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Julie Long

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Devotions

God’s Dwelling Place

1 Min Read

“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore” (Ezekiel 37:26 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible). Throughout Scripture people desired to house God’s presence inside walls made with hands. But, the Bible tells us that God’s presence is not restricted to wood, cement and brick, He is with us always. Wherever the Spirit of God is, there is a sanctuary for the sick, the hurting and the downtrodden.

Prayer: Mighty God, You are a sanctuary for us in the storms as well as the celebrations of life. The permanent church building is a wonderful place of rest and worship, but today I pray that You will create in my heart a sanctuary for Your use. Amen.

Devotion by Julie Long

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Can You Keep a Secret?

2 Mins Read
    “A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter” (Proberbs 11:13).
    In the information age that we live in, it seems as if there are no secrets anymore—especially when it comes to the personal lives of those in the public eye.
    In the past, the magazines or other news media that exposed private (and often humiliating or embarrassing) details of people’s lives were considered tabloids and frowned upon by the other respectable news outlets. But not anymore. The boundary lines of decency have been erased, and it is a race between all the news media to see who can be the first to publish or broadcast the “scoop.”
    At the first sign of a bulge in a female celebrity’s stomach, the news media begin to publish questions about whether she is pregnant. Maybe she has just put on a little weight, but the rumor mill is already off and running. If she actually is pregnant, just wait a few weeks and you will know the sex of the baby, the due date, where it will be born, and a myriad of other details, usually reserved for family and close friends. We are also privy to information about the intricacies of people’s marriages, infidelities, subsequent divorces, and remarriages that really is none of our business.
    Because we have so many “talebearers” that have crafted “revealing secrets” into a fine art, it has developed into a public pastime that has bled over into our own personal lives. It is increasingly difficult to find people who do not delight in spreading gossip about others. But the Bible gives us strong admonition to discipline ourselves to not be a talebearer, or repeat everything that we hear. Proverbs 17:9 says, “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”
    Proverbs 26:20-22 says, “Where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Don’t be a talebearer! Be a faithful person who knows how to keep secrets!”
    Written by Beth Dillon
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Devotions

A Spirit of Generosity

1 Min Read
    “Their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2 in the New International Version of the Holy Bible). This statement was made by the Apostle Paul about the Christians living in Macedonia who gave generously to the church in Jerusalem which was experiencing a time of famine and poverty. Paul used the Macedonians as an example to others of cultivating a spirit of giving despite the negative circumstances and financial difficulty they themselves may be facing. Generosity doesn’t always refer to giving from our wealth. It is giving from our heart that pleases God. A person who gives to others in ways that may or may not include financial blessings, is a person who has a healthy, “rich”, inner life!
    Prayer: Lord, I must confess that generosity doesn’t always come easy for me. Teach me to have a giving spirit – a heart that is sensitive to the needs of others. Amen.
    Devotion by: Julie Long
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Devotions

Control Your Fear

1 Min Read
    “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible).
    Courage is not a quality that I possess. I’m on pins and needles the entire time that my child is playing in the yard for fear that she will wander into the street and be crushed by a car. When my husband is a few minutes late for dinner, I envision an accident on the highway. My blood pressure skyrockets prior to a doctor’s visit. If I’m not careful, fear will rule my day. My family tells me, “You worry too much,” and I know it’s true but I can’t seem to help myself so I call on a higher power – the Name of Jesus!
    Prayer: Lord, give me the strength I need to control my fears. Remind me of Your love for me and those I love. You watch over my family much better than I ever could. Strengthen my heart today, Lord.
    Devotion by Julie Long
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Bring Back the Awe

2 Mins Read
    “When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe…” (Matthew 9:8 in the New International Version of the Holy Bible). This Scripture is refering to the miracle that Jesus performed for a paralyzed man who stood up, picked up his mat and started walking home. No one in the small town of Capernaum in northern Galilee had ever witnessed anything like this before! And furthermore, Jesus not only healed the man He also told him he was forgiven. Can you imagine seeing this happen with your own eyes? The crowd that day were awed by the power of God on display before them – healing and forgiveness all at one time! We are overwhelmed today by awe inspiring advances in science and technology. We’ve become so accustomed to phenominal inventions and medical breakthoughs that we tend to lose our sense of wonder. We must be careful not to lose our sense of awe when it comes to God. Does His power and majesty still take your breath away?
    Prayer: Lord, forgive me if the world that I live in has numbed me to the wonder of who You are. Let my heart and mind be captured again by the awe of Your mighty acts. Amen.
    Devotion by: Julie Long
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The Lemonade Incident

3 Mins Read
    It was a typical trip through the McDonald’s drive-thru. My granddaughter had her order figured out—the McNuggets Happy Meal. As I repeat it back to her, I stated, “And milk with that.”
    “No. I want a frozen strawberry lemonade.”
    “But you don’t even like lemonade,” I objected. “It’s tart. You won’t like it,”
    “I want a frozen strawberry lemonade. Not milk.” The voice from the backseat was emphatic. After a couple more attempts to dissuade her, each rebuffed, I ordered the frozen strawberry lemonade for her. All the while, I wondered where this idea had originated. My picky eater will seldom try new things and then not willingly. Unusual.
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Be a Bumblebee

2 Mins Read
    “According to recognized aero technical tests, the bumblebee
    cannot fly because of the shape and weight of his body in
    relation to the total wing area. The bumblebee doesn’t know
    this, so he goes ahead and flies anyway” (James Hastings).
    A person who walks by faith and the bumblebee have much in common. Neither should be able to function by rational standards but somehow are able to soar above the facts and naysayers.
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We Are His!

2 Mins Read

As Guin and I began our preparations for church one Wednesday evening, she decided that her Cabbage Patch doll, Caroline, needed a new dress. As she stripped Caroline down to her bare cloth bottom, Guin pointed to the signature of Xavier Roberts on Caroline’s “caboose.” She asked me what the writing was. I explained that it was the signature of the man who created all the Cabbage Patch dolls. She then asked me why he would put his name on their bottoms. As I began to formulate my answer, I had to smile to myself.

I explained to her that his signature was important because even though all the dolls are different, and each one has a different name, he is the one that designed all of the dolls. He wanted the world to know that each doll is his unique creation. By putting his name on each one for everyone to see, no one could mistake a Cabbage Patch for any other doll. The world is full of dolls, but Cabbage Patch dolls are special and unique. And without controversy, Xavier Roberts is their creator.

And so it is with us. Without controversy, a signature has been placed on our hearts that defines and separates us. Many hearts, one signature. And though each of us is gifted as well as flawed in many ways, we were created in His likeness, and He has given us His name. We belong to our Divine Creator. All credit is due Him, for He loves each of us and desires the best for His creation. Not only does He desire good things for His children, but He longs for us to be a separate and living testimony of His work in us.
How visible is His signature on our hearts? As we move through this world, can it be seen etched in our lives? After all, we are not just any people. We are His!

For me, I hope Jesus Christ is as plain in my heart as the smile on my face. Let there be no mistake. I proudly belong to Him.

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Devotions

He Knows

1 Min Read

The LORD is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble. The protector of Israel doesn’t doze or ever get drowsy” (Psalm 121:3-4 in the Contemporary English Version of the Holy Bible). There is so much injustice in our world today. But, God is aware of every violent crime. He knows about the illness that has taken a loved one away. He knows all about pain and suffering. He sees it all. God has not abdicated His throne and He has not abandoned His plan to one day set all things right.

Prayer: Lord, You know the difficult situations I face. You see; You hear; and I have this assurance that nothing escapes Your attention. Thank You for watching over me! Amen.

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