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Wisdom vs. Wisdom

Greetings! . . . More on Acts 17 - Paul's Visit to Athens

Have you ever heard the word versus used as a verb? You probably have, if your kids played sports. . . They say something like, "Tomorrow, we're versing the Dodgers." 'Not even a word, but you sure understand what they are saying, don't you? Well, today, we are going to observe Wisdom versing wisdom--Godly wisdom versing man's wisdom.

Yesterday, we saw Paul in Athens 'versing' all of the gods of earthly wisdom,… Continue

Added by Christine on August 3, 2009 at 12:15pm — 1 Comment

The day you made God smile

Good Morning~

Keeping our bookmarks in Acts 17, I want to explore this trait of Paul's that caused him to be so courageous--it seems like it was part character trait, part devotion, and part faith--it was his undying trust in Jesus Christ. Yesterday's briefing included some self-investigative questions--starting with the jumping-off point of total surrender of ourselves to God--including your thoughts about His love for you. Most Christians realize God is asking for us to surrender… Continue

Added by Christine on July 30, 2009 at 11:01pm — 2 Comments

Wanna' be like Paul?

My summary of Acts 17.1-15 - The young missions team of Paul, Silas and Timothy traveled further into Europe--to Amphipolis and Apollonia, and on to Thessalonica--the bustling capital city of Macedonia, with about 200,000 in population. Paul again started preaching in the synagogue where a number of folks responded to the gospel, which riled up some of the Jews who chose not to believe. Their jealousy compelled them to go to the officials with the accusation that the missionaries were causing… Continue

Added by Christine on July 24, 2009 at 10:21pm — No Comments

Praise God now?????? Yes, praise Him now.

Acts 16.16-34 - Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I… Continue

Added by Christine on July 24, 2009 at 11:24am — 1 Comment

A Place of Prayer

Good Day!

Yesterday, I commented that the missionary team of Paul, Silas, and Timothy headed into Europe with the gospel--let's look a little closer. . .Acts 16.12-15 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. (which includes parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, theRepublic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania and Serbia.) And we stayed there several days. (The ruins of Philippi are near modern Kavalla in northern Greece. It was… Continue

Added by Christine on July 21, 2009 at 10:03pm — No Comments

This is inspiring; Check it out. . .

Acts 16.4-10 - Paul's second missionary journey ~ 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into… Continue

Added by Christine on July 21, 2009 at 7:06am — No Comments

GRACE plus what?

Acts 15.1-35 http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+15.1-35

v. 8 - God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them [the Gentiles] by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us [the Jews]

v.10-11 - Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Good Day~

Okay,… Continue

Added by Christine on July 19, 2009 at 10:17pm — 1 Comment

Need encouragement? Be courageous

Good Morning~ Several of you wrote to tell me that the story of Jehoshaphat's faith, and how God rewarded it, was really encouraging for you--as YOU are 'in the battle'. Someone also commented quite astutely that it didn't really have anything to do with where we are in the book of Acts---well today, it will, as we finish Acts 14. You will remember in the verses just before these, Paul had been brutally stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. Miraculously, he was able to travel the… Continue

Added by Christine on July 16, 2009 at 8:26am — No Comments

LIFESAVER

Good day~

lifesaver |ˈlīfˌsāvər| noun

"1 (informal) a thing that saves one from serious difficulty 2 a ring-shaped life preserver." Do you need a LIFESAVER? Sometimes when my back is against the wall, and there seems to be no place to turn, I read stories of people with great faith in the Bible, and take comfort in seeing how the Lord cared for them--how He heard from Heaven, and met them. One of my very favorite is found in 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. Does trusting God really pay off?… Continue

Added by Christine on July 14, 2009 at 10:07pm — No Comments

Do you THINK well?

