#0002663

I study my Bible as I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest might fall. Then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb,I shake each branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf...- Martin Luther.....2Samuel22:2,3 "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; the God of my rock; in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour."

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#0002664

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people(Colossians3:23). Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ(v24). But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites(Col3:25).- Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically(Romans12:11). Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying(v12). When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality(Rom12:13).- Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people(Ephesians6:7). Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free(v8)."

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#0002665

Who are you following? Do you really listen to him? Do you really trust him? Do you really follow him? Do you really know him?...- JPMasangkayan........Psalm23:1-6 "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

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#0002666

"In the future your children will ask you, 'What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the Lord our God has commanded us to obey(Deut6:20)?' Then you must tell them, 'We were Pharoah's slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with His strong right hand(v21). The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharoah and all his people(v22). He brought us out of Egypt so He could give us this land He had sworn to give our ancestors(24). And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear Him so He can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as He has done to this day(v24). For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us'(Deuteronomy6:25)."

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#0002667

'Money enslaves, either by greed or fear,' says John Piper. When you don't have it, you want it; and when you have it, you are fearful that someone will take it from you or that you will not have enough to last. Jesus taught that the only way to find liberation from the power of greed is to shake yourself off it. The chains of desire that bind us to gold are often so weak initially that they cannot be felt, until they become so strong that they cannot be broken...- Sala, Refuge And Strength.....1Tim6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

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#0002668

Fear not, Little Flock. Imagine your earthly father who found pleasure in giving you what you needed. Jesus pointed out that providing for His children brings great pleasure to the heart of the Father. You are never more secure than when your Heavenly Father has taken control of your life, providing for you in ways that you cannot fathom or comprehend...- Sala, Refuge And Strength.....Eph3:20 "Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

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#0002669

The word Jesus used, translated 'money' means avarice or greed; hence, it is translated as 'money.' Have you noticed how little Jesus and the writers of the New Testament esteemed what drives most people--the desire to have more and more? Jesus told His followers: 'Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well'(Matthew6:33). He also taught that your heart is not large enough for both greed and God...- Sala, Refuge And Strength.....Luke16:13 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

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#0002670

"But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago(Rom3:21). We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are(v22). For everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God's glorious standard(v23). Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins(Romans3:24)."

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#0002671

"For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past(Romans3:25), for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus(Rom3:26)."

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#0002672

"Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith(Romans3:27). So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law(v28). After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn't He also the God of the Gentiles? Of course He is(v29). There is only one God, and He makes people right with Himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles(v30). Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law(Rom3:31)."

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#0002673

"Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: 'O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may You be praised for ever and ever(1Chronicles29:10)! Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O Lord, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the one who is over all things(v11). Wealth and honor come from You alone, for You rule over everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and at Your discretion people are made great and given strength(1Chr29:12)."

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#0002674

"O Lord my God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from You! It all belongs to You(1Chronicles29:16)! I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when You find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched Your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously(v17). O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make Your people always want to obey You. Please see to it that their love for You never changes(v18). Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all Your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations(v19). Then David said to the whole assembly, 'Give praise to the Lord your God!' And the entire assembly praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and knelt before the Lord and king(1Chr29:20)."

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#0002675

The contemplation of truth and beauty is the proper object for which we were created, which calls forth the most intense desires of the soul, and of which it never tires...- William Hazlitt.....Isaiah66:22,23 "As surely as My new heavens and earth will remain, so will you always be my people. All humanity will come to worship Me from week to week and from month to month."

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#0002676

"Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding(Hebrews6:16). God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind(v17). So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us(v18). This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary(v19). Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek(Heb6:20)."

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#0002677

Contentment and wealth are not corollaries--they don't run side by side. If they did, those who are materially rich would be content. Neither is it true that those who have barely enough to buy rice or bread would be happy. Contentment has far more to do with your attitude than your resources. Contentment doesn't depend on what you have as much as what you really are and what you have within. The great treasures that make for contentment are those of the soul which come by knowing Jesus Christ...- Sala, Refuge And Strength.....Mat6:25 "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?"

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#0002678

"Lord, if You kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive(Psalm130:3)? But You offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear You(v4). I am counting on the Lord, yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His Word(v5). I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn(Psa130:6)."

