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That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:16-17a ESV). My favorite place to serve in our church is with Mosaic: our youth group for middle and high school students. I first volunteered because I enjoyed high school and w...
Keep ReadingI pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (Ephesians 3:16) My mom is very fond of the band DC Talk. She likes their music, but she also enjoyed feeling like a rebel as a teenager, because her mom disapproved of the music. A completely different rollercoaster from the oldies and gospel music my grandma ...
Keep ReadingAnd I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledgethat you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, acc...
Keep ReadingNow to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21). God changed the atmosphere of the world's greatest city, and in the lives of millions of people, because one man, Jeremiah Lan...
Keep Reading"So they will put my nameon the Israelites, and I will bless them." (Numbers 6: 27) This week I had a great conversation with my wife about prayers. When I asked her how often she prays, she had a very thought-provoking response. "It's tough to say, because you can pray in so many different ways." Which is very true. I noted some examples in my life. Pastor-led prayers a...
Keep ReadingThe Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6: 24-26). The words of Numbers 6:24-26 have carried the hopes and prayers of countless generations. They remind us of the life-changing power of blessingboth to receive and to give. My husband often sings a beautiful K...
Keep Reading"The Lord turn His face toward you" (Numbers 6:26). Do you reflexively utter "God bless you" when someone sneezes? Are you trying to protect that person's soul from escaping? Making sure God restarts their heart? (These and more explanations for the supposed dangers of sneezing can be yours with a quick Google search.) Even though we understand sneezing better now, and we...
Keep ReadingSo they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them (Numbers 6:27). Many young men, first noticing that they can grow facial hair, will make an attempt at a beard. Regardless of how full or patchy it is usually the latter they will still try. And until someone tells them otherwise, they will almost certainly think it looks good. (Ask me how I know.) For t...
Keep ReadingNumbers 6:22-27 Welcome to Week 2 of Change the Atmosphere! Our words can bless or curse, can bring hope or despair, can encourage or crush. Words have power to change the atmosphere, of a home, a workplace, a classroom, a neighborhood conversation, even the direction and destiny of nations. This week we're studying a famous blessing from the Bible. Even if you don't kn...
Keep Reading"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." 2 Chronicles 20:12b When my kids were much younger I found myself repeating myself a lot. This isn't uncommon with young kids, of course, but the situation quickly became frustrating for everyone. Mom constantly saying the same thing over and over and kids being nagged about the same thing over and overit got pretty ri...
Keep ReadingThen Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: "Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this lan...
Keep Reading2 Chronicles 20 TV meteorologists are constantly exhorting us to be "weather wise," especially if they think we're headed for a special Weather Alert Day. And yes, it's no fun to need an umbrella and not have one, or to be dressed for the 70s when the predicted cold front comes barging through. Is there such a thing as "spiritual weather"? If so, what does it mean to be ...
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