Don’t Look Back; Look Ahead

Posted on 2013/09/30 by Shawn Thomas

I Samuel 16:1 could be a word for anyone who has been paralyzed by past hurts, and who needs to move on and follow God for what He has next for them:

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A Prayer of Blessing

Posted on 2013/09/28 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 89:15-18 makes a good “prayer of blessing” to pray for loved ones:

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Assurance and Fruit

Posted on 2013/09/27 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 6:11 says: “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end.” Though scripture is very clear that salvation is entirely of grace, it also teaches that assurance of that salvation is based, at least to some extent, upon one’s fruit. We see that here in Hebrews 6:

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The Great Benefit of Christianity

Posted on 2013/09/26 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 7:19, comparing the Old Testament Law with the better hope we have in Christ, says: “(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Those last words, “draw near to God” are a good way to describe the great benefit of what God has done for us in Jesus. What do we get as a result of His ministry? It is not just “heaven”, or “streets of gold”, or even that we are forgiven, but that we get to “draw near to God”!

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Fluctuations in Faith

Posted on 2013/09/25 by Shawn Thomas

In I Samuel 16:2, Samuel’s response to God’s command to go and anoint another king of Israel to replace Saul was less than faith-filled: “But Samuel said, ‘How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.'” It is interesting and amazing that this man of God, who had spoken with God personally, who had seen Him make His prophecies come to pass, and work in so many extraordinary ways, would respond so timidly. Surely he knew that God could protect him on whatever mission He would send him! Continue reading →

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The Grieving Minister

Posted on 2013/09/24 by Shawn Thomas

I Samuel 15 relates the story of how Saul disobeyed God in the campaign against the Amalekites, and how Saul initially tried to justify his disobedience. Because he feared the people more than God, Samuel told Saul that the kingdom was being taken away from him and given to another (David).

But it is important for us to understand that Samuel was no heartless, unfeeling proclaimer of truth. In :35 it says: “Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over Saul.” This is very revealing.

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Biblical Revival (Psalm 85)

Posted on 2013/09/23 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 85:6 says, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” Here scripture teaches us several important things about revival:

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An Anchor of the Soul

Posted on 2013/09/20 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 6:19 says: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul.” The problem many people have is that there is nothing to “anchor” their lives; they drift wherever they “feel led”, or wherever the prevailing winds of culture blow them. Ephesians 4:14 says “we are no longer to be children tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine.” This is exactly the picture of many people’s lives today. They have no “anchor” to steady them, and there can be no peace, and no stability, where there is no anchor for the soul.
But Hebrews says there IS a hope which can “anchor” one’s life.

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“The Little Condo on the Prairie” (Sept. 19)

Posted on 2013/09/19 by Shawn Thomas

Both home school and football make their debut in this week’s “Little Condo”:

Although Michael is a very good student, and is usually very self-motivated, sometimes he and Cheryl go ’round and ’round in their homeschooling. Here are some episodes I have overheard from the other room:

LITERAL INTERPRETATION
One day, Michael’s Algebra assignment was to “factor out” the variable (in this case, an “x”). When Cheryl went to check his paper, she found that he indeed did “factor it out.” He erased it. Yes, he literally ERASED the “x” out of the equation! I suppose that’s one way to deal with it. He’s a literalist for sure — that’s not bad in some ways, just not in Algebra!

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The Fear of Man

Posted on 2013/09/19 by Shawn Thomas

After much prevarication regarding his sin of not fully obeying the Lord regarding His command to destroy the Amalekites, in I Samuel 15:24 Saul did finally own up to his sin: “I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord.” What is revealing is the next phrase, which tells us WHY he had sinned: “BECAUSE I FEARED THE PEOPLE, AND LISTENED TO THEIR VOICE.” Saul was afraid of what people thought of him.

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