I recently read this devotion by Max Lucado, and was moved by the truth and power of the words. I decided the best thing to do was to share it with others.
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To read more from Max, or to sign up for his devotions click on the link below:
Copyright © 2017 Mark Brady, All rights reserved
Jesus warned Peter (Simon) Satan wanted to get inside him and tempt him. Satan wanted to see if Peter’s life was rattled, shaken would his belief in God remain.
Luke 22:31 “Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat.” (MSG)
So how does Satan get inside our hearts in the first place?
Perhaps when a family member hurts us. – Resentment
Maybe when a neighbor gets a new car. – Jealousy
Could be when difficult financial times fall upon us. – Fear
When your boss rides you, even though you work very hard. – Hatred
It could be after the loss of a loved one. – Grief, or sorrow
Through a battle with a serious illness. – Desperation
If a child goes astray with their life, or departs from God – Hopelessness
You feel there is no one out there who really loves you, understands you. – Loneliness
A situation or person ticks you off – Anger
These are only a few examples of how our lives can be shaken, sifted. If this is happening to you will God remain? I hope so. One way to make sure is to do an evaluation of what is in your heart. Clean it out and then keep the door to your heart and soul SHUT! And it wouldn’t hurt to lock it either.
Recognize quickly when Satan tries to sneak into your heart, because he will, even if the door is barely cracked.
Copyright © 2017 Mark Brady, All rights reserved
Ya know, sometimes God words things just right. Good enough to convey His point clearly, so I give you God. He will be quoting His original writing from Amos chapter 5, verses 7 – 14.
7) Woe to you who turn justice to vinegar and stomp righteousness into the mud.
8) Do you realize where you are? You’re in a cosmos star-flung with constellations by God, A world God wakes up each morning and puts to bed each night. God dips water from the ocean and gives the land a drink. GOD, God-revealed, does all this.
9) And he can destroy it as easily as make it. He can turn this vast wonder into total waste
10) People hate this kind of talk. Raw truth is never popular.
11) But here it is, bluntly spoken: Because you run roughshod over the poor and take the bread right out of their mouths, You’re never going to move into the luxury homes you have built. You’re never going to drink wine from the expensive vineyards you’ve planted.
12) I know precisely the extent of your violations, the enormity of your sins. Appalling! You bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they’re down.
13) Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic. Decent people throw up their hands. Protest and rebuke are useless, a waste of breath.
14) Seek good and not evil– and live! You talk about GOD, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen.
Copyright © 2017 Mark Brady, All rights reserved
I created a beautiful place for you to live.
I wrote instructions, on how to live.
I gave you my Son who lived perfectly,
I allowed him to die, as a sacrifice, for your wrong doing.
I prepared a place for you……..to live eternally.
Copyright © 2017 Mark Brady, All rights reserved
brady, mark a. 