Today

  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution Make the Most of Every Opportunity
    Paul’s focus with everyone he meets is to share the gospel with them. He sees every meeting is an opportunity and seeks to maximize those opportunities. How do I look at my contact with outsiders? Am I trying to maximize my benefit in dealings with them, or do I think of gospel when I interact with them and look for opportunities to position the gospel in a way that is understandable and relevant? Read more »

Yesterday

  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution With the Help of our God
    Nehemiah had doing what God had called him to do, finishing it even though it was a difficult task with much opposition. When it was done, it was clear that God’s hand had enabled him to do it. Am I doing what God called me to do, or do I give up because of opposition or difficulties? Does God have opportunity to shine, through me? Lord, help me to see/know the calling you have given, and to persist... Read more »

Nov 15

  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution Putting it Out There
    Ezra puts it out there that he trusts in God to provide and protect. The time comes that he must behave in accordance with that, putting his money where his mouth is. Ezra doesn't just take it for granted that God will protect him just because he declared it. Instead, he called the people to fast and pray, to make sure their relationship with God was in the right place. Ezra then stepped out, and... Read more »

Nov 8

  • sondance
    sondance added contributions: Get Ready at Once to Leave and Get Ready at Once to Leave
  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution God's Patient Grace
    God gives many chances to the people - He sent messengers again and again. But they continued to mock the messengers, despise His words, and scoffed at His prophets. Finally, grace and mercy was replaced with judgment. God gives me many chances and speaks in many ways. Do I recognize the messengers? Do I hear His words, accepting and applying them to my life? Lord, please help me to see who your... Read more »

Nov 6

  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution Dumb Stubborn Decision
    Josiah didn’t listen to God’s plan, stubbornly proceeding with his own notion to engage Neco is a fight. That decision was a fatal one. Sad when a life of such great accomplishment and potential comes to an end because of a dumb decision. Since Josiah reigned 31 years, and the Passover described happened in the 18th year of his reign, this happened 13 years after the passover. The text is silent... Read more »

Nov 5

Nov 3

  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution Bold Prayer
    Peter prays a very bold prayer "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up". Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived there say him and turned to the Lord. When I see a need like this paralytic, do I just pass by hoping not to make eye contact? or perhaps toss a few coins into his hat? Do I have faith to speak a bold prayer like Peter did? What about when someone asks me to pray healing for... Read more »
  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution Enjoying a Time of Peace
    This time of peace came after people were willing to risk imprisonment and even to die rather than stop speaking out in the name of the Lord. The church is persecuted in many countries today - it seems that Christians in those countries have the same determination in their faith as the early church. It’s in the countries where life is good and relatively easy that we have lost that drive. If we look... Read more »

Nov 2

  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution Take It Home
    The Israelites took their worship attitude back with them, getting rid of those things that were counter to their relationship with God. Only when that was completed did they go back home. How is my world different because I go to church to worship God? Do I take that attitude back with me and impact my world? What are the sacred stones, Asherah poles, high places and altars in my life that I need... Read more »
  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution God Overlooked Their Mistakee
    God saw the hearts of the people and overlooked their breaking of the rules of the sanctuary. From this story, can we say that God is more concerned with the position and attitude of our hearts than what we do or how we do it? This isn’t a license for sloppiness or carelessness, but a focus on our motivation. Even if our actions are feeble or off-track, if our motivation is correct, God will smile.... Read more »

Oct 30

Oct 29

Oct 28

Oct 26

  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution The Wisest in the Land
    God gave these four men knowledge and understanding so that they were above anyone else in the land. Since we have the very Spirit of God dwelling in us, should Christ-followers not have wisdom and understanding about anyone else? Why don’t we? Read more »

Oct 25

Oct 23

  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution Helping the Wicked?
    The prophet made is clear that God was not pleased that he had helped the wicked king of Israel. Is the Lord pleased when I help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Certainly I suspect He isn’t, especially if I’m helping them in their wickedness. It’s a tough balance to love the sinner without endorsing their sinful ways, indeed hating their sin. In our day, it is not politically correct... Read more »
  • sondance
    sondance added a text contribution He couldn't handle peace & prosperity
    In the previous chapter, Asa was fervent is seeking the Lord, purging the nation of anything that was counter. He led the nation in seeking the Lord, and the Lord gave them rest on every side. So what happened that Asa didn’t seek the Lord in the face of attack? Why did he proceed without the Lord to make a treaty with another king? Even when he was afflicted with sickness, he didn’t seek the Lord,... Read more »

Oct 21