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The Journalist

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       "So Peter was kept in Prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." Acts 12:5 He felt a chill go down his spine, despite the summer heat rolling around in the arid darkness.  Walking briskly down the shadowy alley just made his mind fill with all sorts of horrors. The large garage type doors that opened into the alley felt like they all had monsters hidden inside. The high arched frames over the columns of the previous courtyard and the mountains way in the distance seemed to all be snickering at him with an evil smile. How did they even think they could get away with this? Why was he joining with this church that was pastored by the zealous Parsa, when he knew that real men, with real guns, with real threats were close by. He was not really a part of this movement. Why was he here? Parsa had been an interesting person to make as the centerpiece of his article, but that interview in the light and laughter of the day seemed so long ago. And...
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The Anti-Shrinking Potion

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  WARNING!  WARNING! The world is shrinking. The world is shrinking.  No, it’s not some upside down physics phenomenon declaring the opposite of entropy. It's not some optical illusion. It is what is happening to many of us as individuals.   It is the curse of selfishness.   It is the curse found in the Garden of Eden. The enemy of our souls wants us steeped in selfishness, wrapped up in its tentacles, and suffocating on its emotional highs and lows.  And due to his influence, we have become a self-centered people.  Selfishness also breeds selfishness.  If you are around people that are just focused on themselves, you will then feel the need to “protect yourself.”      It's a vicious cycle that, without intervention, leads to isolated, frustrated, individuals. It's a lonely place. It's a place that I have visited, too often. The world of the selfish is small, their emotions are small, their entire focus and thought process are so lo...
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40 Days of JOY - 🙌🙌 Day 16 🙌🙌

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 40 Days of JOY - 🙌🙌 Day 16 🙌🙌 What makes Our God so different?  He dwells in Joy . . . In this part of the book of Chronicles  - there is a detailed description of How mighty and amazing our God is - of why He is worthy of Praise.  Especially as He compares to the World - and the "gods" they still offer us. Nothing compares to our God -  And one of the ways we know that is that  He alone actually Dwells in JOY.  I found that a unique description of our God . . . His house is not made of Bricks and Mortar - but Strength and JOY. What other god or idol do we run after that sits in the presence of Joy?   Money, status, pride - any of these bask in Joy? Or do these just offer a false picture of being happy - but when you find them - you find stress and worry over keeping up appearances?  Our God does not worry or fret - He breathes Joy in and out - and therein is also strength and stability  . .  Let us take ahold of that Amaz...
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40 Days of JOY - 🙌🙌 Day 15 🙌🙌

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 40 Days of JOY- 🙌🙌 Day 15 🙌🙌 Rejoicing and Eating go hand in hand  😊 Food can often put us in a better mood - sometimes make us downright happy :)  and we are so blessed with food -  It is one of the signs that we are so well off - So blessed  compared with much of the rest of the world! What a perfect time to REJOICE with friends and family - over a meal. However, in our day and culture, so many of us do not really eat with our families any more.  But, at least in our home, before everyone scatters off to their corner of the house to enjoy dinner - we at least come together to say grace- and share a little Word. 🙏 But whatever happens in our homes - we need to take the time to Rejoice as a family over ALL that God has blessed us with. . . . "There in the presence of the Lord Your God, You and your families,  Shall EAT and shall REJOICE  In everything you have put your hand to, Because the Lord Your God has BLESSED you!" Deuteronomy 12:7
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40 Days of Joy - 🙌🙌 Day 14 🙌🙌

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 40 Days of JOY - 🙌🙌 Day 14 🙌🙌 Luke 15 is a Chapter full of JOY It's a pattern - something is lost - something is found - Gathering together & celebrating & rejoicing! I lose my keys all the time - and let me tell you when I get desperate  - and then suddenly find them again  - I am rejoicing and Praising God!! God is in the business of restoring things that are lost - - our faith - our relationships  - our very souls And when He restores these things - it's not just "Old  Hat" for Him - He Celebrates & Rejoices  But None of these joyous moments in Luke 15  - finding the lost coin, sheep, son, sinner -  are done  alone  All of these moments of Joy come with gathering people (or angels 😇) together and CELEBRATING!  I am a loner by nature (I love people- but I like to do a lot of things alone)  But there is something good that happens to all of us - when we acknowledge Joy by celebrating it with others. Sooo . . ...
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40 Days of JOY - 🙌🙌 Day 13 🙌🙌

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 40 Days of JOY - 🙌🙌 Day 13 🙌🙌 Because of Joy - You can Do It! Are you struggling through a difficult situation right now? Are you in the middle of a really tough decision?  Are you facing a temptation that just looks too big? Well you are not alone.  Every Christian worth their salt - has been there - done that - and survived.  JESUS himself faced all of that - and gained victory for all of us. How did Jesus do that?  How did He stay on the cross when every fiber of His human body was screaming - "Get me out of here!"  ? For the JOY  set before Him.   It was the Joy of seeing us saved and healed that kept Him there. How has so many others survived difficult times ?  By holding on to the strength that comes from knowing that this will end in a Joy - for God - for us - for someone else. . . The future can motivate us . . . -Seeing your child's face when he knows you are happier now. - Knowing God is smiling down on you because you mad...
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40 Days of JOY - 🙌🙌 Day 12 🙌🙌

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 40 Days of JOY  - 🙌🙌 Day 12 🙌🙌 Sometimes I struggle with my faith  -  but as I read this - that part of my Spirit that holds onto Jesus - that was born anew when I gave my heart to Him - resonates with this verse and what I truly believe deep down inside.  I feel that deep Joy fill my soul. You see this verse was written to struggling believers facing a world who was out to condemn and persecute Christians . . . Anyone who claimed to believe in Jesus. Yet it was that very belief in Christ - in this Jesus that they now knew to be real and closer than a brother - that brought the most hope and Joy into their struggles. 1Pe 1:8 - "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious JOY!"
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