Posts with the tag “faith”

Boldly Standing for Christ
by Curt Dodd on November 5th, 2024
They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.  (Revelation 12:11)    Let me tell you a story about a guy named Matt. He was a high school student in a church I pastored in Houston many years ago. We had been emphasizing in our church the importance of taking a stand for Jesus Christ. Accordingly, we were looking for opportunities to share our faith.     One d...  Read More
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Something Greater
by Curt Dodd on November 3rd, 2024
For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. –Hebrews 13:14This life is temporary, but it’s easy to forget that. We get caught up in our daily routines: work, family, goals, and even struggles. While all these things are important, we need to remember that this world is not our final destination. We are only passing through.Hebrews 13:14 reminds us tha...  Read More
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Serve Like Jesus
by Curt Dodd on October 23rd, 2024
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Has there ever been a time in your life when you thought something was missing? You needed to fill in the blank on your page, and you didn't know what it was. You remember when you turned from...  Read More
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Don’t Get Distracted
by Curt Dodd on October 20th, 2024
"Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so." - Hebrews 13:9In today’s world, it’s easy to get swept up by the latest trends and ideas, especially on social media. We’re constantly bombarded with messages that claim to offer truth and wisdom, but not all o...  Read More
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Worship Jesus, Not Your Pastor
by Curt Dodd on October 13th, 2024
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. – Hebrews 13:8Don't ever worship a pastor because they will let you down. They will do that because they wear a skin suit, just like you. When they point a finger at you, they have three fingers pointing back at them. Your faith should never be based on a leader. Instead, it should always be focused on Jesus Christ. He is the only one who w...  Read More
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Tough Times Dont Last
by Curt Dodd on September 9th, 2024
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."- James 1:2-4Yesterday, we began talking about the importance of having a tough times theology. We discussed two of five principles we can apply t...  Read More
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Actions and Words
by Curt Dodd on August 2nd, 2024
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:...  Read More
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Actions and Words
by Curt Dodd on July 2nd, 2024
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:...  Read More
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Be Loving
by Curt Dodd on June 28th, 2024
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)  If we want to live a life that honors God, we need to be loving. This verse makes it clear by saying, “Above all, love each other deeply.” This is easier said than done because many people have personalities that just don’t seem to mesh with ours.   It is easy to be loving in a general sense. “I just lo...  Read More
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Facing Opposition For Your Faith
by Curt Dodd on June 17th, 2024
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. – Matthew 24:42-44When I began ministry as a pa...  Read More
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Praying In Faith
by Curt Dodd on May 31st, 2024
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. – Ephesians 3:20  In between the services one morning at church, a couple came up to me and reminded me of a moment in our foyer several years ago. The wife had been battling bone cancer for quite some time. The doctors had dealt with that and had healed her. However, there ...  Read More
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A Childlike Faith
by Curt Dodd on May 14th, 2024
He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never entre the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2-4)  In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry, he tells this simple yet impactful stor...  Read More
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Strengthening Believers
by Curt Dodd on May 3rd, 2024
They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. – Acts 14:21-22  The word “strengthening” in today’s key passage comes from the Greek word “episterizo.” It literally me...  Read More
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Surrender Your Life to Christ
by Curt Dodd on April 25th, 2024
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.  (John 20:17-18) The resurrection experience that these women had was very po...  Read More
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Allowing God To Do The Changing
by Curt Dodd on April 17th, 2024
“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard this, they had no further objections and...  Read More
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A Defining Encounter
by Curt Dodd on April 9th, 2024
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)  He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)  One thing that is true for every follower of Jesus is that there has been a...  Read More
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Don’t Stop Sharing The Good News
by Curt Dodd on April 1st, 2024
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20Have you ever wondered why you exist? Have you found yourself questioning why God put you on this earth? Well, the Bible tells us th...  Read More
