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- 2 days ago
- 3 min
Great is Thy Goodness
Today’s Verse: Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! ~Psalm 31:19 There are two ways by which we are most appreciative of the goodness of God. The first is by having a spirit of thankfulness at all times. It is the will of God that we give thanks always in all things. The second is seeing His goodness in our life during times of great difficulty, misery, trial,
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- Feb 4
- 3 min
Abel Speaks
Today’s Verse: And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: ~Genesis 4:4 Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve. In Hebrews 11, he is the first of the heroes of faith who are mentioned. His name means “breath.” David referred to his days as an “hand breadth.” The shortness of Abel’s life is embodied in the concept of a hand breadth. I think of the brevity of life and how important it
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- Feb 2
- 3 min
Scaling the City
Today’s Verse: A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. ~Proverbs 21:22 Strategic planning is when a person or a committee of people write out a plan of action for the accomplishment of a stated goal or assignment. This plan assigns the responsibilities, processes, timelines, and people who will get it done. It thinks through the what, the how, and the when. It is taking something that starts out as a vision and dream
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- Jan 23
- 3 min
What We Will Do
Today’s Verse: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? ~Psalm 11:3 A foundation is the major support for a building. The strength of a building when an earthquake occurs is dependent upon its foundation. However, if the foundation is destroyed, the building integrity is at risk. David asked, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The foundation for our faith is nestled in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is a foundation Who is steadfast and
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- Jan 17
- 3 min
Little Thinking
Today’s Verse: And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. ~1 Kings 17:12 Are you someone who thinks big or little? How we see and envision things determines our attitude, our approach to challenges, and the magnitude of our accomplishments. This morning, we see a passage of Scri
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- Jan 14
- 3 min
Get Your Feet Wet
Today’s Verse: And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. ~Joshua 3:13 Getting your feet wet is a way of saying that you are experiencing something new. It is doing something that you have not done before, but you are willing to do i
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- Jan 6
- 3 min
Crisis Leadership
Today’s Verse: Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: ~Daniel 2:14 Our faith and leadership is forged in the fires of crisis, difficulties, and disasters. It is during these moments that what is really inside of us comes out. Nebuchadnezzar issued a death sentence against all of the wise men of his kingdom for failing to interpret a dream that he had but could not remember.
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- Dec 15, 2020
- 3 min
Leaning On Your Staff
Today’s Verse: By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. ~Hebrews 11:21 Jacob is one of the most colorful and intriguing characters of the Bible. His name means “supplanter” or “heel grabber.” In spite of having a reputation as a deceiver, he becomes a man of faith and is the progenitor of the twelve tribes of Israel. In Hebrews 11, there is only one verse that makes mention of him, but it is a ver
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- Dec 8, 2020
- 3 min
The Battle is the Lord's
Today’s Verse: So, the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven. 1 Samuel 14:23 Israel was at a major disadvantage. The Philistines came upon them in three massive companies. Israel was outnumbered. In addition, they were lacking in weapons of war. The Philistines had perfected weapons of iron, and the men of Saul that were with him only had farming tools to fight with. Worst, many of the men of Israel scattered out of fear. From a human perspectiv
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- Nov 13, 2020
- 3 min
Immovable Faith
Today’s Verse: They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. ~Psalm 125:1 Jerusalem is a city on a hill or mountain. It is synonymously called Mount Zion. Hezekiah describes faith in God as Mount Zion. He most likely wrote this psalm after the defeat of Sennacherib. This morning, we are challenged to have a faith that is immovable. We see the company. “They that trust in the LORD....” This is referring to the people of God
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- Nov 6, 2020
- 3 min
As David
Today’s Verse: In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. ~Zechariah 12:8 Michael Jordan is one of the most legendary basketball players of all time. His incredible feats on the court, shooting ability, agility, and leadership inspiration is still a model of comparison for basketball players. Kids watching him play
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- Oct 28, 2020
- 3 min
Not Worthy
Today’s Verse: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. ~Luke 7:7 What do you consider to be your worth? We associate a value to worth. For instance, our world is possessed with knowing our net worth. We think of benefit, cost, meaningfulness, and usefulness with worth. The idea of a zero or a negative worth has the connotation of worthlessness. This morning, we are touched by the life of a man who said, “
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- Oct 16, 2020
- 3 min
Sudden Fear
Today’s Verse: Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. ~Proverbs 3:25 As I write this devotion, the state of California has been in a lockdown of activities, gatherings, and certain types of assemblies due to the COVID pandemic. Although the current available metrics indicate that the overall risk of survival is high and the risk of contracting it is lower than previously projected, there is much apprehension and fear among many
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- Sep 23, 2020
- 3 min
The Man Who Built an Ark
Today’s Verse: By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. ~Hebrews 11:7 One of the more famous Bible characters is Noah. There is a children’s Bible hymn that starts with: “Who built the ark? Noah, Noah. Who built the ark? Mr. Noah built the ark.” Noah was a real person who is a powerful example of faith.
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- Sep 13, 2020
- 3 min
Through God
Today’s Verse: Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. ~Psalm 108:13 Psalm 108 was written by David as a psalm of praise and acknowledgement. Charles Spurgeon, in his Treasury of David, called this psalm “The Warrior’s Morning Song.” This psalm is divided into three sections. In vv. 1-5, we see David rejoicing. David is praising the Lord in spirit, in song, and in his society. In vv. 6-10, we see David’s request. David is praying for
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- Sep 11, 2020
- 3 min
Decay Prevention
Today’s Verse: And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. ~Nehemiah 4:10 Tooth decay is when the enamel of our teeth wears away due to poor dental hygiene. A lack of flossing, brushing, rinsing, and routine dental visits greatly contribute to tooth decay, cavities, and loss of teeth. The men of Judah said that the strength of the men who carried the burden of helping rebuild the wall
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- Sep 9, 2020
- 3 min
Abel Still Speaks
Today’s Verse: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. ~Hebrews 11:4 There are several brothers in the Bible that are noteworthy characters. There is Esau and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, Hophni and Phinehas, James and John, and Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel are the first two brothers in the Bible. In Hebrews 11, Abel is the first hero
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- Sep 5, 2020
- 3 min
Contending for the Faith
Today’s Verse: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ~Jude 1:3 Jude was the half-brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. There was a time during Jesus' ministry when His half-brothers and half-sisters were skeptical and doubtful about Him. They were not convinced in their hearts that He was truly the
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- Aug 27, 2020
- 3 min
Are You Disaster-Proof?
Today’s Verse: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. ~Isaiah 43:2 Here in Northern California, we have seen our share of natural disasters. Torrential rains have lead to dry creek beds, streams, and rivers overflowing. Raging fires that have started in the wilderness or hard-to-get-to areas have spre
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