Jul 15
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cflem2c added a text contribution Give 'em hell!It is a spin of human nature versus the righteousness of Christ. So many times I feel sorry for those intentionally sinning, those who know their life is sinful and don't care a bit to change it. My human nature wants them to get what they deserve but then I am quickly reminded that it is only b/c of Christ that I am saved from hell. This is my battle of truly being compassionate for the lost as I want them to get what they deserve. What a sad thought to justify wanting something bad to… Read more »
Jul 13
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cflem2c added a text contribution Am I the Problem?To live at peace w/ everyone can seem difficult at times b/c if I don't watch my back then someone will take advantage of me. I think about those that make my blood pressure increase and cause stress in my life and realize that I may be the problem that I don't have peace. They have let go of the confrontation or are much less worried about a situation then I am. Letting go is sometimes difficult b/c I believe that the situation may be pivotal to my future so I embrace it w/ anxiety… Read more »
Jul 9
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cflem2c added a text contribution What others thinkIt appears to me that this verse would encourage us to "do what is right in the eyes of everybody". This for me is a difficult passage to embrace b/c coming from a legalistic background I have learned to rebel to those things that are "written rules" of Christianity but not necessarily biblical. In context, it follows an encouragement to not repay evil w/ evil so this verse may be instructing me how to respond to evil and that is to seek wise counsel and do what is right in… Read more »
Jul 2
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cflem2c added a text contribution CommunicationIn a marriage we strive to be a closer, tighter, healthier marriage by being who we are and hoping that is compatible w/ our mate. Even when we have found the perfect match we constantly must talk to each other so we know what the other one thinks. This is the basic of communication. Our marriage would not have any depth if we were not able to communicate. We would have to read the others mind and knowing how difficult it is to even read my own mind I couldn't imagine if I had to read m… Read more »
Jun 27
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cflem2c added a text contribution Downward ComparisonThere are three types of comparisons that we as humans deal w/. Daily I struggle w/ this as it has been imbedded in the culture. I look at others and either have envy b/c I upward compare and wish that I had what they did, or I do a lateral comparison and get competitive w/ those who seem to be at the same place that I am. Lastly, there is the downward comparison which potentially is the most dangerous and that is arrogance or pride. I believe pride to be the greatest and most imbedded of al… Read more »
Jun 19
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cflem2c added a text contribution R U N need?How do you define need? In the American society we tend to have a blurred definition of need. I need a new cell phone. I just turned 16 and need a car to drive around. I need to eat at a different restaurant b/c McDonald's is getting old. I need to eat out for lunch b/c I don't have the time to pack my lunch. I need to spend time watching TV b/c I had a stressful day. I pray that God show me what I truly need. It humbles me to think about what God believes I need. Once we, I,… Read more »
Jun 17
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Actions have always spoke louder then words. I know the people in my life that love me by the attention I receive from them. To be devoted to someone is a deep commitment that takes time and effort but is driven by a desire to be with or honor that person. I must put aside my selfish ambitions if I am to be devoted to others in Christ. Daily I want to serve myself w/ even the little things like I deserve time alone to rest b/c I have worked so hard. Honoring me means taking time in my sched… Read more »
Jun 8
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cflem2c added a text contribution Keeping a good thing goingAfter a week of focusing on the Lord and serving Him it is easy to have zeal and spiritual fervor. What is difficult is continueing the pursuit of Him back in the "world" of self and daily pressures. I have found in my life that I must continually feed on the word of God. This keeps me sharp and w/ the help of brothers and sisters in Christ the spiritual fervor can continue. Daily my schedule must have time blocked for spiritual development or I find myself filling time w/ other te… Read more »
Jun 5
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cflem2c added a text contribution Love the sinner, Hate the sinMany times I combine the actions of the sinner w/ the sin and think they are just a bad person. I am learning to love the person b/c they are God's child and not judge them for the sin that Paul says so easily entangles us. I do truly hate evil and the rippling effect evil has upon the sinner and those close to the sinner. I pray that you see the love that Christ has for us the sinner and learn to apply this to those living in sin that you so desparately want to come home. Read more »
Jun 3
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cflem2c added a text contribution Have you met my friend, Evil?Think about the things that you love and how it makes you feel to be around those you love. How do you treat those you love? What about those you "hate"? If we would treat evil like we treat even those people we don't like, then our lives would be so different. We would avoid evil and talk w/ our friends about how discusting evil is. We would point fingers at evil. As I reflect upon areas in my life that I am tempted to do evil, do I really hate evil? Think of what you real… Read more »
May 26
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cflem2c added a text contribution What game do you play?We daily play the game of life and wonder if we are good enough. We pursue the thrill of victory by chasing hours and hours of work a week and agonize over our failures of not keeping up to what society tells us is victory. Renewing the mind is a complete overhaul of what we have learned in life. When we play the world's game we pursue it like victory is eternal. Unfortunately, the game will eventually be put back in the box and if it is of the world then you will be left w/ nothing. W… Read more »
