Gospel of Love
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It’s Palm Sunday – How Did You Come To Faith?
It’s Palm Sunday! I’ll finish up the remaining few posts about my mom’s story in April. Also in April, I’m compelled to talk about weariness. In the last few months, my heart has ached for SUMites who have told me they are weary in the waiting. Man, do I ever feel a revelation of the…
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Specifics of the Spiritually Mismatched
Well I realize that that past few posts have challenged us as we consider suffering. We also looked at what Jesus clearly told us. Jesus said: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn…
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Love Conqers All
My friends, I am overwhelmed by the force of God's love. It is powerful, relentless, consuming and vast. It is tender, gentle, perfect and complete. It is who He is, what we long for, what the world needs, and the answer to every thing. Love. God's love. The greatest force on earth and the conduit…
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How Do We Love?
My friends, I’d planned to talk briefly about love and then move into thankfulness, but the Holy Spirit impressed our Father’s heart on this subject upon me and I want to give that ample space. So today we will talk about love, the second key in this Abundant Life series. I want to tell you…
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Even Bullies Need Love
Hello, SUMites! Welcome to week three of the Equipping Our Kids in a Contrary Culture series. This week I’m zeroing in on chapter six in our book, Not Alone, about Generous Kids. I share some stories in this chapter about my daughters, stories that are near and dear to my heart and one that nearly…
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Books of Peter: Secure in the Face of Opposition (part 2)
Dear friends, on Wednesday we talked about how it was Peter’s intent to encourage his readers to be of one mind as believers, to place loving each other as brothers and sisters in Christ above disagreements and insults. Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as…
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The Books of Peter: Secure in the Face of Opposition (part 1)
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to…
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No More Chains
My friends, my post today is a kind of merging of two stories. You see, I thought they were separate, yet as I prayed for Abba's clear leading on what to write, He impressed upon my heart that they are indeed connected. The first story is one we are very familiar with. The prodigal son.…
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Empowered Living: Romans 8:31-39
My friends, we’re at the end or our Romans study. I’m amazed at how much the Holy Spirit has been showing and teaching us. I never imagined this series would wind up being nine parts. I absolutely love studying and teaching God’s Word. Thank you so much for taking this journey with me. I’ve loved…
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Empowered Living: Romans 8:1-4 (part one)
My friends, we're embarking on our study of Romans 8 today, but first, please take a moment and pray over Lynn and her family. Her granddaughter Elise spiked a fever yesterday of a 103 and there are other challenges she is dealing with in her family. Let’s pray a mighty force and hedge of protection…
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We Have An Open Door. What Do We Do With It?
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the doors God has opened to me over the past several years and specifically this past year. And as I read this passage once again this December, this open door given to the church of Philadelphia and the SUMite church became specific. On the same day I…
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Don’t Know What to Pray?
Over the years I've learned that our mismatched situations come in all shapes and sizes. When I'm asked what mismatched means I explain that it can be as clear as one spouse believes in God and the other doesn't, as gray as differing faiths or degrees of faith (i.e. a believer married to a Muslim…
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Do We Believe It?
My friends, I’d planned to write a very different post today about two very important things we need to know-who does God say He is and who does He say we are. But I think we’ve actually talked a fair amount about how important it is for us to understand who we are in Christ…