By admin On January 31st, 2021

Click credit links below each pic, for licensing names/details/tags/etc.. Most pics cropped/reduced in size

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 “Complete List of Daily Devotionals”

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – AUGUST 20

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The Great Babylonian Dream-Machine! Part 2: “Pursuing My Dreams!”

To read Part 1, click here…May 6 (The Great Babylonian Dream-Machine!)

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“For a dream cometh through the multitude of business;”

Ecclesiastes 5:3

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Woman in Mediterranian wikipaintings us public domain

Some months ago, a Christian woman from a conservative church made the following comment… “God wants us to pursue our dreams!”

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Now she did not elaborate just what dreams we should be pursuing.

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But it sure is an interesting statement for a professed Christian to make, wouldn’t you agree?

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Woman in Mediterranian – Wikipaintings – US public domain

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WHAT DREAMS SHOULD I PURSUE?

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And this raises a very interesting question: “Just what dreams should I be pursuing?”

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After all, there are many dreams to pursue in this life. Some pursue money and material possessions. Some pursue fame and fortune. Some pursue hobbies and sports. Some merely want a peaceful life and a cottage on a little green acre. Others want a high-paying career and all the accompanying amenities. Some dream of romance.

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Yes, this world offers many dreams that one can pursue.

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ABOVE PICTURE: Dream Maker of Babylon – Signs Of Heaven.org

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THE DREAMS OF A CHRISTIAN

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But what about the Christian? What dreams should the child of God pursue?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PaulT.jpg

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Shouldn’t the greatest dream of the Christian be to meet the Lord in peace? And this would necessitate a sanctified life of holiness, wouldn’t it?…

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Listen to Paul… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8

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Here above, Paul made clear just what his dream was: to win Christ.

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Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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DIDN’T PAUL HAVE CHRIST ALREADY?

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But many will say, “Well why would Paul want to win Christ? Didn’t Paul already have Christ?”

.http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures/The%20Early%20Church%20Artwork/target8.html

Listen as Paul continues… “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13, 14

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So Paul did not consider himself to have apprehended Christ.

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But he pursued Christ as though he had not yet obtained Christ.

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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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THE DREAM OF HEAVEN FOR MY LOVED ONES

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But what other dreams  should the Christian pursue?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Family_Portrait.jpg.

Well, wouldn’t the greatest dream for a Christian be, to see his or her children (and grandchildren) walking those heavenly streets of gold someday?

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Yes, each and every day, the Christian cries out for the Salvation of his or her family! And not just for our children, but for our parents and friends too!

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Yes, God has called us to be ambassadors for Christ!

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And He has elected us to be priests, crying out on behalf of all those around us!

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Family Portrait – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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THE DREAM OF BEING FILLED WITH CHRIST’S FULLNESS

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And so, are there still any other dreams that the Christian should pursue?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_What_Our_Lord_Saw_from_the_Cross_(Ce_que_voyait_Notre-Seigneur_sur_la_Croix)_-_James_Tissot.jpg.

Well, isn’t our great hope to become Christlike in every way?

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To be filled with His goodness?

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To be filled with His love?

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To walk in His holiness?

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Listen…“He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1st John 2:5, 6

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So to walk as He walked. This is also the Christian’s dream!

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Brooklyn Museum – What Our Lord Saw from the Cross – James Tissot

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FORSAKING ALL, A MUST!

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Now unfortunately, most churches today teach that the Christian can have Heaven and still pursue earthly dreams. But the Bible calls that kind of thinking, “double-minded”…

http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_65895/Edward-Armitage/Christ-Calling-the-Apostles-James-and-John--1869.

Listen to Jesus… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple!” Luke 14:33

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Most churches don’t really believe this statement by Jesus. But Paul believed it!

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Listen again to Paul…“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8

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Christ calling His Disciples by Edward Armitage – 1869 – courtesy Wikigallery.com – Public Domain

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“CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE”

Hebrews 13:5

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“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/PaulsTentmaking.htmlChrist Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8

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Now is Paul saying here that we cannot own anything? Furniture? A car? A house?

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Of course not! What Paul is merely warning us against, is the danger of becoming materialistic.

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Yes, we live in a very materialistic world.

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The whole world is going after the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the many proud pursuits and careers.

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Paul Tentmaking – La Vista Church of Christ – cropped image – Creative Commons License

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CALLED OUT OF THE WORLD

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But Christ has called us out of the world, to become strangers and pilgrims on an upward heavenward sojourn!

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And Paul agrees with this by saying…“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1st Timothy 6:7, 8

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OK, so Paul tells us to be content with food and covering.

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And yet, the Church for the most part ignores Paul’s admonition, and continues to accumulate needless possessions and proud attainments.

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Upward Pathway – cropped and altered image – by böhringer friedrich – for-Wikimedia – Share-alike-License 

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WHICH WORLD WILL YOU CHOOSE?

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The fact is, there isn’t enough time to pursue this world and Heaven too!

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And there isn’t enough room in the heart for both worlds to co-exist! We must each choose which world we are going to live for! Heaven or Hell (this world)! We just cannot live for both!

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And if we are going to save our family, we cannot expect to have a divided heart.

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A heart divided cannot stand! It will certainly fall!

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But to win Heaven for our loved ones will require all the heart, soul, mind and strength!

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Nothing less will do!

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This world is the battlefield for the souls of men!

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TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS!

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Well, the Good News is, that this is still the day of Salvation. And in an instant, the http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-06831.jpgChristian can repent and turn away from the pursuit of earthly Mammon (the pleasures and riches of this selfish world). And there is no need to immediately trash all our belongings!

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No, it’s like that old song… “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face! And the things of the world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace!”

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Yes, when we lift up our heads heavenward, the things of the world begin to lose their luster! The brightness of Jesus makes this world look dark and drab by comparison!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 3, GO HERE…Daily Devotional, Year 3 – January 2 (This Vanity Fair Dream-Machine! Part 3: It’s A Theme-park World!)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

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“Dear Lord, Let me not be deceived by this very alluring world, and by the very deceitful, “prince of this world”… 

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READ MORE…

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To explore deeper into this subject, please read… ““Vanity Fair” & The False Prophet”, or you can also read this shorter article…“March 8th (This Vanity Fair Dream-Machine)”, OR you can read this other article… JUNE 18 (Rollie-Pollie Bug Christians! Part 4: Building A Hedge Against Satan)

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

 

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THE NARROW & WIDE GATE STARS

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter.

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Winter Constellations in West

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Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation  is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to below left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

Revelation 12 Woman & Orion's Gate & Wide Gate.

This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch to right).

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Revelation 12 Woman chooses Narrow Way

 

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here,“Orion The Reaper”.)

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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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READ MORE…

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To explore deeper into this subject, please read…Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven

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TOMORROW…

AUGUST 21 (Apocalypse Now! Part 7: Tormented With Fire!)

 

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

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THIS IS STUDY #597 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.

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