My phone rings. I see the name. I know they need something. Otherwise they never call.
They may need a variety of favors: someone’s phone number, help with some task, or they need money. And as much as possible, I try to help.
After all, Jesus said “Freely you have received, freely give.”
Others connect just to stay connected. Some call and simply ask about us, our children, ministry, and how we are doing overall.
Some will even speak words of blessing over us. Others pray for us over the phone. Those are refreshing phone calls.
Go ahead – refresh someone’s heart today.
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    The agony is unbearable. You don’t have an answer for those who question your faith and even your salvation – because of your suffering.
    You’ve prayed endless prayers and sought out specialists who would pray with a “special anointing.” Confession and heart searching continues even now. But your pain and suffering continues.
    The Israelites suffered for over 400 years in brutal slavery. After being released, God pointed out an important significance for them. They were to remember their slavery and have compassion on others. God’s instruction was clear:

“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9, cf. 22:21)

    Compassion – it’s often connected to your own pain and suffering. Look for opportunities to express and live our that compassion. It’s costly. You paid a great price. Jesus paid an even greater price.
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Usually its those with a lot of free time in their hands. They are easily offended no matter what happens. Those around them are careful with every word they speak, as they know they are “walking on eggshells.”
Truly they are an offense waiting to happen. Don’t live to appease these people. They’ll never be satisfied. Regardless of how far you go to be careful and non-offensive to these people, it will never work.
Release yourself from their invisible grip and control over you. Be free to live your life as you need to. Once you are free from their grip, you can be focused in your purpose. Otherwise, your purpose will be to satisfy them.
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It was a large international airport. Lots of people with uniforms. I asked for directions to four people. Three out of four gave me the wrong directions. Three times we wandered around, misdirected.
Their uniforms looked good. The people looked important. But they didn’t know the answer. I suppose they were just confused.
No, they don’t need to know all the answers. But there seems to be an “international” expectation that one should know all the answers. Thus the reason they spoke up and gave the wrong answer.
But its better to say “Sorry, I don’t know.”
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This takes lots of practice, but it is worth the effort.
Things around you may be chaotic, but learn to be still. Don’t become “chaotic” along with your environment. You are not your environment.
Stand straight. Be still. And behave as the person you are. Allow the surroundings to be as it is, but you be as you are.
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Savings is not unbiblical but worry is. When the Israelites gathered more Mana than they needed for one day, God was displeased. It signified that they did not trust God. They already had an issue of distrust. Whenever they faced any difficulty, they grumbled against Moses. This daily provision was much beyond provision. It was a daily lesson of God’s ability to take care is them.
Worry signifies distrust in God to take care of us.
See  Exodus 16.
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Leadership must stay in control until they enter the domain of the divine. Moses was fully in control of the entire process of constructing and setting up the tabernacle for the presence of God to dwell. But once God came down with his glory, Moses had to back off (Exodus 40:34-38).
It’s important for us to sense or “see” the move of God’s Spirit in a particular situation. At that moment we allow God to do his work. If we continue pushing our agenda, we risk forfeiting or stalling the work that God intends to do.
As we learn to recognize the move of God, we can allow for more of God’s work in people. The divine presence brings his divine initiative and his divine power. At that point, step back and watch him work.
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It’s amazing to see those who consistently pay the price to be in God’s presence. Some suffer ridicule and others suffer physical abuse, but those things don’t deter them.
Some borrow money for the bus ride. Others take the bus to the location they can afford and walk the rest of the way. Others clearly told their bosses that they will come to work only after church and work till evening. “You can keep me or let me go – it’s up to you.”
But others will come if it’s convenient. If all factors are favorable, then they’ll be in church. I don’t put down such people. Because I know that people will pay a premium price only for those things they value.
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It’s interesting to notice the throw away culture that has developed in the western countries and now is spreading to other nations as well. Most items are used and thrown away without being re-used or re-filled. Some items could be used longer. But we discard them with some product left in them.
The opposite can also be a problem. Holding on and holding things longer can be the sign of a hoarding problem. Keeping items for another few uses or some day when you need it can be a problem. After some time, every room will be full of items you don’t use, but someday “it might come in handy.”
There is a deeper issue here.
Remember.

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matt 6:26)

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For a group of former slaves, gold is quite an expense! Even though they looted the Egyptians before they left, the cost would be much. Actually, when this group “plundered the Egyptians” and got the gold into their hands, it would be quite difficult to let go.
So I go back to the question in the beginning: Why gold? Why was so much gold used in furnishing the Tabernacle where God dwelt? I understand two factors here.
First, they wanted to express the value they placed on God’s presence. They understood the Tabernacle as the place where the actual presence of God dwelt. Thus they placed so much value on his presence that they were willing to spend their most valuable possessions. I’m sure everyone did not give. Only those who valued God’s presence so much.
Second, God wanted them to part with material things that gave them a false sense of security. God is their only security.
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