Tag: Restore the Paths

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Thorny Things

spur-1818848_1920Through the Prophet Isaiah, God promised to deliver His beloved, but rebellious people, Israel from their sins and resulting punishment. He let them know that the future He had in mind for them was far above and beyond anything they could comprehend:

You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” (Isaiah 55:12-13)

Continue reading “Thorny Things”

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Dealing with Your Peninnah

people-2575362_1920Everybody has a least one. That person who knows exactly how to make you feel worthless and hopeless. Whether you live in Indiana or India every society somehow finds a way to produce this kind of person. They use words, actions and even gestures to cut you to the very core of your being.

For Hannah, that person was Peninnah. In modern lingo, they would have been called Sister Wives. They were married to the same man, but there was a huge and culturally embarrassing difference – Peninnah had children but Hannah did not. Continue reading “Dealing with Your Peninnah”

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Prophets and Pharisees Part 5 of 5: Is it About Me or Them?

discussion-2884020_1920The Golden Rule in Scripture teaches us to treat others as we would have them treat us (Matthew 7:12). Unfortunately, the contemporary refrain seems to be either “Do to others before they can do to me,” or “Treat others as they treat me.” We often justify our actions like kindergartners, “He touched me first,” or “She did it too.” Continue reading “Prophets and Pharisees Part 5 of 5: Is it About Me or Them?”

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Prophets and Pharisees Part 4 of 5: Why Do I Feel Compelled to Convey this Message?

workplace-1245776_1920The original Mickey Mouse Club television show used to have a segment about proverbs. (For the record, I watched the reruns) I still remember the song, “Proverbs, proverbs they’re so true, proverbs tell us what to do. Proverbs help us all to be better Mouseketeers.” Believe it or not, there was a time when Disney actually thought the Bible was a good thing. Continue reading “Prophets and Pharisees Part 4 of 5: Why Do I Feel Compelled to Convey this Message?”

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Prophets and Pharisees Part 3 of 5: Is My Attitude In Line With God’s Heart?

heart-526661_1920In Part 1, “Is it About God or is it About Me?,” we looked at how true prophets must always be concerned that their message is in line with God’s heart and purposes. In Part 2 we asked “Is this Kingdom or is this Personal?” When we speak or write, are we advancing God’s agenda and mission or our own? Continue reading “Prophets and Pharisees Part 3 of 5: Is My Attitude In Line With God’s Heart?”

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Prophets and Pharisees Part 2 of 5: Is this Kingdom or is this personal?

architecture-3171675_1920In Part 1, “Is it About God or is it About Me?”, we looked at how true prophets must always be concerned that their message is in line with God’s heart and purposes. As people of God, it is incumbent upon us to put God and His Kingdom first instead of ourselves. What does He want? How does it want it accomplished? To be truly effective, we need to die to ourselves, so that Jesus can come alive through us. Continue reading “Prophets and Pharisees Part 2 of 5: Is this Kingdom or is this personal?”

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Prophets and Pharisees Part 1 of 5: Is it About God or is it About Me?

church-957981_1920The line between being Prophetic and Pharisaical is so thin that it is often crossed without us even being aware. It is easy to feel so passionately about something that our emotions – or the devil – trick us into believing we are carrying out a righteous mission when, in truth, we have become self-righteous like the Pharisees of old. Continue reading “Prophets and Pharisees Part 1 of 5: Is it About God or is it About Me?”

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Creative Theology

hands-3457909_1920In my work in the Corporate world, we sometimes use the expression “Creative Accounting” to describe bookkeeping that is less-than up-right and honest. A similar thing is happening throughout the Christian world in the arena of Biblical truth. I am saddened by the number of preachers, teachers and others who play loose with God’s Word in efforts to attract crowds or assuage their own guilty consciences. Continue reading “Creative Theology”

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Who Do You Serve – Really?

sky-2667455_1920The greatest of all God’s commandments was written down by Moses and reiterated by Jesus, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV also Luke 10:27, Matthew 23:37, Mark 12:30-31).

By doing a little linguistic algebra, this Biblical law is not only a commandment but also a test. By looking at what we love with all our heart, soul and strength – in other words what we devote ourselves to – is a sure revealer of who or what we serve.

Let’s begin by looking at who God is and what He is, to us: Continue reading “Who Do You Serve – Really?”