Hardships And Discipline
May 15, 2009
-Matthew Anderson
I journal most every day, but blogging has been a difficult
thing for me. I think the reason for
that is because my journal is mostly my thoughts, dreams, struggles,
strategies, etc…that I share with Jesus.
So what I am going to do in this blog is write about something that is
definitely in my journal and is something that the Lord has been teaching me
lately.
As most of you know, for the last 2 years I have struggled
with vertigo. I never know when it is
coming, but when it does the whole entire ... read more
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The Look Of Love
March 30, 2009
- Norma Donovan
Luke 22:54-62:
“Then seizing Him, they led Him away and took Him into
the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when
they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down
together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated
there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man
was with Him.’
But he denied it. ‘Woman, I don’t know ... read more
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Knowledge For The Wisdom Of God
March 25, 2009
-Tommy Vacek
I have been learning lately that God is constantly trying to
teach us. I think every believer can
agree with that statement. God sent His
only son to this Earth to be a many things for us: savior, healer, guide, and teacher. Also, think about it, the Bible is the most printed
book in the world. This just doesnt happen
by accident. God is constantly on the
move trying to pour His word or will into our lives.
There is a major difference between knowledge and
wisdom. Knowledge is a building block
for wisdom. Wisdom is a spiritual
awaking t ... read more
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Stress Shouldn't Inhabit
February 27, 2009
-Kaleigh Wiese
The last year has been really busy for me. I currently run my own design & fine papers company, go to school full time, volunteer, as well Lead a Waypoint Team with my husband. I find myself asking if I am making the right choices for myself, or if I am in the right place, etc. It seems like my life is really busy, or snail slow --And I have this thing, I like to do everything myself. It's not that great of a quality.
Up till about a month ago, I have been handling things just fine. It seems like the devil slowly slipped ... read more
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Silence
February 18, 2009
-Sarah Koenig
Psalm 22:2 "Oh my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent"
Why is it, when we need to hear God the most, He seems to be silent?
It isn't always that way. I've had so many times in my life where I've
heard Him the most in difficult times. But other times, when I'm
desperate for an answer, the heavens remain quiet.
I've talked to so many who have been crying out to the Lord for so
long. for longings in their hearts to be fulfilled. for healing to
come to their bodies. for ... read more
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Let's Tell Each Other Our "God Stories"
February 15, 2009
-Jenny Schwager
I love a good testimony. There’s something about hearing someone talk about God’s tangible presence in their life that makes my heart leap up to meet Him. It stirs up hope, and gives me fresh energy for the race. It’s too easy for me to slip into a rut of looking at the situations around me and wondering “God, where are you? It doesn’t seem like you‘re here anymore”, like the Israelite children in the desert who had just seen Him part the Red Sea and a short time later were wondering if He‘d left them in the desert to die.
Wh ... read more
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Be Still...And Listen
February 11, 2009
-Kathy Garvey
I appreciate the Sunday children’s message as Dana and others share with our precious little ones. I always enjoy when he asks the kids if God has spoken to any of them during the week. Without hesitation there are normally several little hands that shoot up eager to share.
If asked the same question as adults how many of our hands would shoot up-or would we be scratching our heads wondering if we've ever heard HIS voice?
I'm reminded of the remarkable story in the O.T. of the prophet Elijah in I Kings 19: ... read more
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Remembering The Greatest Commandment
February 03, 2009
-Olin Dirks
From Matt 22:37 (NRSV):
One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Ever think about what we do or don't do that reinforces our love for ... read more
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Being A Missionary
January 28, 2009
-Ryan Desch
I have been reading My Utmost for His Highest and I noticed that Oswald Chambers uses the word “missionary” in many of his writings. Now we could assume that he is only writing to those that are "missionaries" living in foreign lands. I think the thing that we forget so often is that we are all called to be missionaries in our own way.
