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There are many being led astray by false gospels today.
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Church: There is only One True Gospel & that is the message of Good News of salvation that Jesus came to communicate, live & then die for so we might have life in Him!
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Jesus is the only way of salvation!
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The prosperity / health and wealth, social justice or any other supposed gospel...are not the gospel... It's not The Good News!
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God didn't sacrifice His One and Only Son so we can we can be rich, healthy, and have every single want met!
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No, He died for the wages of our sin because news flash, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory God. (See Romans 3:23)
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Can and does God bless us with finances? Yes! Can He allow people to become wealthy? Yes...but not because of "magic giving". Can He Heal people? Yes! Does He always choose to heal everyone? No! But again...His plan is greater than ours! Can He feed the hungry and use us to help feed and take care of the hungry? Yes! Does He want us to be His hands and feet? Yes!
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But these things and more are NOT The Gospel! These are byproducts of God's goodness, mercy, love and sovereignty...and remember, these byproducts aren't guaranteed because we're saved and Jesus didn't come to be our bank, meal ticket, or "vending machine" for everything we want!
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He came so we might have salvation and eternal life with Him, again, if we accept His free gift of salvation!
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There is only ONE Gospel of which we're to help proclaim through The Great Commission, which is the Commission Jesus gave us!
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Don't turn to or get caught up in another "gospel", rather, stay true to THE Gospel.
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Please Read the Bible & don't settle for or get caught up in any other "gospel".
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Read Galatians 1:6-10 (ESV) as an exhortation to remember to stay true to The True Gospel.
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#theGospel #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #bible #Godsword #scripture #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
God has given us many tools at our disposal including growing in the grace and knowledge of Him. He also also wants to produce the fruit of The Spirit in and through us. Sometimes though...people forget that things like harshness, anger, etc are not part of the fruit of The Spirit.
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Furthermore, the scripture reminds us that Love is patient, love is kind...(See 1 Corinthians 13) but sometimes others in our lives or even ourselves lack these very things in relation to others. I'm also reminded of Proverbs 16:24 "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." _
As always, our words and our actions can bring life or death to the hearer and, unfortunately, it seems as though some only bring the "hammer" which is a harshness to ever situation. Their words are like a hammer that harshly comes down on the hearer like a nail being hammered down...and contrary to what some may thing, it's not always, "hammer time" my friend!
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I know as a husband, dad, as well as co-worker and friend, that with deep regret, I've failed many times by bringing the wrong tool to the situation when correction was needed with my children or disagreement arose with my spouse or a friend or co-worker. I have been impatient and harsh at times and I apologized later after I realized I could have handled things much for grace filled than I did.
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I've witnessed the very same things in others in the business world who in their case repeatedly (not just occasionally) only "swung a hammer" when the hammer was the wrong tool!
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We need to bring the right tools with us and that's not always the "hammer", rather...it also and most often requires using the tools of grace, love, peace and truth as much as possible.
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May we lay the wrong tool or tools down and pick up and use the right tools my friend and may God give us the wisdom to know to pick up the right tools for each situation and person we face.
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Keep an eye on www.ashepherdsheart.org for an expanded post on this in the near future.
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#faith #tools #truth #wisdom #life #hope #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind
Do you take prayer and praying for others seriously? Also, are you a person of your word?
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When it come to prayer it's met with a varied response by people. Some say they'll "pray" and you know you can truly count on them to pray for you. Then there are others that say they'll "pray" but they don't really intent to pray.
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It's one thing to occasionally forget but we need to be people of our word and make an effort to take prayer seriously and write it down, add it to your calendar or prayer list so you don't forget.
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In the Church this phrase "I'll pray for you" has almost become to some like the casual in passing "How are you doing?" question that most often the person asking it doesn't really intend to hear the answer.
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To be fair, there's a time and place for everything and you can't always pause to hear a full story but, you can certainly loop back with that person and check in on them and pray for them then.
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When it comes to prayer we ought to want to hear the needs and then in turn spend time interceding for the people and their needs. When we say, "I'll pray for you", the reassurance is nice and very encouraging but God wants us to pray for one another and make it a priority so we ought to make sure it's not an empty phrase.
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If we say we'll pray, we need to honor others and actually pray.
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May we pray for one another that we will be faithful in prayer and anything else God calls us to do in Jesus name!
