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The Key to Power

May 29, 2018 By admin

Photo: Nick Benjaminsz

I’d been having trouble with my 13-year-old car. A sympathetic person loaned me his car while mine was being repaired. While driving it, I stopped at a store to pick up a few things. On my way back to the car, I reached into my pocket for the key. It wasn’t there. I searched all my pockets. I looked in my shopping bags. No key. I stood there, looking at this big, beautiful, borrowed car. Here was a $40,000 vehicle, with plenty of gas in the tank, lots of horsepower under the hood, just waiting to take me anywhere I wanted to go. But it was useless. No power without the key.

I had to have that key. And I knew that Jesus knew where it was. So I prayed, and asked Jesus for the key. I felt impressed to go back to the store. The lady in customer service handed me the key. With that key, I unlocked the car and unleashed all its power.

There’s also power available to us in our everyday life. The Bible says, “As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3. NLT).

Unlock the Power

But in order to unlock this power, we need the key. Where’s the key? Jesus has it. Jesus has the master keys. Jesus says, “See these keys in My hand? They open and lock Death’s door, they open and lock Hell’s gates” (Revelation 1:18, The Message). So we need to go to the Man who carries the keys—the master keys to every problem in life.

But don’t overlook and forget to use the one simple key Jesus has given you and everyone else. I’m talking about prayer. Jesus says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22, NLT). Prayer is the key in your hand of faith that will unlock the storehouse of heaven. In that storehouse, you’ll find Jesus, and the keys to everything you need. Just use your key. It isn’t lost. It’s right there in your hand.

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Read more at the source: The Key to Power

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Bible Says.

Heavenly Moisture

May 14, 2018 By admin

Photo: Dimitris Kritsotakis

Living in the Philippines is a lot different than living in Los Angeles. Everyone warned us. The Philippines is hot. It is humid. The moist tropical air rots clothes, grows bugs and especially wreaks havoc on immigrants who have been used to the dry, desert air of Los Angeles. Well we have been fortunate that it is fall in the Philippines and it is not quite so hot or humid. Except for a couple of extremely hot, humid days, the weather has been bearable and there have even been a few days when the heat and humidity have subsided and it has been very, very pleasant.

While we had been warned about the heat and humidity, no-one mentioned an almost miraculous transformation which has taken place with our skin! After only a very few days in the tropics, both Diana and I noticed that our skin had become completely moisturized. The dryness in our hands and feet had now been transformed into a delicious smoothness which we had never felt before, living in the dry air of Los Angeles.

Despite living in dry air all of our lives, it took less than a week for the moisturizing to take place. I sometimes rub my palms with my fingers and still marvel at how smooth and moist they have become. It appears that moving to the tropics has some benefits after all!

Let it Rain!

No matter where we live we are constantly surrounded by the blowing hot winds of malice, unkindness and criticism. At times it leeches out the love and kindness of even the most courageous and devoted heart. In the midst of this barren world and this barren time, the Spirit encourages us to “Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone” (Zechariah 10:1).

As we are nurtured by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we begin to assimilate the moisture from heaven that transforms us into Christ’s likeness. We are then commissioned and sent forth to revive those souls which have becomed de-hydrated under the fiery arrows of Satan. May all of our souls be revived with the Heavenly Moisture of heaven.

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Read more at the source: Heavenly Moisture

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from Bible Says.

Faithful Dogs?

March 30, 2016 By admin

Photo: Valentina Jori

My dog is faithful. He is always glad to see me. He wags his tail and follows me around when I’m home. He seeks me out and sits by my feet. He is loyal to me as his owner. When I’m gone he sleeps, waiting for me to come back.

Is this an image of what it means to be faithful to God? We are waiting for Jesus to come back. If He were to come into our presence we’d be glad to see Him. We’d wag our tails and follow Him around. We’d sit by His feet. We’d be loyal to Him. But what are we doing while He is gone? Are we to sleep? Remember the ten virgins?

The image of a faithful dog doesn’t work for me. I can’t believe that Jesus wants us to sit around passive as a loyal, faithful dog until He comes back.

Is there an image that Jesus left us about being faithful? Yes! It’s found in the story of the “talents” in Matthew 25:14-30. It has one of my “life lines” in it. For me, a “life line” is a short phrase of what I want to live for. It motivates my life. The line is: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The master in the story spoke this to the servants who were faithful while he was gone on a long trip. When he came back he discovered that while he was gone the “good and faithful” servants had used the “talents” he had given them in a productive way so that his holdings increased.

Faithful Servants

There was nothing passive about these servants. They were not sleeping dogs. Rather, they were filled with life. They were risk takers. They were proactive and not reactive. They attacked life. They lived life with gusto. They focused on the possibilities they had and not all the reasons they couldn’t do it. They operated by faith and not by fear. They enjoyed life, living each day to the fullest until the master got home. They didn’t make excuses. They didn’t blame others for life being hard. They understood that the master had given them all they needed to be successful. Destiny was in their hands. Their attitudes made them good and faithful.They were filled with enthusiasm. They operated in joy. They made an impact and a difference. They pleased and honored their master.

