Praying For Your Family

Posted on 2014/11/25 by Shawn Thomas

The first chapter of Job describes the central character of this book as a man who was not only “blameless” and “upright” before God (:1) but as one who loved his family, and ministered to them spiritually. Verse 5 says: “When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, ‘Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did continually.” Job’s habits challenge each of us to follow His example of intercessory prayer for loved ones: Continue reading →

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“The Little Condo on the Prairie” 11-21-14

Posted on 2014/11/21 by Shawn Thomas

I know it’s supposedly “Thanksgiving” holiday, but with the grand babies coming in we see it more as:

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The kids and grandkids should be on their way to Norman today, and boy, have we been getting ready for them! Cookie baking and remodeling are among the headlines for this week’s “Little Condo”:

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Be Still and Trust Him!

Posted on 2014/11/19 by Shawn Thomas

“Be very still right now; I am about to do something very tricky.” Since the lady speaking those words had an electric razor in her hands, and she was cutting my hair, you can bet that I was very obedient! It actually reminded me of what I had read earlier that morning in my quiet time: Continue reading →

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A Heart For Worship

Posted on 2014/11/17 by Shawn Thomas

The way a person responds to God’s work in his life reveals a lot about his heart. In Acts 3:8 the Bible tells us that when the lame man outside the Temple was healed, “With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the Temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” What this man did after he was healed spoke volumes:

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Outlasting Old Habits

Posted on 2014/11/12 by Shawn Thomas

Nehemiah learned that if you want to bring about change, you have to stay on top of it. Having led the people of Israel to re-establish many of the practices of the Law, including supporting the Levites with their tithes, Nehemiah went back to Babylon to see King Artaxerxes. But when he returned to Jerusalem, 13:10 tells us “I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who had performed the services had gone away, each to his own field.” There’s a lesson here which many of us can apply:

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Gladness & Sincerity — Or Not!

Posted on 2014/11/11 by Shawn Thomas

A wiseacre once observed that in politics, sincerity is the most important thing; once you can fake that, you have it made! But the truth is, people can usually tell the difference. It is striking to read in Acts 2:46 that as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work in the newborn church at Jerusalem, “they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.” So attractive was this heart-felt fellowship to those who saw it, that the next verse describes that people were being added to the church every day. “Gladness & sincerity” in a church’s fellowship are attractive — which is just where many of our churches are missing it.

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In His Sight

Posted on 2014/11/07 by Shawn Thomas

It’s not what everyone else thinks about you that matters. People may believe you to be a person of integrity, or never, ever hear you say anything bad – but they are not your judge, because they don’t know all of your words and thoughts, do they? That is why David prays in Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in YOUR sight, O Yahweh, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

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Help From The God of Jacob

Posted on 2014/11/06 by Shawn Thomas

Many of us know what it feels like to be in a time of distress. Maybe you would say you are in a time like that now. Psalm 20 reminds us that it matters who you look to for your help. Verse 1 begins: “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high.”

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A Source of Joy

Posted on 2014/11/05 by Shawn Thomas

Nehemiah 8:17 tells us that when Israel celebrated The Feast of Booths, “there was great rejoicing.” There was a good reason for that which many of us could learn from.

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Does Your Bible Study Change Your Life?

Posted on 2014/11/04 by Shawn Thomas

Nehemiah 8:13-18 gives us a great example of how we should apply our Bible studies. Meeting together with Ezra to study the scripture, :14 says that the people of Israel “found written in the Law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month.” But although God had commanded it to be done, :17 says that Israel had not observed The Feast of Booths since the days of Joshua. How would Israel respond after this “Bible study”?

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