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Posted on 01/01/2024 3:15:48 PM PST by luvie
Enjoy family time and have a very Happy Easter!
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Bible in a Year :
[Don’t give] up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but [encourage] one another.
Although my situation remained the same for many long years, worshiping and gathering with other believers in services, prayer meetings, and Bible study supplied the encouragement I needed to persevere and remain hopeful. And often I’d not only hear an uplifting message or teaching, but I’d receive comfort, a listening ear, or a hug I needed from others.
The author of Hebrews wrote, “[Don’t give] up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but [encourage] one another” (Hebrews 10:25). This author knew that when we face hardships and difficulties, we’ll need the reassurance of others—and that others would need ours. So this Scripture writer reminded readers to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” and to consider how to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (vv. 23-24). That’s a big part of what encouragement is. That’s why God leads us to keep meeting together. Someone may need your loving encouragement, and you may be surprised by what you receive in return. .
Reflect & Pray
When have you felt encouraged after leaving a worship service? Why? Who needs your support and reassurance?
Loving God, please help me not to give up meeting together with other believers, but to experience together Your peace and love.
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That would be a very ugly April Fool joke! Yeesh!
We are expecting snow on Tuesday/Wednesday, too. Thursday is looking better with some sunshine.
Rained today.
Have a good night.
🌙⭐️✨
Bible in a Year :
May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
In July 2022, Britain’s prime minister was forced to step down after what many felt were lapses in integrity (the newly appointed prime minister stepped down just months later!). The event was triggered when the country’s health minister attended an annual parliamentary prayer breakfast, felt convicted about the need for integrity in public life, and resigned. When other ministers resigned too, the prime minister realized he had to leave. It was a remarkable moment, originating from a peaceful prayer meeting.
Believers in Jesus are called to pray for their political leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2), and Psalm 72 is a good guide for doing so, being both a ruler’s job description and a prayer to help them achieve it. It describes the ideal leader as a person of justice and integrity (vv. 1-2), who defends the vulnerable (v. 4), serves the needy (vv. 12-13), and stands against oppression (v. 14). Their time in office is so refreshing, it’s like “showers watering the earth” (v. 6), bringing prosperity to the land (vv. 3, 7, 16). While only the Messiah can perfectly fulfill such a role (v. 11), what better standard of leadership could be aimed for?
The health of a country is governed by the integrity of its office-bearers. Let’s seek “Psalm 72 leaders” for our nations and help them to embody the qualities found in this psalm by praying it for them. .
Reflect & Pray
What qualities do you look for in a leader? How can you pray more often for your local and national leaders?
Father, please empower our leaders to be people of justice, integrity, and goodness.
Learn more about Psalm 72.
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Happy Tuesday.
It is snowing. Well, it is a change from the rain. 😅
Going to go vote in our primary in a while.
Woot!
🇺🇸
Happy snowy spring to you. I’ll bet you are so ready to see your bulbs blooming!
Well the roads were terrible on my way to vote. Wow.
20mph maximum speed.
About 4” of slushy snow so far.
Had to wait to go until hubby was home from work.
The rain earlier would have been no problem.
🙄
Bible in a Year :
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.
Baby Graham heard his mother speaking, but he needed help learning how to recognize her voice and understand the meaning of her words. Jesus invites people into a similar learning process. Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we become the sheep He knows intimately and guides personally (John 10:3). We can grow to trust and obey Him as we practice hearing and heeding His voice (v. 4).
In the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets. In the New Testament, Jesus—God in the flesh—spoke directly to people. Today, believers in Jesus have access to the power of the Holy Spirit, who helps us understand and obey God’s words which He inspired and preserved in the Bible. We can communicate directly with Jesus through our prayers as He speaks to us through Scripture and through His people. As we come to recognize God’s voice, which is always in alignment with His words in the Bible, we can cry out with grateful praise, “I hear You, God!” .
Reflect & Pray
How has God used the Scriptures to reveal Himself to you this week? How can you speak His wisdom to others who need comfort or encouragement today?
I hear You, God! Please help me receive and share the truth and love You reveal to me as I read the Bible.
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Bummer on the cold part. You could send the rainy part to me. We need it so badly!
I wish I could redistribute weather at will!
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