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Read: Philippians 2:3-4, Ephesians 6:18-20, Hebrews 13:18-19, James 5:14-16, and 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (to name a few) for encouragement from God's Word.
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#prayer #pray #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
Do you find yourself speaking negative or defeating words to yourself or others? Do you speak words that often tear down?
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Let me ask you: #1 Whose are you? #2 What does the scripture say about our words and what kind of words we should speak? #3 In Christ, Are you a victim or a victor? #4 Would you rather speak or receive life giving words or the opposite?
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I pray God helps us speak words that are acceptable to Him and as much as possible, brings life to the hearers...including ourselves.
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Here are some of the many scriptures about our words and how they truly matter.
Psalm 19:14, Colossians 4:6, 1 Peter 3:10, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 15:4, Matthew 15:11, Proverbs 21:23, Proverbs 26:20, Psalm 34:13, Psalm 141:3, Titus 3:1-2, Proverbs 17:27-28, James 1:19-26
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Lets work hard at choosing our words wisely as our words truly matter. May we strive to speak words that build up and don't tear down. Lets speak words of life!
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#speaklife #ourwordsmatter #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
Hello Again!
As promised, here's the second of two posts that I'm sharing today regarding my Christmas YouVersion devotionals launch!
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Here's a "sneak peek" of devotional title, graphic, and description:
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The second devotional that will launch is a 4-Day Devotional titled, "The Wonder Of Christmas". _
The graphic shared here is what will be loaded in the app for the daily devotional contents. "Sneak Peak Description: The aim of this devotion is to help you put a little bit of Awe and Wonder back into your celebration as you contemplate and celebrate the birth of Jesus from a child-like faith. During this special time of Christmas celebration, may you prepare your heart to prepare Jesus even more room all year through.
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Please pray for a successful launch and that many will be encouraged in their faith through God's Word through these written and audio format devotional offerings!
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Thank you for your prayers! Also, once they devotionals are live, I'd be honored if you'd subscribe to them in the app as well as sharing these devotionals with family and friends!
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More information to come!
Your Brother and Servant in Christ,
Randolph Koch
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#christmas #promise #phrophecy #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
On a recent family vacation, we were blessed with the use of a friends house situated by a beautiful lake.
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Out of the reach of the light pollution from the city lights, typically on a clear night the sky comes alive with the milky way and other constellations visible in a brilliant display of God's creation.
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On this trip it just so happened to coincide with a Super Full Moon and because of the additional brightness of the moon, the stars weren't visible as they normally would be out there. It was still a beautiful sight to behold and over the course of the days we vacationed there, the moon shone brightly each night and the reflection off of the water was incredible!
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As I gazed at the brilliance of God's handiwork I was reminded of the simple fact that when we look at the moon and see how brightly it reflects the sun, you realize again that the moon wouldn't shine at all without the sun.
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Likewise as a follower of Christ, we should strive to reflect The Son brightly in all we do! He is the reason why you and I shine at all!
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So my friend...shine brightly for Him because of Him as He is our light and hope and in turn, we can shine His light and hope to an often dark world.
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Read Matthew 5:14-16 ESV and then shine out His light before all mankind!
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#shine #light #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
The Wise Men followed the stars to find Jesus as a child some time around when He was the age of two years old. They came bearing gifts and to worship Him.
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The question for you and I is: Will we be like the "Wise Men" and be a "wise person" that seeks Him every day?
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If you know Christ personally...I hope and pray that the answer to this question is a resounding...YES!
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Today we don’t have to look for a star to follow in order to find Him because He is always with us!
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Many today seek the truth in all of the wrong places, only to come up empty handed. If you want to or desire to be wise...then seek Jesus Christ today and every day!
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Share Jesus with those around you this year so they may come to celebrate "The Gift" of Christmas - Jesus Christ!
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Not only His birth but Salvation, that can only come through Him and by trusting in Him.
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Merry Christmas!
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#christmas #advent #hope #faith #joy #peace #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
The more you focus on your own circumstances the harder it seems to hold onto hope and see past the chaos that you may experience now... especially during hard times.
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If you're feeling stuck today, have you shifted your view on helping lift others up as they face their battles? Have you reached out to encourage them and extend a hand of help or support? Or, at minimum, have focused some prayer time interceding on their behalf?
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It's been my experience that the more we serve others, not that our circumstances aren't important, the smaller our troubles begin to seem in the big scheme of things.
