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Designated for a Consecrated Life—That’s Us!
“Designated for a consecrated life.” I love that word, designated! Thesaurus gives these synonyms: chosen, elected, selected, voted, nominated. When I came across designated in Romans 1:7 (Amplified), my heart exploded in praise. Paul wrote, “To [you then] all God’s beloved ones in Rome, called to be saints and designated for a consecrated life: Grace…
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Chosen! God Has a Purpose for Your Life
Chosen. Does the word bring back memories of a childhood game—being chosen for a particular team? Nobody wanted to be chosen last. The word took on special meaning in my adult years as I began to understand the honor of being chosen by God to serve him in a distinctive way. Stories throughout the Bible…
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Everyday Brave…God Gives Us Courage to Live that Way
Everyday brave…does that describe you? My friend Janet Thompson knows all about living everyday brave. She’s an author, speaker, and three-time breast-cancer survivor. I’ve invited her to be my guest today and introduce her new book, Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith. Leafwood Publishers is offering a free copy of her book…
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God Never Stops Loving Me
God’s love is unending…he never stops loving me. When did you first hear the incredible news that God loves you? I heard it as a small child, and when I was seven years old, John 3:16 led me to a decision. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that…
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God Never Stoops to Carry Grudges
God never stoops to carry grudges. That’s one thing I used to do best. Oh, yes. You wouldn’t find anyone who did it better. Then I learned three facts that changed me: Carrying grudges is a characteristic of immaturity. Carrying grudges is detrimental to relationships. Carrying grudges is a colossal waste of time. What is…
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God Never Neglects to Punish Evil
Evil things happen. But we can be sure God never neglects to punish evil. He may not inform us of his plans—although sometimes he does. Way back in time, when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt to the land God had promised them, a rebellion developed among the people. The ring leader was…
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God Never Wastes Heartbreak
Is there anyone among us who has not known heartbreak? Death stole someone you love. A friend betrayed you. A spouse deserted you. A child disappointed you. An illness interrupted your life. Heartbreak comes in all shapes and sizes, and it changes us. In our pain we cry out, Why? I have no adequate answer…
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Seeking the Cure for a Chronic Condition
I have a chronic condition. No worries. It isn’t life-threatening. But it is life-impacting, causing extreme distress and misery. The diagnosis—negative thinking. Usually I talk about this when it’s in remission (symptoms have lifted for a while). The problem with a chronic condition: it keeps recurring. Out of nowhere my thoughts took a downturn. Negative…
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Our Safety Net…the Name of the Lord
Safe places in today’s world are scarce. We need a safety net. Terrorism. Crime in our cities. Home invasions. Road rage. We’re threatened on every side. But have you heard? “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). That’s good information, don’t you think?…
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The Quest for Rest…Summarizing the Study
I’ve been in the “quest for rest” classroom a long while. You’re thinking I must not be learning the lesson very well. It’s an on-going curriculum, and I’m in the graduate program. In fact, I’m grasping the principles so well that God continually gives me opportunities to apply them. When I entered the course, I’d…