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Getting into God’s Stride " Enoch walked with God . . . —Genesis 5:24 " The true test of a person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight (seeJohn 1:35-37 and John 3:30). It is painful work to get in step with God and to keep pace with Him— it means getting your second...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Jobs In The Bible Harpist (New International Version (NIV) 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. . (Revelation 14:2) Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul,...

October 12, 2014Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Is 25:6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hostswill provide for all peoplesa feast of rich food and choice wines,juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.On this mountain he will destroythe veil that veils all peoples,the web that is woven over all nations;he will destroy death forever.The Lord GOD will wipe awaythe tears from every face;the reproach of his people he will removefrom the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.On that day it will be said:"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!This is the LORD...

God’s Silence— Then What? " When He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was —John 11:6 " Has God trusted you with His silence— a silence that has great meaning? God’s silences are actually His answers. Just think of those days of absolute silence in the home at Bethany! Is there anything comparable to those days in your life? Can God trust you like that, or are you still asking Him for a visible answer? God will give you the very blessings you ask if you refuse to go any...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Jobs In The Bible Harlot (New International Version (NIV) 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (Hebrews 11)

October 11, 2014Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Gal 3:22-29 Brothers and sisters:Scripture confined all things under the power of sin,that through faith in Jesus Christthe promise might be given to those who believe. Before faith came, we were held in custody under law,confined for the faith that was to be revealed.Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ,that we might be justified by faith.But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian.For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.For all of you who were baptized...

How Will I Know? " Jesus answered and said, ’I thank You, Father . . . that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes’ —Matthew 11:25 " We do not grow into a spiritual relationship step by step— we either have a relationship or we do not. God does not continue to cleanse us more and more from sin— “But if we walk in the light,” we are cleansed “from all sin” (1 John 1:7). It is a matter of obedience, and once we obey, the relationship is instantly perfected....

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Jobs In The Bible Guard (New International Version (NIV) 11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” “Yes, my lord,” he answered. 13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me,...

October 10, 2014Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Gal 3:7-14 Brothers and sisters:Realize that it is those who have faithwho are children of Abraham.Scripture, which saw in advance that Godwould justify the Gentiles by faith,foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,Through you shall all the nations be blessed.Consequently, those who have faith are blessedalong with Abraham who had faith.For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse;for it is written, Cursed be everyonewho does not persevere in doing all the thingswritten in the book of the law.And that no one...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7 (NIV) ----

Building on the Atonement " . . . present . . . your members as instruments of righteousness to God —Romans 6:13 " I cannot save and sanctify myself; I cannot make atonement for sin; I cannot redeem the world; I cannot right what is wrong, purify what is impure, or make holy what is unholy. That is all the sovereign work of God. Do I have faith in what Jesus Christ has done? He has made the perfect atonement for sin. Am I in the habit of constantly realizing it? The greatest need we have is not to...

Pray For Our American Heroes and Our Nation Stand Firm New International Version (NIV) Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Jobs In The Bible Grinder (New International Version (NIV) Remember your Creator
    in the days of your youth,before the days of trouble come    and the years approach when you will say,    “I find no pleasure in them”—2 before the sun and the light    and the moon and the stars grow dark,    and the clouds return after the rain;3 when the keepers of the house tremble,    and the strong men stoop,when the grinders cease because they are few,    and those looking through the windows grow dim;4 when the doors to the street are closed    and the sound of grinding fades;when people rise up at the...

October 9, 2014Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Gal 3:1-5 O stupid Galatians!Who has bewitched you,before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?I want to learn only this from you:did you receive the Spirit from works of the law,or from faith in what you heard?Are you so stupid?After beginning with the Spirit,are you now ending with the flesh?Did you experience so many things in vain?–if indeed it was in vain.Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to youand works mighty deeds among youdo so from works of the lawor from faith in...

Coming to Jesus " Come to Me . . . —Matthew 11:28 " Isn’t it humiliating to be told that we must come to Jesus! Think of the things about which we will not come to Jesus Christ. If you want to know how real you are, test yourself by these words— “Come to Me . . . .” In every dimension in which you are not real, you will argue or evade the issue altogether rather than come; you will go through sorrow rather than come; and you will do anything rather than come the last lap of...

Finding that Nevada’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage imposes “profound legal, financial, social and psychic harms” on many of its citizens, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday overturned the prohibition, paving the way for gay unions in the Silver State. The court reversed a U.S. District Court ruling in favor of the state’s voter-approved ban and remanded it back to District Court “for the prompt issuance of an injunction permanently enjoining the state, its political subdivisions, and its officers, employees, and agents” from enforcing the constitutional provision. The ruling also overturned Idaho’s ban on same-sex marriage. Clark...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem Jobs In The Bible Grape Picker (New International Version (NIV) 7 Concerning Edom: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?     Has counsel perished from the prudent?     Has their wisdom decayed? 8 Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,     you who live in Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau     at the time when I punish him. 9 If grape pickers came to you,     would they not leave a few grapes? If thieves came during the night,     would they not steal only as much as they wanted? 10 But I...

October 8, 2014Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Gal 2:1-2, 7-14 Brothers and sisters:After fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas,taking Titus along also.I went up in accord with a revelation,and I presented to them the Gospel that I preach to the Gentiles–but privately to those of repute–so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain.On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Gospel to the uncircumcised,just as Peter to the circumcised,for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the...

The Nature of Reconciliation " He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him —2 Corinthians 5:21 " Sin is a fundamental relationship— it is not wrong doing, but wrong being— it is deliberate and determined independence from God. The Christian faith bases everything on the extreme, self-confident nature of sin. Other faiths deal with sins— the Bible alone deals with sin. The first thing Jesus Christ confronted in people was the heredity of sin, and it is because we have ignored this in our presentation...