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Forget What is Behind
Often, I read and take to heart Paul’s words in Philippians “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 NIV) I am a goal-oriented person and this verse appeals to me. I like the idea of working towards something. Of course, I know I cannot earn salvation – that is God’s free gift. I do like the encouragement this verse brings to keep on going in the walk of faith – knowing that God has the “prize” awaiting me as I look heavenward. What I often don’t consider is the verse that comes prior to this…
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A Beautiful Spirit
“Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” (1 Peter 3:4 ESV) I grew up with this verse demonstrated to me daily. My mother, a precious gift from God, has a wonderful gentle and quiet spirit. I am truly blessed by her example. She lives a life of faith and hope. My whole life, her bright blue eyes have shone Christ’s light into my life. She has surrounded me with love and support. I am who I am today because of the foundation she laid. Although frail and elderly now, my mother…
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Fan the Flame
The embers flick about, tossed about by the breeze. The fire slowly dies out as the ashen logs deteriorate. Before long, only a shadow of the former fire remains. Blow on the fire and it strengthens. What almost dies out comes back to life. With adequate fuel, the oxygen brings vibrancy back to the flames. Our Christian walk is similar. In 2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV) the apostle Paul addresses Timothy, a young pastor: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Timothy has a gift from God. What particular gift, we do not…
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Absolute Joy
A little girl stands at the top of a hill. All around her are children, filled with glee as they go racing down through the snow with their sleds. She is uncertain. It is all so strange to her. Only weeks ago, she was in the hot, arid climate of Africa. She has had to adjust to many things since her move to our country. Our cold winter is a shock to her. Her experience with snow is limited and sledding is a large unknown. One of the staff on outside recess supervision approaches her with a sled. I can see the discussion and the sign language as the…
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Sufficient Grace
The bad news comes. There is pain. There is sorrow. There are moments of why me? Why now? But the void is filled. Our all-knowing God knows I would face this situation this day. He knows I need His words of hope and they are there. I open up my computer to read my morning devotion and this Scripture confronts me: “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. “(2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV) The writer of this Scripture, the apostle Paul, is to many…
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Works In Progress
It is painful to watch. Each moment is laborious, fraught with much effort and concentration. My young student valiantly attempts to read the text before her, but it is a struggle. My heart breaks for her. She is already in grade three but cannot read well. Every ounce of my being wants to assist her. It would be easy for me to just read the words for her so she can continue on in the story. She gets the meaning much faster when I read as opposed to her word by word version where she loses the gist of the story before she finishes the sentence. I fight the…
