September 30, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
The gospel story is a relationship generator. It brings people together across class and ethnic lines, across gender barriers and political divides, even across generation gaps....
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September 29, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
When God gives us new life in Christ, he doesn't just shape our actions, he also shaped our motives. He does this because God cares about who we're becoming, not just about what we're doing....
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September 26, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
Where in the sky has the Lord placed you? Where is the Lord calling you to shine?...
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September 25, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
When we become followers of Christ, we become children of God. And there are certain behaviors that just are not tolerated in God's family. Paul is helping his friends to see this so they don't get led astray, confusing maturity with grumpiness....
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September 24, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
Grumbling and arguing reveal what's really going on inside of us. They're red flags, warning lights. They reveal that our process of working out our salvation is going astray. Something has hijacked our working our of our salvation....
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September 23, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
God is the primary actor. And all of the important things that happen as you work out your salvation happen in the light of the larger work that God's doing in and around you....
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September 22, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
Christ goes before us and above us and beneath us and beside us. Our fear and trembling come from doing our work in front of our Master....
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September 19, 2014
In Christ, our interests are taken care of completely. He has taken ownership of our interests and has taken care of us. When we know that we're taken care of in Christ, we're free to serve others....
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September 18, 2014
Being united with Christ and his mission propels us into ambitions that engage our world for good, to love and bless and serve everyone we can. We don't cave in to the self-centeredness of vain conceit because that is a trifle compared to the infinite goodness offered to us in Christ....
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September 17, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
The safety Christ provides doesn't mean that we'll never be wounded or that we'll never experience pain. But it does mean that our pain and woundedness don't have the last word on us. Jesus does....
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September 16, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
Paul patiently reminds the Philippians that their union with Christ is a larger, invisible, permanent reality that generates bold courage … even in the face of trials. ...
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September 15, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
Paul reminds his friends of their union with Christ because life makes us all forget. There is a deeper reality than we can see: me in Christ and Christ in me....
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September 13, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
Fear drives us to foolish action. When we're afraid of people, we don't love very well. And we are called to act out of faith, hope and love ... not out of fear....
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September 11, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
The gospel of Christ frees us of our need to perform. We have everything we need in Jesus. And the gospel of Christ calls us to engage the world for good. The way we live seriously matters....
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September 10, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
We all face uncertain futures. And sometimes, that uncertainty brings our priorities to the surface. All of the "whatever" that can happen can force us to confront what's important to us....
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September 9, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
Recognizing our need for God's grace is essential if we're going to receive God's gift of joy....
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September 8, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
The purpose of Paul's existence - from Paul's perspective - was to serve as a channel of grace to others....
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September 5, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
Many of the most powerful answers to prayer involve the provision of strength to endure rather than provision of a path to escape. Your courage may be a sign that God's people are praying for you and that God's Spirit is at work on your behalf....
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September 4, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
The cause of much of our prayerlessness is that we have convinced ourselves that our prayers don't effect outcomes....
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September 3, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
This is one of the great secrets in our battle with jealousy. If you find your jealousy meter ringing uncontrollably, you've discovered something you've pre-decided you needed in order to be joyful. You're not getting it, hence the jealousy....
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September 2, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
Suffering wasn't a surprise twist in their story. Suffering was expected, like a deep darkness before a certain dawn....
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September 1, 2014
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Category:
The Connect Devotional
| Tags: Connect, Connecting to God, Connecting to Each Other, Connecting to People
What if God is actually transforming you in the midst of your pain? What if he's having an effect on the lives of people around you as they witness you walk through your dark valley?...
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