No Compromises with God

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Mark Shields

There were many opportunities for Pharaoh to repent. Each time he hardened his heart and would not agree to what God wanted. In Exodus 10, he tried to compromise and let only the men go. This was not acceptable so the Lord brought on the plague of locusts.

Again, there was repentance from Pharaoh and the wish to compromise. Therefore, God sent another catastrophe called the plague of darkness. This one was different because Egypt worshiped the sun god, Ra, who was the chief of their gods.

Since the true God had defeated their chief god, this was like the last blow to Pharaoh’s pride. But again, he wanted to compromise by letting the people go except for the livestock. Moses didn’t give in and continued to follow God’s instructions.

Lord, help us today to be disciplined like Moses so we follow Your instructions. To surrender all and know that there is no compromise with You. Help us to understand that You want something for each of us. You give us grace and it is made available through Jesus. Grace is just what we need and we are thankful. In Jesus name. Amen.

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My Part of the World

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Mark Shields

In central Texas, we’ve received a lot of rain this week. Spring has sprung and today should be a clear and warm day. I took this picture at Cameron Park at what is called “Lover’s Leap” just north of downtown Waco. Enjoy your weekend my friends!

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Around my part of the world, there is a legend similar to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. An Indian maiden named Wah-Wah-Tee and her Apache brave lover from an enemy tribe knew that their love would be forbidden. They were determined to be together so they ran away, only to be intercepted by her angry father and brothers.

The tale ends with Wah-Wah-Tee kissing her lover before they both jump off the cliff in the photo below and plummet to their death. Because of this legend, people around Waco Texas call the cliff “Lover’s Leap”. It’s just north of downtown near the merge of the Bosque and Brazos rivers.

Lover's Leap Lover’s Leap

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Never Judge

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Mark Shields

The third message in the new sermon series titled “Never-Never Land” was presented last weekend at the church I worship at. The title of the sermon brought to us was “Never Judge”. Here is a link to the Sermon Podcast.

Like last week, the message this week was about the “Woman at the Well” in John 4. The passage teaches us that Jesus is not looking for perfect people. We should never judge but build up and encourage. Worthiness is built upon grace as we accept His mercy and His blood sets us free.

The Podcast can be seen live around 9:30 each Sunday morning. Also, you can watch past worship services at any time or place thereafter by clicking the button next to each sermon, clicking on video, and then starting the video that appears.

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Believe and Receive

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Mark Shields

As written about in the post No Greater Power, the Pharaoh of Egypt wouldn’t let the Israelites go and Moses confronted Pharaoh about the situation; even told him what God would do and when He did it, Pharaoh was amazed but then it didn’t take long for him to forget. Each time, another plague was sent to force Pharaoh to do what God wanted.

Pharaoh just didn’t get it; that the earth is the Lord’s – that there is no greater power than God. All it took was him to believe in God’s greatness and listen. There is grave danger for not believing yet many refuse God’s gift of grace.

Here’s a song to inspire believing and receiving today: We Believe – NewsBoys.


Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. – Joel 1:2-3

Devotionals

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No Greater Power

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Mark Shields

In previous passages, we learned that there were several plagues God caused in Egypt because the king of Egypt would not let the Israelites go. The Israelites were slaves and Pharaoh would not let them go for a few days to worship. About now, you say to yourself, “wow Pharaoh is slow … he’s just not getting it”. Most people would have understood by now that the earth is the Lord’s – that there is no greater power than God.

But Pharaoh hardened his heart each time God caused a plague so as documented in Exodus 9; there were more catastrophes brought on in order to show Pharaoh who was in charge and to force Pharaoh to let the people go. There were more plagues like the plague of livestock, the plague of boils, and the plague of hail. The plague of hail affected all of Egypt except the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were (v. 26). Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and told them that he had sinned and that the Lord was in the right and that he would let their people go (v. 28).

There was danger in not listening to God back then and this danger still exist today. Unfortunately, many in society today are like Pharaoh and no matter how many amazing things God does, they harden their hearts and resist His greatness. They resist in believing that God has something for them. They resist that a sustaining faith is possible if there is a connection to the Vine.

This day with You Lord, we believe in the crucifixion and that it conquered death. Let our faith be a sustaining faith. We’ve experienced Your greatness before and we believe it will happen over and over again. We believe You want something for us and this gift is for everyone. Jesus made it possible and grace race is what you give. Amen.

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