GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS... TRUST AND OBEY!!!

MEDITATION MONDAY

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NOTE: I apologize for the late entry! Blogger was not working for me earlier today!

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There are thousands, maybe millions of young people walking away from the concept of church... walking away from the LORD. Many believe that if they sell all they have to feed the poor and get a one way ticket to Haiti or Africa, to help, that they have found the meaning of life. What is it that God sees that they do not see? Other than His goodness, I believe that they do not see HIS HOLINESS OR HIS FAITHFULNESS.

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They say, "It just doesn't make sense!!! How can there be earthquakes, disease, hurricanes, wars, calamity after calamity if God were truly good or holy or faithful?" They question whether He hears prayers. In fact, the belief is prevalant that sin does not separate man from God, anyway... Jesus does not matter! So, if sin and Jesus are not in the mix, then what is the meaning of life?

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I grew up reading the Old Testament and hearing story after story of a holy God and a "stiff necked people". I can say that it is the concepts of those stories that are deeply embedded within that remind me that,

• "Life is hard, but God is good!"


• "Good things come to those who wait."


• "Trust and obey for there is no other way!"


• "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through!"

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2 Corinthians 5:4-9 gives us a glimpse into this LIFE that we live as christians. It gives us a peek at our purpose and the meaning of LIFE! It's not for the faint of heart!!! I'm getting a little carried away with bolding words:

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"For while we are in this tent,

we groan and are burdened,

because we do not wish to be unclothed

but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

so that what is mortal

may be swallowed up by LIFE.

Now it is God who has made us

for this very purpose

and has given us the Spirit as a deposit,

guaranteeing what is to come.

6 Therefore we are always confident

and know that as long as we are at home in the body

we are away from the Lord.

We live by faith, not by sight.

We are confident, I say,

and would prefer to be away from the body

and at home with the Lord.

So we make it our goal to please HIM..."

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Yesterday, in Dan's lesson, he challenged us to TRUST AND OBEY. In our praise and worship service, Mike led us in focusing on "Palm Sunday" as Jesus entered into Jerusalem. Then, Dan spoke about a story from the Old Testament - the story of Gideon from the book of Judges. God's ways often make no "earthly sense". Both Jesus and Gideon had to TRUST AND OBEY GOD. As Dan talked about God telling Gideon to only use 300 men and pitchers/torches/trumpets, I kept thinking about Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt amid the praise and applause. (There was more to it than met the eye! It wasn't what it seemed!) His weapons? His daddy's armor: the breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, shield of faith... fueled by prayer...

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Here's how Dan laid it out in 3 points:

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1. OBEDIENCE MEANS ACCEPTING RISK

• Does God want us to take risks?


• There are times when God will ask us to do things that mights bring us hurt and pain.

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2. GOD'S VICTORY DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE VICTORY

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3. GOD BRINGS ABOUT THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR TOTAL OBEDIENCE.

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When things make no "earthly sense", let's revisit the memory verses of the last 3 months and the scripture above. God designed it so that we LIVE with purpose... LIVE with meaning! It begins when we TRUST AND OBEY.

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5 Phrases.

10 Words.

2 Words + 2 Words + 2 Words + 2 Words + 2 Words =

PURPOSE.

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LOVE GOD.

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LOVE OTHERS.

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MAKE DISCIPLES

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BAPTIZE BELIEVERS

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TEACH OBEDIENCE

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Dear God,

We believe!

Help our unbelief!

We choose to TRUST AND OBEY.

Great is Your Faithfulness!

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