prayer (458)

Ian

Happiness and Joy…or Not

Psalm 44; Isaiah 22:8b–14; James 4:4–10 ‌Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? James 4:4 NRSVue ‌…you did not look at the One who did it, nor did you see the One who planned it… Isaiah 22:11 NRSVue We…

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Ian

Successfully Unsuccessful

Psalm 144; Song of Solomon 8:5–14; John 11:45–57 ISV A great deal of water cannot extinguish love, rivers cannot put it out. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, he would surely be viewed with contempt. Song of…

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Ian

Reconciling Fruit

Psalm 144; Isaiah 27:1–6; 2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (ISV) In times to come, Jacob will take root, and Israel will blossom, sprout shoots, and fill the whole world with fruit. Isaiah 27:6 ISV All of this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through…

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Ian

Perspective and Significance

Psalm 144; Ezekiel 19:10–14; 1 Peter 2:4–10 (ISV) In the fictional universe housing the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (written by Douglas Adams), there is a machine called the Total Perspective Vortex. Originally built (per the fictional universe) to provide beings a comparison of themselves…

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Ian

Untrashed

Malachi 1:6-9 Perhaps you've heard an acquaintance, a friend, a family member say, "God won't accept me until I clean myself up." Or perhaps, "if I enter the church, lightning will come down and/or the church will catch on fire." Behave, believe, belong has long…

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