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The Pivot: 15 Verses That Change Everything
But God Remembered Noah! There are seasons in life when it feels as though the rain will never stop. Not the rain falling from the sky, but the kind that settles over a heart. The kind that arrives in the form of grief, uncertainty, disappointment, loneliness, strained relationships, unanswered questions, or circumstances we never would… Continue reading
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You Have Heard it Said … But I Say Unto You …
An Excerpt from Chapter 5 ~ The Sermon on the Mount The big but of Matthew 5 appears repeatedly as an instrument in Jesus’ teaching:“You have heard it said … but I tell you …” The beginning of the Sermon on the Mount sets the stage for all the other teachings of Jesus. He’s going to proclaim… Continue reading
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Say the Word
In the Presence of Jesus ~From this point forward in the gospel, we will sense the itinerant manner of Jesus’ ministry. It was occasional—not in that he only ministered on occasion, but that he ministered as opportunities occasioned themselves. When he came down the mountainside; as he entered Capernaum; when he arrived at Peter’s house;… Continue reading
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He Who Has Ears
Think Again ~ Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life. Apparently it’s easy to find yourself on the wrong road. It’s apparent also that you’d have a lot of company there.… Continue reading
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Seek Ye First
The Big But ~On the heels of teaching his disciples that in prayer we petition Our Father in heaven, we find this very significant big but: For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things… Continue reading
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Seek Ye First
What About … What about my happiness? What about my needs? Leave everything? This radical life of following Jesus, focusing on the vertical and not the horizontal, would raise a lot of questions. I’d suggest to you that this is another of those most difficult sections of Jesus’ teachings. Don’t store up treasures for yourself… Continue reading
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Seek Ye First
Giving, Praying and Fasting ~We all like to be noticed. To have someone recognize your efforts feels good. As the Sermon on the Mount continues, Jesus turns his attention to three acts of devotion common among faithful God followers—giving, praying and fasting. He warned that, if we’re not careful, those things we do religiously can… Continue reading
Big Buts of the Bible 