Salvation
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A Sacrifice for Freedom
My friends, I have to tell you that God is doing more than I expected in this week so far. (Tamara, thank you again for suggesting we do a week like this.) In less than twenty-four hours God put the word JOY in front of me almost a dozen times. (Yes, I counted.) In two…
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Are You Scheduling Your Child’s Spirituality Away?
My friends, today I want to talk about something that I see as an issue and concerns me for our children and grandchildren. With school starting I think this is an important topic to address now. When my family and I first moved back from Europe and settled into San Jose, my hopes and dreams…
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Shore Up the Walls-Nehemiah, Part Three
SUMites, welcome to part three and the conclusion to this series. Again, I am so blown away by what God is speaking to us and by you, this amazing community! You have prayed for each other and given such precious words of encouragement to those in need. That is what the SUMite Nation is about…
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Weekend Worship – Trust Without Borders
For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:17 (emphasis added). Last week I came across this verse from Romans and the Holy Spirit…
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The Seeds of God’s Love
As I passed the vase of flowers I noticed one of the buds had fallen to the table still closed tightly like a tube. I intended to throw the bud away but something nudged me to open its petals. I gently pushed the flower open to see the seeds inside. As I examined the contents,…
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Same Sex Marriage
Psalm 2:1-4 Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. "Let us break their chains," they cry, "and free ourselves from this slavery." But the one who rules…
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Our Righteous Trust Fund
Yesterday my daughter Leslie and I set out to handle transferring her trust fund into her possession. It’s such a small amount. I wish I could say as her parents that we’d managed our financial picture the best we could as there’s always room for improvement. I didn’t think much of this small pittance. I…
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Weekend Worship – God is Calling Us!
My friends, no matter where I go I keep hearing this same message. Special thanks to a friend who shared that a specific verse was on her heart and mind. When I read it, I knew it was meant for us and for all of God's daughters whom He's calling forth in amazing ways right…
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Beauty For Ashes
My friends, below is a precious letter from Rosheeda's parents. They have reached out to Lynn and I and have expressed their desire to be a part of this community. Even in their grief, God's love shines so profoundly through them. Such beauty rising up from ashes… If you scroll down in the side bar,…
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Weekend Worship – Lord, I Need You!
Happy weekend, my precious friends! This song by Matt Maher is getting a lot of play time on the airwaves and on my playlist. The words Maher croons out, "Lord, I need you" is the common cry and song of our hearts, isn't it? What's so profound is what happens when we tell Jesus, "I…
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Do You Really Believe God is Good?
As I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to share with you today He kept bringing me back to His goodness. And not just His goodness but BELEIVING He is truly good and desires only good for our lives. As I listened to His heart and I listen to the hearts of so…
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Weekend Worship – Lay Me Down!
My precious Sumites, I love this song by Chris Tomlin because it's about the surrendered life and the JOY of living like we belong to Jesus. Because we do! We are His and He is ours. This is also what Scripture means when it says, "the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Neh. 8:10.)…
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Weekend Worship – I Surrender!
My precious friends, I'm still pondering the meaning of surrendering our lives to Jesus. I've always been struck by how Jesus stood before His accusors and said nothing to defend Himself. That speaks to me of a holy dignity that rises above the opinions of men and sits squarely and humbly with God. The Bible…
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The Day Quickly Approaches
Easter approaches. Let’s hold up our spouse for a salvation, a transformation, experience this year on Easter morning. Almighty God, You are the Creator of all things. We are your chosen, your children. We worship you. We are your vessel to be used for your purposes and passions. Lord, fill us up with your…
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Weary of the Battle?
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle-victorious. – Vince Lombardi My friends, today I want to speak to those of you who are…
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Know Your Enemy’s Tactics
Before we dive into the deeper waters of spiritual warfare, I feel led (and have for weeks for this series) to help you have a better understanding of what spiritual warfare is and what place is has in our lives. For years I lived in a place of fear in regards to the enemy. I’d…
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Weekend Worship – A Testimony
My precious friends, I can't believe Christmas is so close! As the day draws closer, I'm trying to keep my heart and mind wrapped around the miracle that God brought so long ago and keep my eyes open for the ones He's doing right now. I want to share one with you. My rep at…
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Who’s Your Daddy?
Okay, I’m totally ripping off Lynn and some tacky song thing, right? But it’s what popped into my head and those are usually my best lines. (wink) With that said, I’m going to share a few tidbits of my past that, well, I really didn’t plan or want to but God’s giving me the nudge…
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How Much Does Jesus Love You?
For the last several months I’ve heard a constant theme about love from Christians all over the world. God is speaking very loudly to His children right now and the message is about His love and His call to love people. The message is everywhere and, in my opinion, is unmistakably a sign of His…
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God’s Unexpected Healing, Part 2
My friends, last week I shared the first part of my unexpected healing at Bethel Church and God’s gift of truth from a dear woman named Helen. Now for the rest of the story. Or rather, the results of this dramatic healing in my life that keeps playing out on a daily basis. Wow! I…