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Are you ready to travel

It’s summertime,  and many of us at one time or another this summer will be packing our bags to go on a trip. We will plan out what we need to take with us and how much money we need to take with us. We may even plan an itinerary in advance fir what we are going to do.

We will make our preparations.

http://bible.com/116/jer.10.17-18.nlt
Pack your bags and prepare to leave; the siege is about to begin. For this is what the Lord says: “Suddenly, I will fling out all you who live in this land. I will pour great troubles upon you, and at last you will feel my anger.”

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Boast! Yes, Be Bold, Stand Firm!

http://bible.com/116/jer.9.23-25.nlt
This is what the Lord says:
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord , have spoken!
“A time is coming,” says the Lord , “when I will punish all those who are circumcised in body but not in spirit—

Life Application Notes
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“People tend to admire four qualities in others: human wisdom, power (strength), kindness, and riches. But God puts a higher priority on knowing him personally and living a life that reflects his justice and righteousness. What do you want people to admire most about you?”

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Can I worship?

http://bible.com/116/psa.15.1-5.nlt
Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord , and keep their promises even when it hurts.
Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.

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He knows you, you are set apart

He who has ears,  hear what the Word of God says –

http://bible.com/116/jer.1.5.nlt
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

You are special and unique. Everything in creation has a purpose and is of use in fulfilling God’s purpose.

And you, friend are set apart and appointed.

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Father knows best

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http://bible.com/116/isa.55.8-9.nlt
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord .
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Yes, we are a prideful and rebellious generation.

Yes, there are few who seek to follow the narrow path.

Yes, we are a cold and hard hearted generation of religious zealots.

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Turn to God

http://bible.com/116/isa.55.6-7.nlt
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously.

Seek God
Are we seeking and finding the Lord daily? Or have we given up and denied Him? Or do we pridefully think that we’ve found Him and don’t need to seek any longer?

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Kill the wicked man, burn him, burn him!

http://bible.com/116/isa.48.22.nlt
“But there is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord .

I know the life of a wicked person. I have lived it.

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Love, where subtraction is replaced by multiplication

http://bible.com/116/pro.11.25.nlt
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

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There are all kinds of ways for us to be generous. We can be generous with our money, with our time, with our words, with our actions,  with our forgiveness.

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Forgiven and forgotten, or keeping count?

http://bible.com/116/isa.43.25.nlt “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.

Once we are forgiven for our sins, God will not bring them up again. In fact, they are to God “as far as the east is from the west”.

There is a lot that we can learn about forgiveness. We aren’t supposed to be the nagging spouse always bringing up the past faults of our partner. We aren’t supposed to be the constantly whining child pointing out every fault,  every wrong, keeping score of the hurts of others crying,  “That’s not fair”.

We are supposed to be Christ like.

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Sign me up for the fiery trials. Really? Yes, really.

Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4, Romans 8:18, 1 Peter 4:12-19, 2 Corinthians 4:8-10.
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The daily fiery trials of the Lord burning the old away, and refining our lives with conviction and repentance is neither comfortable nor easy nor without leaving scars – but He proves Himself by never leaving us, and by healing the wounds where the disease was cut out.

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