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Water In, Water Out - Day 135 Month 5-15 Week 20-2

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 22:13-23:25, Psalm 108, Jeremiah 22:1-12, John 7:1-39 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2022%3A13-23%3A25%2C%20Psalm%20108%2C%20Jeremiah%2022%3A1-12%2C%20John%207%3A1-39&version=NASB1995 Water In, Water Out “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”  These are the words of Jesus.  His next words were “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.””  As I read this I realized it was about transformed lives.  Believing (having faith) in Jesus is life transformation. Last evening, after a very long day, Syl and I sat down and watched the movie, Big George Foreman.  It was a very informative movie.  It showed a couple of very dramatic spiritual moments in his life.  One was when his sister was having a child and it seemed she may die because she was losing a lot of blood and there was nothing that the physicians c...
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The Words of Life - Day 134 Month 5-14 Week 20-1

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 21:1-22:12, Jeremiah 20:7-21:14, John 6:41-71 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2021%3A1-22%3A12%2C%20Jeremiah%2020%3A7-21%3A14%2C%20John%206%3A41-71&version=NASB1995 The Words of Life To whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68).  Peter’s famous words after Jesus asked the disciples if they want to leave as well.  To be told the truth is not the same as knowing the truth.  Once you know the truth, there is no going back.  I had been told stories from the Bible throughout my childhood and I was told “God is love.” and I was told that “Jesus died for me” so that I could live.  I was told that, all the way through childhood.  When I was 11 it became real to me and I knew this as truth.   Now that I know it, it’s always there in the back of mind that I am part of God’s kingdom. Jesus had just spoken to the Jews and also to many of His disciples (more tha...
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The Sign is Already There - Day 133 Month 5-13 Week 19-7

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 19,20, Psalm 107, John 6:15-40 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2019%2C20%2C%20Psalm%20107%2C%20John%206%3A15-40&version=NASB1995 The Sign Is Already There “Give us a sign, so that we may see and believe You.”   I suppose we are always looking for signs.  Life would be so easy if God would just give us a sign to give us direction.  When we have an important decision to make, if God would just hold up a sign that says “Do Not Enter,” we’d make the right decision and be sent on our merry way.  I remember a sermon where the preacher gave a suggestion of what he has done in the past to get an important answer from God.  He got away from every distraction, and on his own.  Then he prayerfully spent time reading and praying and just listening to God.  He made a list in two columns.  The column on one side was in favour and the column on the other side was against.  Over...
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Under Our Noses - Day 132 Month 5-12 Week 19-6

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Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 17,18, Jeremiah 19:1-20:6, John 5:39-6:14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2017%2C18%2C%20Jeremiah%2019%3A1-20%3A6%2C%20John%205%3A39-6%3A14&version=NASB1995 Under Our Noses What are you in search of?  Is it a relationship?  Is it financial freedom? Is it better health?  Is it longevity?  Is it purpose or eternal life? The Jews, In John 5 were wanting to kill Jesus but Jesus continued with His teaching.  He pointed out that they  “search the scriptures because you (they) think that in them you (they) have eternal life.”  Then He explained the scriptures pointed to Him (Jesus) but they were unwilling to come to Jesus who would give eternal life.  He was right there, under their noses. Sometimes, answers to many of our life dilemmas are right in front of us but we prefer a different answer.  When I was talking about replacing my truck, it was sitting right there but my p...
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The Cold Call - Day 131 Month 5-11 Week 19-5

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 15,16, Psalm 106, John 5:18-38 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2015%2C16%2C%20Psalm%20106%2C%20John%205%3A18-38&version=NASB1995 The Cold Call Who gave me this?  That’s what I want to know.  I woke up this morning with a chest cold.  I twisted and turned in the night with a slightly sore throat and then once I got up, I knew it had settled into my chest.  There’s only one person I’ve been in contact with, who I know has been sick, but that person was sick last week.  Someone gave me a gift that I would not have accepted if it wasn’t so sneaky.  So maybe this should not be considered a gift but an unfair judgement. The gift I talk about often, is the free gift of eternal life.  John 5:20 says “he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgement, but has passed out of death into life.”  All that is required for this free gif...
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Opportunity in Disguise - Day 130 Month 5-10 Week 19-4

