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Quotes from the Self Care Blog Series

Keeping Ministry Professionals and Lay-Leaders in Ministry

Today’s quote from the Self-Care Blog Series:

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Practicing Spiritual Self Care: Practice Forgiveness

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. – Matthew 6:14-15

Today’s quote:

“As chosen ones, holy and beloved, of God, Colossians 3:12-13 tells us that we are to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave us.” — Julia Bruce

Excerpted from part 22 of the Self Care Blog series.  Read the full article here.

Quote © by Julia M. Bruce.
Please credit the author with a link to this page
when posting, sharing or using this quote in any manner.

The quote above is from Part 22 of a blog series by Julia Bruce on Self-Care for people in ministry. Read the blogs here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22.

Part 23 coming soon where author, Julia M. Bruce, will break down physical self care and provide practical ways to implement physical self care in your life.

#selfcare #spiritualselfcare #stayinministry #WCM

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revive renew redeem

news and events

memory verse logoDon’t forget to memorize this week’s memory verse:

In 2020 our emphasis is on revival for America with three key words: revive, renew, and redeem. You will begin to see the elements of our website and posts reflect this emphasis. We hope you’ll join us in praying for God to pour out the Holy Spirit with a mighty rushing wind of revival for our nation and around the world.

 

Our key verse for revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  Our verse last week focused on humbling ourselves. This week, we’ll focus on praying.

This week’s memory verse:

Jeremiah 29:12

Then you will call upon me and come and
pray to me, and I will hear you.

Meditate and apply:

Will you commit to praying with us in 2020 that God will revive His people, renew our faith, and redeem our land? We feel such an urgency and desperation for revival. If God is moving your heart for revival, write your revival prayer in the comments along with your state or country. 

click to tweet #revive #renew #redeem #revivalinAmerica #revivalin2020 #WCM

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T-shirt Fundraiser Event:

Dont Quit

In Jesus’s parable of the persistent widow, Jesus tells us to never stop praying and don’t lose heart. As we focus on Revival for America, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.” This design was created as we focus this week on praying for revival. You’ll find the design in tees for men, women, kids, and babies, mugs, bags, and other products. Check them out on in the Spreadshirtand Teesprings shops.

 

 

All proceeds go to the advancement of Wellspring Christian Ministries.

Thank you for helping us grow!

Click here to view the Teespring store. 

Click here to view the Spreadshop Store 

#dontquit  #praywithoutceasing #nevergiveup #WCM #teespring #spreadshop

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Cover_mBOOKING NOW! Be a host site for the NEW God, Love & Marshmallow Wars Book Tour & Couples Conference:

This event helps couples understand why the daily activities found in the book will equip them to build a stronger marriage and the book provides them with 365 intentional activities to take what they learn at the event and apply it on a daily basis. Through the event, couples will discover the Biblical “why” behind the categories of activities found in the book and the “how” these activities are important to building a stronger marriage. Focus points of the event includes :

  • How memorizing scripture together and studying God’s Word together as they study, meditate and apply scriptures related to marriage and life issues will help them develop marriages that honor God.
  • Why utilizing fun conversation starters that spark meaningful conversations will keep interest alive as they continually learn new things about each other.
  • Why keeping romance alive is essential to intimacy and connectivity.
  • How making memories and working together builds relationship investment bonds and how these investment bonds can become the knots that keeps them together through the tough times.
  • How they can understand what they are or are not contributing to the marriage as well as how they might be contributing to problems or potential problems within the relationship through the use of targeted, intentional personal reflections
  • Why it is important that couples never stop dating and how group dates with Christian friends can be both an encouragement and accountability to their own relationship.

During the event, couples will be given an activity from each focus point to do together, making this event an interactive, fun, and engaging event with practical, hands-on learning. Unlike other couple events that are over when the event ends, couples who attend the GLMW event will be able to apply what they learn when utilizing the book on a daily basis for a year. Since the book is not dated, couples are able to reuse the activities year after year to continue being intentional in strengthening their relationship with each other and with God as they strive to live out God’s design for marriage every day.

Learn more about hosting this event at your church or conference site by clicking here.

About the book: The GLMW book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

#GLMW #couplesevent #GLMWbook #intentionalmarriage #Godlymarriage

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Looking for a keynote speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 Christian events for women’s and couples’ ministries for both small and large events.
Book with us now.

Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants. Today, Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.

With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities, regardless of size.

Image result for form pngTo request more information or a booking, 
fill out the online form here.

Or call us at 904.524.8073

#JuliaBruce #speaker #keynote #author

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Wellspring receives an 8% commission for any item purchased
at CBD through any of these links. Your cost to purchase any item through an affiliate link is the same as purchasing directly from CBD.

Clicking any affiliate link will open a new browser page and take you to Christian Book Distributor’s website.

