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The King Who Reigns Forever

11/06/2024

Elizabeth II of Great Britain, who died on September 8, 2022, reigned 70 years. The length of her reign is second only to Louis XIV of France who reigned 72 years. Their reigns can be counted to the day. There is One, however, whose reign cannot be counted by days, months, or years. Jesus, Zion’s King, is eternal.

John 12:15 describes the first coming of Jesus, Zion’s Kings, as lowly. “FEAR NOTDAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” However, Zion’s King will have a glorious second coming described in Revelation 19:16. “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Are you ready for the eternal King of glory, Zion’s King, the King of Kings, and Lord of LORDS’ arrival?

ZION’S KING, Your reign is eternal and glorious. Thank You for saving and sealing us for eternity with You in Your heavenly Kingdom.

Would you like some resources to help you better understand the times in which we live and to shift your focus to Christ’s return and eternity? Check out End Times: What You Should Know, What You Can Do as well as Contend Earnestly for the Faith.

 

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A Time for Zeal

11/05/2024

When we and our nation sin, are we mindful that God sees us? The Bible clearly says that God sees us and that there are consequences to sin. Joel 2:11 says, “The day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome. And who can endure it?” Joel 2:12-14a continues, “‘Yet, even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and tear your heart and not merely your garments.’ Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding  in mercy and relenting of catastrophe. Who knows, He might turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him…”

What is God’s response when we repent? Joel 2:18 says, “Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and will have pity on His people.” God is zealous for us. Why? He wants us to take hold of the joy, beauty, and glory of the abundant life He gives us in Christ Jesus.

What better time than now for our nation to repent? What better time than now for us to be zealous for Christ and live purposefully for Him? Return God’s zeal by praying more purposefully and living more passionately for Christ. Watch Starting Strong for a refresher.

Lord, thank You for being ZEALOUS for us. Kindle in us a zeal for You that produces in us a zeal for holiness and a zeal for our brothers and sisters, a zeal for our neighbors, and a zeal for our nation.  

Learn to seek God in prayer through Debbie’s book, Pray With Purpose, Live With Passion. Purchase your copy HERE.

 

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Knock, Knock

11/04/2024
Door

Have you ever experienced someone who you deeply love being distant with you? Maybe your spouse has become swamped at work and “doesn’t have time” to talk. Perhaps a child or the person you were dating moved away and it seems they’ve forgotten you. Or, perhaps someone you care about has put Jesus on the “back burner” and doesn’t want to talk about spiritual matters anymore.

Just as we yearn for a relationship with those we love, James 4:5 tells us that Christ yearns, or longs for, a vibrant relationship with believers. “Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: ‘He jealously desires (longs for) the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us’?”

Yes, the Lord created us with the spiritual capacity to have His Holy Spirit in our very being. His gift of the Holy Spirit to believers at salvation is not only for the purpose of sealing us for eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:21-22), but to also empower us to witness and vibrantly walk out our Christian faith (Acts 1:8, Galatians 5:22-23). Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit also provides a way for us to have intimate conversations with Him (Romans 8:6, Ephesians 6:18).

James’ words are a wake up call to believers who are inundated with the world and neglecting time and intimacy with Christ.

What can we do if we have put Christ, His Spirit in us, on the “back burner”?  We can respond to Jesus’ call. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me,” Revelation 3:20. What an invitation to intimacy!

How will you respond to Christ’s knock? Will you open your Bible to James 4 and have a conversation with Jesus?

YEARNING SAVIOR, SPIRIT OF CHRIST, forgive me when I am so preoccupied with the world that I neglect You, Your Spirit and Word. Rekindle my passion as I draw near to You in prayer and the Word.

Would you like to learn more about Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit? Listen to this free podcast teaching: Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.

 

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International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

11/03/2024

What would you do if a man holding a machete threatened you, “Say Jesus isn’t the Son of God! Denounce him or die.” What would you do if you received an alarming call such as the Voice of the Martyrs reported Amir did? The caller, a member of an Islamic extremist group, warned Amir that they were watching his family and had seen his son attending church. The Islamist told Amir that if his son continued to attend church, Amir would “reap what he sows with his only son.” Do you stop going to church?