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Faith and Understanding
by Curt Dodd on March 5th, 2024
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) We live in a culture where we highly value knowledge and intelligence. Like the saying goes, “Knowledge is power,” we think the more we know, the better off we will be. However...  Read More
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It’s Only Jesus
by Curt Dodd on February 25th, 2024
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6Many people think that the way you get to heaven is just to go to church, be a good person, and love your brother as yourself. All of that is important, but you don't have the power to do that consistently without having a relationship with Jesus.Do you know why? Sin! We were born wit...  Read More
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Sharing Your Faith
by Curt Dodd on February 14th, 2024
 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey...  Read More
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Praying For Israel
by Curt Dodd on February 5th, 2024
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.” – Psalm 122:6Yesterday, we began a discussion about why we as believers are to pray for and support the nation of Israel. If you missed yesterday’s devotion, I strongly encourage you to go back and read it. But for now, we’re going to continue on this topic and discuss four more reasons why we should support Israel.The fourth rea...  Read More
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A Childlike Faith
by Curt Dodd on February 2nd, 2024
He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2-4) In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry, he tells this simple yet impactful story...  Read More
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Committing Others To Christ
by Curt Dodd on January 14th, 2024
From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. – Acts 14:26-27As I was praying this morning, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the people who have kids or family mem...  Read More
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Be Ready for the End 
by Curt Dodd on January 11th, 2024
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)    Whether we admit it or not, the end times are not very far away. Jesus is coming back soon and we need to be prepared.     We might not be here when the events of the end times arrive. This is the pathway that will unfold during the Great Tribu...  Read More
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Actions and Words
by Curt Dodd on January 2nd, 2024
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:...  Read More
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Lean on God in Uncertainty
by Curt Dodd on December 30th, 2023
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  (Hebrews 13:5) When you are in the middle of a season of uncertainty, and have more questions than answers; do you find yourself wondering where God is in the midst of it all? Maybe you ask questions like, “God, where are you?” or “Do you really and truly care about me?” or “What are you trying to do?” Feelings of doubt, fear, and anxiety often ...  Read More
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Praise God for Your Story
by Curt Dodd on December 14th, 2023
And they praised God because of me.  (Galatians 1:24)  Paul’s reputation definitely preceded him. His story of coming to faith in Christ circulated throughout the east long before he had made one of his “missionary journeys.” Before Christ, Paul was a stone-cold legalist. He even took it upon himself to organize the extermination of early believers. His efforts led to the stoning death of Stephen,...  Read More
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The Reality of Persecution
by Curt Dodd on December 10th, 2023
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33In the past year, 360 million Christians (1 in 7 believers around the world) suffered significant persecution for their faith. I don't know if you have ever been persecuted for your faith or overlooked for a raise or promotion because of your f...  Read More
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Asking out of Faith
by Curt Dodd on December 8th, 2023
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.  (Matthew 20:32-34)  One of the things that separates Christianity from all other religions is that we can experience salvation by faith alone. In order to have a person...  Read More
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Showing Love
by Curt Dodd on November 10th, 2023
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  (Matthew 28:19-20) We often say that love is a feeling. I would have to disagree and tell you that love is an action. Love is something we show, not ju...  Read More
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Doing Before Knowing God
by Curt Dodd on November 7th, 2023
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”  (Matthew 7: 21-23)   This...  Read More
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Healing Misconceptions
by Curt Dodd on November 3rd, 2023
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given to me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)  When we see someone who is going through some kind of pa...  Read More
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Are You Willing To Give It All?
by Curt Dodd on October 9th, 2023
“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” - Luke 21:1-4Do you realize that one of the peopl...  Read More
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What Are Your Ministry Gifts?