But, there was one servant who didn’t produce. He was given the same opportunity. He was given resources. He was just as capable. He had the same amount of time. But, he feared life and he feared his master. He didn’t really long for him to come back. He expected his master to be hard on him so he acted out a scenario that assured it. He thought that if he just lived “safe” with no risks and no apparent failures then the master would be happy when he came back. He didn’t want to make waves. He didn’t want to be in the limelight. He’d just play it safe and give the master back his “talent” when he got home. Wrong choice!

In this parable the master wasn’t happy with the servant who tried to play it safe. He was pleased with the servants who were willing to take risks.

So, what about us today? Are we faithful? Are we using what God has given us to the greatest capacity? Are we risk takers? Are we living with gusto? Are we attacking life and taking the kingdom by force? Are we positive? Are we controlled by faith? Are we enthusiastic? Are we joyful? Are we making a difference in the world around us? If so, I think, no, I know, that Jesus is pleased. He can hardly wait to come back and tell us… “Well done, good and faithful servant(s)! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21)!

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Golden Rule

March 29, 2016 By admin

Photo: Stockxchng

While in the Marine Corps, I spent some time in Africa conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. We did the majority of our missions in the Sahara Desert where I noticed the locals were extremely poor. Most lived in tents made from camel hides and were able to move at a moment’s notice. The richer ones lived in stone houses, and there were a few that lived in tin houses.

I’m not exactly sure what they ate, but I assume they had some type of small agricultural system. There were a few goat herders so I suppose goat milk and goat meat was also part of their diet. As far as water goes, I saw one woman pulling it out of a muddy hole in the ground where a river used to flow.

During the first few weeks there, we put our trash in a large dumpster that was rented from the capitol city, located miles away. This turned out to be a problem though. The locals were so short on food they dug through our trash looking for scraps to eat. In the process of doing this, trash was scattered everywhere and disease would soon start spreading. A decision was then made to bury our trash so that wouldn’t be a problem.

One day, on the way out for a patrol, we drove by a small tribe of locals. Some were begging as we passed by and I decided on the way back I would throw them a box of food. Normally, I sit in the passenger’s seat of the Humvee commanding the vehicle. But on the way back, I wanted to be in the turret behind the gun so I could do this. As we neared them, I saw them begging again and that’s when I threw the box of food out. I can still hear that woman’s voice saying, “Merci, Merci!” Helping these people is one of the best feelings I have ever had.

The Golden Rule

Jesus sums up the Old Testament by telling us, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). This is also known as the Golden Rule. If I was standing on the side of the road begging for food I would want someone to give me something to eat. This is why I did what I did.

In order to fully adhere to the Golden Rule we can’t be judgmental of others and their situation. Before Jesus mentions the Golden Rule He asks, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye” (Matthew 7:3)? If I was judging the locals for being poor I would have never given them some of my own food to eat.

I did this as a sinner before I knew Christ and His Word, so you know Jesus expects even more from believers. Are you living by the Golden Rule?

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Just Ask

March 29, 2016 By admin

Photo: Lotus Head

It was Saturday night. I was sitting alone in our family’s car, watching the people walking by. I was six years old, and broke. My parents were migrant workers, and didn’t have money to give away. Our car was parked in front of an old-fashioned ice cream soda shop. As I watched the people coming out with their frozen delights, it was more than I could take. I needed some money. When Dad and Mom said “No,” there had to be some other way.

I saw a man coming up the sidewalk, holding his little girl’s hand. When I asked him for some money, he gave me enough to buy two ice cream cones. That was easy enough. All I did was ask.

The Bible says we can come to God and ask. Ask in the faith of a child. “Ask, and you will receive” (Matthew 7:7, NLT). You don’t have to go on a long trip to get answers. Or pay someone. God knows your heart’s desires before you ask. And God’s just waiting for you to ask for His blessings. But you have to ask. In fact, the Bible says, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2, NKJV).

God says, “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:11, NLT).

God Doesn’t Play Favorites

I’m not saying that God is like some heavenly Santa Claus. God loves you too much to give you everything you ask for, or something that wouldn’t be best for you, or cause you problems later on. Your happiness is very important to God.

Some people think that God has favorites and that He doesn’t love everyone the same. No way. The Bible says, “Everyone who asks will receive” (Matthew 7:8, NLT). All you need to do is ask in faith .God says, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?” (Matthew 7:9, NLT). Asking in faith means we trust God to do the right thing.

Of course, there are conditions. We have to ask according to God’s will. “Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, NKJV).

Also, “we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him. (1 John 3:22, NLT).

Is there a longing in your heart for God’s blessings today? Just ask.

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By Bob DuBose. Copyright © 2006 by GraceNotes. All rights reserved. Use of this material is subject to usage guidelines. Scripture taken from the New Living Translation © copyright 1996 and NEW KING JAMES VERSION © 1982.

The Key to Power

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Heavenly Moisture

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Faithful Dogs?

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Golden Rule

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Just Ask

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