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Mark 7:14-15
Mark 7:14-15 (ESV)
And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand:Created 17 days ago
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Earned a Badge — Shared a Bible Reference
2012-04-12
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Loving People or Making an Impression?
Knowing how the Pharisees paraded around town in glittering robes with long faces and loud prayers tempts us to think this passage doe not apply to us all that much. But a simple test of our hearts can…
Created 2 months ago
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Earned a Badge — Completed First Reading Plan
2012-03-09
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Oh Remember Me!
This criminal hangs on a cross, blood dripping from his wrists, his lungs heaving for air, his shoulders dislocating, his mouth burning with unnatural thirst. He knows he's getting what he deserves for…
Created 3 months ago
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Adequacy That Doesn't Weather
The cycle of inadequacy is a sly one. We taste some level of success and the whole world suddenly belongs to us. Or so we think. Then we taste defeat and our world falls apart. The adequacy we had placed…
Created 4 months ago
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Castles of Pride
Pride is a sign of insecurity. Because we do not feel confident and secure in who we are, we have to point out others' faults and our virtues to make ourselves feel better than we really believe. We build…
Created 4 months ago
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The Right Kind of Boasting
Instead of boasting about a day that does not even exist yet, Solomon urges us to walk in humility. We'd have to be God to know what tomorrow will bring so to claim that tomorrow is going to go the way…
Created 4 months ago
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Why a Sense of Entitlement Leads to Despair
Three details in this verse expose tremendous humility in David's life: 1. The direction of David's heart. David seeks God's presence. It says he went in before the Lord. How easy it is to not need…
Created 4 months ago
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Humility
To be the most at anything on the face of the earth is staggering. But to be the most humble is beyond understanding. No wonder God so gladly spoke with Moses face to face as a man speaks with his friend.…
Created 4 months ago
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Success
At first glance one would think that to become a warrior for God, one must prepare to do mind-blowing feats. But the odd thing is that all these amazing deeds came about by faith. If one is raised a military…
Created 4 months ago
Hebrews 11:32 (ESV), Hebrews 11:33 (ESV), Hebrews 11:34 (ESV), Hebrews 11:35 (ESV), Hebrews 11:36 (ESV), Hebrews 11:37 (ESV), Hebrews 11:38 (ESV), Hebrews 11:39 (ESV), Hebrews 11:40 (ESV)
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The End Goal of All that We Do
This passage reminds me that love is the sweetest emotion, strongest virtue, and most important trait of someone who has encountered Jesus Christ. How easy it is to focus on self discipline, joy, or ministry…
Created 4 months ago
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Acting in Faith Instead of Fear
The only antidote to fear is faith. No decision made out of fear yields positive results. If we are honest with ourselves, many of our decisions are motivated by fear--fear of losing someone or some object…
Created 5 months ago
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Why Strong Faith Does not Come From our Strength
I love how this passage ends: God provides the sacrifice. We cannot fathom the thoughts and dreams that must have tormented Abraham all night and into the next morning. The trip up the mountain must have…
Created 5 months ago
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What Fills My Heart
Sometimes our minds rush from one worrisome thought to the next until we have created our own burden out of thin air. But the way John closes his letter to his spiritual children states the plain yet…
Created 5 months ago
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Warning yet Comfort
The sin that leads to death may refer to a believer who continually spites God's grace and continues in rebellion without repentance so cold heartedly that for their sake and the sake of those around…
Created 5 months ago
1 John 5:16 (NLT), 1 John 5:17 (NLT), 1 John 5:18 (NLT), 1 John 5:19 (NLT)
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To Actually See God Answer Prayer
Life would be incredibly encouraging if we could pray and see God answer our requests right and left! To witness God doing miracles like this would make life an incredible adventure! And we can live…
Created 5 months ago
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The Strongest Witness that Jesus is Who He Said He Was
Three witnesses proclaim the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The water shouts his identity as the Son of God as it turns our minds to the beginning of his three year ministry when at…
Created 5 months ago
1 John 5:6 (ESV), 1 John 5:7 (ESV), 1 John 5:8 (ESV), 1 John 5:9 (ESV), 1 John 5:10 (ESV), 1 John 5:11 (ESV), 1 John 5:12 (ESV)