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#0002679

When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people; those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened...- John M. Richardson.....Psalm34:4 "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

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#0002680

Who is really in control of your life? Is it He who calmed the storm that threatened the disciples fishing boat? Or have we allowed the storm to trouble us, forgetting that His presence in the boat is far more important than the storm that has darkened the sky? Sometimes we need reminders of what we already know to get our attention and reprove us for allowing inconsequential concerns to rob us of His peace...- Sala, Refuge And Strength.....Colossians3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

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#0002681

"How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear(Job14:1,2).- My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Those who desert Him will perish, for You destroy those who abandon You. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do(Psalm73:26-28)."

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#0002682

"For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died(1Thessalonians4:14).- Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words(1Thess4:17,18).- All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us(2Corinthians1:3,4)."

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#0002683

Incorrigible: (adjective) uncontrollable, unmanageable, unruly, beyond saving, hopeless, past changing, beyond help, intractable; delinquent, hardened, hardcore, thoroughly bad. --(antonym) correctable, manageable, tractable, amenable...- Roget's Random House, Concise Thesaurus..............John3:3.- 2Cor5:17 "Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.'- Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."

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#0002684

My upbringing shaped me for a purpose. There is a Designer, and He has been applying the brushstrokes of my life. I could never see this when I was a child, but it makes sense now that I can look back from the vantage point of one who has found peace with God. I can see now how God's hand was on my life before I was even born...- Neil Cole, Journeys To Significance.........Romans7:22 "I delight in the law of God after the inward man."

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#0002685

All of us are born for a reason, and in a time and place of God's choosing. Your parents may not have planned for you to come when you did, but you are no accident. If you have the right lenses, you may also see that you were born to a destiny that is better than you ever dreamed. The evidence may be all around you, waiting to be discovered. The destiny is not simply about a job or career. It is a call to follow Jesus into the significance He has ordained for your life, whatever vocation He uses to get you there. His Kingdom call transcends occupations and job descriptions...- Neil Cole, Journeys To Significance.........John4:34 "Then Jesus explained, 'My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent Me, and from finishing my work'."

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#0002686

Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them...- Aristotle.....Micah6:6-8 "What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give Him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

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#0002687

Waiting on the Lord is not idleness or indecision. It is a discipline--a difficult one at that--that involves submission to His authority. It violates the mentality of 'doing anything is better than doing nothing; waiting is wasted time and inactivity is the worst thing you can do to solve your problem.' Many think that doing the wrong thing is preferable to doing nothing. Not so! Waiting is never wasted time but a decision to allow a Sovereign God to guide and direct your life...- Sala, Refuge And Strength..........Psalm27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

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#0002688

Not everyone is an apostle, and we all have different callings to pursue, but we are all intended to grow and mature in Christlikeness and thus to have greater influence on those around us. All are born to be made into Influencers, whether that means bringing the Gospel to unreached groups of people, as Paul did, or raising children to be positive contributors to our society...- Neil Cole, Journeys To Significance.......Acts26:16 "Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future."

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#0002689

Have presence of mind. This is the child of a happy readiness of spirit. Owing to this vivacity and alertness there is no fear of danger of accident. Many reflect much only to go wrong in the end and others attain their aim without thinking much about it beforehand. There are paradoxical characters who work best in an emergency. They are like monsters who succeed in all they do offhand, but fail in everything they think over. Something occurs to them at once or never--for them there is no court of appeal. Promptness wins applause because it proves remarkable capacity: subtlety of judgement, prudence in action...- Baltasar Gracian, Aphorism56, Art Of Worldly Wisdom by JJacobs.....2Sam24:23 "The Lord thy God accept thee."

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#0002690

Adapt yourself to those around you. There is no need to show your ability before everyone. Employ no more force than is necessary. Let there be no unnecessary expenditure either of knowledge or power. The skillful falconer only flies enough birds to serve for the chase. If there is too much display today there will be nothing to show tomorrow. Always have some novelty with which to dazzle. To show something fresh each day keeps expectation alive and conceals the limits of capacity...- Baltasar Gracian Aphorism58, Art Of Worldly Wisdom by JJacobs.....John1:16 "From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another."