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The Roots of Hope!

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  The Roots of Hope Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17–19 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. ” (NIV) From a circumstantial standpoint, the prophet Habakkuk lived in a terrible time. The land was soon to be invaded and, because of the disobedience of the people to God over time, prosperity was no more. Even though the circumstances were bad, Habakkuk gives us the formula for not only surviving but also thriving in such a period. The above passage shows us that Habakkuk did not allow circumstances to steal his joy. It is an example for us that our joy and happiness have to be based on more than just ...
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Both Now and Forever!

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  The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. Psalm 121:7–8 Both Now and Forever The Lord is your Guardian God. He never sleeps. He’s always at your side to protect you, shielding you from every evil. He guards you when you leave home, and He guards you when you return. He guards you now, and He’ll guard you always. When you understand who has your back, you won’t go through life worried, thinking, “It’s so dangerous today. With crime so high, I’m afraid to go out. I’m afraid for my children at school.” No, you’ll say, “I have a Guardian God who is watching over me, guarding my every step.” When thoughts of fear, worry, and anxiety come, recognize that’s the enemy trying to distract you, to get you upset, to live on edge. No, go back to focusing on your ever-present God. The prophet Isaiah says, “In quietness and stillness shall be your strength.” Worry, fear, and anxiety take your strength, dr...
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Wake Up!

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  Wake Up! Scripture: Jonah 1:6 “The captain went to him and said, ‘How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.’ ”  (NIV) How many Christians are living like this world is our final resting place, forgetting we are on mission with a spiritual battle raging all around us? The storms and turmoil we daily witness are the outward manifestations of what is going on behind the scenes in the spiritual world that we cannot see. Jonah had fallen asleep in the bowels of the ship while those above were in fear of their lives in the midst of a great storm. Jonah was on a detour of his own by disobeying the instructions from God to go to Nineveh to preach repentance. Basically, he was following his own agenda and not God’s. He ultimately came to realize,  “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”  (Jonah 2:8, NIV84) Jesus asked the same question of his disciples,  “ ‘Why are yo...
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What Do You Have?

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  “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” John 6:9, NKJV What Do You Have? Late in the day, Jesus was teaching a great crowd in a remote place. He asked His disciples where they could buy bread to feed so many people. They said it would be too expensive and impractical, so Jesus asked them, “What do you have?” All they could find was five loaves of bread and two fish, “but what is that among so many?” That’s a logical question. But Jesus didn’t ask them to figure out how it was going to happen. He just asked them to use what they had and believe that He could take what seems too small and make something great out of it. The enemy would love for you to get stuck, thinking you’re at a deficit. “When I get more funds, more training, more breaks, then I can move forward.” But you’re not lacking anything you need to fulfill your purpose. Don’t overlook or discount what God has given you. Don’t go around with a disadvantaged m...
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Shine Like the Sun!

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  Shine Like the Sun Scripture: Colossians 3:3 “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”  (NIV) I once heard a preacher say, “Whatever you have will blow off on the way up or burn up on the way down.” There is truth in that statement. When you die and go to heaven, the cares and things of this world will have no impact whatsoever. That should make a big impact on us! The Psalmist realized this when he wrote,  “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”  (Psalm 73:25–26, NIV) Our inheritance is Jesus Christ. Someday we will be just like him.  “As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.”  (Psalm 17:15, NIV) Not only will we be satisfied, but we also will be ecstatic! “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet b...
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A Shout of Faith!

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  When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. Joshua 6:20, NLT A Shout of Faith After the people of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for forty years, all that finally stood between them and the Promised Land was the city of Jericho with its huge fortified walls of stone and mortar. Nothing they had faced was as big a challenge, but they couldn’t go around it or go back. They had to conquer it to get to their destiny. God instructed them to march around the walls in silence once a day for six days, with no complaining. Then on the seventh day, on the seventh time around, they were to let out a great shout of faith. This was a battle cry of victory, declaring God’s greatness, and without that shout that activated God’s power, the walls would not have come down. There may be a Jericho in your life that’s holding you back, somethi...
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Our Unlimited Potential!

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  Our Unlimited Potential Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:24 “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  (ESV) If we could only comprehend what the Scripture says about our relationship with Jesus Christ, then our faith potentially would be greatly strengthened. The power and the wisdom of God literally reside on the inside of us. If we believe this and meditate on it, who knows what the Holy Spirit may choose to reveal to us,  “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  (Colossians 2:3, ESV) In fact, from a human standpoint, they are unsearchable except by revelation from the Spirit of God.  “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”  (1 Corinthians 2:10, ESV) “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”  (Ephesian...
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