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How to Overcome in a Moment of Severe Pain
In every temptation, moment of stress, feeling of shame, or relationship pain, there is one response that will bring us victory: faith. The choice to trust in Jesus in that impossible moment makes the…
Created 5 months ago
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Being in God's Family
Becoming a believer brings us into the warmth, love, and safety of a new family. The doorway into this family is faith in faith in Jesus. The father is God. The siblings are fellow believers. The attitude…
Created 5 months ago
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Where the Best Confidence Comes From
Confidence has more to do with our identity than our ability. It is more deeply rooted in our relationships than our talents. This is why a star athlete who was rarely affirmed by his dad or hugged by…
Created 5 months ago
1 John 4:13 (ESV), 1 John 4:14 (ESV), 1 John 4:15 (ESV), 1 John 4:16 (ESV), 1 John 4:17 (ESV), 1 John 4:18 (ESV), 1 John 4:19 (ESV), 1 John 4:20 (ESV), 1 John 4:21 (ESV)
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Earned a Badge — Created 10 Highlights
2012-01-06
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God is Okay with the Mess
On days when we just don't feel like loving others, it is good to be reminded of who we are and how we got here.We are God's children and we became God's children by his matchless demonstration of love…
Created 5 months ago
1 John 4:7 (ESV), 1 John 4:8 (ESV), 1 John 4:9 (ESV), 1 John 4:10 (ESV), 1 John 4:11 (ESV), 1 John 4:12 (ESV)
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Where the Real Battle is at
It is easy to become so entangled into whatever is bothering us that we cannot see that Satan and his hordes of demons are the real enemy--not our friend, spouse, sibling, or parent. Yes, people can do…
Created 5 months ago
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How To Respond to Subtle Thoughts or Strong Feelings
When a thought enters our mind, an emotion rises up, or a feeling overwhelms us, it is good to stop and ask if it is from Jesus' spirit or a demon. Cramming down the emotion, staying busy to cover it…
Created 5 months ago
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If We Just Believe
Guilty voices inside our head that condemn us for destructive decisions we made in the past can be relentless. And they accomplish nothing. Conviction is a great motivator but guilt produces all sorts…
Created 5 months ago
1 John 3:19 (ESV), 1 John 3:20 (ESV), 1 John 3:21 (ESV), 1 John 3:22 (ESV), 1 John 3:23 (ESV), 1 John 3:24 (ESV)
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Real Love
If someone asks me how I would define love, I would tell them what Jesus did. There is no greater demonstration of love than Jesus laying down his life for people who hated him. If we have truly been…
Created 5 months ago
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The Most Rewarding Motivation
If we boiled down every single command from Scripture it would end up as one command: love. Any motive for a decision that falls outside of this motive is a wasted decision. Love and only love is the…
Created 5 months ago
1 John 3:11 (ESV), 1 John 3:12 (ESV), 1 John 3:13 (ESV), 1 John 3:14 (ESV), 1 John 3:15 (ESV)
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How We Live is Who We Are
How we live and choices we make reflect who we are. There is no way around this. A traveler who has to have his drink is an alcoholic. A child who loves to share her toys is generous. A man or woman who…
Created 5 months ago
1 John 3:7 (ESV), 1 John 3:8 (ESV), 1 John 3:9 (ESV), 1 John 3:10 (ESV)
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Earned a Badge — Subscribed to First Reading Plan
2011-12-10
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Proverbs 3:5-7
Proverbs 3:5-7 (NET)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.Created 6 months ago
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Matthew 11:28-30
Matthew 11:28-30 (NET)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Created 6 months ago
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Earned a Badge — Created 10 [Public] Notes
2011-09-12
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Mark 3:9
Mark 3:9 (NLT)
Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him.Created 10 months ago
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2 Corinthians 4:16
2 Corinthians 4:16 (MSG)
So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.Created 10 months ago
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Earned a Badge — Created First [Public] Note
2011-06-30
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Luke 19:11
Luke 19:11 (NASB)
While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.Created 12 months ago
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John 10:18
John 10:18 (NASB)
No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."Created 12 months ago
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Earned a Badge — Created Your First Bookmark
2011-01-22
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James 5:15
James 5:15 (NLT)
Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.Created over 1 year ago
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