Weekly words of encouragement

He Guides Us Even When We Are Foolish – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.Yet I still belong to you;you hold my right hand.You guide me with your counsel,leading me to a glorious destiny. Psalms 73:22-24 (NLT) Who hasn’t felt foolish and ignorant in their walk with God? Who hasn’t gone down the wrong path, listened to the wrong teacher, or said the wrong thing to others? We have all done these things and sometimes we have unknowingly done them for years. But God does not distance himself from us. He does not send us to our room and tell us to get our act together before he will talk with us. For we still belong to him; he will still “hold my right hand.” He stays connected to us and guides us with his counsel. He is the Father who is always there, accepts us with our weaknesses and Continue Reading →

congregation unity community

7 Novel Ideas For Becoming A Transforming Community

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Following are some suggestions for helping congregations develop opportunities for members to connect with, or help, each other while at the same time fostering growth. Suggestions for Promoting Growth and Biblical Fellowship in Congregations Find an app that lets a congregation develop a social network just for members so that members can learn about each other and build friendships. Members could post personal information, occupation, hobbies, services they would offer to other members, financial needs, employment needs or opportunities, other assorted life needs, prayer requests, updates on the progress they are making with issues in their lives, and blessings that God has given to them. A ministry to help people break habits. Instead of being a “recovery” ministry, this ministry could teach people how to break all bad habits in their lives. The openness should also help improve bonding between members. Provide an economical way for members to have a Continue Reading →

union marriage

Our Blissful Union With God In Christ

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Our union with God began when we believed, and God wants this union or oneness to grow throughout our lives. We are “engaged” now and God will complete our full union at the marriage supper of the Lamb. The idea that we are united in this mortal life is based on the many passages in the New Testament about our present oneness with God or Christ which includes the passages about God or Christ being in us and us being in God or Christ, as well as the Old Testament passages referring to God’s people as his bride. We will quote only two of them. In 2 Corinthians 11:2 Paul tells the Corinthians that “I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (ESV) and in 1 Corinthians 6:17 he states that “he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him” Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

God Hears Your Need – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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The LORD hears the needyand does not despise his captive people. Psalms 69:33 (NIV) The Psalmist encourages us that God hears us when we are in need, when we feel hemmed in by our troubles. Psalm 69 is a song of suffering. The Psalmist was going through immense misery. He searched for God’s presence but could not find it. I am worn out calling for help;my throat is parched.My eyes fail,looking for my God. Psalms 69:3 (NIV) In vain he searched for human comfort. Scorn has broken my heartand has left me helpless;I looked for sympathy, but there was none,for comforters, but I found none. Psalms 69:20 (NIV) But he did not give up. He stayed true to Yahweh. He believed in God’s promises of a flourishing future for his people in a promised land, which we now know is the coming New Earth. The children of his servants will Continue Reading →

contemplation

How To Benefit From Contemplation

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Contemplation may be defined as quiet receptivity. Contemplation allows the object of our contemplation to impact us. As we focus on Christ we receive his influence. He envelopes us and infuses his peace into us. Teresa of Avila (d. 1582) defined contemplation as loving attentiveness, which is also a helpful definition, though we do not need to feel love for God when we do contemplation. Contemplation teaches us to listen. If God was waiting for you to be still long enough to communicate something important to you, how long would he have to wait? Many of us have busy lives or at least busy minds. God can shout to us if he wants, but he prefers a quieter, deeper connection with us. Contemplation is essentially extended surrendering and listening. A daily habit of several minutes of contemplation will train us to listen to, and receive from, God. Below is a Continue Reading →