#0003181

The psalmist said, 'I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living'(Psalm27:13). He had not yet seen the Lord's answer to his prayers, but he was confident he would see, and his confidence sustained him. . . Faith that believes it will see, will keep us from becoming discouraged. We will laugh at seemingly impossible situations while we watch with delight to see how God is going to open a path through our Red Sea. It is in these places of severe testing, with no human way out of our difficulty, that our faith grows and is strengthened. . . Dear troubled one, have you been waiting for God to work during long nights and weary days, fearing you have been forgotten? Lift up your head and begin praising Him right now for the deliverance that is on its way to you...- Cowman-Reimann, Streams............Mark11:24 "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

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#0003182

Power For Life. . . 'Daddy, how can i believe in the Holy Spirit when I have never seen Him?' asked Jim. . . 'I'll show you how,' said his father. The father took Jim to a power plant and showed him the generators. 'This is where the power comes from to heat our stove and to give us light. We can't see the power, but it's in that machine and in the power lines,' said the father. . . 'Now son, let me ask you a question: Do you believe in electricity?' he asked. 'Yes,' said Jim. . . 'Of course, you do,' said his father, 'but you don't believe in it because you see it. You believe in it because you see what it can do. Likewise, you can believe in the Holy Spirit not because you see Him, but you see what He does in people's lives when they are surrendered to Christ and possess His power.'...- Billy Graham, Hope for Each Day.....Jn14:17 "The Spirit of truth . . . dwells with you and will be in you."

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#0003183

Because we are creatures of free will, we make choices--lots of them. When we make choices that are pleasing to our Heavenly Father, we are blessed. When we make choices that cause us to walk in the footsteps of God's Son, we enjoy the abundance that Christ has promised to those who follow Him. But when we make choices that are displeasing to God, we sow seeds that have the potential to bring forth a bitter harvest. . . Today, as you encounter the challenges of everyday living, you will make hundreds of choices. Choose wisely. Make your thoughts and your actions pleasing to God. And remember: every choice that is displeasing to Him is the wrong choice--no exceptions. "The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires(Prv11:6)."...- A Daily Walk Through Proverbs.....Jam3:17 "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

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#0003184

How will you direct your thoughts today? Will you obey the words of Philippians4:8 by dwelling upon those things that are honorable, just, and commendable? Or will you allow your thoughts to be hijacked by the negativity that seems to dominate our troubled world? Are you fearful, angry, bored, or worried? Are you so preoccupied with the concerns of this day that you fail to thank God for the promise of eternity? Are you confused, bitter, or pessimistic? If so, God wants to have a little talk with you. God intends that you experience joy and abundance. So, today and everyday, celebrate the life that God has given you by focusing your thoughts upon those things that are worthy of praise. Count your blessings instead of your hardships. And thank the Giver of all things good for gifts that are simply too numerous to count.....Phi4:8 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, . . pure, . . lovely, . . commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise--dwell on these things.” …. – A Daily Walk Through Proverbs, Fresman-Smith.

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#0003185

"When I was prosperous, I said, 'Nothing can stop me now(Psa30:6)!' Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then You turned away from me, and I was shattered(v7). I cried out to You, O Lord. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying(v8), 'What will You gain if I die, If I sink into the grave? Can my dust praise You? Can it tell of Your faithfulness(v9)? Hear me Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Lord(v10). You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy(v11), that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever(Psalm30:12)!"

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#0003186

When you invite Christ to rule over your heart, you avail yourself of His power. And make no mistake about it: You and Christ, working together, can do miraculous things. In fact, miraculous things are exactly what Christ intends for you to do, but He won't force you to do great things on His behalf. The decision to become a full-fledged participant in His power is a decision that you must make for yourself. . . The words of John14:12 make this promise: When you put absolute faith in Christ, you can share in His power. Today, trust the Savior's promise and expect a miracle in His name. . . The Christian life is not simply following principles but being empowered to fulfill our purpose: knowing and exalting Christ. . . "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich(Prv10:22)"...- Franklin Graham, Daily Walk Through Proverbs.....Rom6:4 "Therefore, we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life."

