Deuteronomy 7:7-11 Too often, Christians define themselves by what they are not rather than who they are. Christians draw boundaries between certain behaviors and lifestyles. Christians have been known to draw these lines in ways that obscure the expansive scope of God’s covenantal love, expecting people to live up to humanly and rigid expectations more […]

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Deuteronomy 7:1-6 When the words of the Lord are twisted, people have beat down, enslaved, and committed genocide against fellow humans, contrary to the clear biblical commands to love God and to love each other. God’s people are to focus on being God’s people and nothing else. When the chosen people of God encountered stronger […]

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Proverbs 1:1-7 King Solomon is said to have been one of the wisest persons to ever live. We don’t know much about Solomon’s educational background. However, we can see what he valued in education. Solomon was not talking about book knowledge. Especially as a king of Israel, Solomon learned by reading the Scriptures. There was […]

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Lamentations 3:19-29 Hope is often misplaced. We are taught early in life to depend on ourselves. Independence is prized along with education, success, and health. Life is funny, though. Any of those can be taken away with a sudden illness or someone’s deception and cruelty. They are easy words to say, “I put my hope […]

The post Our Hope In God first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

2 Timothy 2:1-10 There is something that happens when people get into a crowd. People make decisions they may not normally make. Mob justice can be painfully destructive to lives and reputations. On the flip side, I believe there is such a thing as “mob influence.” When we hear testimonies of the faithful and stories […]

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1 Peter 1:1-9 What do you value the most in this life? Often when we are young, we want “things,” tangible expressions of independence, ownership, and power. As we grow older, we begin to focus on the intangibles: family, relationships, meaning, and time. Those who have experienced loss, illness, or rejection are immediately thrust into […]

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1 Peter 4:7-11 It is amazing how many of God’s commandments are rooted in two important principles: Loving and serving others. Two verses from 1 Peter 4 catch my attention. First, “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (v. 8b). As we grow in Christian love, we are compelled to see others through that lens. […]

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1 Peter 4:1-6 In the early church, Christians experienced great persecution. There was such an emphasis on suffering to be more like Christ that many believers sought to be martyred. Our mindset is far removed from that expression of Christian faith. Peter was writing to Jewish believers who were severely persecuted by both the Roman […]

The post Joy In Suffering first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

1 Corinthians 9:19-27 I love watching sports and have often been inspired by the athletes who play them. The road to becoming a successful athlete is often long and arduous. First, athletes understand their goal and dedicate themselves to doing what is necessary to reach it. Second, they take care of their bodies and minds. […]

The post Training For The Journey first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.

Psalm 145:1-6 Praise opens our hearts where life’s challenges have taken their hits. Praise releases us from fighting our enemies alone or problem-solving challenges with our best ideas. Since we know the God who created this world, we know nothing is too hard for Him. Lisa knew this in a way few others applied it. […]

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