Acts 17:11-12a GW The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God's message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true. Many of them became believers, ...

We live in a time when selfishness and emotionalism rather than rational thought and consideration reign. Behavior is based on what sounds or feels good now rather than weighing long term options or consequences (intended or otherwise).

Those with this low level of intellectual thought tend to be easily led--or misled because they are ignorant and have little desire to take time to research and/or think things through. And forget prayer or seeking guidance from God.

Christianity, unlike what is often portrayed in media, demands thought and careful introspection. While love is core, so is truth. Together they open the door to an abundant life and a people of solid character and integrity not blown away by fancy-sounding rhetoric or circumstance.

Jesus really really is is our solid Rock.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 6:29 AM CST

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Habakkuk 2:18 GW What benefit is there in a carved idol when its maker has carved it? What benefit is there in a molded statue, a teacher of lies, when its maker has molded it? The one who formed it trusts himself to make worthless idols that cannot speak. 

If the god we serve is little more than an image of ourselves, we are pathetic. If the god we serve is a recipe of our own devising, we are of all people hopeless and blind. In the end will the god we create save us?

Unfortunately, celebrities like Oprah are leading the charge for god's of self, gods created for our own fantasy world, using just enough religious jargon to fool those not well founded in faith.

We can devise all sorts of theories, philosophies, beliefs. That doesn't make them true. How pathetic to turn our back on the God who is, who sacrificed for us, who lives to love and guide if we come to Him.

All human plans lead to destruction. Why not explore the truth. Jesus said,  "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

V. Hab. 3:18b GW  I will be happy with the LORD. I will truly find joy in God, who saves me. 

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 9:46 AM CDT

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A wise person will listen and continue to learn... Proverbs 1:5a GW 

Many of us tend to get in a rut. We've learned what we want to learn about a person, situation--life, and are closed to anything that may enlighten or change our minds.  

We even think we know God's Word and stop reading, meditating, memorizing it until it becomes tradition and our faith becomes based merely on our opinion rather than God's Word and a living, vital relationship with Him. 

Once we refuse to grow and learn, we are no longer wise. That does not mean throwing away God's principles, but using them to access the value of the information we see, read and hear as we continue to open up to growth. 

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:24 AM CDT

Updated: Saturday, 5 April 2008 8:29 AM CDT

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Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them up. 1 Corinthians 8b:

We think we're so smart because of our intelligence or because we know more, are more educated, etc., than someone else. But when we live our lives by knowledge alone, we're only half living.

When we leave out love, we leave out compassion, leave out the caring support of spouse and family. Most of all we leave out Jesus Christ who is truth, who is love and who wants to give us life in abundance.

I'm all for education, intelligence and knowledge, but true knowing comes at the feet of Christ. True knowledge is based on a life-long desire to "know" Him.

V.2-3 Those who think they know something still have a lot to learn. But if they love God, they are known by God. 

V.6 But for us, "There is only one God, the Father. Everything came from him, and we live for him. There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. Everything came into being through him, and we live because of him."

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:36 AM CDT

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