Category Archives: The Bible

You’ve Stolen My Heart, Yes You Have!

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I’ll Sing Your Praise!!!

Romans 1:20

“For since the creation of the world

God’s invisible qualities—

his eternal power

and divine nature—

have been clearly seen,

being understood from what has been made,

so that people are without excuse.”

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Every tree and every stone
Every rushing wind that moans
They sing Your praise
My God, they sing Your praise
Every star and open sky
Tell of Your Glory Divine
They shout Your praise
They shout Your praise, yeah

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You’ve stolen my heart
Yes, You have!
You’ve stolen my heart
Yes, You have!
You’ve wiped away the stains
And broke away the chains
Yes, You have!!

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With Your love, You set me free
Three nails gave me liberty
So I’ll sing Your praise
This is all for You
Oh, with Your love
You forgave my sin
Forgot my past
And brought me back again
So I’ll sing Your praise
I’ll sing Your praise, yeah

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If I ascend into the sky
Or hide behind the night
I can not run, Your love is chasing me
If I fall into the sea
Your hand will rescue me
No one will take Your place
Because…

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This is all for You
Yes, this is all for You
You’re the King of the world
You’re the King of the world

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(photos-taken by my friend Marian, on her family trip to Lake Billy Chinook)

You’ve stolen my heart!

Yes, you have!!

This is all for You!

My God, I’ll sing Your praise!

You’re the King of the World!

I’ll shout your praise!!

Mathew 22:37

Jesus replied:

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your mind.

I do, Lord!!

Amen!

 

Great Is Thy Faithfulness!

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Faithfulness

Is a major attribute of our God!!

The Bible reveals…

He’s Trustworthy!

He’s Dependable!

He’s Consistent!

He’s Loyal!

He’s Steadfast!

We can trust Him!

He’s true to His Word!

We can obey Him!!

We can experience His faithfulness first hand!

We can rely on Him every day!

Our confidence in Him grows!

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Deuteronomy 32:4

“He is the Rock,

His works are perfect,   

and all His ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,   

upright and just is He.”

Psalm 36:5

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the Heavens,   

Your faithfulness to the skies.”

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Psalm 89:1

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;   

with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known   

through all generations.”

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Psalm 91:4

“He will cover you with His feathers,   

and under His wings you will find refuge;   

His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

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Psalm 110:4-5

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving   

and His courts with praise;   

give thanks to Him and praise His Name.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;   

His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

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Lamentations 3:22-24

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,   

for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;   

great is Your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;   

therefore I will wait for Him.”

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1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

“May God Himself,

the God of peace,

sanctify you through and through.

May your whole spirit, soul and body

be kept blameless

at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The One who calls you is faithful,

and He will do it.”

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Has He proven His faithfulness to you???

I Still Believe…Even When I Don’t See…

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Ever Felt Like This???

Scattered words???

Empty thoughts???

Torn???

Feel His Grace…

Falling like Rain…

Washing away pain…

Believe in His Faithfulness
Believe in His Truth
Believe in His Holy Word
Even when you don’t see…

Still Believe!

Let Jesus prepare your heart…

Brokenness???

Fall into His Arms…

He’s near…

Jesus!!

Believe!

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Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for

and assurance about what we do not see.”

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Matthew 9:28-30

“When He had gone indoors,

the blind men came to Him,

and He asked them,

Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied.

Then He touched their eyes and said,

According to your faith let it be done to you;’

and their sight was restored…”

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Matthew 21:21-22

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you,

if you have faith and do not doubt,

not only can you do what was done to the fig tree,

but also you can say to this mountain,

‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’

and it will be done.

If you believe,

you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

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Mark 9:23

“What do you mean,

‘If I can’?’

Jesus asked.

“Anything is possible if a person believes.”

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Still Believe…

Even when you can’t see!!

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Yes, I Am

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Who Are You, Lord????

John 8:56-58

“Your father Abraham

rejoiced at the thought of seeing My day;

he saw it and was glad.”

“You are not yet fifty years old,”

they said to Him,

“and you have seen Abraham!”

“Very truly I tell you,”

Jesus answered,

“before Abraham was born,

I Am!”