Sunday, November 3, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.It is a day set aside for us to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for believing Jesus’s words, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).

I invite you to join me and others throughout the world who are praying for our brothers and sisters who follow Christ in spite of being persecuted for their faith. I invite you to pray and to keep praying. Why? Our prayers make a difference as demonstrated in Acts 12:5-11.

“So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me. And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Yes, our prayers make a difference. They reach heaven. God hears them. Your prayers make a difference in the lives of those who are imprisoned, tortured, and suffering for Christ. Pray and keep on praying. I have the last column in Prayers of My Heart designated for prayers for our nation, world, and persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. I encourage you to sign up to receive Voice of the Martyrs which will keep you up to date with weekly ways you can pray for specific people.

Watch Sabina to better grasp the radical truth to which we hold—that Jesus and He alone is the way, the truth, and the life.

Lord Jesus, we praise You, the TRUTH and way to forgiveness of sins and eternity with You and our Heavenly Father. We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted and tortured for You. Thank You for standing by them. Thank You for strengthening them. Thank You for Your angelic messengers who are helping them escape the hand of their torturers. Thank You that in their persecution You are present to usher them into heaven as You did Stephen. Prepare us to stand boldly for You in our society in our generation and to not take lightly the opportunity and privilege to gather with other believers to worship You and study Your word. We love You, Lord Jesus Christ, and ask forgiveness for our smallness of faith and littleness of prayer for our brothers and sisters in prison. 

Spend more time in God’s Word and walk in the light of His wisdom with one of Debbie’s Bible studies. You can purchase printed Bible studies in our shop by clicking HERE. You can also complete free online Bible studies by clicking HERE.

 

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Worthy Because of Christ

11/02/2024

Have you ever considered that because Christ paid for your sins you are worthy of heaven? Say that a few times to yourself and let it sink in. “I am worthy of heaven.”

Believers are found worthy of heaven only because Christ is worthy and exchanged His righteousness for our sins. Colossians 1:10 reminds us of the implication – so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” In other words, we’re to walk in a manner worthy of or “suitably” for our Lord.

We may have a hazy understanding of what it means to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, but we know what it means to be suitable. A child who puts on dirty clothes for school is told to put on something suitable, something clean for school. In the same manner, we are to walk worthy (suitably) of the Lord. Let’s get this right.

Journaling Tip: I wrote in the “Meditations” section of my Prayer of My Heart journal, “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,” Colossians 1:10. It’s a verse I want to put to memory. Writing and reviewing it helps keep me focused on this important calling.

Lord, thank You for making us WORTHY of Your presence and of heaven. Help us walk worthy of You!

Are you enjoying the 365 Days of Praise e-devotional? Use the social media icons, below, to share it on your favorite social media platform to help others discover it too!

 

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Kidz Time 1 – S

11/01/2024

Hi Moms,

I’m super excited you’re here – feeding your child’s soul with Biblical truth they will carry through life!

Here is “S” from Kidz Time 1.

Have fun!  Love, Debbie

Kidz Time 1 Book

“S” Video  & Printable Activity                       

Slide Show          

Memory  Verse  Cards    

Are You in Need of Wonder Working Power?

11/01/2024

Do you wish you could twitch your nose or snap your fingers and, presto, what you long for would appear? The fact is, those techniques may work in movies, but not in real life. However, God does work wonders. Sometimes those wonders take time. Other times, moments. Regardless of the timing, our Heavenly Father is the One on whom we are to set our hearts if we’re in need of wonder-working power. 

Moses is one of many who needed a miracle and God stepped in. Listen to his words of praise in Exodus 15:11. “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?”

If we’re in need of wonder-working power, we can go to God, be still in His presence, ask Him for help, and listen to what He quietly impresses on our hearts. Have your Bible, pen, and journal with you so you can turn to a Bible verse He directs you to look up and so you can write down what He prompts you to do.

Imagine God’s wonder-working power in your life. It’s not a fairy tale. It’s real and it’s available for the person who seeks Christ and desires to glorify Him with their life. 

