This is a guest devotional by Rhonda Burke, Blanchester, Ohio. It gives me great pleasure to find a deal when I am shopping. I watch to see when Goodwill sells everything that can be placed in a sack for $5. It is so wonderful to find fifty percent off at a clothing store. I enjoy eating the daily special at a restaurant. My favorite is BOGO (buy one, get one free)! Now that’s a deal! The free item accompanies the purchased item. God has the greatest deal of all deals for us. His gift of salvation is FREE to us, but it was bought by a great price, the death of…
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The Preparation and Presence of Biblical Hospitality
This is a guest post by Jamie Lamson Biblical hospitality is a virtue that has grown in my heart over the past couple of years. As I began fostering a nurturing and welcoming environment for my husband and children, I have noticed that my home has evolved into an open door and a seat at my table for anyone Jesus would bring my way. When I think about biblical hospitality, I am instantly reminded of Mary and Martha, the sisters from Bethany (Luke 10:38 to 42). Both have unique strengths and visions, and I believe that we, as believers, can relate to either sister in some form or capacity. Both…
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Pondering the Protection, Provision and Plan of God
Guest post by Mary Sparks, pastor’s wife, Joplin, Missouri I’ve learned some lessons about Moses. As I have recently retired from working for the same company nearly 20 years, I have been thinking about God’s Protection and God’s Provision. Psalm 121:2 says, “My help cometh from the Lord; which made heaven and earth.” The mother of Moses must have had some slight fears when she learned that all the firstborn babies were to be killed. She must have immediately gone into “planning mode”. A basket of sorts was prepared, and a trip down to the river bank was treaded with much prayer for the safety of her child. Placing him…
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Two Simple Bible Truths You Don’t Want to Miss
Today’s Bible’s key verses are from Matthew 12:14 and 15 KJV “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;” – Matthew 12:14 and 15 This morning, I just have two simple truths to leave with you from this Scripture passage… #1 Jesus healed them ALL. I love this little thought because Jesus loves each one of us. In that crowd that He healed, you can be sure that there were (what we would call) some great sinners. Despite the fact that there…
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Oh, Where is Our Hope?
Today’s key Bible reference is Lamentations 3:40 KJV The book Lamentations consists of five poems regarding the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Misery, grief and overwhelming anguish because of Jerusalem’s destruction is bemoaned during the first part of Lamentations, and then a new promise of HOPE is unfolded in the middle of the book. Lamentations 3:22 and 23 says, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” This should be encouraging to us in the midst of trials today, because we can know that God is ever merciful and…