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Think about it…

He Is…

Maker of the Heaven  

Bright and Morning Star  

Breath of all Creation

Who Always Was

And Is To Come

One Who Walked on Water  

One Who Calmed the Seas  

Miracles and Wonders

So Come and See

And follow Him

You will know

Fount of Living Water
Risen Son of Man
Healer of the Broken

And When You Cry…

Your Savior and Redeemer
Who Bore the Sins of Man
The Author and Perfecter
Beginning and the End

He Is

Spirit Deep Inside You
Word Upon Your Heart
One Who Even Knew You

Before Your Birth
Before You Were

Before the Earth
The Universe
In Every Heart

Where You Are
The Lord of Love
The King of Kings
The Holy Lamb

Above All Things!

Yes, He Is!

Almighty God Your Father
Risen Son of Man
Healer of the Broken

And When You Cry…

Your Savior and Redeemer
Who Bore the Sins of Man
The Author and Perfecter
Beginning and the End

He Is

Right there beside you!!

Amen!

Comforting, huh???

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On Our Knees Again??? Oh, Right…We’re Not Perfect! And Neither Is Life!

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What happened???

What did you do???

What did you say???

What were you thinking???

Were you thinking???

So now you’re on your knees again???

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Job 8 (The Message)

(This is a response to Job’s afflictions by his friend Bildad, 

when Job’s three friends came with sincerity and tender sympathy to comfort Job,

and yet proved miserable comforters!)

Does God Mess Up?

Bildad from Shuhah was next to speak:

“How can you keep on talking like this?
    You’re talking nonsense, and noisy nonsense at that.
Does God mess up?
    Does God Almighty ever get things backward?
It’s plain that your children sinned against Him—
    otherwise, why would God have punished them?
Here’s what you must do—and don’t put it off any longer:
    Get down on your knees before God Almighty.
If you’re as innocent and upright as you say,
    it’s not too late—He’ll come running;
    He’ll set everything right again, reestablish your fortunes.
Even though you’re not much right now,
    you’ll end up better than ever.”

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Lately, she’s been thinking what her daddy said,
How when you’re winning, you got more friends,
But are they your friends, if you fall, they’re gone?
Something about those kind of people seems wrong.

Who’s gonna be there when the phone call knocks her down?
All of the steeples, but she can’t hear a bell sound,
Jumps on a bus to head downtown,
And picks up the paper that’s been blowing around, it says,

“When your heart breaks, He’ll hurt for you!
Dreams are out of reach, He’ll pull you through!
When you lose hope, all you gotta do is,
Get on your knees again!

Not long now and you’re gonna see,
No mountain’s too high for you, or for me,
Or fall too far, if you can believe,
And get on your knees, on your knees again!”

She folds up the paper and puts it in her bag,
Knows she really needs a Savior like that!
Walking past her church just up the street,
Says, “Maybe it’s time to get on my knees!”

‘Cause He was there when no one was around,
All of the people, but no one made a sound,
Thinks of her brother, who’s been feeling down,
Pulls out the paper and reads it aloud,

You’ve given everything you’ve got,
Still it’s hard to believe,
Love comes from the inside out,
If you wanna be free!

Ya gotta give your love and never stop!
When you think about giving up,
Get on your knees!

When you’ve given everything you’ve got
Ya gotta give your love and never stop!!

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Ephesians 6:18

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions

with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind,

be alert

and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

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Go to:

http://www.biblestudyspace.com/profiles/blogs/fight-your-battles-on-your

For the entire lesson…

“Fight Your Battles On Your Knees”

By Charles Stanley

“What are you battling today?

Does it seem as if God doesn’t see your pain or understand your heartache?

Let me assure you He knows exactly what you are going through.

Sit in the Lord’s presence today, and offer this prayer:

‘Lord, I don’t want anything in my life that displeases You.

Take my bitterness, resentment, and anger.

I give You this battle,

and trust that You will turn it for my good

in Your way and in Your timing.’

Release your problems to Almighty God,

and you will find victory.”

Amen!

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Matthew 26:41

“Watch and pray

so that you will not fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing,

but the flesh is weak.”

Believe It!! We’re Safe In His Arms!

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You Can Believe God’s Promise!!

Ahhhhh!  Safe!! 

Relax!!

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Deuteronomy 33:12

“…Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him,   

for He shields him all day long,   

and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”

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Deuteronomy 33:27

“The Eternal God is your refuge,   

and underneath are the Everlasting Arms.

He will drive out your enemies before you,   

saying, ‘Destroy them!’”

Hallelujah and Amen!!

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Psalm 139:5-6

“You hem me in behind and before,   

and You lay Your Hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,   

too lofty for me to attain.”

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To the one who’s dreams are falling all apart
And all you’re left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
But you’re not all alone!

