Feb 6
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution "Make Faith Simple for Beginners"Nothing strikes me more firmly in this short exchange between Jesus and the religious leaders, than his desire to make things simple for people who were coming to faith. (1) Firstly, Jesus goes to the people, rather than expecting them to come to him. (2) Secondly, the only commitment he asks from the disciples is a commitment to follow him. (3) Thirdly, the disciplines he expects the disciples to follow, he expects them to grow into, as they mature. This is, I think, one of the biggest proble… Read more »
Jan 17
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution No Greater JoyThere are few things as amazing as the peace that we have with God when we are repentant of our sins before Him. Whether for the first time, or for a sin often repeated, it is difficult to live in opposition to our Creator. As Christians, to feel our heavenly Father running to us, the prodigal son, and embracing us in love...there is no other feeling like it. It is a reason to praise Him, to live for Him, and to reflect His love to the world. Oh, how He loves us! Read more »
Jan 12
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution Sarah must have been a hottie...I can't help but adding my own laughter to this passage about Abraham and Sarah. I do find it very comforting that Abraham is forgiven for repeating a prior mistake, and that Sarah is saved from the lusts of another man. But more than all this, I am simply amazed that someone sought out Sarah as a wife in her old age. She must have been a good looking woman! I hope people are as jealous of my wife as they were of Abraham's when we get old. Read more »
Jan 10
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution To the Weak...Jesus says earlier in his gospel that blessed are the poor in spirit. Here again it is said again that Jesus came to give life to those whose faith was hanging by a thread. He ministered to those, Jewish and non-Jewish, who were at the end of their selves. Oh how great a Savior we have! I urge you to take up a great resource on this subject, a book called He Still Moves Stones by Max Lucado. It is an excellent book of Scriptural and real life stories built on this very theme, a refreshing refle… Read more »
Jan 9
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution Prayer for PurityThis is a great prayer, one that I have used often. For those who wish to be made pure, even from their hidden faults. Matthew 5 says that those who's hearts are pure will see God. Here is that plea in the Psalms. Read more »
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution Creation Sings...I love the song of nature...love to camp, hike, and be immersed in the creation of this world, where the only things we can see are the ones created by God. I can hear them singing. Not everyone sees such beauty in the world, but I do. And it is clear from Scripture that their voice is heard in some capacity in all the world. May that be a comfort to us in those times when the world seems dark. Creation's song sings...it can be heard. It will be a comfort for you when all else seems lost. G… Read more »
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution The Depth of God's Mercy, the Power of His AngerIt's an amazing contrast in Genesis to find Abraham exploring the justice of God. From Abraham's perspective, the wicked and the good should not be judged together, to which God agrees. However, according to God, the presence of a few righteous men among a wicked city could spare the entire city from His wrath. God even goes beyond Abraham's estimation of justice by saving just four people from the city (Abraham argued for ten), after Lot demonstrates incredible moral bravery on… Read more »
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution People have Expectations, God has other plans...This passage talks about the criticisms that came from the Jewish people because Jesus did not meet their expectations for the Messiah. Even with the fullness of the Old Testament, the Jewish people had been misled by their leaders into a well-defined religious system that could not recognize the true God. God, it seems, was not what they had expected, so much so that they could not recognize him. It's amazing to me that the most religious people at the time of Christ could not recognize h… Read more »
Jan 5
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution They say "Lord, Lord...", but I never knew them.This passage tends to shake many people, and it should. It is meant to cause you to question yourself. But let's be clear about the real issues...what does this passage really say? And what doesn't it say? We know from other Scripture, that salvation is not by things we do. So the deeds mentioned in this passage are evidence of two things...(1) that many will pretend to know Christ and do great things in his name, but never truly know him...(2) that many people will argue for their go… Read more »
Dec 30
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution The Half-Hearted SacrificeWhy do we do things halfway? What causes us to give to God less than our best? In what areas of my life am I giving Him an unworthy sacrifice??? Read more »
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution Leviathan: Dragon/DinosaurIt seems that God describes a dinosaur in this passage that is reminiscent of the dragons of old. It is amazing to me that the Lord describes the creature as something Job is familiar with, not as a mythical creature. God is such an amazing creator...I wonder what it would have been like to see the world at creation with all it's diversity in animals. Oh, what destruction our sinfulness has wrought upon the earth!!! Read more »
Dec 27
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution Holiness & Purity Matter in EternityIt appears to me that the lives of these people gave them a specific status in heaven...that their purity made them available for a special task God had planned. Oh, that we would see this and value purity in the same way that God does. Paul says, "I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others I might not be disqualified from the prize." I want that prize too! Read more »
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution Are you like God? (Job 34-37)Elihu says many things, but among them are these comparisons between God and man: (1) Are you as righteous as God? (2) Are you as knowledgeable as God? Read more »
Dec 23
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution We will be Priests and RulersI don't think anyone quite understands this passage, but I am always amazed at the purpose of God in eternity being larger than we typically consider it to be...priests and rulers, not just worshippers and cloud-sitters. I can't wait to see what heaven is really like. Read more »
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution Prayers of the SaintsIn Revelation our prayers are shows as incense that the elders hold. What is the significance of this? In the book, Your God is Too Safe, the writer says that it is inspiring to know that our thoughts and words rise up to God as a sweet perfume. There is another use of this incense of prayer in Revelation 8 too. Be sure to read through that passage to see the other use of our prayers. Read more »
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution Nothing is impossible with GodHere is another important moment when even the people of God see their circumstances and insurmountable, and yet God promises to provide the way. The question I ask myself here is, am I standing on God's promise, or my perspective? Read more »
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patrick_fowler1 added a text contribution Job's Integrity...Includes his lack of lust, lack of deceit (lies), extreme care for the needs of the poor and widowed and orphaned, confidence or pride in his fortunes, worship of creation, cursing his enemies (didn't David do this, and it was ok?), hospitality toward workers and travelers, or hiding sin. He also states that the appropriate punishments would include a lack of fruitfulness for his labors (or someone else receiving the fruits of them), his wife lusting after another man, punishment by men�… Read more »
User Info
Name: Patrick Fowler
User Since: April 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Website: www.journeymanproject.…
Contributions: 17
Tags: 110