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We also realize that we're are NOT alone and we're NOT the only one facing the circumstances like we face. (See Hebrews 4:14-16 as our Savior knows our struggles and has experienced them too!)
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We are to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) and we're to serve one another, (i.e. Philippians 2:1-11). So, if we're fixated on just ourselves...we'll never help bear anyone's burdens and contrary to popular belief, we cannot bear our own burdens alone.
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We're in this life together my friend...we're not meant to go it alone.
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So, let us purpose to lift each other up and in the process I guarantee that we'll be lifted up in the process by God's design.
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#faith #liftoneanotherup #bearoneanothersburdens #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
If you’re in Christ, you're supposed shine out His light brightly but it’s not supposed to be like some competitive sporting event or some self-centered activity. No, we're all supposed to be striving brightly not to shine the light on ourselves, rather, to point them to the source of how we shine at all...Jesus!
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So, don't be one who is so self-centered on shining the light that in the process you try to blow out the light of others. Have an abundance mentality instead of famine mentality...there's room enough for everyone doing their part in the Body of Christ!
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Secondly, in a practical sense regarding the candle analogy, there is this thing called success. We shouldn’t fear the success of others.
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Sadly, some are so self-centered or fearful of others success they want to "snuff out" other's success or feel threatened by it which if you're in Christ...this attitude is not healthy or Biblical!
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You can’t build yourself up by tearing someone down nor will you ultimately be more successful if you tear others down!.
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Bottom line, in the spiritual aspect, let's encourage one another to shine out His light brightly and in the practical sense...let's also celebrate other's success and encourage it because their success is not and should not be seen as a threat!
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#shinebright #shine #faith #success #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
Prayer is essential and a gift from God.
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Sometimes we misuse prayer in a variety of ways including as an attempt to stall being obedient to do what God tells us to do.
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You and I need to use it rightly including with the right intentions and motives because you can't fool God!
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He already knows your thoughts, motives and heart anyway!
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#pray #prayer #faith #obedience #Christian #Christianity #christfollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #tozer #awtozer #ashepherdsheart
While some claim that it's ok to be neutral or luke warm about their supposed faith in Jesus, If you are in Christ, biblically there is no such thing as a luke warm Christian.
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When it comes to your faith and walk with Christ, You're either all in or you are not.
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You're either a follower of Christ, or you aren't. You either own your faith, or you don't.
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I hope and pray that you own your faith and walk and that as a follower of Christ...you're all in!
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“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
-Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV)
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#faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
"The Gifts That Are OK To Re-gift"
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God has blessed you with many skills, gifts, talents and abilities that you can in turn serve Him with all that is within you and give those gifts back in service to Him.
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He created you specifically for the good works (See Ephesians 2:10) that He's prepared for you and that He's uniquely given you the skills, gifts, talents and abilities to fulfill exactly what He's called and created you to do!
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In the case of these gifts...these are gifts that are OK to immediately "re-gift"...unlike the gifts you get for say maybe during Christmas time that you don't like so much and you immediately start formalizing, "Do I try to return it to the store?" Or, "Do I re-gift it?". LOL. ;-) You know the gift or gifts you've received that fall into this category, right?! ;-)
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No, the gifts that God has given you are meant for the explicit purpose of re-gifting to serve Him and to bless others with!
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So, the choice is up to you...will you use the skills, gifts, talents, and abilities He's given you for His kingdom and Glory or will you try to hide them and never use or acknowledge what He's given you?
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I pray that you use them and in turn you and others will be blessed and you will bring God glory in the process!
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Don't hide them my friend...use them and live them out mightily in the strength of the Lord and the power of His might!
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#gifts #skills #talents #abilities #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
The Scriptures are full of examples where we're instructed to love one another, love our neighbors and love The Lord but unfortunately many have lost their way.
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We live in a world that seems to be full of those who show and spread hate by their words and actions., however, let me remind you and I that if you're in Christ...you better not be one of them!!
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It doesn't mean you have to condone everything that others do, nor it does it mean you should never speak the truth in love, but, it does mean your responsible for your actions!
You're responsible to shed and shine light...not darkness!
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Furthermore, what we often see in the news (racism, supremacy, etc) has absolutely nothing to do with The Lord Jesus Christ, His Gospel or His true followers!
