12 we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted we endure it; 13a when we are slandered, we respond graciously.
The following story was told by a student in Bible school class while I was also a student in the same Bible school class at my former church, Perfecting Faith Church, Senior Pastor Donnie McClurkin. My fellow student while she was walking down a sidewalk came upon a woman whose dogs were blocking her way.
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5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of David the king….16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah (Christ). Matthew 1:5-6, 16 AMP (Amplified Bible)
Did Rahab because of her faith in God have “the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1b KJV)?
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6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. 7a Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. Exodus 34:6-7a KJV
When Moses ascended upon Mount Sinai, “the Lord passed by before him (Moses), and proclaimed “The Lord, The Lord God.”
The Lord is “merciful” or compassionate as He along with us all suffer of this world Him giving and showing mercy to us all.
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But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord. At an acceptable and opportune time, O God, in the multitude of Your mercy and the abundance of Your loving-kindness hear me, and in the truth and faithfulness of Your salvation answer me. Psalm 69:13 AMPC (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
In God’s timing and season through His promise and His support to us we receive blessings. We as Christians accept His blessings with a sound mind and heart as our sincere prayers to Him are answered.
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Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:34 KJV
Like Christ who forgave and continues to forgive all people of our sins we as a people must take little time to follow Christ’s example of forgiving people who have hurt us. Christ was in extreme pain on the cross when He forgave us all. So in our pain we can start the process of forgiveness 70 times 7 (Matthew 18:21-22 KJV).
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33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:33, 35 KJV
In the now new year of 2020 we in all the world have the opportunity to have new life in this new year through”the bread of life.”
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Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 KJV
“The word of Christ,” the gospel message and the saving work of Christ, inhabits the believer, and is abundant in spiritual wisdom which is given to us freely and which gives us much joy. “The word of Christ,” the gospel message and the saving work of Christ,
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And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4:9 KJV
This particular blog is more of a thought discerned from the above scripture.
Upon watching a program on TV years ago, this program portrayed African American children who had been through the foster care system in America. These children spoke of how they were adopted by good parents who encouraged them to go on to college and to a better life for themselves yet still with their thoughts of abandonment.
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Discipline and teach your son while there is hope, And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction. Proverbs 19:18 AMP (Amplified Bible).
Discipline means “training that corrects, molds or perfects the mental faculties or moral character” in our girls and boys (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). All of us are directed by Christ to discipline and teach our children, i.e., “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not,
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1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. 3a As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. Song of Solomon 2:1-3a KJV.
As Christ is the bridegroom of His church to each one of us in our union with Him, Jesus is the “lily” of our valleys (that is “valleys”
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