May 23
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cflem2c added a text contribution What do you bring?As we look to the week ahead as the body of Christ I reflect upon "the body." When one part of the body is sick or not functioning properly the whole body suffers. So if you are brought down by negative thoughts or a bad attitude then you "infect" the rest of the body. It is naturally easier to go down rather then up. Therefore, prepare your mind to embrace the challenges w/ a spirit of joy, peace, patience, and love. Read more »
May 19
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cflem2c added a text contribution The Eye as Part of the BodyThe eye is an unbelievable organ that when studied can only lead to one conclusion, Creation by God. Not only is the eye amazing in and of itself, but it is linked to so many organs of the body that when other organs are not doing their part it shows up in the eye. There are times when the heart is diseased and it shows evidence of this in the eye. This is so true when we as Christians are the body of Christ. In "our" minds we believe that our decisions are exclusive of others. Wh… Read more »
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cflem2c added a text contribution Missions as OneA week prior to heading to the mission field we mentally prepare for the discomforts of another culture. Verse 5 encourages me that we are all in this together as one body, meaning we need each other for encouragement, patience, and keeping our eyes focused on the mission. We are going to serve, what Jesus did as an example for us. Which part of the body are you going to be. Will you encourage, will you pray, will you teach others through your actions, may God show you this week what your pa… Read more »
May 13
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Why do we feel like we are in the day to day battles all alone. It must be pride that keeps us from sharing who we are to overcome the struggles of this world. How different would life be if we teamed together in Christ and functioned as one body. The body, more specifically the eye, is an amazing creation of complexity yet simplicity. The eye is so complex yet it performs only one responsibility and that is to see. Without the eye how could the body function. We live like this so many tim… Read more »
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This should be the heading of our world of myspace, facebook, ipod, etc. When does it all stop. We are selfish beings that are so engrained to our selfishness that we don't even understand the depth. The part of this verse that stands out to me the most is not to think more highly of myself. Most of us say that we are not proud or egotistical but yet we live like we are the most important person alive. We are too good to help our parents b/c we know more then they do. We don't se… Read more »
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cflem2c added a text contribution To the Next LevelWe talk about being dead yet alive when we think of living sacrafice. This is going to the next level once we have the routine of doing devotions and praying. Now we must go beyond the head knowledge to the heart knowledge in living out what we know in our minds. To be a living sacrafice we must fill our hearts w/ positive and encouraging biblical truths to take the knowledge in our head and live it out through our hearts. What's in the heart will come out through our words and thoughts… Read more »
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cflem2c added a text contribution EncouragementSometimes I find that my life is wrapped up in what I am doing, what is next on my schedule, how do I motivate myself. In this passage Paul is encouraging other brothers in Christ. I find it interesting that "urge" in the descripter, b/c to me "urge" is stronger then encourage. "Urge" is having passionate concern. I am challenged to think of those people in my life that I "urge" them to sacrifice their bodies. We all struggle w/ our own agenda. We mu… Read more »
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A pattern is used reproduce something that is identical in appearance, thought, and functioning. What pattern are you from? Does your life look like the world in appearance, thought, and functioning? In order for us to be a pattern of God's will we must discard, throw away, or give up the current pattern that we are being shaped by. You can't hold onto a portion of the pattern and not expect to turn out looking or thinking just like the portion of the pattern you kept. This may me… Read more »
May 3
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cflem2c added a text contribution Offer your bodies???This can at first seem rather confusing as we may look at that literally and think it refers to our physical bodies. In reference to the following verse (2) is the "your" that I believe is the most impactful. We must claim the truth in Matt. 16:24 and deny ourselves, or daily 'die' to self. This I believe to be a living sacrifice. What have you done today in dieing to self. I challenge myself, what have I done to put others before me. Read more »
Apr 27
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cflem2c added a text contribution Struggles of LifeSo many times we get discouraged b/c of situations in life that bring us down. When I reflect upon myself then the joy in the journey is lost, however, as I study denial of self then I truly realize that I'm growing in the Lord and that is joy. I like looking up the definition of words to give a full understanding of the meaning and perseverance is a steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. Life is a… Read more »
Apr 26
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cflem2c added a text contribution Knowledge BaseI sit in wonder as I listen to buddies talk about sports and the many statistics they know and it challenges my thinking. Is my knowledge base that has been building since birth eternal or temporary. Do we know more about the attractions of this world then the bible. Something to consider the next time we have down time. Read more »
Apr 25
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cflem2c added a text contribution ConformingEvery thing in this world points towards conformity. Only when I've spent months studying this verse and analyzing my life do I realize how conformed I am. It goes to the truth that the closer we grow to Christ the more real our shortcomings become. Humility. Read more »