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Golden Nuggets Shared by Amazing Grace

  
(Page 56 of 56: Viewing entries 551 to 560)  
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Wed May 16, '12 8:21am PST 
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ANSWERS TO EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY
Understanding Faith
In the last two devotionals, we have been talking about faith and the importance of both the proper diet of God's Word, and exercising our faith if we are to see it grow.
The natural question is, "What is faith?" Most Christians probably know the technical definition for faith from Hebrews 11:1,
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The New International Version says, Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. That is pretty clear. But it becomes even more clear when you plug that definition into 1 Timothy 6:12,
Fight the good fight of [the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Fight the good fight of being sure of what you hope for and being convinced of what you do not see.]
When the answer to your prayers is not on the horizon, when you don't feel differently, you need to fight the good fight and say, "You know what? God's Word says it and that's all the evidence I need. It is the evidence of things not seen, and I'm going to stand on that truth. I don't care what the world says, I don't care what circumstances say, I am going to fight the good fight of the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of what I do not see."
And you stay with it until, as they say, "Faith turns to sight."
What are you struggling with today? What challenge is testing your faith? Stand firm on the truth of God's Word. Trust Him, no matter what others may say.
Real faith is standing firm in the midst of the storm. So stand firm!
GOD BLESS ALL,MAZYbig hugkissingbig hug
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Thu May 17, '12 7:49am PST 
ANSWERS TO EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY
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The Reward of Godliness
In today's devotional, I want to draw your attention to the importance of the pursuit of godliness. Let's look at 1 Timothy 6:6,
Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
What an incredible truth. Godliness coupled with contentment is great gain. Not just gain, GREAT gain!
Over and over in Scripture, God highlights the importance and reward of godliness. For instance, it says in Psalm 4:3, That the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly. 2 Peter says the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations. Those are great rewards!
But there is more. Look at 1 Timothy 4:7-8,
But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
It could not be more clear! There is profit in godliness, and that profit is not only in this life, but in the life that is to come. Godliness is going to pay off in both this life and into eternity!
So it makes sense to make this pursuit of godliness a priority! Even if people want to kick you every time you do something that is right, you need to stay with it.
Determine today to make godliness an everyday pursuit. If you do, you will reap the rewards of godliness, great gain and profit, not just in this life, but for eternity.
GOD BLESS ALL,MAZYkissingbig hugflowersdog walk
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Sat May 19, '12 1:27pm PST 
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ANSWERS FOR EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY

God Does Care
In yesterday's devotional, I told you about the three levels of faith Jesus talks about. The first of these levels is found in Mark 4:37-40,
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
The first level of faith that Jesus speaks about is no faith. No faith believes God does not care. It is typified by the disciples who woke Jesus in the midst of the storm and said, "Lord, don't You care that we're perishing?"
Perhaps you are in a storm today; and, to you, it seems like God is asleep and that He doesn't even care. That He is aloof, disinterested, and disconnected from you. That you are going through hell and He doesn't care.
Do not believe that lie. If you buy into the lie that God does not care, it robs you of faith. And you cannot get any lower than that.
Do not believe the lie that God is detached and unconcerned. Don't think, "If God cares about me, why would this have happened? Why am I going through this storm? Why is this happening in my life? God doesn't care about me. He doesn't even know my name."
My friend, God does care. He is not going to let you perish. He is interested in even the smallest details of your life.
1 Peter 5:7 says, He cares for you!
GOD BLESS ALL,MAZYkissingbig hugdog walk
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Sun May 20, '12 2:40pm PST 
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ANSWERS FOR EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY

Little Faith
In our last devotional, we looked at the first level of faith: no faith. We learned that no faith is based on the belief that God does not care, and that such a belief is completely false. God does indeed care for you!
Today we are going to look at the second level of faith. It is found in what Jesus says in Matthew 6:30-34,
"Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?' or ‘What shall we drink?' or ‘What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
This second level of faith is little faith. As we see in this passage, little faith is a worried faith, worried about tomorrow and occupied with lack instead of being occupied with God.
While people with little faith believe God cares, their focus is wrong. They are concentrating on, "What am I going to eat? What am I going to wear? How am I going to get by?"
Now, those are all legitimate things; and your Father knows you have need of those things. So rather than focusing on your lack and being worried about tomorrow, pulling tomorrow's clouds over today's sunshine, let your focus be on God and His sufficiency, His care, and His abundant love.
Do not live a life of little faith.
GOD BLESS ALL,MAZYkissingbig hugdog walk
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Mon May 21, '12 6:36pm PST 
ANSWERS FOR EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY
Great Faith
In today's devotional, I want to look at the third level of faith. It is found in Matthew 8hi5-10,
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,' and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"
We saw in previous devotionals that the first level of faith is no faith, the second is little faith, and now the third is great faith.
Great faith says, "Lord, Your word is enough." The centurion said, "Only speak a word." He understood the authority of Jesus' words. He said, "Jesus, all You have to do is say it. You don't even have to come into my house. I don't have to see anything. Your word is all the evidence I need."
That is what great faith says, "Lord, Your Word is all the evidence I need. Things don't have to look differently and I don't have to feel differently. Your Word is it. I don't need any other kind of confirmation. It doesn't matter what the circumstances say. Lord, Your Word settles the issue for me."
That is great faith, and that is what we should be pursuing
GOD BLESS ALL,MAZYkissingbig hugsnoopy
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Wed May 23, '12 7:29am PST 
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ANSWERS FOR EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY

