“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 BSB
Love – When I asked the Lord to reveal to me His Love, He said, “I already have, now go and love those who have been cast aside!” and He brought me to those in need of a simple touch of His love.
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The measure of my success or failure is not the sum total of my social media followers or comments or likes or shares or hearts or thumbs up or retweets or pins or whatever the latest gratuitous praise symbol of the day might be.
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“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” Matthew 12:34
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”
Matthew 12:35
“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” Matthew 15:18
What do those verses have to do with Orange Juice? Let’s take a step back. If you were to take a whole, unpeeled orange and squeeze it with all your strength, what would the result be? Right… the result would be orange juice; it wouldn’t be tomato juice or apple juice. Because an orange, or any fruit for that matter, can only give up what it contains on the inside.
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Throughout this book, Pastor Tony Evans shows us about how satan’s priority is to derail the blessings and purpose of the believer. Satan and his demon can bring disruption to your life to such a level that you end up broken and beat down… unable to carry out the destiny God has in store for you.
Contrary to popular belief, satan cannot be defeated by thinking good thoughts and speaking positive affirmations. The only way to defeat satan and his disruptive power is through the authority we have through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
In this powerful book, Pastor Evans walks us through reclaiming what the enemy has stolen and fix what has broken in our lives and situations and learn to walk in Kingdom Authority.
This is a powerful book and definitely will go to my “read again” stack.
Disclosure: I received this book free via NetGalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
I woke up very early this morning with these words in my ears…
“No one can walk down the street on both sides of the road at the same time. All must pick one side or the other.”
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This is a wonderfully written book by Priscilla Schirer. It was originally written 10 years ago but is now being all these years later. Based on Ephesians 3:20-21, the author takes up through it one word, or just one phrase at a time as she relates it back to her own life; witnessing and sharing God’s hand on her life and that of her family as she shares her joys and pains, and triumphs and losses.
As the author states, “I didn’t need to get past what I’d written, as if my real life had outmatched it; I just needed to get back in touch with what I’d written…. Saying and believing “God is able” is not a spiritual smokescreen intended to keep us from dealing with life’s hard reality. It is instead the bedrock truth that gives us the hope and strength we need for facing reality.”
I truly enjoyed this book as Ms. Shirer openly takes us into her life, with all its ups and downs, and shares her deep truths and what she’s learned after reflecting over 10 years. I couldn’t help but feel, as I was reading, that her talent as a gifted writer and down-to-earth relatability, it was like sitting down across from her and hearing her retell her stories firsthand.
Disclosure: I received this book free via NetGalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
From the book: “This wasn’t part of the plan. The story wasn’t supposed to go this way. I didn’t sign up for this. If you’ve ever had these thoughts, chances are that your story has shifted in some unexpected way. Perhaps it’s even totally turned upside down, and you’re wondering how in the world to move forward.”
If any of that statement rings true to you, this is the book for you. It is a very powerful and heartfelt read as the author shares her life journey with us. She takes us through all of it, not glossing over the ugly details and shares it all with us, the good and the bad with raw emotions and deep heartfelt truth.
It is a great read when you feel that life is rolling over you and this isn’t what you signed up for.
I received this book free via Netgalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
#IDidntSignUpforThis #NetGalley
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“Preparing To Meet Jesus” by Ann Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Wright is a 21-day Bible study/Devotional based on Genesis 21, the story of Rebekah. Together, they bring verse by verse the quality and characteristics of Rebekah as the chosen wife for Isaac.
Each day’s entry begins with a deep explanation of each verse being studied as well as includes short story/ anecdote, and a challenge to the reader regarding their own preparation as we prepare to be the bride of the coming King Jesus. And as Rebekah shows, are we ready to meet him? Do we wonder about Him? Do we long for Him? Are we ready for our bridegroom? Several chapters in this book touched me and caused me to take a deep look at my own life, attitudes, and preparedness for eternity.
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“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you, My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.” John 15:1 AMP
A little while back our Bible Study class was discussing this passage in the book of John; pondering it brought to mind the many years that I had my gardens. Specifically it reminded me of tending to the couple dozen tomato plants I would plant in my vegetable garden each year.
Left alone tomato plants will overtake a good portion of your garden space while producing little or no fruit. They love the heat and the sun… add water and you have the makings for some pretty big plants. Notice I say “big plants”… I didn’t say a lot of tomatoes, just big plants.
This is a re-post of this article first written in 2015. How sad is it that all we need do is to change the name of the Church or Synagogue and it is as relevant today as it was three years ago.
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My heart hurts today. The news on every channel is filled with images from South Carolina and the senseless killing of nine precious saints in the AME Church in Charleston. My heart weeps for the destruction.
satan has stepped up his unholy boldness; he is no longer lurking in the shadows. Oh no, he is taking his evil right to Main Street America.
his pervasive evil now invades our homes to steal our children right from their beds only to rape, maim and murder the innocents – all done in the name of evil. And satan laughs.
Evil now walks upright in the full light of day directly through the front door of our schools and opens fire on the innocents – killing all in its path; leaving a trail of destruction and tears that can never be repaired, never be forgotten – all done in the name of evil. And satan laughs.
Evil now boards our airplanes – unafraid and undaunted. It takes control and three thousand innocents are murdered – all done in the name of evil. And satan laughs.
Saved Because of His Mercy 