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As a follower of Christ you are His name bearer and you better represent Him well by speaking the truth in love and live a life balanced by His grace and truth....then pray for all those who are spreading hate...pray for their salvation!
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Your actions speak louder than words...so stop trying to determine if you love others and instead take actions to love them!
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#love #joy #peace #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #inspire #inspiration #inspirational #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #cslewis #ashepherdsheart
Fear is the opposite of faith and yet sometimes we allow fear to cripple us.
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It also doesn't help that the enemy of your soul, satan, tries to use fear to derail our faith!
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No matter what, we need to recalibrate our hearts and minds with the truth of God's Word because in His Word, He reminds us to fear not, why? Because He is with you and I always!!
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No matter what the accuser says or others may say, that is the truth my friend! So, let us reject fear and step forward in faith because God is with us and will never leave or forsake us!
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"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 ESV
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#faith #fearless #fearnot #hope #truth #wisdom #life #joy #peace #Jesus #HolySpirit #Godsword #scripture #Bible #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #encouragement #encourage
Love Came Down!
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God's love came in the flesh!
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No matter what you are facing right now, may His love surround you in a very special way today, throughout Christmas, and each day as you walk with Christ!
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May you celebrate and praise the love of The Father as He sent Jesus into this world for you so you might have life in Him!
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Merry Christmas!
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#christmas #advent #hope #faith #joy #peace #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
There is a certain amount of focus, especially around the beginning of a New year, on what we eat and how much we exercise and more, yet, we forget to continually take inventory of all that we intake physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
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We constantly are recipients of things beyond just food and we have choose what we digest in all of the before mentioned areas.
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There's the old saying that is very true, "Garbage in, Garbage out." And, "You are what you eat."
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You have to ask yourself, "What is best for me to intake in all of these areas? Or, when presented something whether on TV, In Person, or anything else, you need to ask, "Is this something I should be digesting? "
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We are challenged to do everything for His glory, (See Colossians 3:23-24) and to hold every thought captive, (See 2 Corinthians 10:3-6), but the quest becomes, "Do we do this in every area of our lives or just focus on food?!"
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Let's pray and ask The Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and to put on The Armor of God so we can focus on what we should and should not be digesting each day as our diet is important in every area of our lives.
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#youarewhatyoueat #diet #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart #zigziglar
Everything you face in this life, the trials, the valleys, the struggles, anything... He is bigger than them all! Trust Him and rely on Him each step of the way!
He will see you through!
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#faith #trust #peace #dontworry #GodIsGood #Heisforyou #HeIsSovereign #Heisyourshelter #Heiswithyou #HeLovesYou #HeIsYourStrength #encouragement #encourage #inspirational #inspire #inspiration #christian #Christianity #christfollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
It doesn't matter what your past is. It doesn't matter how bad of a life you lived or anything else. If you confess, believe, receive...you will be forgiven and set free!
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Read and or listen to Romans 10:8-11 for yourself!
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His Free gift is truly, Free!
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Jesus is mighty to save and there is no other name under heaven and earth by which you can be saved!
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#salvation #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #encourage #encouragement #ashepherdsheart (Scripture read by Randolph Koch)
It's been my observation that there are many gifts such as the gift of prophecy and speaking in tongues that aren't handled or expressed Biblically today and we need to be careful to take in any teaching that doesn't align with God's Word.
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It's seems that specifically with the gift of prophecy, that it is often only thought by some to be the foretelling of future events but it is also and more often than the previous - it is the proclamation of God's truth from His Word. Same with the gift of tongues...if it exists at all today, I've never seen it done Biblically. (See 1 Corinthians 14)
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I'm sharing this as a warning and not as meaningless controversy by any means. It's becoming more and more prevalent to for people to see people say they are a "prophet" but, they very well may not be as the gift is more active today in proclamation (“forth-telling”), not prediction (“fore-telling”).
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With this in mind, here is the The Threefold Test of a Prophet from Deuteronomy 18:20-22:
1. They must speak in the name of the Lord only. (No other god)
2. Their message must align with God’s revealed truth in Scripture.
3. Their predictions of future events must come true exactly as predicted.
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I'm all for expressing the gifts that The Holy Spirit gives us, but, again it ought to be Biblical in expression as God will not contradict Himself and that includes not contradicting His Word.
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Please search the scriptures yourself and here are three you might read for our own edification: Deuteronomy 18:20-22, Hebrews 13:9 (ESV) and 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) .
