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(40) Either/Or vs. One-Sided Contentedness
~In the Bible, I think we can see two forms of contentedness: 1. Either/Or Contentedness: “Stay tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good…” (Ruth 3:13a). “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to…
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(6′) Wisdom & Action Pattern in the Bible
Indeed, turn anywhere you want in the Bible, especially the Poetic and Wisdom literature (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, etc.) and you will find that wisdom is associated with action. For example, “… when hands are idle, the house leaks” (Eccles. 10:18b). “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed” (Prov.…
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(39) Getting Out Is Therapy Sometimes
“Joab was told, ‘The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom …’ Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, ‘Today you …. have made it clear … that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. Now go out and encourage your men. ‘” 2 Sam 19:1…7 ~ Joab is not…
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(38) Job and Multiplying Thoughts, Emotions and Words
In the book of Job in the Bible, after Job is hit with harsh trials, he is initially calm. His early/first response is, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) Even when his wife tells him to curse God and die, he refuses. His…
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(37) Flubs, Glubs, Goofs, and Gaffes ~ More Than 70
~ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven. ~ Matt 18:21-22 Offense is often taken when one is sinned against. Why? A sin is something…
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(36) On What is Counterfeit
How do we know what is real and what is counterfeit? ~ Well. We first need to be well-acquainted with the real, before the counterfeit. Counterfeits are always parasitical upon the originals. We need to spend more time with the truth, than with a lie. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble,…
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(35) Negativity Bias & Miserable Comforters
You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! ~ Job 14:4 “I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! ~ Job 16:2 It turns out we humans are naturally inclined to think more negatively than positively — a tendency researchers call negativity bias. This…
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(34) The Rearguard
“But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rearguard. ~ Isaiah 52:12 When Israel left Egypt and went out marching through the wilderness for 40 years, who was at the back? Who was at the tail-end, behind everyone…
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(33) Diligently Seeking Good but…
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who inquires of evil, it will come to him. ~ Prov. 11:27 (LEB) ~ Seeking the good requires diligence and effort in a fallen world and there is NO guarantee that you will get it. ~ Seeking evil requires only a mere inquiry and it will…
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(32) Fact Checking Our Imaginations ~ Fear
“We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” ~ Numbers 13:3 “And they said to each other, ‘We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.’” ~ Numbers 14:4 ~ When we go through…
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(31) Fear is All There Is…
“And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are 400 men with him.” 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. . . . He thought, “If Esau attacks one group, perhaps the other can escape.” 9 And Jacob said, “O…
The Dew and the Rain 