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Last week I was able to visit with my parents for the first time in a while. While visiting with them I was reminded that they are both great encouragers. I was blessed to have parents who have always been very encouraging. I understand that not everyone had parents who were encouraging, so I am very grateful for this. We all need courage every day, and when we encourage others, we are giving them courage. It is great blessing in our life to have people around us who will encourage us. 

Hebrews 3:12-14 says, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Notice in this verse that encouraging others also keeps us from being hardened. 

Today's communion is a time of gratitude that God encourages us, and we can encourage ourselves in the Lord. And we are asking for his help to becom...

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Last week we traveled and went to a place on the coast that we had never been before. While we were driving, it was important to pay attention to the GPS because we had never traveled that way before. As we were driving I was reminded of Joshua 3:3-4 when God tells the people...

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. 4 But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”

In my own experience, God's path for our life looks different than we expect, it is a way that we have never been before, which is why it is so important to stay tuned into his leading and direction. Imagine trying to go to a new place with no navigation. 

In Exodus 23:20-23 it says...

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way...

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Today we are going to be taking communion over Hebrews 12:18-24 which gives us some amazing insights into the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. In both covenants there was a sprinkling of blood that ratified(finalized) the covenant. In the New Covenant the sprinkled blood of Jesus speaks a word of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and unity with God. Today we are thanking God for these amazing promises and asking for wisdom and understanding of these scriptures. 

Here is Hebrews 12:18-24 AMP

18 For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging windstorm, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and a sound of words [such that] those who heard it begged that nothing more be said to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it will be stoned [to death].” 21 In fact, so terrifying was the sight, that ...

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1 John 1:6-7 says If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Today's communion is a time of gratitude that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and gives us the opportunity to walk in the light. And we are asking God to help us practice the truth and experience increasing levels of fellowship with him and with one another. 

Today's Workout/Health Tip

Often people will tell me all the things they can't do when it comes to exercise. My question back to them is always... "What can you do?"

Can't do squats... what can you do?

Can't do pushups...what can you do?

Don't have equipment... what can you do with your own bodyweight?

Don't have time... what can you do?

I am praying for you.

Daniel

Partner with us in the Abundant Life Blueprint

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When God took the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land there were steps, stages, and a process he took them through. He was taking them to a place that was better than they had imagined but they couldn't go straight into it, because they had to learn a new way of living. They had to learn God's way of doing things. I believe God still uses this process with us today. He takes us through a process to learn his ways, but this process is actually a gift because he gives us the gift of extended time to get it right. 

Here is the process he took the Israelites through...

1. Passover releases the people out of slavery and bondage in Egypt
2. They cross the Red Sea - which the New Testament tells us was their baptism.
3. They enter the Wilderness
4. While in the wilderness God gives them a glimpse of the Promised Land but most of the people reject it because it looks impossible to take.
5. Only the ones who believed in what God could do crossed over into the Promised Land
...

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Recently one of our partners recommended that I watch the Chosen series. As I was watching there was scene where the little children come to Jesus and he has work to do, but he spends time with them and has them do the work with him. I was reminded that I need to be better at this with my own children. Sometimes I get too busy and don't make time for them when they ask to spend time together. 

In Matthew 19:13-15 it says, "Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there."

Imagine going to God and trying to spend time with him, but he says he is too busy and has work to do. Thankfully God doesn't do this to us. Today's communion is a time of gratitude that God always gives us his presence. And ...

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In 2 Kings 4 is the story of a widow who was about to have her sons taken from her because they were in debt. Elisha asks her what she has in her house, and she says, " just a small jar of oil." Elisha has her get vessels from her neighbors and when she pours the oil into her neighbors' vessels the oil continues to flow as long as she has more vessels to pour into. Then Elisha tells her to sell the oil, pay off her debts, and to live off of the rest. 

Today's communion is a time of gratitude that nothing is impossible with God. And we are asking for wisdom and understanding of how to apply these scriptures in our own lives. And we are asking him to show us what we have in our house that we could use to pour into our neighbors and to help us solve any money problems in the process. 

Here is the scripture from 2 Kings 4:1-7...

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the ...

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The other day we took communion over the passage of scripture where the apostle Paul said he was under such intense pressure that he was despairing of life itself. As I was looking at this passage, I started to pull it up in different translations of the Bible and in the MSG version a few paragraphs later it says...

2 Corinthians 1:12 MSG Now that the worst is over, we’re pleased we can report that we’ve come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world—and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. But it wasn’t by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised.

This passage reminded me of 1 Timothy 1:18-19 which says, "Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith."

Today's commu...

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In John 15 Jesus says...

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Today's communion is a time of gratitude that God/Jes...

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Today we are taking communion over our families. If you have been praying and believing for members of your family(spouse, kids, parents, grandparents, grandkids, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, or anyone else) to be saved, know God, and walk with him then today will be a special communion to turn this over to God and activate him going to work. 

Here are some scriptures to meditate on for this...

Acts 2:39 - For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Acts 11:14 - He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.'

Acts 16:3 - They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Today's communion is a time of gratitude that God is not just interested in us but also our whole family, because families are the building blocks of communities. And we are asking for God's help for our whole family to be sav...