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Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Composure Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Composure & Poise

Illustrations:
Carol Burnett
Actress Carol Burnett got out of a cab one day and caught her coat in the door. The driver was unaware of her plight and slowly began to edge out into traffic. To keep from being pulled off her feet, the comedienne had to run alongside down the block.
A passerby noted her predicament and quickly alerted the driver. He stopped, jumped out, and released Miss Burnett’s coat. “Are you all right?” he asked anxiously.
“Yes,” she gasped, “but how much more do I owe you?”
Bits and Pieces, November, 1989, p. 6

Devotional Thoughts


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#Composure
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#Tranquility
#Serenity

Genesis 42:24 (NLT) Now he turned away from them and began to weep. When he regained his composure, he spoke to them again. Then he chose Simeon from among them and had him tied up right before their eyes.
Genesis 43:31 (NLT) After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring out the food!”
Ecclesiastes 10:4 (NLT) If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.
2 Thessalonians 2:2 (NLT) Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.
2 Thessalonians 2:2 (LEB) that you not be easily shaken from your composure, nor be troubled either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter ⌞alleged to be from us⌟ , to the effect that the day of the Lord has arrived.
Ecclesiastes 10:5 (NLT) There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake
Romans 8:25 (NLT) But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
John 18:36 ESV Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Logos Dictionary Themes


COMPOSURE (Calmness, Self-Control, Serenity)
    How can we develop composure?

                 BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 16:5–14
           KEY BIBLE VERSE: Perhaps the LORD will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses. (2 Samuel 16:12)

           Composure develops under pressure. Shimei kept up a steady tirade against David. Although his curses were unjustified because David had no part in Saul’s death, David and his followers quietly tolerated the abuse. Maintaining your composure in the face of unjustified criticism can be a trying experience and an emotional drain, but if you can’t stop criticism, it is best just to ignore it. Remember that God knows what you are enduring, and he will vindicate you if you are in the right.

                 BIBLE READING: John 19:1–16
           KEY BIBLE VERSE: “You won’t talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or to crucify you?” (John 19:10)

           Composure develops when we trust God. Throughout the trial we see that Jesus was in control, not Pilate or the religious leaders. Pilate vacillated, the Jewish leaders reacted out of hatred and anger, but Jesus remained composed. He knew the truth, he knew God’s plan, and he knew the reason for his trial. Despite the pressure and persecution, Jesus remained unmoved. It was really Pilate and the religious leaders who were on trial, not Jesus. When you are questioned or ridiculed because of your faith, remember that while you may be on trial before your accusers, they are on trial before God.
--Wilson, N. S. (2000). In The Handbook of Bible application (p. 102). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

You Think About It!
Kevin Rayner


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Sunday, January 01, 2023

Resolution Illustrations

 Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Resolution 


Ben Franklin’s Resolutions
Still, as failures go, we’re in good company. Take Benjamin Franklin. As a young man, Ben composed a master list of 12 resolutions, later tacking on a killer 13th (“Imitate Jesus and Socrates”). He had particular difficulty, he notes in his Autobiography, with Resolution No. 2 (“Silence—Avoid trifling conversation”), No. 3 (“Order—Let all your things have their places”) and No. 5 (“Frugality—Waste nothing”).
Ben kept track of his performance in a small book in which he entered a black mark each day for each resolution broken. He had intended to reuse the little book, eventually erasing old black marks as his performance improved. It didn’t. So many black marks appeared on top of black marks that the little book developed holes. He had to resort to keeping his records on a piece of ivory, from which the accumulated black marks could be tactfully mopped off with a wet sponge.
“Clean Slate,” from “Harrowsmith Country Life’” by Rebecca Rupp, (VT, January ‘96), quoted in Reader’s Digest, p. 27

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#Resolution
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#Scripture
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Acts 19:21 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,
Philippians 2:4 (NLT) Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Colossians 3:13 (NLT) Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
James 1:19 (NLT) Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
Proverbs 16:7 (NLT) When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.
Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.
Acts 20:3 having made also three months' stay -- a counsel of the Jews having been against him -- being about to set forth to Syria, there came to him a resolution of returning through Macedonia.



You Think About it!
Kevin Rayner




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Tuesday, March 05, 2024

Limits Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Limit


Devotional Thoughts

Does God have self-imposed limitations?