by Curt Dodd on September 18th, 2023
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10In Scripture, we learn that there are several ministry gifts that are granted to believers. There is the gift of giving, the gift of helping, the gift of administration (organization), the gift of mercy, the gift of discernment, the gift of prophecy, the g...  Read More
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Partnering With Other Believers
by Curt Dodd on September 3rd, 2023
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)  As followers of Jesus, we should be in partnership with other believers. Anyone who loves Jesus, who has turned from sin and placed their faith in Christ – they are on the same team as us. We need to be in partnership with them.   Many of us come from a he...  Read More
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Walking Humbly with God
by Curt Dodd on September 2nd, 2023
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)  This verse is very familiar, a verse which we should be applying to our everyday lives. However, we need to take a deeper look at the end of the verse and define what it means to walk humbly with our God.   First, the challenge to walk humb...  Read More
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Be Ready 
by Curt Dodd on August 31st, 2023
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36)    Jesus talks more than once in Scripture about people not being ready for His return. That’s why it is so important that we are ready for Jesus to come back. You need to make sure that you know Jesus Christ as Lord of your life.     By the way, this is not a denominational t...  Read More
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Share Your Faith
by Curt Dodd on August 25th, 2023
The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah.” (John 1:41)  After I met Christ as my personal Savior and Lord, the first thing I did was sing and share! As I was riding my bicycle home that Monday afternoon, after praying to receive Christ, I couldn’t help but sing. Although I don’t remember the words of the song, I do remember the joy and the s...  Read More
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A Powerful Witness
by Curt Dodd on August 22nd, 2023
They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:23-24)    Paul recounts his testimony from others who had certainly noticed a dramatic change in the course of his life. Moving from a persecutor to a proclaimer, he made a deep impact on his culture for Christ. Just think of the 180...  Read More
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Memorizing God’s Word
by Curt Dodd on August 21st, 2023
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)  When I was in the fifth grade, I will never forget going to Vacation Bible School (VBS). The teacher challenged us as fifth graders to do something really amazing. She started by telling us a story about some prisoners of war in World War II. They were trying to put the Bible together to read to each other. In th...  Read More
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Blaming Others
November 21st, 2024
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November 20th, 2024
Stand Firmly in Freedom
November 19th, 2024
Dependence Leads To Peace
November 18th, 2024
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Archive

 2024
 January
Building Men Over MembershipsActions and WordsPraying in God’s WillA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouAre You Encouraging Others?Strengthening BelieversSalvation Is SimpleCounterfeit TeachingBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardCommitting Others To ChristSharing Your StoryTaking the Time To BlessPraying for UnbelieversA Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementAre You Confessed Up To Date?Fighting Self-Sufficiency With PrayerBe Responsible for Your ChildrenJesus Is Standing with You The Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentAligned PrayersPraying with PowerDealing with ProblemsHandling Stress
 February
Come and SeeA Childlike FaithDon’t Miss OutWhy Support Israel?Praying For IsraelHow To Honor GodResisting EvilThe Lord Encourages UsJesus Is the AuthorityGod ProvidesLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureA Heart of RepentanceSharing Your FaithSubmitting to God’s WillSecure in Your IdentityHow Are You Filled?God Is All-SufficientJesus Is The Only WayPray, Just PrayNo Sin Is Too BigThe Purpose in PainFeed Your FaithStay in Love with JesusIt’s Only JesusRemember Who God IsGifts from the Holy SpiritThis World Is Not Your HomeBe Different
 March
Admitting You Are WrongMoney Can’t Buy HappinessMy ConfidenceChanged by Christ Faith and UnderstandingDo Angels Exist?Falling at Jesus’ FeetBorn AgainThe Fullness of JesusExperiencing Christ’s FullnessThe Lord’s ProtectionPraying FriendsA Hand of BlessingBe StillYour Heavenly FatherBlessing Your ChildrenGod Is Our ProviderTime To StopSimply Follow ChristFathers Loving MothersEvery Knee Will BowWhen God Repeats HimselfThe Seven ChurchesTaking Up Your CrossMake Peace With GodGod Gives Free WillGod’s Healing PowerGo All in for ChristAbiding and RestingBelieving God’s WordWhat Hangs In The Balance Of Evangelism?