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#0003187

A child of God was once overwhelmed by the number of afflictions that seemed to target her. As she walked past a vineyard during the rich glow of autumn, she noticed its untrimmed appearance and the abundance of leaves still on the vines. The ground had been overtaken by a tangle of weeds and grass, and the entire place appeared totally unkempt. While she pondered the sight, the heavenly Gardener whispered such a precious message to her that she could not help but share it. 'My dear child, are you questioning the number of trials in your life? Remember the vineyard and learn from it. The gardener stops pruning and trimming the vine or weeding the soil only when he expects nothing more from the vine during that season. He leaves it alone because its fruitfulness is gone and further effort now would yield no profit. In the same way, freedom from suffering leads to uselessness. Do you now want me to stop pruning your life? Shall I leave you alone?'. . . Then her comforted heart cried, 'No!'...- HHDixon, Streams.....Jn15:2 "Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

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#0003188

Storms have captivated the imagination since the beginning of time. Some people are frightened by them; others are fascinated. Daredevils taunt them; children hide from them. The word itself bursts with thrill or hovers in doom. People gather at windows to behold the storm's might; others huddle in shelters to escape its fury...- Franklin Graham, Storm Warning........Psalm107:29 "He stilled the storm to a whisper."

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#0003189

I have not seen such widespread anxiety and depression in people's hearts as I do today. While battles rage around the world and storms gather in the human spirit, depression steals rest from our souls. 'Depression' today not only describes the hard economic state of affairs sweeping our world but the human state of mind. I see this unfolding phenomenon as one of the many storm clouds hovering over a lost and dying world. Their thunderbolts can grip our hearts with indescribable fear. Our society is caught up in a powerful windstorm that has already caused massive destruction, with the full impact yet to come...- Billy Graham, Storm Warning.....Luke21:34 "Be on your guard--see to it that your minds are never clouded."

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#0003190

"The Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding(Prv2:6).- Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding(Prv3:5).- If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him(Jam1:5).- The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men(1Cor1:25).- God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. That no flesh should glory in His presence(1Cor1:27,29)."

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#0003191

"Avoid worry. Such prudence brings its own reward. It escapes much, and is thus the midwife of comfort and so of happiness. Neither give nor take bad news unless it can help. Some people's ears are stuffed with the sweets of flattery, others with the bitters of scandal, while some cannot live without a daily annoyance no more than Mithridates could without poison. It is no rule of life to prepare for yourself lifelong trouble in order to give a temporary enjoyment to another, however near and dear. You should never spoil your own chances in order to please another who advises but keeps out of the affair. And if in order to please another you have to cause yourself pain, remember the rule that it is better that he should suffer now than you should suffer afterwards and in vain...- Gracian Aphorism64, Art of Worldly Wisdom......Psalm119:130 "The entrance of Thy Words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."

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#0003192

The Futility of Blame. . . To blame others for our own problems is the height of futility. Yet blaming others is a favorite human pastime. Why? Because blaming is much easier than fixing, and criticizing others is so much easier than improving ourselves. So instead of solving our problems legitimately, by doing the work required to solve them, we are inclined to fret, to blame, and to criticize, while doing precious little else. When we do, our problems, quite predictably, remain unsolved. . . So, instead of looking for someone to blame, get busy fixing it. And as you consider your own situation, remember this: God has a way of helping those who help themselves, but He doesn't spend much time helping those who don't. "A man's own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord(Prv19:3)...- Freeman-Smith, Daily Walk Through Proverbs.....Jn9:3 "Jesus said, 'You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do."

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#0003193

"The Lord is King! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad(Psa97:1). Dark clouds surround Him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne(v2). Fire spreads ahead of Him and burns up all His foes(v3). His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles(v4). The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth(v5). The heavens proclaim His righteousness; every nation sees His glory(Psalm97:6)."