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    • The never-ending thirst quencher

      Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on January 29, 2018

      Zechariah 13:1 (GW) The Lord declares, “On that day a fountain will be opened for David’s family and for those who live in Jerusalem to wash away their sin and stain.”

      In chapters 9 – 14 of the book of Zechariah, Zechariah gives several prophecies about the 1st and 2nd coming of Christ. But it was verse 1 of chapter 13 that caught my eye and reminded me of God’s never-ending fountain of forgiveness and mercy.

      The reference to a never-ending fountain reminded me the Samaritan woman (John 4: 7 – 14) at the well. She was going about the activity of her daily life. Carrying her empty bucket, this woman was on her way to the well to draw water. When she arrived, she bumped into Jesus who offered her so much more than just ordinary water. He offered to fill her with  soul-quenching water that would bring hope, healing, and the eternal satisfaction no one or nothing in this world could ever provide. With the water Jesus gave, she’d never be thirsty again.

      As I continued to think about the different places in the Bible that refer to water, I got a mental image of a river flowing from the very throne of God (Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Revelation 22:1-2). The river mentioned in these two passages of scripture refer to a life-giving body of water giving fullness of life and bringing eternal satisfaction of our spiritual thirst.

      Because of my allergies coupled with the cold I’ve had the last few days I have become spiritually thirsty because I didn’t have my quiet time nor did I draw close to the Lord in my time of prayer.  Today, as I read over the words in Zechariah, John, Ezekiel, and Revelation my thirst was quenched as I drew in a big gulp from God’s life-giving river. Its waters washed over me and renewed/refreshed my thirsty spirit.

      Are you “thirsty” today? I encourage you to step into the river of the Holy Spirit and drink deeply. There you will find refreshment and renewal for your soul.

      Related scriptures to refresh and renew:
      Isaiah 12:3, 35:6 – 7, 41:18; Psalm 46:4; Revelation 7:17

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      Posted in cleansing water, River of life, thirsty soul | 0 Comments
    • Have you gotten lazy?

      Posted at 8:45 am by sneuhofer, on January 26, 2018

      Proverbs 26: 13 – 16 (NCV) “The lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the road! There’s a lion in the streets!” Like a door turning back and forth on its hinges, the lazy person turns over and over in bed. Lazy people may put their hands in the dish, but they are too tired to lift the food to their mouths. The lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give sensible answers.”

      Solomon really tells us what he thinks about lazy people in Proverbs 26. As I read through this chapter, I couldn’t help but go back to verses 13 through 16. I can’t think of one single person I know that is truly lazy. By lazy I mean “someone who does absolutely nothing.” Oh sure, some people do more than others because their jobs may be more physically demanding but in thinking about everyone I know…they all do something. I know I have my down time… but I don’t think I’m lazy. In fact, rest was something that God did after He spent six days creating the heavens and the earth. He told us to rest and even gave us a day to do it…the Sabbath.

      Let’s look at this in a different way. So you may not be a lazy individual, you may be an extremely hard worker…but what about your faith? Are you lazy when it comes to your faith and your relationship with Jesus? Have you set aside time in your hectic day to spend a few minutes with Christ? Time to talk to Him, be in his word and get to know him better?

      Try a little self assessment. Do you have a consistent daily quiet time? When you set aside time for Christ, do you read your Bible and journal the things you reflect on?  Is there a certain time and place you’ve dedicated just for you and Christ?

      If the answer to any of these questions is “no” then try one or all of the steps listed below to establish a quiet time or get you back on track.

      1. Set aside a time where there will be no distractions. For example, set your clock 15 to 30 minutes earlier so you can get up and spend a few minutes reading a chapter of the Bible. OR stay up a few minutes later so you can have a quiet time before you go to bed.
      2. Find a quiet place in your home where you will be less likely to be distracted or fall asleep.
      3. Commit to read and journal 1 chapter of the Bible a day.
      4. Having a busier than typical day? Set a timer for 10 minutes and read your Bible.

      If you’ve gotten lazy in your relationship with Christ, it’s not too late to fix it. He’s waiting for you right now. He wants to spend time with you more than anything! I know it’s hard to wrap your brain around that concept right? The God of the universe wants to spend quality time with me? Whether it’s five minutes or an hour and five minutes – I try to find some time to get alone with Jesus… I know when I take the time to “get away with Him” I am always glad I did.

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      Posted in Quiet time, spiritual nourishment | 1 Comment
    • The 3 D’s of Unforgiveness

      Posted at 8:15 am by sneuhofer, on January 25, 2018

      Unforgiveness brings Division, Devastation, and Destruction

      2 Corinthians 2: 7-11 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

      Why is forgiving someone…hard to do? When someone does something hurtful to you, don’t you feel yourself wanting them to feel the hurt and pain you feel and then pay dearly for it? Let me take it one step further; has someone in your church, perhaps a church leader, ever done something to hurt you?

      In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul is talking to the Corinthians about forgiving brothers and sisters in Christ who have been disciplined in the church and repented of their actions. Satan would love nothing better than to cause division in the church and strife among the body of Christ. If he can get in and cause division in a church by growing the root of unforgiveness, he will. I have seen first-hand how Satan can grow an unforgiving root in a church. The devastation, division and destruction it brings is heart breaking.

      I am not going to pretend that forgiveness is a piece of cake – it’s hard when someone has wronged you or someone you care about. But forgiving is something that must be done if we are going to remain obedient to the Word. Matthew 6:14 – 15 tells us “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

      We also see in 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NCV) that “Love does not count up wrongs that have been done.” It is our responsibility as Christians to let go!

      “Impossible!” you say?

      Nothing is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37)

      Here is what has helped me forgive when everything in me wants to rub the hurt and pain in the face of the person who needs to be forgiven. I start by committing to lay the burden down at the foot of the cross. Try to picture this image in your mind. See yourself approaching the cross with the “unforgiveness issue” in hand. Kneel there and tell Christ you are leaving the issue with Him, rise in confidence knowing you’ve laid your burden down, and then walk away.

      Continue to pray and ask God to help you keep the burden at the foot of the cross. Should you feel yourself getting upset or angry because you’ve “picked the issue back up,” return to the cross and lay it back down.  You may have to lay it down every day or every second of every day…it’s ok. Trust that God is working in you. Satan wants us to hold unto our unforgiveness, when we let go we outwit him and are drawn one step closer to Christ.
      Father God, forgiveness is hard….especially when someone has done something so wrong to me or a member of my family. My instinct is to lash out at them and want them to feel what I feel. But your word says to forgive. Help me to forgive the way you forgive. Help me to turn the pain and hurt that I feel into something good and purposeful. I don’t want to harbor anger, bitterness and resentment. I trust you to help me work through the unforgiveness in my heart and bring me to a place of true forgiveness. Amen

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      Posted in trusting Jesus, unforgiveness | 0 Comments
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