Tag: encouragement
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Freedom FROM
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). The world’s idea of freedom is freedom TO. But only Jesus can offer us freedom FROM. In Jesus: We are free from sin, guilt, and shame. We are free from the fear of death and what lies beyond.…
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I Will Cast My Crown
“The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and…
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A Humble Mind
Lessons From Suffering Part 4 \“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8). How does suffering produce a humble mind? Recently I read Joel Muddamalle’s book The Hidden Peace. He describes humility as having a right understanding of who God is coupled…
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Love has a Name
Valentine’s Day 2025 “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Yes, I took a short intermission from my series on suffering. Come back next…
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Sympathy from Suffering
Lessons From Suffering Part 3 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8). How does suffering produce “sympathy, brotherly love, and a tender heart?” I always thought I was a fairly sympathetic person. Certainly not too judgmental. Then I went through…
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Unity of Mind from Suffering
Lessons From Suffering: Part 2 “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8). How does suffering create unity of mind? When I was going through a dark season, I felt as if everything was being stripped away. All the things I had…
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Lessons from Suffering
Part 1 1 Peter: 3:8: Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. It’s time to talk about suffering. Not a favorite topic, I know. But in this world, we are guaranteed to have troubles (John 16:33). Life can hurt, and sometimes it feels…
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Change the Moment
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). When you help someone bear their burdens, you are living out the law of Christ. You are living out love. That meal you took to the grieving family? That’s Christ’s love. The hug you offered to the one whose heart was hurting? …
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A Peace Not of the World
Advent 2024 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give I to you” (John 14:27a). My small, simple soul longs for peace. I tend to absorb the emotions of those around me, so when I am surrounded by strife and conflict it leaves…
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Gratitude Changes our Heart
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity. Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and announce his works with shouts of joy” (Psalm 107:21-22, CSB). To quote Madame Blueberry from VeggieTales, “A thankful heart is a happy heart.” I have tested this and found it to be…