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Prayer Isn’t Always About Words
The Bible doesn’t give us one succinct definition of prayer. We read in various passages about people praying on their knees or standing up. Others pray out loud, some sing, and still others are silent. There are instances in which prayer petitions God, makes requests of God, or praises God. Numerous verses declare that God…
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Hope Your Heart Needs Review
We’ve got a little dog with a lot of character. Every day, I’m reminded of his faithfulness when I get home and he’s happy to see me. I recognize his intelligence when he teaches himself new tricks. I know what he loves as he paws insistently, begging for laps and food and soft blankets to…
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Clothing Ourselves as Christians
Blue, purple, and grey (and a little brown.) Some people’s wardrobes are reminiscent of summer shades or a fall feel. Mine most resembles a bruise. But there are a few good reasons for that…one in particular… I’m not great at color coordination and those colors tend to pair off easily. Also, I don’t spend a…
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When Gratitude Isn’t Appealing
Oh, there are things we don’t want to be thankful for. Car problems. Bad days at work. Loved one’s disagreeing with us or pointing out our flaws. Opportunities that take up a lot of time. Homes that aren’t everything we want them to be. Come Thanksgiving time, we feel a little guilty about our discontent….
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Failure to Yield
Sometimes you just can’t beat the language of the King James Version: “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God” –Romans 6:13 Most of us don’t talk like this. In fact, most of us only ever use the word “yield” in reference to one specific context: driving on the…
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Deepening Your Faith
I’ll admit, I’m not much for water. Oceans are pretty, but I’d rather climb the side of a mountain than fight the tide. When we hit the pool, my toe goes first. Then my foot. Then my ankle. It’s a long, tedious process that often occupies more minutes than time in the pool actually does….
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Made for God’s Pleasure
An intriguing accent caught my attention as I scanned the radio on our long drive. My then-fiancé said with surprise, “I didn’t know you liked Alistair Begg!” I responded: “Is that this guy? I like his accent!” My guy smirked. “I think you’ll also like what he has to say.” Thus was my introduction to…
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A Tree Proverb
Long into a serious and frustrating conversation about faith, my husband pointed at a familiar tree in the yard. It’s been there for decades longer than we’ve been alive. “How does the tree stand?” he asked. I knew the question was loaded. I also know him; he won’t answer until I do. “It’s weight. And…
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For the Rainy Days
“As the rain soaks into the ground, so pray the Lord to let His gospel soak into your soul.” – C.H. Spurgeon With rainy days come umbrellas, puddles on (previously) clean floors, and dour expressions. Laziness is common, as are melancholy moods. Rain makes us contemplative, tired, and sullen. The grey sky seems to indicate that,…
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Being Heavenly Minded for Earthly Good
Our car rolled to a stop on the side of the highway. The difference between 55 mph and 0 mph was startling. Inside and out, our car looked to be in perfect working order––but now it couldn’t move. I watched my Mr. Fix-It lift the hood and investigate. His answer was sure: All the right…