All posts filed under: Mid-week Boost

Is there a “Balm” in Edgard Allan Poe’s Raven?

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Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. ”Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, ‘tapping at my chamber door- Only this, and nothing more.’ Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore- For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore- Nameless here for evermore. And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, ”Tis …

Don’t let it get to your head!

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Mark 1:4-8 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” When your birth was foretold by angels, your first encounter with Jesus came while you were still in your mama’s womb, and your dad’s mouth was locked for many months so that he could not speak until you were born, that can call for some real arrogance and self importance if you let it het to your head. Today many fall prey to the spirit of pride because they allow …

How to rise above Discouragement

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Luke 7:11-17 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. This story is one of the saddest in the gospels. It describes the life of a single mother who had just lost her only …

Fit to Sit: Partakers of Endless Glory

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Part 2: A Commentary on Psalm 15 Verse 3 – Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. The word cherpah, which we here translate a reproach, comes from charaph, to strip, or make bare, to deprive one of his garments; hence choreph, the winter, because it strips the fields of their clothing, and the trees of their foliage. By this, nature appears to be dishonoured and disgraced. The application is easy: a man, for instance, of a good character is reported to have done something wrong the tale is spread, and the slanderers and backbiters carry it about; and thus the man is stripped of his fair character, of his clothing of righteousness, truth, and honesty. All may be false; or the man, in an hour of the power of darkness, may have been tempted and overcome; may have been wounded in the cloudy and dark day, and deeply mourns his fall before God. Who that has not the heart of a devil would not strive rather to cover than make bare the fault? …

Fit to Sit: Partakers of Endless Glory

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Part 1 Commentary on Psalm 15 The questions therefore are, Who can be considered a fit member of the Church of Christ here below? and, Who shall be made partakers of an endless glory? In answer to these questions, the character of what we may term a true Israelite, or a good Christian, is given in the following particulars:- Verse 2. He that walketh uprightly a. He walks perfectly. Who sets God before his eyes, takes his word for the rule of his conduct, considers himself a sojourner on earth, and is continually walking to the kingdom of God. He acts according to the perfections of God’s law; he has respect to all its parts, and feels the weight and importance of all its injunctions. As he is the creature of GOD, he has duties to perform to him. He owes God his heart: May son, give me thy heart; and should love him with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is giving GOD his due. As a member of civil society, he …

Dance in the Rain? We can’t dance until we lean how to lament.

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Written by Janelle Wangle with Jayleen Wangle via Bible Insight Just about everyone has heard the anonymous saying, “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.” I wonder what the original author meant by “dance”? If they meant that we just tell ourselves to be happy or at least pretend to be happy and “look for the silver lining,” then I disagree with the saying. But if dance means to have intimacy with God, then I heartily agree. The last line of Michael Card’s song “Underneath the Door” says: “Pain is the pen that writes the songs and they call us forth to dance.” Card is calling us to dance to the songs that pain has written for us. These songs are written in major and minor keys. Many times they are not “beautiful,” and in fact are quite harsh, but the finished product is a masterpiece. Learning to Lament How do we dance to these songs? By being real with God. That’s the only way …

DOORS: The Ones you open and walk through

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; Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut… God has put us all on a path that lead to many doors of opportunities. Each of us would be exceedingly wise to enter each door of opportunity that God opens for us. Here is a list of a few: The door of sonship – John 1:12 The door of deliverance – Exodus 12:22, 23 The door of miracles – 2 Kings 4:4, 5 The door of victory – Daniel 3:26 The door of hope – Hosea 2:15 The door of prayer and communion with God – Matt. 6:6 The door of boldness – Luke 11:7, 8 The door to the salvation – John 10:1, 2, 9, The door of faith – Acts 14:27 The door of effectual work (door of kingdom opportunity) 1 Corinthians 16:9 The door of utterance – Col. 4:3 The open door – Revelation 3:8 The doorway to heaven – Revelation 4:1 Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one …

Selah: Pause and think about it!

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I love to hear the word “advantage” in a tennis match. At this time the server has the advantage to win the match after deuce. I get excited, especially if the one I am rooting for has the advantage. Advantage means everything is in your favor. It means you have the edge over the other player. It means you have the power now to win a set or win the match. Psalm 84 give me that same feeling. The psalm is a description of the advantages we have with the Lord being there with us. The psalm divides very simply into three parts and marked off by the little word Selah. Selah means to pause and think of what has just been said. Let me simply share these verses and have you pause and think about what you just read: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout …

Beautiful Ugly Scars

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At 4 I started skipping school to go play what we call football, not America Football, but Football – the real deal. If you are still confused, I am talking about soccer. I can’t begin to tell you how many scars I have on my body from injuries playing soccer. But as rough as soccer can be, my most painful and visible scars did not come from playing soccer. I have eleven stitches on my right pinkie and 9 stitches on the right side of my face close to my ear and they were inflicted on me by my evil sister. The injuries were punishment for telling on her. She was not to bring boys home, but one evening I caught her in the back yard kissing a guy. When she realized that I had flagged her down, she came after me with a vengeance. Her weapon of choice was one of those hard old fashioned Swedish Slippers. The next thing I knew, I was being rushed to the hospital. All of us carry some kind …

That which looks, sounds, smell, Spirit filled is not necessarily Spirit Filled

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As a pastor and spiritual head of both my church and my family, I usually get the following questions either by leaders in my congregation or most certainly by my wife: “Is the Holy Spirit leading you? Did you hear from God for the direction you are taking this church or family? Did you get a word from God about this project, plan or path you are taking us on?” I must confess that sometimes I am tempted to clothe my speech, my plan, and projects with an emphatic yes , “the Lord told me, the Spirit has spoken, the Lord is leading.” But anointing our plans as God’s will, or the Spirit’s leading doesn’t mean that they actually are Spirit led. In the the same way, claiming to be filled with the Spirit, sounding like we are Spirit filled or acting like we are spirit filled does not mean we actually are. It is crystal clear in the the Bible that we should be Spirit Filled. Ephesians 5:18 commands, And do not get drunk …