You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last… John 15:16 (NIV) One of my fondest memories of grade school was playing kickball at recess. I loved that game so much, and I couldn’t wait to get on the field and get the game going. There
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Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV) 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. It starts when they’re so young. The other day I walked in on another skirmish. “What happened?” “She hit me!”
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All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:3 (NIV) It was “Ask the Youth Leader Night” for the kids at church, and everyone was putting their questions into the hat. The evening always provided interesting discussion centered on questions about faith, the Bible, and everything in between. Tom pulled the first
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He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will… Ephesians 1:5 (NIV) My relationship with my daughter Anne started out differently than with my other kids. Anne first came to our home as a foster child, and that’s how I introduced her to people. “This is my foster daughter, Anne,” I would
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The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV) The other evening, as I walked by the front window of our home, I caught a glimpse of a bright light in the early evening sky. I knew what I saw was more than a distant airplane or helicopter. It seemed odd
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For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 (NIV) D.L. Moody lived in the later part of the 1800s and was well known for his influence as an evangelist. History books say he led more than a million people to Christ during his lifetime. One of the most interesting facets of his life
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For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 (NIV) Outside of Mexico City is one of the world’s most accurately restored and largest pyramid structures in the world. Teotihuacan is actually an ancient city with two pyramids at its heart, one
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1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV) Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. A high school student bragging to his buddies about his behavior with his girlfriend said that he was proud to maintain his virginity even though they had crossed every other remaining boundary. We
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I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. Job 19:25 (NIV) He lost all of his livestock when bandits attacked. He lost all of his servants when another group of invaders came and killed them all. All of his sheep were consumed by fire. An invading army took all of his
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A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) If there’s one thing I hate, it’s when someone says something about me that isn’t true – especially when it paints a less than favorable picture of my character. This happened to me recently, and it sure made me
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