Acts 14.1-20 As I read today's passage over and over, I was struck by how fickle these people were. . . how they were influenced first one way and then that. A couple weeks ago, we discussed the strategy of Satan to tear down, to rip off, to destroy wherever possible. One of his best ploys is to play with our minds; when he gains access to a weak mind, he can wreak all kinds of havoc in our thinking--causing doubt, guilt, fear, anxiety, etc. So, I see how the devil no doubt was involved in the… Continue

Added by Christine on July 12, 2009 at 10:40pm — No Comments

Continue in the Grace of God

Good Day~

1. Pray that the truth and inspiration of God's Word will be revealed for you from this passage . . . 2. Read the passage 3. "What do you NOTICE?" Read it again, and highlight what strikes you 4. If it fits, pull it apart for application.

Acts 18.23-19.7 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native… Continue

Added by Christine on July 3, 2009 at 12:08am — 1 Comment

God in a box?

Good Morning. . . Today as we study the second half of Paul's sermon, I pray that God will make his Word come alive for all of us, so that it will become alive IN all of us~

Acts 13.26-43 (NIV). Scripture is in black; the words in blue are my prayerful thoughts about Paul's powerful message to God's people.

26"Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. Paul addresses those sitting before him in the… Continue

Added by Christine on July 1, 2009 at 10:52pm — No Comments

Paul appeals to the Jews

Greetings, Friends~ Today, we are blessed to read Paul's first recorded sermon--what a brilliant oratorical narrative it is for us to devour! Paul was masterful in relating to the Jews in the way they would receive it, using his intellectual style of evangelism. While his sermon has similarities to the speeches of Stephen and Peter as a historical retrospective, Paul's weaving in of prophecy and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ shows that Christianity is a defensible faith. So, pray with me--… Continue

Added by Christine on June 30, 2009 at 10:42pm — No Comments

Don't make crooked the straight

Acts 13.1-12 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and… Continue

Added by Christine on June 19, 2009 at 8:59pm — No Comments

Who is Earnest?

Good Day! Did you have a chance to read about the gift of encouragement yesterday? It is the gift that keeps on giving, you know. . . did you make a conscious effort to encourage someone? I pray so.

And, hey--are you thinking 'you have no idea, I'm the one that needs the encouragement right now, sister'? Well, when you get out of your own head, and encourage someone else... guess what? It brings some satisfaction your way; in fact, Proverbs 11 says that, "he who refreshes others will… Continue

Added by Christine on June 17, 2009 at 8:31am — 2 Comments

Is your middle name "Barnabas"?

Acts 11:19-30 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. When the church at Jerusalem heard what had… Continue

Added by Christine on June 16, 2009 at 9:22am — No Comments

Just the facts, Ma'am

Good Morning. Yesterday, in seeking to make sense of growth in Christianity down through the centuries, I took a simplified look at Christian denominations, and some of their unique beliefs. Several days ago, I wrote about six different Scriptural styles for sharing our faith--giving us the freedom to use our own natural bents and creativity for telling others about Jesus Christ. . . all of which is important. . . but, even more important is knowing what you believe as a Christian. When I was a… Continue

Added by Christine on June 15, 2009 at 10:40pm — 2 Comments

Not just for Jews any longer

What does a blanket of animals, a Jew and an Italian have in common? 'Give up? They are the main players in what the Lord has for us in today's passage. It is long, but I believe that reading the whole thing is valuable in order to grasp how God was stretching the apostle Peter, and then as a byproduct, the early Church.

Open your Bibles and read Acts 10 - 11.18, or click on: http://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%2010.1-11.18&version=31

Good Day,… Continue

Added by Christine on June 11, 2009 at 10:44pm — No Comments

What's your style?

Please read Acts 9.23-43 in your Bible, or click on: http://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%209.23-43&version=31

Glad tidings! A little archaic, but it expresses a little more joy than 'good morning', I think~

As we close out Acts chapter 9, there are a couple vignettes captured by author Luke--Saul's change of venue, the church experiences a little peace, and Peter assumes center stage again for a little while. Notice a couple pertinent points with me,… Continue

Added by Christine on June 9, 2009 at 10:10pm — No Comments

What about Jesus?

Acts 9:19-25 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that… Continue

Added by Christine on June 8, 2009 at 11:03pm — 3 Comments