Your Purpose
Today I want to speak to you about your destiny and purpose. First, read Ephesians 2:10,
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The word beforehand refers to before the foundation of the world. What the apostle Paul is saying in this verse is that before we were ever born, God prepared good works for us to walk in them. God decided that we would be doing certain things.
Listen to that same verse from the Knox Translation, We are His design. God has created us in Christ Jesus, pledged to such good actions as He has prepared beforehand to be the employment of our lives. I like that.
Paraphrased, "You were designed with a unique purpose, and that is what you should be doing with your life."
In Philippians 3:12, Paul also states,
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
The phrase "I press on" literally means "I pursue." What is it that Paul states he is pursuing? He is pursuing his purpose.
On that Damascus road, Jesus laid hold of Saul of Tarsus, and He did it for a reason. There was a purpose involved. From the day that Jesus Christ laid hold of him, Paul's life became a progressive search to lay hold of the answer to the question, "God, why have You laid hold of me? What is my purpose?"
My point? You have a God-designed purpose in life! There is something that you are wired up to do as the employment of your life.
GOD BLESS ALL,MAZYsnoopykissingbig hugdog walk
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Wed May 23, '12 7:07pm PST 
ANSWERS FOR EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY
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The Signpost of a Provoked Heart
Without a doubt, God has plans for you. Your life is no accident. You have a purpose. In today's devotional, we will discover an important key to help you understand your calling.
Let's look first at Acts 17:16-17,
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
The word provoked literally means that his spirit was deeply troubled, his spirit was grieved within him.
That gives us the first step in understanding your purpose. What grieves your heart? Paul was grieved about this city wholly given over to idols. And the next verse begins with the word therefore. He did something about it.
Generally, the things that grieve you in your heart are things that God has gifted you to change. They point you to your purpose.
For instance, in Job 30:25, Job said, "Has not my soul grieved for the poor?" If you read Job's story, a big part of his ministry had to do with helping the poor. It was tied to what caused his heart to grieve.
Then there was David who was grieved and provoked as Goliath was taunting the Israelites. Why? David was called to be a leader and a warrior in Israel. It was a signpost pointing to his calling.
What is it that provokes you in your heart? Whatever it is, do something about it.
GOD BLESS ALL,MAZY
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Fri May 25, '12 5:22pm PST 
ANSWERS FOR EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY
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Intimacy with God
Paul, in Philippians 3:10-12, gives us the other principle for discovering your purpose,
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Paul said, "I am pursuing my purpose," but it was a purpose based on knowing God. Look at what he said in verse 10, That I may know Him.
The understanding of his purpose came out of that primary desire and pursuit of knowing God Himself and living in intimacy with Him.
Perhaps the most important thing you could do in your life right now is to just lock yourself away, grab your Bible, and go sit at the beach. Find that place of communion with God. As you get to know Him, you will also discover your own heart and the dreams and desires that God put within you.
They are there. They may be covered with debris, they may be covered with dust, but they are there. You can find out what they are if you will develop that intimate relationship with God.
It is in closeness with God that His breath blows the dust off of undiscerned and unrecognized purposes and dreams.
GOD BLESS ALL,MAZYkissingbig hugsnoopy
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Sun May 27, '12 12:29pm PST 
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ANSWERS FOR EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY

Weeping
In 1 Samuel 30:1-4 we read,
Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
David experienced the sudden loss of his family and it tore his heart out. Notice that David and his men lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep.
Feeling sorrow and anguish and expressing it is not wrong. In fact, it is normal, especially when you have experienced a sudden and personal loss.
Perhaps, like David, you have lost family members. Or maybe you have wayward children. They were brought up in the way of the Lord, but they are living a lifestyle that is diametrically opposed to the ways of God right now, and your heart is broken when you think about it.
Maybe you have experienced some other loss in your life, something of value, something that is important to you, something that has meaning to you. If so, it is okay to grieve!
God has wired us to be emotional beings. We are not robots. It is right for loss to affect us on a personal, emotional level. As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:4, there is a time to weep.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30hi5).
Sorrow has its place and its time, but there is also a time for it to end and to be replaced with something else.


PLEASE PRAY FOR THE TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHO SACRIFICE MUCH FOR THE COUNTRY AND HER PEOPLE.

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THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
GOD BLESS AND PROTECT YOU ALL,
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Amazing- Grace

Princess of the- Ponderosa
 
 
Barked: Tue May 29, '12 2:12pm PST 
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ANSWERS FOR EACH DAY
BAYLESS CONLEY

Taking Responsibility
In the devotional yesterday, we saw how it is okay when we experience loss to weep and to grieve. I want to point you to verse 6 of that same passage to learn another important lesson related to experiencing loss. 1 Samuel 30:6 says,
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him. David was not only grieving for the loss of his own family, but he was now being blamed for the whole thing. In fact, they were blaming him to the point that they wanted to take his life.
When you experience troubles, do not be someone who always wants to blame others. I know that it is human nature to want to point the finger and to lash out at somebody else when we are in trouble or when we have experienced loss.
In fact, I think blaming others is just part of our fallen fleshly DNA. Just take a look at what Adam and Eve did in the garden when they messed up. When God turned up and asked what happened, Adam said, "Well, it's the woman that You gave me. She gave me from the tree, and I ate."
And when God asked Eve what happened, she replied, "Well, it was the serpent. It was the snake."
So Adam blamed his wife, and blamed God who gave him his wife, and Eve blamed the snake. Neither Adam nor Eve took personal responsibility. It was somebody else's fault.
If the problems you are experiencing today are your fault, take responsibility, and do not blame others.
GOD BLESS ALL,MAZYbig hugkissingdog walk
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