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Scars to Stones

  Toastmasters and most welcome guests, I don't mean to brag, but I have got some stones. Truth be told we all do. Allow me to explain I grew up in a Christian household and while I understand that the word Christian evokes different emotions in people, for our purposes this evening I would like to be heard simply as a fellow Toastmaster looking to communicate more effectively with his audience. The story from the Bible that has had last impact on me is from the book of Joshua. Up to this point, the Israelites had spent generations as slaves in Egypt until they were lead out by Moses. Countless instances of disobedience caused them to wander in the desert for forty years and now the time had finally come for them to enter into the land that had been promised to them. However, there was one more obstacle in front of them, the Jordan River. The Jordan River is located on the border of Israel and Jordan and runs for 156 miles. Prior to crossing the river, the new leader of the Israeli...
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Who's on the Throne

 “They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭2‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ A youth pastor of mine illustrated the dangers of “missionary dating” by standing on a chair and trying to pull someone up (he couldn’t) he then told them to pull him down and they immediately did. At a Lecrae concert he said in relationships you don’t look behind y...
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Facing Our Enemies

 Good morning y’all! If you have an opportunity today I would encourage you to read 1 Samuel 26. In it Saul is pursuing David and David has an opportunity to kill Saul and does not take it. The two have a verbal exchange (from a distance) and in it David repeatedly refers to Saul as “my lord the king” and he refers to himself as “your (Saul’s) servant.” This blew my mind. How often I feel justified in repaying wrong for wrong. While it may not be at the point of a sword, let us be representatives of Christ in both word and deed. Lastly, David did this “from a distance.” We do not have to return to a place we are wronged, but we are called to show respect and forgiveness.
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Tale of Two Livings

 “Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Am I all in with God or do I waver between His will and my own? “God I will go to church on Sunday but my finances are mine. God I will read my Bible but I want to date who I want to date.” We must choose and if we are all in with God he will mold us into all He intended us to be.
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His Power, Our Perseverance

 Between Exodus Chapters 7-12, it says 9 times that the lord hardened pharaohs heart before finally in chapter 12 the Bible says pharaoh became “favorably disposed” to let the Israelites go. I find it incredible that the lord tells Moses that Pharaoh will say no and Moses is still obedient. Personally I believe God does this to remove any pride in Moses saying “I led the people out of Egypt.” How do I respond when I am met with rejection? Do I acknowledge the frustration and persist or abandon ship? I don’t know who needs to hear this but KEEP GOING! I’m sorry for the disappointment and rejection, but the day of being “favorably disposed” is coming!
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Closeness to Jesus

 Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭30‬:‭26-29 20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. (‭‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬) We have a sphere of influence. In our interactions are we pointing those around us to Jesus and in our own lives, through the good and bad do we trust that if I just get close enough to Jesus, He will make me well?
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