When Jesus spoke the great commission, He was speaking of all nations, including our own. We all have the same mandate from God himself. We are all told to go and make disciples of all nations. He ... read more
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God's Grace
January 25, 2009
-Kristi Kimbril
2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Whenever I am tempted to become overwhelmed by life and it's day to day trials, I remember this verse. None of the issues that arise are a surprise to the Lord and none of them are more that I can bear. The Lord has promised that His grace would be sufficient for me. Not only that, but these circumstances or difficulties allow the Lord the opportunity to show His power and they allow me the op ... read more
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The Love Of God Is Stronger Than The Power Of Death
January 21, 2009
-Tracy Lorensen
Lately I have been thinking often about death. I have realized that I have a lot to learn about the power of death. The Lorensen trio is experiencing death to an old season and birthing into a new one! This season is teaching me how it’s best that my flesh dies, and apart from Jesus, there is nothing good in me. I want to be crushed by His awesome love and glory so that I, the weak and humbled woman, boast only in Him. One thing that I found in this time is that I can boast in is His death! His death has given me new life. His body gave me ... read more
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Fighting Elephants
January 18, 2009
-Emily Timm
I saw this show once about elephants. It was one of those animal guys that goes out searching through the underbrush hoping to find some elusive creatures. So he finally makes it to where a herd of elephants are eating. He talks about how elephants can actually be really fierce and they will charge when they feel threatened. He said that our instinct is to run but the best thing to do is to hold up your fist and hold your ground. Your fist is supposed to make the elephant think you have a trunk and then he has some sort of respect for you and backs down. ... read more
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Heavy Heart
January 14, 2009
-Katie Ursini
There are heavy, dark, sad moments in life. Admitting this was very difficult for me. I have gone through the majority of my Christian life believe that having Christ with me means I don’t feel the heaviness, darkness or sadness. I thought we were supposed to pass through it as you would walk through a rainstorm covered from head to toe in protective clothing. Meaning, you would have seasons of sadness but you dare not be sad because you are a Christian and that is supposed to magically make the sadness not hurt, the heaviness not heavy and the darkness ... read more
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Wonderful God
January 12, 2009
-Dave Ehrenberg
Psalm 8:1-5 - Our LORD and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth! You let your glory be seen in the heavens above. With praises from children and from tiny infants, you have built a fortress. It makes your enemies silent, and all who turn against you are left speechless. I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and of the moon and stars you put in place. Then I ask, "Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings?"
I ask that same question more and more as I read abou ... read more
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What is Faith?
January 07, 2009
-Cam Doan
There are several verses in the Bible that touch on this subject. Some speaking about faith on our end (Hebrews 11:1) and some speaking about faith on God's end (1 Corinthians 1:9). Among these two faiths, only one ever seems to be fluctuating...yeah...
I find it hard to have complete confidence when I can't see the outcome, when I can't reach out and touch it, and when I don't have a back up plan as “insurance”. It seems that when I'm lacking faith, then I try to take matters into my own hands (which I do not recommend) and therefore not allow God to move in Hi ... read more
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Resolutions That Reconnect Hearts
December 31, 2008
-Lindsay Carstensen
Most people think of diets and gym memberships when the New Year rolls around.
But me, I need to focus on reconciling a relationship that seems to have been lost.
Like a couple desperately trying to save their marriage, such is the state of my relationship with God.
We've been together for the last 15 years and, like any couple, we've had our misunderstandings, miscommunications and misinterpretations.
Fortunately, we usually laughed once the "issues" were talked about and resolved.
Sadly, something happened ... read more
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Daddy's Girl
December 29, 2008
-Jackie Desch
My husband and I just welcomed our first child, a baby daughter (Maisie), into our family almost two months ago. This new adventure of parenthood has proven, thus far, to be full of some challenges, but also mostly full of great reward and blessings (a smile from her makes any frustration with an early morning wake-up call quickly disappear).
