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Anticipation
A change had begun in her, but it was not yet complete. I was thinking of the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the time of Mary’s last month of pregnancy. As a man I can’t imagine what she was feeling physically, yet I was wondering what she was thinking. However I’m thinking not as a new Mother, but as a recipient of The Messiah’s Mercy. As someone born after Jesus was, I have never known a day where He had not walked the shores of Galilee. Mary, at this point, had only known the days of before Jesus was born. Now she knew something else, she knew expectation that…
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The Worship Leaders Of Thanksgiving
Nehemiah 11:17 – And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. The Jews had returned to their homeland after seventy years of captivity in a strange land. They were ready to begin Thanksgiving, and two men were selected to begin the prayer. Mattaniah was first, and Bakbukiah was second. It’s little wonder why they chose Mattaniah, his name means The Gift Of Jehovah. During our own Thanksgiving we should be mindful that everything we…
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Sketch Recipe For Thanksgiving
The savory and the sweet have been bought in preparation for the big day. We will talk to family, see loved ones, and give Thanks for what God has granted us all. How have you prepared for the big day? I guess I’m asking, what is your recipe for Thanksgiving? I don’t mean Aunt Martha’s secret for pumpkin pie, how do you celebrate? Beyond the food, how do you share with your children how to be Thankful? As the parent of a toddler we want to teach Nicholas gratitude. Thankfulness towards God, kindness and appreciate to others, and an attitude of thank you. Having a grateful attitude helps produce a…
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He Sees And We See
It’s the same verse in Psalms 11:7, they both start out the same. Each says The Lord is righteous, and that He loves righteousness or righteous deeds. The interesting thing is how the two translations interpret the Hebrew for the last section. One says the upright shall behold His face, and the other says His countenance beholds the upright. With Hebrew, I know enough to know both are accurate linguistically, but also that they agree Theologically. He saw us before we ever saw Him. Because He pursued us, we can behold Him. It’s what this season is really all about. Thanksgiving was about a people coming to a new world…
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Faithful And Kind
Psalm 145:13 (ESV) “… The LORD is faithful in all his wordsand kind in all his works.” I love this verse, and I’m so thankful that God is faithful, but also that He is kind. It is more than enough that He is faithful, but the fact that He is kind speaks to His goodness and His care for us. It reminds me of a recent message from Bishop Spencer McCool Sr where He mentioned God’s kindness to us, even when we were sinners. I’m so thankful for His goodness, His faithfulness, and His kindness. It would have been more than enough to experience salvation. It would have been more…
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Familiar Unfamiliar
Today I find myself in a familiar place, for a strange reason, ever been there? I’m at the hospital for a routine test, but it’s one I’ve been at many times with my wife. I’m used to being the one in the waiting room until they are finished with her. Today I’m the one that will go back with the doctor. It’s not my favorite spot, but the God I’ve trusted to bring Ashley back to me, I trust today. The place is familiar, the situation isn’t. When you find yourself in a familiar bit strange place, what do you do? For me, first and foremost I trust God. He…
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Sketch Rabbits Foot
The thing that I always think about, concerning a rabbit’s foot is something an old comedian said. It wasn’t lucky for the rabbit. What fascinates me about rabbit’s feet are the ones that don’t become key chains, the ones who got away. God put agility and speed in these small, cute creatures. They may look timid, and be the pattern for chocolate bunnies, but watch them run. It reminds me that God places gifts in all of us that can swiftly help us to overcome, or outrun what we’re facing. Outpacing your challenges is not luck, but a gift from God. The Psalmist said by my God have I ran…
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Don’t Nod Off
Genesis 4:16 (ESV) 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain’s situation was so sad. While we know the mistakes were his own, we can certainly identify with making mistakes. We have all, in some way, messed up at one time. How many times has failure tempted us, towards the land of Nod? I remember Bishop Livingston preaching about this years ago. Nod means wandering, and that’s where Cain chose to settle. It says it’s easy of Eden, which means pleasure. When you wander from God’s presence, it places us outside of the things that cause…
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The Face Of The Bear
Among animals, the face of a bear is unique. It doesn’t look like a lion, a lamb, a cat, or a dog. It’s different from any animal you can name, and even in the family of bears, there are different bear faces. Isn’t. it amazing, that God would so uniquely create things from a the small snowflake to the large bear, and beyond. Without even discussing the whales and creatures of the sea, there is uniqueness in every corner of creation. While it’s amazing, it should not be surprising. The same God made you and I, billions of people over the course of history, and He didn’t use a cookie…
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Disguised Blessings
The Blessings of yesterday, came disguised as trials. God said to Israel, more than once, you will eat for years from what was planted in one season. I did not understand this when I read it. I understood it logically, but not emotionally. I had experienced it as both a child and a young man, though I didn’t realize it. I was feasting on what others had planted years ago. Today, I look back at my life, and I see. I remember a situation in our lives, when we were first married. A need arose, and though a struggle, we planted a seed in a family member’s life. I was…