Image result for Christian book distributors logoChristmas Items at Christian Book Distributors:

Check out these items from Christian Book Distributors.

We are praying and seeking God for Revival in America in 2020. The path to revival can be found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Watch the video on this verse created by our CEO.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves….” This week we have featured several resources on prayer. We hope you’ll choose one for your own personal Bible study and join us in seeking God with a heart of humility and pray with us for God to send a revival to America in 2020.

Check out the Christian Book Distributor resources below.

Our organization receives an 8% commission on any item you purchase through these links. However, the product price is the same for you. There is no increase in your cost for us to receive the commission. All commissions receive support the work and ministry of Wellspring Christian Ministries. 
091365: Seek: 28 Days to Extraordinary Prayer Seek: 28 Days to Extraordinary Prayer

By Jennifer Kennedy Dean / New Hope Publishers

Experience the peace that comes from yielding to God and the intimacy of worship and adoration! In daily and weekly entries, Dean encourages you to Surrender, Exalt, Expose, and Knock. Written to be used individually, as a family, or corporately, her brief 4-week guide will help you make prayer a life-altering habit. 156 pages, 5″ x 7″ softcover from New Hope.

26734X: When God"s People Pray - Participant"s Guide: Six Sessions on the Transforming Power of Prayer When God’s People Pray – Participant’s Guide: Six Sessions on the Transforming Power of Prayer

By Zondervan

When God’s People Pray, Participant’s Guide is the companion book for group members. The DVD curriculum is sold separately and by Jim Cymbala, best-selling author of Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. You and your church will learn transforming prayer through the Holy Spirit. Discover the power of God to restore hope, ignite faith, work miracles, and change lives…through prayer.

653052: Prayer: Forty Days of Practice Prayer: Forty Days of Practice

By Justin McRoberts & Scott Erickson / WaterBrook

Something in us searches for communion and communication with God. Although connection with the Creator is an innate desire, the effective practice of that connection can feel contrived or unnatural.

Prayer: Forty Days of Practice invites you to pray in more authentic and untethered ways. These prayers and images, along with contemplative reflections and suggested practices, are designed to stir and clarify what God is doing in you, which is the heart of prayer.

983362: Pray Big: Learn to Pray Like an Apostle Pray Big: Learn to Pray Like an Apostle

By Alistair Begg / Good Book Company

So many of us struggle with prayer. Many books have been written on the subject and there’s a reason for that. Prayer comes hard to most of us, in most seasons. And when we do pray, we often don’t know what to say. What is it that my Father loves to hear about? What are the best things I could pray for my family, my church, and myself?

This short book by renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg combines warmth, clarity, humor, and practicality as he examines Paul’s prayers for his friends in the church in Ephesus. Paul clearly enjoyed prayer, and was excited about it. He expected his Father in heaven to hear what he said, and to act in other people’s lives accordingly. The truths that underpin and shape his prayers will motivate us to pray and set us an example.

So be inspired by the Apostle Paul to pray bigger and better prayers as we look to our heavenly Father to do more than all we ask or imagine!

75279: Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? Participant"s Guide Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? Participant’s Guide

By Philip Yancey / Zondervan

If God knows everything, why pray? Why do answers seem inconsistent and unpredictable? How can I make prayer more satisfying? Explore the most mysterious aspect of our relationship with God! Based on Yancey’s best-selling Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? this 6-session study illuminates a sometimes confusing yet infinitely rewarding activity. Companion DVD sold separately (SKU: 275251).

First Lesson Free! PDF Study Guide

12793: Pray About Everything, Tapestry Word Pillow Pray About Everything, Tapestry Word Pillow

By Manual Woodworkers & Weavers

Encouraging words are displayed on our woven tapestry prayer pillow Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything, and thank Him for His answers. Philippians 4:6
Poly/cotton tapestry with floral lattice border design and back insert pocket in which to store your personal prayer reminders. Made in the U.S.A. 12″ x 8″ with piped edging.

136810: If My People (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV) Truth Tag If My People (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV) Truth Tag

By B&H Church Supply

Inspiring and colorful Truth Tag set is a wonderful way to carry a Scripture verse with you. Bold contemporary graphic design and high glossy finish. An affordable Christian encouragement or appreciation gift! Attach this patriotic Truth Tag to your key chain, luggage, purse, or backpack; keep the bookmark in your current favorite read.

Featured Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways…

  • Key Ring Tab: 2″ x 1″ I Will Heal Their Land
  • Bookmark: 2.5″ x 5″
032502: If My People: A Prayer Guide for our Nation If My People: A Prayer Guide for our Nation

By Thomas Nelson

Embark on a 40-day prayer journey for America during a time of political division and transition! In the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14, this helpful guide provides devotional thoughts to inspire you to lift up our nation’s leaders, and includes seven meditations from past presidents that were inspired during our country’s darkest days. 128 pages, hardcover from Nelson.