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#gifts #Jesus #HolySpirit #Bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #truth #wisdom #life #prophecy #hope #encourage #encouragement #obedience #falsepheophets #christfollower #Christian #Christianity #ashepherdsheart
No matter what you see ahead of you...
No matter what you feel or think...
No matter the circumstances of life that you experience...keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!
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"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB
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#faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #inspire #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
-Psalm 56:8 ESV
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The next time you think or believe the lie that God doesn't care about you... Read His Word which proves otherwise!
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He cares well beyond your finite mind can ever imagine!
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Passages like Psalm 56:8 and many other passages remind us that He does care.
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He knows each and every struggle you face.
He knows each and every tear you shed.
He knows everything about you!
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You are never alone as He is your all in all!
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So, seek Him all the more through every season and trust Him to make a way in Jesus name.
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#faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
No matter the storm you face, whether literal or a storm as in a trial or crisis of life, God is truly your only shelter.
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Seek His shelter friend, no matter what you face in life!
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Read the following scripture for further encouragement about this:
Psalms 27:5-7 ESV & Psalms 91:1-2 ESV
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#shelter #storm #strength #hope #truth #wisdom #life #joy #peace #Jesus #faith #trust #christian #Christianity #christfollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
There really are no small things as everything matters especially when it comes to the choices we make and the life we live.
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We don't completely know or realize how one choice impacts another in the timeline of our present and future.
Nor do we know what God is doing in the "background" and how He will work it all together.
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We just need to make sure to strive to give our very best moment by moment...decision by decision and trust that God is at work and again, even the smallest things / acts matter.
We just may not see it yet.
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Press on friend! God is not finished with you yet.
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#faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #inspire #inspiration #inspirational #christian #Christianity #christfollower #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
You weren’t created in God’s image and placed on this earth to live a life of mediocrity. You have so much potential and I hope for you that you will do whatever is before you to your fullest potential.
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Who you are in Christ matters! You have so much potential because of Christ finished work on the cross and His progressive sanctification of you as He works in and through you!
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You are more than a conqueror in Christ! Through the power of the Holy Spirit may you rise above mediocrity for His Kingdom and glory!
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#livelifeonpurpose #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
Jesus promised to send His Helper Who is The Holy Spirit.
If you are in Christ, His Holy Spirit dwells in you and I and seeks to fills us anew each day as we ask and as we seek to live a Spirit Filled and led life by taking God's Word and actively living it out!
The problem is that we allow other things attempt to "fill" our lives up including a thing called "the ego". To put it bluntly, you can't expect The Holy Spirit to do His work in your life including filling you, if you are so full of yourself or other things!
Lay down "self" and pursue Christ instead allowing His Spirit to have the room to lead and fill you!
#faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #HolySpirit #Jesus #Bible #scripture #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
Do you ever read a familiar scripture and sort of gloss over it? As followers of Christ we must never gloss over God's Word or grow tired of the truths He lovingly communicates through it!
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The same is true of 2 Corinthians 5:21. He made our sinless Savior take on / become our sin so that through His sacrifice, we might have salvation!
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We must never take for granted what God The Father did for us through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ! If we do take it for granted or become complacent, we need to check our hearts to see if they are still beating because we should be alive in Christ and God's Word should come alive for us each time we abide in it.
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Read 2 Corinthians 5:21, then stand in awe of what He's done for you and then praise and worship Him because of His great love for you!
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May The Holy Spirit continue to work in our lives so we might walk in newness of life and be completely alive in Christ, thanks to His sacrifice for us!
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#faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #salvation #grace #forgivness #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
If we're honest, our world is largely self-centered or full of people that have what I call "The Planet Me syndrome" where they act like the world revolves around them but NEWS FLASH...it doesn't really revolve around anyone!
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We can all get so caught up in our own lives and minds that we forget to seek to live a life that also serves others.
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It's not that we are to neglect ourselves, rather, we are also to care for ourselves in the process of focusing on caring for others because it's not all about us.
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God's Word is full of instruction on how we are to put Him and others first and yet, as followers of Christ we all struggle at times doing just that. I'm no expert at it either!
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In this New Year...
-Let's seek to selflessness instead of selfishness.
-Let's seek to trade a "me-centered" or "me first" mentality for an others-centered mentality.
-Let's seek to serve our family, friends, and community better.
