Posts with the tag “heart”
Are You Excited And Expectant?
by Curt Dodd on July 11th, 2025
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. – Mark 1:35 Let me tell you a little story. On one of our family vacations, we had no idea where we were going. We packed up the Suburban, loaded the kids, and flipped a coin as to where we would go. We would decide to go east, west, north, or south. We kept flipping... Read More
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Submitting to God’s Will
by Curt Dodd on May 16th, 2025
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38) If there was ever an example of complete submission to God’s will, it is the story of Mary in the Gospel of Luke. Mary was only a teenager and was engaged to be married. She was ready to start a new and exciting chapter in her life, when an angel told her that she would be the ... Read More
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God Draws Us to Himself
by Curt Dodd on March 28th, 2025
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:44) Regardless of where you are in your walk with the Lord, God is always drawing you closer. He wants to have a strong, intimate, and personal relationship with you. He is very intentional when it comes to drawing us near to Him. These are four ways God draws us closer to Him: God... Read More
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A Word of Blessing
by Curt Dodd on March 18th, 2025
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. (Psalm 20:4-5) I can’t forget the moment when I opened a short, encouraging card from a friend of mine and read this verse out loud. Apparently, he knew I needed the encouragement and blessing this ve... Read More
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Awakenings and Quiet Times
by Curt Dodd on February 21st, 2025
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39) The First Great Awakening occurred at Pentecost. God did an amazing thing that had never happened b... Read More
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Powerful Prayers and a Burden
by Curt Dodd on January 23rd, 2025
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. (James 5:16-17) Have you ever listened to someone pray and thought, “Wow, that was a power-packed p... Read More
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A Hand Of Blessing
by Curt Dodd on January 15th, 2025
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:17-18) For many of us, when we were growing up; we longed for the hand of blessing from our father. We wanted him to say to... Read More
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A Hardened Heart
by Curt Dodd on December 21st, 2024
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:5) Scripture tells us that in the end times, many people’s hearts will be hardened toward the Lord. What does it mean to have a hardened heart? We will look at that today and identify the signs for those who might be on the path of a ... Read More
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Be Persistent in Prayer
by Curt Dodd on October 15th, 2024
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10) The eleventh chapter of Luke records a conversation between Jesus and His disciples, after the disciples had asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. His instr... Read More
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Caring People Weep
by Curt Dodd on September 28th, 2024
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:3-5) When was the last... Read More
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How Does God Speak?
by Curt Dodd on August 11th, 2024
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)Have you ever wondered how God will speak to you? He speaks to you and to me through His Word.The written Word of the Lord is very important! God speaks to you through His Word. Don’t wait for a special word of knowledge. If y... Read More
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Hide God’s Word In Your Heart
by Curt Dodd on July 22nd, 2024
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 asked us to do an amazing thing for fifth-graders. She said, “I want to tell you 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 the Japan... Read More
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Hide God’s Word In Your Heart
by Curt Dodd on July 15th, 2024
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 asked us to do an amazing thing for fifth-graders. She said, “I want to tell you 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 the Japan... Read More
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Looking Forward
by Curt Dodd on July 13th, 2024
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw -- that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, becau... Read More
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Go Back To The Fundamentals
by Curt Dodd on June 3rd, 2024
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2When I was in college, I was wrestling with what God had planned for me. I was majoring in music and speech, and I knew He wanted me to go into ministry. I asked, “God, do you want me to be in music or do y... 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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Hope in Trials
by Curt Dodd on April 27th, 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) What are you walking through right now? What circumstances are you facing? What trials and tests are you experiencing? As you answer these questions, are you wondering why y... Read More
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Powerful Prayers and a Burden
by Curt Dodd on April 23rd, 2024
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. (James 5:16-17) Have you ever listened to someone pray and thought, “Wow, that was a power-packed p... Read More
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Balancing Truth and Love
by Curt Dodd on April 15th, 2024
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. – 2 Timothy 3:16As children of God, we often find ourselves trying to find the balance between love and truth, especially when confronted with situations where maybe a friend is living contrary to God's Word. Our first reaction might be to show empathy, wanting to suppo... Read More
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A Familiar Experience With Jesus
by Curt Dodd on April 12th, 2024
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:13-14) As you read the account of the events that happened af... Read More
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Are You Confessed Up To Date?
by Curt Dodd on April 5th, 2024
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – James 5:16 When I was in my first year of seminary, a missionary named Bertha Smith spoke to a class I was in. She was a godly woman who had given her life for ministry. As she stood before our class, she looked through her glasses at u... Read More
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Are You Confessed Up To Date?
