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Category Archives: Trials
Being Bold About Fear
In the wake of the infamous terrorist attacks of 9-11-01, our small county held a special service in the high school gymnasium. The service was for the benefit of the students, many of whom were emotionally shaken by the attacks. … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Comfort, Courage, Depression, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God's Omnipresence, Needs, Personal, Problems, Spiritual Warfare, The Holy Spirit, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry
Tagged 9-11 attacks, bible verses about fear, Fear, living in a post 9-11 world, the Christian and fear
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Don’t Bail Out
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67, N.K.J.V.) A pilot announced to his passengers that three of the plane’s four engines had conked out. A few seconds later he came out of … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Choices, Christ's Miracles, Commitment, Complaining, Decisions, Depression, Disappointment, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doubt, Eternal Security, Faithfulness, Fear, God's Will, Obedience, Perseverance, Problems, Rebellion, Service, Suffering, Temptation, Trials, Trusting In God, Truth, Waiting
Tagged breaking fellowship with Christ, Jesus feeding the 5000, Jesus walking on the water, John 6:67, the Bread of Life, the Christian and difficult times, Will ye also go away?
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Burning Your Ships
Hernando (Hernan) Cortez was a Spanish Conquistador who launched ships from Spanish-held Cuba to conquer Mexico in 1519. That brought about the demise of the great Aztec empire. According to legend, when Cortez first landed on the shores of Mexico, … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Change, Choices, Courage, Decisions, Disappointment, Faith, Fear, God's Provision, God's Will, Perseverance, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry
Tagged a blast of God's nostrils, burning your ships, Cortez burning his ships, the Red Sea drowning Pharaoh's army, the Red Sea parted by a strong east wind
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Ministering to Difficult People
New Yorker Stephen Merritt was an interesting guy. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, he served Christ as both a minister and an undertaker. (He was the undertaker for the funeral of Ulysses S. Grant.) In addition to these … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Character, Complaining, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Discipleship, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Missions, Persecution, Revenge, Service, Suffering, Trials
Tagged 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, example of a man convicted by the Holy Spirit, ministry to the homeless, refusing to seek revenge, Stephen Merritt
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Elephants, Grass, & Spiritual Warfare
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on … Continue reading
Old Bearskin
Notre Dame football has had a long and successful history, but it stood the tallest when Knute Rockne was the head coach. From 1918 to 1930, the team’s winning percentage was .881. They lost only twelve games during those thirteen … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Balance, Character, Criticism, God's Love, Humility, Pride, Problems, Prosperity, Sports, Trials
Tagged Knute Rockne, Notre Dame football, Old Bearskin column, pride goes before a fall, Proverbs 16:18
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A True Masterpiece
An artist visited a museum where one of his masterpieces was on exhibit. He approached the painting and noticed that the museum had placed one of his earlier, lesser-known works beside it. As he stood there comparing both paintings, he … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Aging, Atheism, Belief, Bible Study, Children, Church Attendance, Disappointment, Doubt, Evangelism, Faith, Giving, God's Work, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Salvation, Scripture, Service, The Bible, Trials, Trusting In God, Witnessing, Youth
Tagged childlike faith, Christian growth, Faith, you must become as little children
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Feeling Kind of Small?
You’ve probably heard of Solomon’s temple, that beautiful, majestic house of worship that served as the centerpiece of worship in Israel. That temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonians in 587 B.C. To make that destruction even worse, Nebuchadnezzar deported the … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Church, Contentment, Criticism, Disappointment, Doing Good, Encouragement, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Impatience, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Patience, Perseverance, Service, Trials, Trusting In God, Worship
Tagged Cyrus the Great releasing the Jews, despise not the day of small things, How long did Zerubbabel's temple stand?, starting a new church, starting a new ministry, the day of small things, Zerubbabel's temple compared to Solomon's temple
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A Hop of Faith
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Complaining, Current Events, Depression, Disappointment, Faith, Fear, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, Needs, New Year, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry
Tagged a leap of faith, Faith, optimism, pessimism, the new year
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The Disciple's Road 