Author: ourdan5

He is continuously involved in our lives.

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We need to remember every morning (or whatever time you get up, depending on your work schedule) that this is the day God has made for us, and because of that we can rejoice.  He has purposed, planned, and designed every aspect and every moment of our day for our good and His glory.  That is something that should fill us with joy.

Let’s live a life that honors the gift God gave us, the price He was willing to pay for our salvation.

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We’ve talked before about the price God was willing to pay for our salvation-the life of His own precious Son.  We will never be able to pay Him back or thank Him enough for that gift, but we can honor the gift He gave us (the price He was willing to pay for our salvation and to have a relationship with us for all of eternity).  I think we have all heard the thought that actions speak louder than words.  And, it is true in this situation.  If we say we are thankful for the gift God gave us, but don’t live a life that honors Him, it is just words.  Only as the way we live our life matches our words of thankfulness will people be able to see the connection and meet this God who gave us so much.

The fourth Man

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The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel is a wonderful example of our Father walking through every situation with us.  “Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, weren’t there three men that were tied up and thrown into the fire?  Look, I see four men walking around in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:24-25).  I have not experienced the suffering that many, if not most of God’s children throughout the world have experienced, but the promise of these words is for all of God’s children.  He is with us, and walking us through, every situation we face.  We can count on God to be with us, and to lead us.  

We are wholly and completely dependent upon God.

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My brother said something a little bit ago, that is definitely worth repeating and worth thinking about.  The thought has been there a long time, but he put it into concrete words.  We are so dependent on God that, if He took his eyes off of us or stopped thinking about and caring for us even for a millisecond, we would be destroyed.  We have no life apart from Him, and we are totally dependent upon God who holds all things together by His power.

Our works cannot save us.

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Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is our only way to have a relationship with God our creator, and the only way to make it to heaven.  We rely on His sacrifice on our behalf, His blood to cover our sins, and His resurrection so that we can stand justified before God.  While our works cannot save us, we cannot keep on living our lives as if we can keep on sinning because the blood of Jesus Christ covers our sins.  God our Father is gracious and merciful in providing the blood of His Son to cover our sins, but we must honor that sacrifice and the sacrifice Jesus Christ himself made for the forgiveness of our sins by how we live our lives day to day-everything we say and everything we do.

In the midst of struggle, God is on your side.

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When we are going through difficult times, we have a God who is on our side….and one who is supporting us.  The bible tells us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:27), and that Jesus himself always lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25).  So, lift up your head, take heart….God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are both interceding on our behalf.  

We need all that God is.

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We need everything that God is. Because of His mercy, we are not consumed. But we also need a God powerful enough to say that He knows the end from the beginning, from ancient times what is still to come. Idols/gods are made and have to be carried. They have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear. They have mouths, but cannot speak. Our God states His purpose will stand, and He will do all that He pleases. He has no need of our sacrifices, for the cattle on a thousand hills is His, and every animal of the forest is His. We need His love, His mercy, His power, His righteousness, His holiness, His grace. We are absolutely dependent upon all that He is, and all the He promises He will do for us His children. We have no life apart from Him, as He is our creator, and He promises to perfectly take care of us.

Happy Easter! He is Risen!!

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Today is Easter Sunday….the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is the day that gives us the greatest evidence of the love our Father has for all of us.  For, without this day-the resurrection of Jesus Christ His Son after His death for our sins-we could have no relationship with our Father and Creator.  So, we rejoice in this day of celebration, Easter Sunday-the day God our Father demonstrated the extent of His love by the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son in order to purchase our salvation and our relationship with Him.

To whom much is given, much is required.

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We have been given a tremendous amount from God-an immeasurable love and an extraordinary demonstration of that love.  We now have a responsibility to give to others a little of what we have been given.  Think about your life.  Are you demonstrating a little of that love to others.  That is what God says is required of us.