While the Bible teaches us that “with God, all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26), and “with God nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:37), Scripture also teaches that God can and will do nothing that is inconsistent with His holy character or divine essence. God limits Himself for reasons of His own holiness. For instance, the Bible teaches us “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago …” (Tit. 1:2). Why can’t God lie? Because lying is contrary to His holiness or His perfect character which includes veracity or truthfulness. Further, in Habakkuk 1:13 the prophet wrote, “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.” Here the Old Testament prophet stated his reason. Tolerating evil (i.e., failing to judge sin or accepting a sinner without a just penalty for the sinners sin) is contrary to God’s perfect righteousness or holy character. In God’s perfect righteousness, he cannot have fellowship with sinfulness; so, in His perfect justice He must judge sin. But God is also perfect love, grace, mercy, and wisdom and in His love, grace, mercy and wisdom He is bound by His own character to provide a solution to the sin problem. In His love and wisdom, He gave us His son. Thus we read in John 3:16-18:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Related Topics: Theology Proper (God)



LIMIT[Heb ʿaḏ taḵlîṯ (Job 11:7), gāraʿ,—‘withdraw’ (Job 15:8), qēṣ (Ps. 119:96; Nah. 3:9), ḥōq (Prov. 8:29), tôṣāʿôṯ (1 Ch. 5:16); Gk. ámetros (“beyond limit,” 2 Cor. 10:13a, 15), tó métron tón kanános (2 Cor. 10:13b)]; AV END, RESTRAIN, MEASURE, etc.; NEB also “perfection,” “usurp,” “come to an end,” etc.; LIMITATION [Gk. asthenía (Rom. 6:19)]; AV “infirmity”; NEB “weakness.”
The RSV uses the noun “limit” in several different contexts. In 1 Ch. 5:16 it refers to a geographical boundary; in Nah. 3:9 the military-political might of Egypt is “without limit.” In a series of rhetorical questions (Job 11:7–11), Zophar (and later Eliphaz; cf. 15:8) attacks Job for questioning God. While Zophar is correct in pointing out the finitude of man, especially vis-à-vis God’s infinity, he fails to understand or sympathize with Job. This failure points up one of the dangers of dogmatism: the misapplication of a theological truth. Prov. 8:29 refers to creation, when God gave limits or orders to the sea (cf. Job 28:26; Ps. 148:6).
Although the general sense of Ps. 119:96 is clearly a contrast between the finitude of earthly things and the boundless nature of God’s commands, the precise meaning of the hapax legomenon tiḵlâ (RSV “perfection”) is uncertain. It seems to be related to taḵlîṯ (both &62; klh, “complete, finish,” “destroy”).
In Rom. 6:19 the RSV reading is unfortunate; the AV and NEB, though literal, also miss the meaning according to E. Käsemann (comm on Romans [Eng. tr. 1980], p. 182): “In Paul asthenía never means some kind of feebleness but the temptation … of Christians through the impulses of the flesh … not the impotence of the weak … but the defiance of the strong.” Here Paul “envisions neither ethical [contra TDNT, I, 491] nor intellectual weakness [contra Bauer, rev, p. 115] nor immaturity.”
In 2 Cor. 10 Paul offers a strong defense of his ministry and appears quite concerned to answer charges of boasting on his part To that end he claims that he boasts within the limits God has set (vv 13, 15). The NEB “proper sphere” is a suitable rendering; Paul inveighs against opponents who have invaded his sphere of ministry.

Lee, G. A. (1979–1988). Limit. In G. W. Bromiley (Ed.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Vol. 3, p. 138). Wm. B. Eerdmans.

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#Limit
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1 Corinthians 10:13 (MSG) No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.
1 Thessalonians 2:16 (NIV) in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
John 3:34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.
Jude 1:6 And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment.

Logos Dictionary Themes

You Think About It!
Kevin Rayner


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Sunday, December 11, 2022

Peace Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Peace

Perfect Picture of Peace
Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.

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Video


The Gift of Peace
by Mark Abshier
Sunday Worship 06/08/2025 10:30 am @ MacArthur Park Church of Christ






Church Songs?

#Peace
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Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Philippians 4:6 (NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:7 (NLT) Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
John 16:33 (NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT) Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.



You Think About it!
Kevin Rayner




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Monday, December 26, 2022

Status Illustrations

 Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Status


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#Hashtags?#Status
#Stature
#Condition
#Position

1 Corinthians 7:17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
James 1:9 (NIV) Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
Esther 4:14 "Don't imagine that because you are part of the king's household you will be the one Jew who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear from another source, while you and your father's household perish. It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!"
Ephesians 4:1  I then, the prisoner in the Lord, make this request from my heart, that you will see that your behavior is a credit to the position which God's purpose has given you,



You Think About it!
Kevin Rayner




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