 April
Don’t Stop Sharing The Good NewsAre You Encouraging Others?Committing Others To ChristSharing Your StoryAre You Confessed Up To Date?Fighting Self-Sufficiency With PrayerAligned PrayersPraying with PowerA Defining Encounter

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Kingdom abandoned abandoning abandon ability abondoned acceptable acceptance accepted accepting accept accomplishment accomplish accordance accountable acknowledge actions activity addiction admitting admit adoration advancing advice affection affirmation afraid aligned aligning align alive allowedd allowed allowing allow almighty altered amazing amount anxiety anxious appeared appearing apply approaching approach argument arrogant assurance assures assure attend attention attentive attitude audience authority banished baptized beaituful behaviors behavior beieve beliefs belief believed believeibng believerrs believers believer believes believe believing belong benefits biblical blend blessed blesses blessings blessing bless blossomed bond brokenhearted burdens burden burial buried capable careful cares care caring carving celebrate challenges chance change changing charges charge churches church claiming clarity climate combat comfortable comforting comfort commanded commandment commands command commitment committed communicate communicating communion community companionship companion compared comparing comparisons compassion competition complete complicated compliment comprehend compromised compromise concerned concerning concerns concern confessed confess confidence confident conflicts conflict confrontation confronting confused confusion connected connection connect consider consistent contact contentment content context contradict control conversation convicting conviction convict convinced convince corrected correcting courageous cover created create creation critical crucial crucified crucifixation crucify culture cure curiosity customers daily death decided decide declaration dedicated defend deflection deliberate delivers denomination denying departure depression describe description deserved deserves deserve desie designed desired desires desire desiring desrtuction destiny determine devastated develop devotional devotion dictates dictate difference 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freidnships fresh friendship friends fulfilled fulfillment fullness future gathering gave generation generosity generous genuine gifts gift given givers giver give giving glady glad glimpse glorfiy glorified glorify glorious glory godly goodness gospel goverment grace gracious grateful gratitude grave gravity grieve grope growing growth grow guidance guided guides guiding guilty guilt handling happiness happy hardship healed healing health heal hearing heartbreak hearts heart heaven help hesitate holy honest honorably honored honoring honors honor hoped hopefulness hopeful hopeless hopes hope hoping horror humanity humbly identified identify identity ignited ignorant ignore imagine immature impacted impactful impact impatient importance important including inevitable influence information inherent innocent inspiration inspired inspires instance instant intended intensity intentional intentions interceding interesting interest interpretations intimately intimate intrude investment invitation invite itimacy journey joyful joy justifying knowing knowledge known laborers labor leadership leaders leader leading lead leaning learning learn legacy lonely longing lordship loved loves love loving manipulate marriage married mature mediator meditate meditation membership members memeber memorable memory merciful mercy message mindful minds minister ministry miracles miracle miraculous missing mission moment motive moun notice nourished nourishment obedience obedient obey obligation observer observe offering operate opinions opportunities opportunity oppressed outcome overcome overcoming overpowered overpower overwhelmed overwhelming ownership painful parenting partnership passage passing passion pastors patient peace peae perception perfectly perfect perform perishing perish persecuted perseverance personally personal perspective plan pleasing political pondering positioned position possibility powerful power praised praises praiseworthy praise praising prayed prayerful prayers prayer praying pray preached preachers preacher preaching preach prepared prepare presence present pressure prevent pride primary principle probelm problem process proclaim produce productive promised promises promise promote prosperous prosper protecting protection protect proud proved prove provides provide providing provision purify purity purposes purpose pursuing raises raise realized realize realizing reassured rebelling rebellion receive recieved recover recuperation redeems redeem redemption redemptive referring reflection refuse reignite rejected relationships relationship religion religious remedy remember remembrance reminds renewal repeated repentance repent represent resisted resisting resist resolution respect responsibility rest resurrection retreat return reveals righteous ritual royalty running sacrifice safest safe salvation satisfied satisfies satisfy saved save saving scriptual scripture secured security seeking seek selfish sensitive seperated seperate seperation sermon servants servant served server serve service serving shame shaping share sharing showed significance silence silent sinful sinless sinners sinner sin solve soul speaking speak spiraling spirirt spiritually spiritual spirit spread srve stability standards standing strengthen strength stressed stressful stress strong struggles struggle struggling submit substain successful success suffering supply supported supportive support surrendered surrender surrounding surround survived talents teachable teachers teaches teachings teach tears temptation tempted testify thoughtful thoughts through thrown together tolerance tradition translation treat trouble troubling true truly trusted trusting trustworthy trust truth trutyh unbelievers uncomfortable understand unshamed utilize validation valuable values value verbally victory violated vulnerable waiting wants watchful willingly willing wisdom wise witnessed witness wonderful wondering wonder worried worrying worry worshipping worship worthy wrath