Lord, You are the WORKER OF WONDERS! We love and adore You. We look to You for the wonder-working power only You can provide. We ask that You do in us what we cannot do, that You be in us what we cannot be, and that You speak through us as only You can. May You be glorified in our lives.  

Would you like some resources to help you spend more time in God’s presence and record what He impresses on your heart? Check out Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion and the Prayers of My Heart prayer journal. 

 

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The Most Important Word

10/31/2024

If you were asked what the most important word in the world is, how would you reply? Would it be love, hope, or peace? Do a search on the topic and you’ll find a variety of answers such as the most important word is a person’s name. Another answer you might find is “thank you,” which is only one word in French.

The Bible has an eternal perspective on this topic. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Bible passages such as  Revelation 19:13 explain the most important Word is Jesus. “His name is called the Word of God.” Acts 4:10-12 warns us there is salvation in no other name except Jesus.

Now that you know the most important Word, why not start up a conversation with someone on the topic? It might lead to an opportunity for you to share Christ and tell them how they can be saved. If the person is already a Christian, but not closely following Christ, it gives you an opportunity to share with them how life and light are found in Jesus. Let’s not keep this Word to ourselves!

Lord Jesus, WORD OF GOD, we love and praise You. Stir the embers in our hearts to be a roaring fire so we can’t help but share You with others. 

One of our key verses today is John 1:1. To watch to all of Debbie’s teaching on John 1, click HERE. To listen to her teaching, click HERE

 

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Is Lip Service a Big Deal to God?

10/30/2024

A person who is not a Christian once challenged me and asked why believers talk about God’s love but never His wrath. I thought about his question and realized that I, too, am guilty of this very thing. Think about all the wonderful ways we look at God’s love, gentleness, and favor. Today, however, let’s consider the context in which God’s actions are described as wondrously marvelous in reference to His judgment on people who claim His name, but simply give lip service to Him.

God uses the prophet Isaiah to call these people out in Isaiah 29:13-14. “Then the Lord said, ‘Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, therefore, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous.'” He goes on to warn them of the consequences of their lip service and rote worship.

We might want to relegate our Creator’s wrath to the Old Testament, but Revelation 16 speaks of God’s judgment being poured out in a future day. We may wonder, “Is mankind’s behavior and sincerity of worship a big deal to God?” The answer is, “yes.”

Lord, You alone are worthy of our praise. You extend mercy to those who call on Your name but are WONDROUSLY MARVELOUS in Your discipline toward those who give You lip service and rote worship. Forgive us and prompt us daily to live by Your Spirit.

One of the ways we can avoid giving lip service to God is by listening to and being led by His Spirit. If you’d like to learn more, listen to this free podcast teaching: Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.

 

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If You’re Wondering What to Do About Something

10/29/2024
A woman walking outside. The woman and looks sad and the sky is overcast.

Are you at your wit’s end? Do you need someone to talk to who can help you sort out your concerns, problems, and worries? God understands. Our Heavenly Father is the original Counselor, and Isaiah 9:6 says this about Jesus as well. Not only is He our Counselor, but He is also a “Wonderful Counselor.”

Our Heavenly Father and Jesus are Wonderful Counselors because they are excellent listeners and know us inside and out. We can talk to them, knowing they hear us. When we quiet ourselves in their presence, we can hear them too.

Talk to your Wonderful Counselor, then follow His counsel. I record what God prompts me to do in my journal, Prayers of My HeartIt helps me follow through because I can reread what I’ve recorded that He put on my heart. What do God’s prompts sound like? His prompt might be, “Open your Bible and read a Psalm.” It might be, “Stop procrastinating and tackle what is before you.” His prompt might be, “Instead of wondering about someone, call them.” Or, “Do _____ today.” A wise Christian will both talk things out with their Wonderful Counselor and follow how the Wonderful Counselor prompts them. Are we wise? 

Lord, You are the WONDERFUL COUNSELOR. Increase our sensitivity to Your Voice. Help us take seriously Your counsel and follow through on what You lead us to do.  

Would you like an organized way to record what God is speaking to you as you spend time in His presence? Grab a copy of the Prayers of My Heart prayer journal to write down what God places on your heart.

 

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