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Today’s Devotional – November 30

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Power of Positive-Thinking Gospels,

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Part 2

“Our Children!”

To read part 1, click here…June 9th (The Power of Positive-Thinking Gospels! Part 1)

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“And He (Jesus) said unto them (Joseph & Mary),

How is it that ye sought Me?

Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Luke 2:49 

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FAMILY VALUES

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There is a growing consensus that our society is fast becoming a veritable Sodom & Gomorrah!

Decadence and perversion are rapidly becoming the order of the day!

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And with the advent of modern high-tech devices, the current wave of moral degeneracy is just now sweeping over the land like a giant tsunami!

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And so, Just how do we raise our children to “escape all these things, and to stand before the Son of Man”? Luke 21:36

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THE SINS OF SODOM

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Well, one thing is for sure! We should not raise them to love the sins of Sodom!

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Now there are many who do not understand just what the sins of Sodom were.

But listen to what God has to say about this…

“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom,

pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters,

neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 

And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me:

therefore I took them away as I saw good.”

Ezekiel 16:49, 50

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The fact is, the very first two sins mentioned were “pride”, and “fullness of bread”.

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These are the sins which led to the downfall of Sodom and ultimately led to her fiery destruction!

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And sadly, this prosperity-driven gospel being embraced in the churches today, is giving our children exactly the wrong idea of what it means to be Christ-like!

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 People on Times Square – cropped – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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CHRIST & PAUL: OUR ROLE-MODELS

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Listen to Paul’s testimony…

“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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Yes, Paul became poor in the eyes of the world, all for the sake of winning Christ.

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And Paul encourages us by saying… “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1st Corinthians 11:1

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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org–public domain

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DEATH-TO-SELF BRINGS GOD’S BLESSINGS 

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You see, we can try to give our children a Wonder-World Theme-Park existence, attempting to turn their life into one continuous round of picnics, parties, sports, vacations, amusements, and whatever else we think will make them happy and well-adjusted.

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But that will not save their soul! 

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Listen… “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD;

that walketh in His ways…

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:

thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children,

and peace upon Israel.”

Psalm 128:1, 3, 4, 6

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As this above passage reveals, it is by walking in the way of Jesus, God will bless our family.

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Castle of Disney – Wikipedia – Public dom.

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TRUE RICHES: EVERLASTING LIFE!

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“In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver,

and his idols of gold,

which they made each one for himself to worship,

to the moles and to the bats; 

To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks,

for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty,

when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.”

Isaiah 2:20, 21

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So just what day is this above prophecy speaking of?

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Obviously, it is speaking of these last days!

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And it reveals that God’s people will finally realize that the Salvation of our children will only be accomplished when we finally decide to order our lives after the pattern of Christ!

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Yes, Everlasting Life! Now that’s true riches!

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Christ’s Return by Jan Luyken – Wikipedia – Public domain

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Just listen to the serious-minded words of the young lad, Jesus (the role-model for us and our children)…

“And He (Jesus) said unto them (Joseph & Mary),

How is it that ye sought Me?

Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Luke 2:49

Jesus the Carpenters Son by – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org US public-domain.jpg

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TO READ PART 3, CLICK HERE…

June 11th (Power of Positive Thinking Gospels, Part 3: Being Crucified )

Crucifixion of Peter – Caravaggio Martirio di San Pietro – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

 

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to love the idea of forsaking all, to follow Jesus. Help me to set a good example for my family, as I conform my life to the pattern and image of Jesus Christ…

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “November 23 – (The Two Spirits In The World)“

or you can also read… “November 25 – (How Narrow is the Narrow Gate?)“

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

 

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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 GATE STARS

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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 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.

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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 below left).

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READ MORE…

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

or you can also read… “Castor and Pollux & The Mystery Ship of Scripture”

 

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TOMORROW:

DECEMBER 1 (Apostle Paul’s Fun & Recreation, Part 2: How Should I Unwind?)

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

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EXCERPTS FROM THE OPEN FORUM QUESTION/ANSWER RADIO TALK-SHOW…

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this Open Forum #18, a small 30-minute sampling of the late Harold Camping’s nearly 50-year long series of 90-minute nightly talk shows…

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ABOVE PICTURE: Holy bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons lic.

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