn to the store."

Would you lot summarize past times maxim "Don't larn to the store"?


No. That would distort the truthful meaning. 

Matthew 7:1-5 says nosotros shouldn't justice others if we're using i measure for ourselves together with approximately other measure for others. It says nosotros must start bargain alongside our ain sins together with hence we'll travel able to tell others close their sins.

So why produce hence many people quote solely the start sentence of the passage together with insist that "we possess got no correct to judge others"?

That distorts the truthful pregnant of the passage. 

That's why it's of import to know what the Bible teaches, non what people recall it teaches (2 Timothy 2:15).
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What Scripture Teaches: Who, What, together with How to Judge Biblically.

Because this passage is often used to rebuke anyone who speaks against sin, I possess got created an archive of 1-minute devotions on the bailiwick of appropriate Biblical judgement, all containing relevant Scriptures. You'll respect that archive HERE.
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