Tag: god

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Jesus, My Touchstone

krisshetter

The backdrop of our lives these last few months has been Covid but our “regular” lives haven’t stopped completely. What other trials have you experienced this year?
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On top of quarantine our family is facing cancer. My beloved mother in law has uterine cancer and has been receiving cancer treatments. Then after her 5th treatment she experienced another health emergency and was in the hospital for over a week. This incredibly vital, otherwise healthy, god-centered woman has really taken a hit. But her “down” days still are nothing of what I would expect of myself. She always has at least a glimmer of hope and trust. That’s why she is one of my touchstones.
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In John 12:9-11 the Jews were showing up in droves to meet Jesus and the man he had brought back from the dead. Lazarus was a powerful witness to Jesus’ divine authority. But the priests were threatened by this authority and looked to put Lazarus to death — again. There’s so many lessons in this vignette but I was struck with wondering what Lazarus must’ve been thinking. Here he had suffered a horrible illness and died. Then he was raised from the dead and now people wanted to kill him again because he was with Jesus. When was he going to get a break? And yet he stayed confidently with Jesus.
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When we are living witnesses of Jesus’ holy authority we are guaranteed to experience trials. When, in His name, we proclaim boldly what God wants for our lives we will be tested. But keeping Jesus firmly at our side will bring us through strengthened and loved.
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What are you being tested at today?
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Farmer Jesus

krisshetter

What seeds are you planting lately? Luke 6:43-45 explains that “no good tree bears bad fruit and no bad tree bears good fruit.”
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Back in early March we planted our warm weather garden — bell peppers, cilantro, and four tomato plants. My hope at the time was none of them would die in a week. I took extra steps this year and learned more about achieving good fruit. And that basket in the picture is just a small reaping of what we have sown. It’s been a constant tending of the needs of each plant. And a constant battle with pests. But the reward is oh so good!
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How many of us take the same care with our spiritual life as we do those things in the physical world? How many of us are struggling even just to tend to our daily lives with loving care? We reap what we sow. We need to pay special care to what we plant in our hearts and minds because even the tiniest seed can reap ten-fold — good or bad.
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A healthy relationship with the ultimate farmer— Jesus— guides us and teaches us the right seeds to plant, when to plant them, and how to tend them. Like my desire for a more fruitful garden we need to actively seek out His teaching.
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Do you want to be a plot of unused, hard dirt? A weed-filled plot? Or a luscious, fruit filled place in this world that shares their harvest with others? Be bold my friends. Ask for gardening advice today 🍅
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Worship, Work, Witness

krisshetter

Are you an “all work and no play” sort of person. Do you know an “all play and no work” person? I just finished studying John 12:1-8 where these issues arose. It’s fascinating how much teaching God puts in 8 sentences.
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My “Bible spirit”, Martha, is busy making an amazing dinner for Jesus. Mary, her sister, lets her hair down and rubs very expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. Meanwhile Lazarus, the famed friend whom Jesus lifted from death, sits as a witness to Jesus’ holy position with God.
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All three play an important role in this scene. And yet the disciples question Mary’s action — “Shouldn’t we sell that perfume and give it to the poor?” But Mary, who frequently sat at Jesus’ feet knew what was to happen. She was worshipping Him before His impending death.
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Jesus makes it clear there’s a time to worship/celebrate and a time to work. This balance in our daily Christian lives provides us the opportunity for witnessing. How many times have you personally said you don’t have time, even 15 minutes a day, for Bible study? How many times has the opportunity to volunteer at your church come up and you said your calendar is full? How many times have you told a friend or family member you were too busy? How many times have you seen or heard someone in need but you didn’t stop your busy life to help? How many times have you skipped church for something “more important?”
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Where have you gone out of balance? And are you taking the time to complete this holy lesson with witnessing His love and His power and His grace?

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Listen, Obey, Receive

krisshetter

What has God asked you to do that, well to be honest, sounds a bit uncomfortable, odd, or just downright crazy?
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The Bible is a testament to ordinary people doing extraordinary acts in God’s name. Take Joshua for example. He had to tell his entire army to march around Jericho once a day for six days not speaking a word. On the last day at the sound of a trumpet they were all to shout. And then all the walls would fall down. Think of the work God had to do, not just in Joshua, but in all his priests, his army, and support staff. Without God, most people would’ve revolted. And then think what the Jericho army was witnessing. You would imagine by the second day they would’ve just killed all the Israelites as they marched around. But God was in control.
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I once heard a member of a Bible study group ask, “Why doesn’t God speak like that anymore?” My response was, “Maybe we just aren’t listening. More importantly we aren’t obeying.”
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What have you pulled back from on your Boldness List? You’re too (fill in the blank). Could it be that God has asked you to obey and you aren’t listening? Or you heard but just haven’t obeyed? Let’s take those steps of trust today and obey. Only then will we receive God’s full complement of gifts.

#obey #obeygod #god #godisincontrol #trust #trustgod #listen #hespeaks #christian #psalms #joshua #faith #faithoverfear
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God Is Our Founding Father

krisshetter

Did you know that God is mentioned in every single US State constitution? All total, God is mentioned 200 times in these documents. It doesn’t matter which decade the state entered the Union. Yes, even California.


So when someone tries to “tell you their truth” that the United States was not founded by and with God, tighten up your belt of truth, be bold, and with grace give them the gift of education they missed along the way. 🇺🇸🇺🇸

#truth #history #historymatters #god #godblessamerica🇺🇸 #christian #educate #educateyourself #independenceday #constitution #declarationofindependence #bold #faith #faithoverfear #founders #foundingdocuments #california

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Bold Steps

krisshetter

What bold steps have you taken? It’s time to rejoice. It’s time to re-ignite. It’s time to be honest. What steps have you taken toward your bold goals?

As a born “doer,” the Book of James really speaks to me. James writes, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?…As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” For many of you, fulfilling those deeds means having to be bold. And yet something is holding you back from having full faith that God has your back. For others, you have taken the step forward and are experiencing a revitalization.

You may be at a crossroad. I encourage you right now, at this very moment, to say a prayer and take that step forward.

IF YOU HAVE TAKEN BOLD STEPS PLEASE REPLY SO WE CAN CHEER YOU ON! IF YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT PLEASE REPLY SO WE CAN PRAY FOR YOU!