When I first learned that I was pregnant with a girl, one of my immediate thoughts was “I hope that she turns out to be a Daddy’s girl.” Not that I don’t want my Maisie to love he ... read more
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The Sweet Spot
December 23, 2008
-Jane Thorson
I find myself in a sweet spot these past couple weeks…still plenty of frustrations, but in the midst of all the frustrations I feel like I have finally started to connect with a community here. Actually, the more I think about it, I realize that it’s not really that I’ve finally found my community, no…in reality I think that I have finally opened my eyes to the community that has been around me all along.
Community is one of those “it” phrases that people started using a few years ago…but I don’t think I really realized ... read more
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What...Me Worry?
December 15, 2008
-Mary Cavell
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap." Luke 21:34
For the longest time, I had this verse hanging in my bathroom. This bold warning has always jumped out at me, each word packed with a powerful punch. A visual learner, I've always been. I imagine an artist's rendition of this verse: a person stumbling, trying to come up with the strength to lift something so heavy, struggling to stand upright. Feeling surprised and afraid, alm ... read more
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Consumerism For The Holidays
December 08, 2008
-Kathy Mabrey
What is the greatest challenge to the church in the Western world? According to Alan Hirsch in his book,"The Forgotten Ways", he suggests that our love for material things is our greatest threat because it infects all of us. Consumerism imitates the Body of Christ by offering us a sense of identity, meaning, purpose, and even community. Christmas has become for many a ritual of frantic busyness and debt. As parents, we run around buying things that we often cannot afford in an effort to make our children happy. Are there ways we can tur ... read more
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Shadow
December 01, 2008
-David Monaghan
I was thinking of lost people, people that are in pure darkness. THey feel that there is no hope, no way out. Then a Christian come along and tells them that there is a Jesus that loves them, but then that same Christian is condemming them to hell. As I thought and prayed about this, God explained it to me.
If there is a room and all the lights are out, the objects in the room cast no shadow. If someone comes in and turns on the lights all the objects in the room cast a shadow. There is no need to point out all the sh ... read more
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The Perpetual Toddler
November 24, 2008
-Niki Arth
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11
A little over a year ago I stumbled across this bible verse. It was definitely a gift from God. I was quitting my accounting career to begin my new season of being a stay-at-home mommy to my daughters. It was a scary time, no one ever thought I had the personality of a stay-at-home mommy. As someone talented at solving corporate problems there had been lots of jokes about me creating crisis over doing ... read more
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Intimacy-Are You Thirsty?
November 19, 2008
-Kristie Heft
How would you respond to these questions if God were to ask you them?
· Why are you satisfied without me?
· Why are you striving these days?
· Why are you trying to earn grace?
· Why are you still searching as if I am not enough?
· Where will you go? Where ... read more
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A Matter Of The Heart
November 16, 2008
-Michael Weise
God has really been showing me lately that it’s not so much what we do, or say, or how we do something, as much as it is a matter of what condition your heart is in. I’m an analyzer. That’s what I do, I tend to stop and not take action, until I’m sure that this is the right way to go. I think that hinders me more than it helps, not that analyzing is bad, because sometimes it’s a good thing, but I think that can be the very thing that stops me from doing what God wants me to. I think some times He is saying just jump! Just go for it! G ... read more
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Life By A Doctrine
November 05, 2008
-Chris O'Flynn
1 Corinthians 2
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
On my drive to work I often drive by a billboard that ... read more
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My Redemption Story
October 30, 2008
-Jimmy Yeck
I was born August 1st 1971 at St Joe’s Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. I was adopted when I was 3 days old to my parents; Jimmy Lee and Leoda Pearl Yeck. I know very little about my birth mother. I have made some assumptions that I don’t know are correct for sure. 1) That she was from South Omaha; the clinic I was adopted from was at a neighborhood clinic in South Omaha. 2) That she got pregnant after a rock concert. 3) Chances are they were Catholic-- The I don’t know in the assumptions has taken some adjustment. If I am honest with myself, I ha ... read more
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The Art Of Trusting And Waiting
October 27, 2008
-Traci Reeves
I enjoy reading books to my kids. Lately, I have been |