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet?
With a love so strong He’ll never let you go
Oh, you’re not alone!

You will be safe in His arms!
You will be safe in His arms!
‘Cause the Hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always!
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms!

Did you know that the Voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same Voice that calls you to rise?
So hear Him now He’s calling you home
You will never be alone!

These are the Hands that built the mountains
The Hands that calm the seas
These are the Arms that hold the Heavens
They are holding you and me!

These are Hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the Arms that were nailed to a cross
To break our chains and set us free!

You are safe in His Arms!!

Go to:

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=9JBFBJNU

To hear the story behind this song by Phil Wickham

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John 10:28

“I give them eternal life,

and they shall never perish;

no one will snatch them out of My Hand.”

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Run to Christ…

Into His Arms of Safety!!

And stay there!

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2 Timothy 2″13

“…if we are faithless,   

He remains faithful,   

for He cannot disown Himself.”

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We’re safe not because we’ll never fall,

We’re safe because He never fails!

Praise God!

Let God embrace you in His Mighty, waiting Arms!

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Psalm 144:2

“…He is my steadfast love and my fortress,   

my stronghold and my deliverer,

my shield and He in whom I take refuge,   

who subdues peoples under me.”

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What more do we need to feel safe and secure?!?!

My Savior!! Loves! Lives! My God!! He Was! He Is!

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We’re not skilled to understand…

God’s will and His plan…

Only know at His right hand…

Stands the One who is your Savior!!

Take Him at His word and deed…

Christ died to save you, you can read…

In your heart there is a need…

For Him to be your Savior!!

He left His place on high…

To die for sinful man…

Seemed strange…

Before I knew my Savior

My Savior Loves!

My Savior Lives!

My Savior’s always there for me!

My God He Was!

My God He Is!

My God He’s always gonna be!

He who lives to be my King…

Once died to be my Savior!!

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Zephaniah 3:17

“For the Lord your God is living among you.   

He is a mighty Savior.

He will take delight in you with gladness.   

With His love, He will calm all your fears.   

He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

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Romans 8:29-30

“For God knew His people in advance,

and He chose them to become like His Son,

so that His Son would be the firstborn

among many brothers and sisters.

And having chosen them,

He called them to come to Him.

And having called them,

He gave them right standing with Himself.

And having given them right standing,

He gave them His glory.”

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Romans 8:38-39

“For I am convinced

that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us

from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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Jesus is our Savior.

Nothing can separate us from His great work on the Cross…

From His love!

That truth…

That promise…

Is at the core of who we are as Christians!!

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Savior…

Thank You for Your Abundant Love

Displayed through Your Sacrificial Life

So the God Who Was

Is Now Our God Who Is!

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Jeremiah 32:17

“Ah, Sovereign Lord,

You have made the Heavens and the earth

by your great power

and outstretched arm.

Nothing is too hard for You.”

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Romans 4:21

“He was fully convinced that

God is able to do whatever He promises.”

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Amen!!!

Grace? Walk Right In!

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Grace means:

To get something that you do not deserve;

Unmerited favor

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John 1:14

“The Word became flesh

and made His dwelling among us.

We have seen His glory,

the glory of the One and Only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

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Ephesians 2:8-9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this is not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God—

not by works,

so that no one can boast.”

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You’re standing with your list of regrets that you can’t get past yourself
You wish so bad that you could make the mark
But your dreams are stuck on a shelf
And all you wanna do is turn back time
And redeem the days you lost
But shame keeps calling out your name
The chains refuse to fall

But it’s not over, it’s not over
This is the moment grace walks in
With arms wide open, arms wide open
To tell you this is not the end
When doubt is strong and your will is weak to even believe again
That’s when grace, that’s when grace walks in

You once believed that you could change the world
With a fire deep in your soul
Your faith was strong and the call was clear
You were sure you could make a new road
Like so many the flame grew dark
And your confidence hit the wall
There always seems to be a lot of big questions
But the answers seem so small

Just in the nick of time
Right there to save our lives
Grace is greater
Grace is greater

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2 Corinthians 12:8-9

“Three times I (Paul)

pleaded with the Lord

to take it (the thorn in my flesh) away from 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.”

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Hebrews 4:16

 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,

so that we may receive mercy

and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

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2 Peter 1:2

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance

through the knowledge of God

and of Jesus our Lord.”

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John 1:16

“From the fullness of His grace

we have all received one blessing after another.”

