Encouragement
Luke 4:1-7 (NASB)
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
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A man, desperate for help for his seriously ill son, implored, "if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" (Mark 9.22)
His desperate plea was more last resort that resolute faith. Challenging his plea, Jesus replied, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9.23) The One before this man was well able to accomplish this miracle. If anything was lacking, it was faith on this man's part; to which he famously replied, "I do believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9.24) In essence, "I have an imperfect faith, but I have faith nevertheless. Lead my faith to be true faith indeed."
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Whether in good times or bad, there is one important overriding factor. It's stated numerous times in the thirty-ninth chapter of Genesis: "The LORD was with Joseph." Yahweh God was with him when he was sold as a slave by his brothers. When he became a servant in the household of an important Egyptian official. When he was tempted daily by this man's wife. When he was confined to prison.
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I'm certainly not a botanist. Many people can quickly identify and name plant species. I sometimes have trouble distinguishing between plants and weeds. But, I would benefit spiritually from being a specific kind of botanist: "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!" (Luke 12.27-28)
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The cycle of days and seasons are a testament to grace. "the Lord said to Himself, 'I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.' " (Genesis 8.21-22)
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"Back in one hour." The same can be said for the return of Christ as for a business: He will be back soon.
"And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.' " (Acts 1.9-11)
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Potwin Kansas, a small town near Wichita there is a little 360 acre farm.
It has been owned by the Voglemen family for over 100 years. Joyce, 82 now rents out the property. She remembers when the first bathroom was put in. She wrote Sunday school lessons from this house. The farm contains a pasture, orchard, two barns and an old two-story house.
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