Intentional Faith

You’ll never be contented anywhere until you can be contented anywhere.

Indonesia has the most people groups (575) whose primary language does not have Bible portions, totaling 28,900,000 individuals.

1 Kings 8:60 (NIV)
⁶⁰ so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other.

Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations. Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbor; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.

Romans 13:8 (NLT)
⁸ Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.

Romans 13:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

DOG DIARY
8:00 AM – Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 AM – A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 AM – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 AM – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM – Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM – Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

CAT DIARY
Day 983 of my captivity!
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a ‘good little hunter’ I am.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow – but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be more than willing to return. He obviously has issues.

Have you ever found a Christian group that doesn’t have any problems? If so, don’t join it—you’ll ruin everything!

Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.

Before discussing the problems in Corinth, Paul affirms his readers. Why is he thankful for them?  Why are you thankful for your church?

Lift me up, by your strong arm, O Lord, above the mists and darkness of the valley, to stand and walk with you on the high level of your presence and glory.

O King of glory and Lord of valor, our warrior and our peace, may you win victories in the world through us your servants for without you we can do nothing.  May your compassion go before us and come behind us; be with us at our beginnings and at our endings.  May your will be done in everything we do for you are our salvation, our glory and our joy.      Alcuin of York

THE WORD “peculiar” is found in Titus 2:14. Christians are the peculiar people of God. We use the word sometimes when we speak of something odd or strange. But that is not its use here.

The word is translated from a Greek word which is made up of two words, one which means “around, “ as a circle, and the other which means “to be. “ It can be charted by a dot within a circle. This will help us to understand the meaning of the combined word. As the circle is around the dot, so God is around each one of His saints. The circle monopolizes the dot, has the dot all to itself. So God has His own all to Himself. They are His own private unique possession. He has reserved them for Himself.

The expression in 1 Thessalonians 1:1, “The church of the Thessalonians in God, “ has in it the same idea, for the Greek case is locative of sphere. That is, it is in the sphere of God, circumscribed by God, surrounded by Him.

What does honesty in a relationship mean to you?

James 5:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.