by Curt Dodd on January 21st, 2024
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – James 5:16When I was in my first year of seminary, a missionary named Bertha Smith spoke to a class I was in. She was a godly woman who had given her life for ministry. As she stood before our class, she looked through her glasses at us ... Read More
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The Pavement
by Curt Dodd on January 20th, 2024
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him and took the staff and struck ... Read More
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A Word of Blessing
by Curt Dodd on January 18th, 2024
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. (Psalm 20:4-5) I can’t forget the moment when I opened a short, encouraging card from a friend of mine and read this verse out loud. Apparently, he knew I needed the encouragement and blessing this ve... 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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Looking Forward
by Curt Dodd on January 13th, 2024
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw -- that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, becau... Read More
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A Hardened Heart
by Curt Dodd on December 21st, 2023
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:5) Scripture tells us that in the end times, many people’s hearts will be hardened toward the Lord. What does it mean to have a hardened heart? We will look at that today and identify the signs for those who might be on the path of a ... Read More
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The Holy Spirit
by Curt Dodd on December 2nd, 2023
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26) When you become a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you and guide you through life. These are several ways the Holy Spirit works in us: 1. The Holy Spirit teaches us. God will allow His Spirit to inform you ... Read More
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Just Forgive
by Curt Dodd on November 30th, 2023
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22) Let’s face it: Forgiveness is complicated! When Simon Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother or sister, he already had a number in mind. In fact, ... Read More
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Control Your Heart
by Curt Dodd on November 25th, 2023
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23) When there is trouble in our lives, we tend to focus on that. We think we can work through it by mental-emotional gyrations. We dream about it, talk to our friends about it, and dwell on it. We devote a lot of verbiage to that trouble. Because we are worrying about it, Jesus is saying, “Don't let your hearts b... Read More
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How To Live Fearlessly
by Curt Dodd on October 15th, 2023
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. – 1 Peter 3:13-15Would you say that y... Read More
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Do You Give Out Of Guilt?
by Curt Dodd on October 2nd, 2023
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. – Malachi 3:10Have you ever wondered why we give? Why do you give? What really motivates you to give? Keep in mind I am not just talking about... Read More
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Smooth Sailing
by Curt Dodd on September 26th, 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 16:33) Don't you wish that after you gave your life to Christ, it would be nothing but smooth sailing? I surely wish that were the case. After you turn from sin, and place your faith in Christ, from that point on, you would like your life to be sm... Read More
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Friendship During Loss
by Curt Dodd on September 23rd, 2023
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17) When you are going through a loss, you sorely need positive, encouraging, life-giving friends. Difficult seasons can bring out the worst in us; this includes bitterness, anger, sadness, and selfishness. In those times, we must remember that we weren’t designed to walk through life alone. We were created to thrive in... 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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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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Attributes of a Christian
by Curt Dodd on August 19th, 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) Let’s look at three specific characteristics of a follower of Jesus. It is important to realize that each of these characteristics should be present in the life of a Christian. However, I would encourage you to read through this list with a posture of self-... Read More
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Are You Ready?
by Curt Dodd on August 7th, 2023
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) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21) Let me ask you a question, “If Jesus came today, are you ready?” If Jesus came today before ... Read More
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The Right Mentor
by Curt Dodd on July 20th, 2023
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) We need someone to sharpen us, mentor us and simply be there for us. Did Jesus have a mentor, someone who taught Him things? Of course. It was Joseph, His earthly father. What a wonderful choice God made! Jesus learned to work with wood as a carpenter and caught the heart of a man of God at home. He followed the example o... Read More
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A Ripple Effect
by Curt Dodd on July 15th, 2023
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) While D.L. Moody’s salvation story is one of my favorites, the story doesn’t end there. In fact, this was just the beginning, because D.L. Moody’s story is proof that you just never know the ripple effect your obedience can have on the lives of others. After D.L Moody was saved, he began preaching all o... Read More
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Building Men Over MembershipsAre You Encouraging Others?Committing Others To ChristSharing Your StoryFaith Beyond Your FamilyGod’s Purpose In Your PainAligned PrayersPraying with PowerA Defining EncounterA Desire To ServeA Faithful and Helpful FriendRestoring Broken RelationshipsThe Power To RestoreA Guilt-Free LifeA Hand Of BlessingA Heart Of RepentanceAllowing God To Do The ChangingAre You Feeling Stuck?Trust His HeartBe Ready For InterruptionsFull of the Holy SpiritDefeating DepressionPowerful Prayers and a BurdenThe Triumphal EntrySurrender Your Life to ChristGratitude Is The Gateway To ContentmentGratitude Is A Defense Against AnxietyDealing With DoubtFocus On The WordGiving and ServingListening Instead Of Talking
February
3 Keys To A Heavenly PerspectiveA Faith Rooted in FactA Faith That Draws or DrivesWhy Support Israel?The Danger Of Being Full Of YourselfLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureGod Is All-SufficientGuided By ProblemsJoy In The Midst Of ProblemsRemember Who God IsA Brand New Glimpse Of JesusA Call To God’s ChurchA Childlike FaithA Christ-Honoring EpitaphA Church On FireA Faithful and Helpful FriendA Personal AnswerA Public AnswerBe Sensitive To Your WitnessAwakenings and Quiet TimesCraving Spiritual MilkEmbracing Your Second ChanceSigns Of True RevivalResisting EvilBe DifferentBe AstuteBe Loving
March
Witness with Your WordsGod’s Word Is EnoughStay Rooted In The TruthA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouHave You Met Christ?Focus on the GiverEncountering God’s GraceStanding Accountable Before GodBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardImmeasurably MoreLiving in DenialYour Salvation MomentWhat Does It Look Like To Be The Church?A Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementWhen You Need Hope The End Is Near Stand on the Word of GodA Gracious GiftCelebrating Through BaptismThe Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentGod Draws Us to HimselfFind Rest in the LordBearing The Burdens Of OthersPrioritizing Your Love For Christ