-Let's trade a self serving heart for a servants heart. -Above all else, let's seek to become God-Centered in all we do!
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Repeat after me: It's Not About Me!
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We're in this life together friends so let's pray for each other that we'd realize all the more day-to-day that it's all about Him and others and less about us. This isn't always going to be easy but with the help of God, His Word, and His Holy Spirit...we can shift our focus in Jesus name!
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Let's pray for each other that we'd all be more God-centered and others-centered in 2019.
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#itsnotsboutme #pastorbrettmeador #NewYear #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #servantheart #ashepherdsheart
Growth really isn't optional but some try to stunt their growth by fighting the inevitable.
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The circumstances of life aren't the "here we go again", rather they are the "Here we GROW again" times!
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The fact is that God loves us too much to leave us where we are so...stop fighting it and allow God to work in your life!
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God is at work in and through you for His kingdom, glory and your good!
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#grace #growth #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #HereWeGrowAgain #inspire #inspiration #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
There is no other name under heaven and earth by which you can be saved!
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There's no Jesus + Something else!
It's Jesus + Nothing else!
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He's the only One who can save you and He's the only One who sacrificed His life for you!
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He's and His Holy Spirit are also your only day to day sufficiency, strength, wisdom and peace!
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HE is all you need! Jesus is enough my friend!
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#Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #ashepherdsheart
In Christ we have the ultimate hope.
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No matter what you're facing. No matter how dark, hopeless or dismal things seem at times...let Hope Arise!
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Wait upon The Lord with great expectancy.
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His Hope does not disappoint!
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Let His Hope Arise...and let all doubt, anxiety, darkness or any other negative thing...Tremble!
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Let us pray in Jesus name for each other that we will be full of His Hope no matter what this life hurls our way!
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#hope #faith #truth #wisdom #life #Jesus #HolySpirit #Godsword #scripture #Bible #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #encourage #encouragement #inspire #inspiration #inspirational #ashepherdsheart
Stay Connected to The True Vine!
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I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 ESV
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#truevine #Jesus #HolySpirit #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #inspire #inspiration #inspirational #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #bible #scripture #Godsword #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
Leadership isn't about a title or position as there are many who have these things and are obviously not leaders!
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As a follower of Christ you are a leader regardless of whether or not you have a title or position.
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God positions you to lead others to Him...He also especially equips you to lead in some shape or form at whatever you are called to do...
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This often includes what I refer to as "leading from behind"... In other words...again, no matter if you have a leadership position or title...you are called and positioned to lead right where you are!
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Just pause for a moment and take inventory of every way He's equipped you to be the light where you are through everything you do day to day in your job, school, home, neighborhood and more!?
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Then think about how you can and do inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and be more!
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Go be the leader He has called and equipped you to be because if you've done or are doing these things and more...again...you are a leader!
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#leadership #lead #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #inspire #inspiration #inspirational #christian #Christianity #christfollower #heart #mind #soul #strength #ashepherdsheart
Thank you Heavenly Father for
blessing me with another year of life!
Please help me to continue to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of You this next year and serve You and others faithfully with everything that is is within me all the days of my life!
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
#birthday #blessed #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #joy #peace #strength #Jesus #HolySpirit #Christian #Christianity #ChristFollower #encouragement #encourage #ashepherdsheart
As followers of Christ it's vital that we seek The Lord daily. We need to seek Him, His Strength, His Presence moment-by-moment.
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Are you feeling stressed? Are you in distress? Are you feeling anxious? Are you feeling alone? Are you feeling weak? Are you in need of wisdom? Are you in need of refuge? Are you lacking provision? Are you lacking His peace and joy?
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No matter the circumstance or season...whether good or bad...you and I need to Seek the Lord, His Strength, and presence!
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Seek Him through His Word, Prayer, Worship, and in fellowship with others who can provide you with godly counsel.
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He is The Answer and we need to remember these essential truths as we walk day-by-day with Him.
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Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV
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Seek Him!
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#seekHim #faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart
Don't trust in the world or the things of this world. This world has nothing for you!
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Put your trust completely in the Lord your God!
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Don't run to the world, run to the Lord only, always, and forever!
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#faith #hope #truth #wisdom #life #encourage #encouragement #Jesus #HolySpirit #bible #scripture #GodsWord #heart #mind #soul #strength #christian #Christianity #christfollower #ashepherdsheart