My sabbatical continues with week two, and our family is in Hawaii visiting our oldest daughter and her husband. It has been an incredible visit with one week left of this trip. Each of the next several weeks you will receive one e-devotion on Monday or Tuesday morning with a little glimpse at what I am in to, studying and planning for the week.
I finished my first book on sabbatical. It is Blaine Bartel’s Death By A Thousand Lies which is the telling of his story of moral failure and comeback in ministry and life. What a great story that hits me and so many others. I hope to share more.
Also during this time I am reading several books as well as Scripture. It has been refreshing spending time with family, making memories and just getting closer to each other. I am also spending a good deal of time with the Lord, listening and learning.
That is where I will leave this second week of sabbatical. I want to share with you a couple of the things God has put on my heart. Maybe these will spark some spiritual conversation and growth in you, as it has in me!
… The time change or time difference in Hawaii is huge.
… Jesus is enough (my brother sent this). Enough means two different things. One is like when we say “I have had enough”. Another is when you have enough of something. Jesus ought to be all we need and all we want. More on that later.
… I have a friend that has been praying for me, sharing a few prayers, and that has been excellent. I am grateful.
… The key word from sin is separation. Not death. I got this from a Tony Evans message. One choice changed everything for Adam and Eve. God gave freedom. All was free but one tree. That tree separated them from freedom. Choices are important.
… Resurrection. Forward. Don’t look back. This came from Bartel’s book and the Lazarus story. Let whatever needs to die do just that.
… Joy comes with right decisions. Meditate on what’s right day and night. Insight from Psalm 1
… “All we were ever meant to do was reflect the Son.” Blaine Bartel (one of the last lines in the book I just finished)
… “Don’t settle for a recovery when Jesus is handing out resurrections.” Blaine Bartel, “Death by a Thousand lies”
Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT
“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
That is all for now. I look forward to sharing a little more with you next week. God is good… all the time!
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