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Romans 3:23-24

“…for all have sinned

and fall short of the glory of God,

and all are justified freely

by His grace

through the redemption

that came by Christ Jesus.”

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2 Corinthians 8:9

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that though He was rich,

yet for your sake He became poor,

so that you through His poverty might become rich.”

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2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

“May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself

and God our Father,

who loved us

and by His grace

gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

encourage your hearts and strengthen you

in every good deed and word.”

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Grace is at the heart of the Gospel message!

To accept God’s grace…

Means to live in thankful response!

We don’t deserve God’s grace!

Yet, He has chosen to give it to us!

We should be moved to give our all to Him!

Amen!!

Come To Your Senses! Get Down! Go Back Home!

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The way up is to get down!

This was our sermon on Sunday!

It’s the cure for…

“Give me!”

“Notice me!”

“Poor me!”

When it really should be…

“Search me!”

“Make me!”

It means…

Total surrender!

To Jesus!!

Two examples…

King Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 4: 33-37

“Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.

He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox.

His body was drenched with the dew of heaven

until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle

and his nails like the claws of a bird.

At the end of that time,

I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven,

and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High;

I honored and glorified Him who lives forever.

His dominion is an eternal dominion;

His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.

He does as He pleases with the powers of Heaven

and the peoples of the earth.

No one can hold back His hand or say to Him:

‘What have you done?’

At the same time that my sanity was restored,

my honor and splendor were returned to me

for the glory of my kingdom.

My advisers and nobles sought me out,

and I was restored to my throne

and became even greater than before.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,

praise and exalt and glorify the King of Heaven,

because everything He does is right

and all His ways are just.

And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.

The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-24

Jesus continued:

There was a man who had two sons.

The younger one said to his father,

‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’

So he divided his property between them.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had,

set off for a distant country

and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

After he had spent everything,

there was a severe famine in that whole country,

and he began to be in need.

So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country,

who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

He longed to fill his stomach with the pods

that the pigs were eating,

but no one gave him anything.

When he came to his senses, he said,

‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare,

and here I am starving to death!

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him:

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son;

make me like one of your hired servants.’

So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off his father saw him

and was filled with compassion for him;

he ran to his son,

threw his arms around him

and kissed him.

The son said to him,

‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants,

‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.

Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Bring the fattened calf and kill it.

Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;

he was lost and is found.’

So they began to celebrate.”

There’s a downside to being puffed up…
Our inside is empty of the one thing…
Our heart truly needs
We feel invincible…
It’s always all about us!
Let’s love Him like we should…
Like He loves us!
Through bad and good…
And finally figure out where happiness is found!
In the midst of sadness…
  We are closer to Him now…
And that’s the upside of down!
It’s all switched around…
I was lost and now I’m found!
The upside of down!!
He is “more” in our “less…”
He is strength in our weakness…
Don’t go back again
His sunshine ends the rain!!
Don’t return to your old ways…
Don’t be a fair- weather friend!
The upside of tragedies…
Is knowing He’s holding your heart always…
Always!!!
  We may be down…
But find the joy in the pain…
The upside of down!
It’s all switched around…
I was lost and now I’m found!
The upside of down!!
Amen!!

What A Web We Weave…

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The other day…

My husband called me outside on the lanai…

“Come quick!

Bring your camera!

Here’s a shot of a lifetime!!”

At first, I just couldn’t see it!

What was he pointing at???

Then, I moved closer…

And the light shifted…

And suddenly…

I saw this beautiful spider’s web!!!!!!

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It was huge!

Oh, so perfect!

Nice to look at…

But, if I was a tiny, little, helpless fly…

I would be tempted to fly into that web…

Which is soooo attractive to me!

And get hopelessly caught!!

Don’t get caught in a web of the devil’s lies!!

Sin may look beautiful…

Even bring temporary pleasure…

But it’s a death trap!!

Just like this beautiful spider web is…

To the spider’s prey!

The enemy of our soul…

Seeks to steal from us…

Ensnare us…

Entangle us…

Kill us…

And destroy us!!

He uses beautiful counterfeit!

It’s hard to see his tricks!

Let Jesus shine His Light…

At just the right angle…

And you’ll be able to suddenly see…

The devious plans…

The enemy has for you!

John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that they may have life,

and have it to the full.”

Turn away…

And embrace God’s Plan for your life!!

Jeremiah 29:11

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’

declares the Lord,

‘plans to prosper you

and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.'”

Ahhh…

I love this promise of God!!!