032502: If My People: A Prayer Guide for our Nation If My People: A Prayer Guide for our Nation

By Thomas Nelson

Embark on a 40-day prayer journey for America during a time of political division and transition! In the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14, this helpful guide provides devotional thoughts to inspire you to lift up our nation’s leaders, and includes seven meditations from past presidents that were inspired during our country’s darkest days. 128 pages, hardcover from Nelson.

Before Amen Paperback

By Max Lucado / Thomas Nelson

Do you wish you prayed more—with more fire, faith, and fervency? Embarking on a journey to the very heart of biblical petition, Lucado explores the quotable, repeatable, portable prayer that Jesus gave his first followers when they struggled with this spiritual discipline. Discover how to have a heartfelt dialogue with God—and let the conversation begin! 192 pages, softcover from Nelson.

Before Amen Paperback

By Max Lucado / Thomas Nelson

Do you wish you prayed more—with more fire, faith, and fervency? Embarking on a journey to the very heart of biblical petition, Lucado explores the quotable, repeatable, portable prayer that Jesus gave his first followers when they struggled with this spiritual discipline. Discover how to have a heartfelt dialogue with God—and let the conversation begin! 192 pages, softcover from Nelson.

885970: Developing a Powerful Praying Church Developing a Powerful Praying Church

By Richard Blackaby / Blackaby Ministries International

327127: Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge

By Mark Batterson / Zondervan

Since The Circle Maker‘s release in 2011, inspiring stories of God’s answers to prayer have poured in to Mark Batterson’s inbox. In Draw the Circle he shares 40 of those faith-building stories through devotional readings that will encourage you to keep praying like never before.The 40-day prayer plan outlined in Draw the Circle will give you the insight and motivation you need to develop a deeper, more passionate prayer life. And as you take on the prayer challenge Batterson lays out, you’ll be sowing seeds that will bear a lifetime of faith as you watch God work in your life and in the world.

346913: The Circle Maker The Circle Maker

By Mark Batterson / Zondervan

Updated and revised! When his land was drought-stricken in ancient times, Honi ha-M’agel drew a circle in the sand, stepped inside it, and wouldn’t budge until God answered his petition for rain. What impossible dream are you praying about? Sharing new insights and personal stories, Batterson’s bestseller will help you achieve your desires through audacious prayer. 240 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

 

970111: Overcomer DVD Bible Study Kit

Overcomer DVD Bible Study Kit

By Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick / B&H Books

Many people feel they are less than who God says they are. We get our identity from our careers, our political positions, family roles in the family, and other things. This small group study uses clips from the film Overcomer to examine how we determine our identity and how we can find our true identity in Christ.

The Bible study is geared for adult groups to use prior to the movie or just after seeing the movie. The study includes clips from the movie.

The Overcomer Bible Study Kit has five sessions and includes:

  • one Bible Study Book
  • one DVD with a promotional video and five 2-4 minute video sessions

Session Topics:

  1. Who Are You?
  2. You Are Broken
  3. You Are Chosen
  4. You Surrender
  5. You Declare
224984: Overcomer, Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Overcomer, Blu-ray/DVD/Digital

By Provident Films

From the creators of War Room, Courageous and Fireproof. Basketball coach John Harrison’s high school team is crushed by the closing of the town’s largest employer. Hundreds of families move, leaving him running a struggling cross-country program. But then he meets Hannah and begins helping this unlikely runner attempt the impossible in the year’s biggest race. Starring Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer, and Aryn Wright-Thompson. Rated PG. Dove approved (12+). Approx. 119 minutes.

Blu-ray Exclusives:

  • The Heart of Overcomer
  • Creating the Opening Drone Shot
  • Working with the Kendricks
  • Post-Production Behind-the-Scenes: Editing, Scoring, Coloring, and Sound Design
  • “Enough” (Lyric Video) Featuring Koryn Hawthorne
  • Don’t Mess with the Editors

Special Features:

  • The Making of Overcomer
  • Bloopers
  • 10 Minutes of Additional Scenes
  • Commentary with Director Alex Kendrick and Producer Stephen Kendrick
  • Overcomer in 60 Seconds
  • The Theme of Identity
  • The Power of Forgiveness
  • “Overcomer” (Lip Sync Music Video) Featuring Mandisa and More!

Other Features:

  • Audio: English, French (PAR), Spanish, Thai
  • Subtitles: English, English (SDH), Spanish, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Tagalog, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese

God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Marriage  -     By: Julia M. Bruce God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars: 365 Daily Challenges to Grow Your Ma

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Happy Mother’s Day

Mother's Day

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” –Proverbs 31:25-30

May divider

Cover_mHave you seen Julie’s new book: God, Love and Marshmallow Wars? This book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel

book now summer and fall

Looking for a speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 Christian events for women’s and couples’ ministries for both small and large events.
Book with us now.

Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants.

Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.

With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities.

Image result for form pngTo request more information or a booking, 
fill out the online form here.
Image result for phone clipart png
Or call us at 904.524.8073

 

 

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One Year Bible Challenge: April 23

Bible reading challenge

April 23

2 Samuel 7-9

Luke 19:1-28

Clicking on these links will open a new widow where you can
read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at
Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read.

April divider

Cover_m God, Love and Marshmallow Wars: This book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel

 

004

Looking for a speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 Christian events for women’s and couples’ ministries for both small and large events.
Book with us now.

Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants.

Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.

With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities.

Image result for form pngTo request more information or a booking, 
fill out the online form here.

Image result for phone clipart png
Or call us at 904.524.8073

Posted on Leave a comment

Luke 3:7-9

March 23 Luke 3 7-9 NKJV

Some of the people who flocked to see John the Baptist and hear him preach were not sincere. Maybe curious. Or maybe they just wanted a glimpse of the “wild man” that lived in a wilderness and had a diet of locust and honey. Perhaps it was the message John preached that they were curious about. Regardless of their reasons for being there, their reasons did not include true repentance. The Holy Spirit revealed to John that some of the people were going through the right motions, but their heart was not following the motions. John called these people poisonous snakes and warned them to change their attitudes. He told them that if they were sincere in their repentance, then they would bear fruit that identified them as belonging to God. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul tells us what these fruits are: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” 

In Luke 3:10-14, the people responded to John saying, “What, then, are we supposed to do?” John told them to have compassion on others, to be honest and fair, to not abuse power, and to be content. The simple truth is that when we truly give our hearts to Christ and make Him Lord, the evidence is seen in the changes that come about as a result of Him living within us. If Christ had taken up residence in the people following John, they would have had compassion on those who are in need, the tax collectors would have been fair and honest in the taxes they collected, and the soldiers would not abuse the power given them in their position and they would have been content with their wages.

Today, people still go through the motions without actually having a heart change. Without true repentance there is no salvation and that person is still lost without Christ – heading for an eternity in Hell. It isn’t up to use to judge others as to their fruit or lack thereof. The question we need to ask is, “Is there fruit in my life that gives evidence of Christ living within me?”

God, show me the fruit of Christ living in me. Show me the fruit that needs cultivating and help me to grow and produce abundant and rich fruit as evidence of You working in my life. May the fruit that I bear lead others to you.  

spring divider 2
Cover_m

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars: This book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) Also available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobel. It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel

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Looking for a speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is booking for 2019 and 2020 events. Book with us now. Click the link and fill out the online form or call us at 904.524.8073.

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Deuteronomy 11:16. Word of Warning

March 10 Deuteronomy 11 16

Israel seemed stuck in an endless cycle of having peace in the land while serving God, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord when they begin to worship false gods, God punishes Israel through another nation conquering them and enslaving them, Israel finally figures things out and they cry out to God, then God raises up a judge and Israel is delivered. We see this pattern over and over again. It’s no wonder then that our omnipotent God provided a warning to them. God knows just how deceitful the heart is. In Jeremiah 17:9, the prophet wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Solomon advised in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart,     for everything you do flows from it.” The heart is a big problem and Satan knows our weakest spots and that’s where he chooses to tempt us. For Israel, it worshipping false gods. Yet we all have “gods” of some kind that we struggle with. Anything that we make a higher priority than God, becomes a god. It could be money, food, power, position, hobbies, children, careers, possessions, or health. Even sleep could become a god when we choose to sleep in late on Sunday instead of going to church. All these things deceive us into thinking that our “god” will make us happy. But true joy is only found in a right relationship with God and worshipping only Him. Therefore Paul wrote in Romans 13:14, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” The clothes that we choose to wear often reflect our status, our values, and even our priorities. Paul uses a clothing as an imagery to portray the transformation that results from our relationship with Jesus Christ when we accept Him as Savior. From Colossians 3:12, we learn that we are to “put on” certain godly characteristics that are a reflection of Christ himself: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” “Putting on” these godly characteristics is identifies our status as those who are holy, chosen and loved by God. So make sure that you are daily putting these on to guard your heart and that idols do not creep in and tempt you to put them before God.

God, forgive us for when we’ve made things or people more important to us than You. Help us to guard our heart and to not be deceived by them. Help us to keep our focus on you and to daily put on the Lord Jesus Christ and the characteristics that reflect who you are.

spring divider 2
Cover_m

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars: This book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) Also available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobel. It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel

004

Looking for a speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is booking for 2019 and 2020 events. Book with us now. Click the link and fill out the online form or call us at 904.524.8073.