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 13,14, Jeremiah 18, John 4:39-5:17 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2013%2C14%2C%20Jeremiah%2018%2C%20John%204%3A39-5%3A17&version=NASB1995 Opportunity in Disguise Do you wish to get well?  It seems like a silly question.  The man has been waiting by the pool of Bethesda, probably, for years.  He’d been ill for 38 years.  The man did not answer Jesus' question.  He simply explained how he was frustrated that no one could help him get into the pool when the angel stirred the waters.  Jesus simply said “Get up, pick up your mat and walk.”  Jesus didn’t care what day of the week it was.  The man immediately gets up, does what he is told and breaks the sabbath rules.  He carried his mat.  It’s interesting, the Jews were more concerned that the man carried his mat than his healing. On my two trips to Israel, I found Saturdays the most fascinating days.  Of course,...
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The Patient "Long Game" - Day 129 Month 5-9 Week 19-3

  Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 12, Psalm 105, John 4:7-4:38 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2012%2C%20Psalm%20105%2C%20John%204%3A7-4%3A38&version=NASB1995 The Patient “Long Game” Time and Patience.  I always feel short of time and I struggle with patience. Moses talks to the Israelites in Deuteronomy about their history.  He takes them all the way back to God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob followed by Jacob’s son Joseph taken as a slave in Egypt.  Then after about 20 years of being a slave and wrongful imprisonment, he gains great power and all of Jacob’s family (Israel) settles in Egypt. After many years, the new pharaoh starts to fear them because they became so numerous, and he forces them into slavery.  They miraculously leave Egypt but end up spending 40 years in the wilderness.  The time between Abraham being given the promise and entering the “promised land” was 470 years.  It’s a remarkabl...
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The Better Way to Win - Day 128 Month 5-8 Week 19-2

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 10,11,  Jeremiah 17, John 3:22-4:6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2010%2C11%2C%20%20Jeremiah%2017%2C%20John%203%3A22-4%3A6&version=NASB1995 The Better Way to Win “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Those words were spoken by John the Baptist. I want to be a winner and I doubt that I am different from most.  It’s human nature to strive to be the winner.  In the Olympics, there is not one athlete that wants the silver medal.  In last year's World Series of baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays were heartbroken to come in second best though they came in higher than 28 other teams.  Our entire world is built around winning, whether it's to make more money than the next person or a sports enthusiast cheering for the winning team. Being better than the next person is finite.  We can only be better than the next person here while we are alive on earth.  To be the best on earth c...
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One World, One People - Day 127 Month 5-7 Week 19-1

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 9, Psalm 104, John 3:1-21 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%209%2C%20Psalm%20104%2C%20John%203%3A1-21&version=NASB1995 One World, One People We should look after Canada before we send money to other places!  I know, that sounds a little like MAGA in the US but I’ve heard it a lot here in my neck of the woods.  However, it’s not the philosophy I grew up with and that hasn’t changed.  I believe we do need to love our neighbour whether it’s here or around the world.  There are plenty of poor and those that need a helping hand so definitely let’s look after them.  However God’s kingdom does not have borders.  Our neighbour is everywhere we go. Last evening (I write this blog a few days ahead so last evening was Friday May 1) Syl and I went to see a concert at the church we attend.  The concert was the Watoto Childrens Choir from Uganda.  Syl and I are not new to the Watoto organ...
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The Pursuit Trap - Day 126 Month 5-6 Week 18-7

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Deuteronomy 8, Psalm 103, Jeremiah 16, John 2 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%208%2C%20Psalm%20103%2C%20Jeremiah%2016%2C%20John%202&version=NASB1995 The Pursuit Trap 1. Moses warned them!  He said “if you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish (Deuteronomy 8:19).”  Jeremiah is told by God that this will happen in his lifetime.  Jeremiah 16 tells us about all the distresses that will come upon Israel and then when they ask, God instructs Jeremiah to tell them “It is because your forefathers have forsaken Me … and have followed other gods and served them and bowed down to them (Jeremiah 16:11).”  God keeps his word!   Thankfully, “the LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. (Psalm 103:8).”  God tells Jeremiah He will restore Israel to their...
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