tdowning79

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Memory Verse As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thess. 3:13 #morningdevotional #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/CqFr1SiOXTr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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#dailyword #readingGodsword #IbelievethewordofGod https://www.instagram.com/p/CqFqqvKuRV_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Response Day 1. What three things did Paul say the Thessalonians should not be shaken in mind or troubled by? (vs2) 2. What two things must take place before the day of Christ (Day of the Lord) can come? (vs3) 3. What will the “man of lawlessness” be like? (vs.3-4) 4. Why is it important that we have a strong faith? 5. In what ways does Christ comfort us? #morningdevotional #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/CqDHM9tOl5K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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#dailyword #readingGodsword #IbelievethewordofGod https://www.instagram.com/p/CqDF08ou4L9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tdowning79]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 SOAP: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul gives thanks for the salvation of the believers in Thessalonica as they responded to the Truth and the work of the Holy Spirit. He encourages them to ��stand firm” on the Word of God, and he prays for them to be established in every good work and word. Paul’s desire is for God to give these believers comfort during their time of affliction and to fill them with hope through His grace. Paul is teaching us how to intercede for each other. This week, let’s purpose to pray for one another to “stand firm” in the Truth. May He establish our hearts in every good work and word. Let’s lean into His grace and grab on to His unending hope. Father, plant our feet firmly on Your Word today. Establish Your work and Word in our hearts. Amen #morningdevotional #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/CqAh7hLOmu5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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#dailyword #readingGodsword #IbelievethewordofGod https://www.instagram.com/p/CqAhG8Bu114/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tdowning79]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 SOAP: 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Paul explains to the believers in Thessalonica that the “lawless one” or anti-Christ will perform signs and wonders that deceive many unbelievers. Stubborn hearts are subject to sin’s strong delusion, and God will not stop a sinner’s free will from choosing a counterfeit Christ. Those who have rejected the true Savior will receive this false messiah and follow him straight to their destruction.  If you have a family member or friend who has not yielded to Christ, the thought of their going to hell is heartbreaking. But, God is patient, and His desire is for no one to perish without Christ. We still have time to witness to our loved ones and pray for their hearts to soften to the truth. If you have never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins, you can pray today and have total peace with God. Confess you are a sinner and tell Jesus you want to follow Him as your Savior.  Lord, open the eyes of my loved ones to the Truth. Help them to see how Jesus died on the cross to save them from their sins. Give me an opportunity to share the Good News with them in a clear way this week. May Your truth come alive in their hearts. Jesus, forgive me of all my sin. I surrender my all to You as my Savior. Amen. #morningdevotional #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp-ptElON1A/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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#dailyword #readingGodsword #IbelievethewordofGod https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp-o-aLuxyI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 SOAP: 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Paul explains that right now God is restraining the work of the enemy, but after the return of Christ and removal of the church, the “lawless one” will be unrestrained and fully revealed for a season. Thankfully, this season of rebellion will be temporary, and Christ will return again to destroy the anti-Christ once and for all. Our Savior will bring the foe to nothing simply with the breath of His mouth. You can live at peace today because God is totally in control. The enemy is a defeated foe, and Jesus will return to wipe him out soon. Wickedness is on a short leash, but God’s Word is not bound. Let’s pray for God’s Word to reach the hearts of our loved ones this week so that they will turn to Jesus for forgiveness of sins. Lord God, You are all powerful and good. Thank You for Your saving grace. May Your Word come alive in my heart this week and in the lives of my loved ones. Amen. #morningdevotional #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp7xGJcOQbC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tdowning79]

#dailyword #readingGodsword #IbelievethewordofGod https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp7wRIiO_g4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tdowning79]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 SOAP: 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Paul explains to the church at Thessalonica the order of end times events. After Christ returns to rescue the church and remove His followers from earth, a time of rebellion will take place where a “man of lawlessness,” also called “son of destruction,” will exalt himself and demand worship. This evil anti-Christ will proclaim himself to be God.  The enemy of our souls wants us to fear him and lose hope as wickedness increases in our world. But God is still on the throne, and no counterfeit Christ can knock unseat Him. Nothing can stop God’s work of redemption in the life of a believer. He will remove His children from this period of rebellion, but until then our job is to tell every lost soul that Christ alone is the way, the truth, and the life. Do you know someone who is a slave to fear? Ask God to help you point them to the real Savior this week. #morningdevotional #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp40lBCOPzc/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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The list of roles we play as moms is endless. Gourmet Chef. Taxi Driver. Party Planner. Administrative Coordinator. Comforter-in-Chief. Nightwatch Woman. And for good measure, let’s just add on full-time employee, part-time employee, stay-at-home-mom, work-from-home-mom, or any combination of those. There is no end to the number of things we think we should take on in the name of being the best wife/mother/sister/woman. If it feels like a lot, it’s because it is a lot. If you’re like me, your pulse is racing just thinking about all of the things you need to do. If you’re thinking of all of the roles you play IN ADDITION to these, I get it. The odds are, if you are like me, you sometimes look around you and see everyone else managing things and you wonder how in the world they’re doing it and why don’t I measure up. But while you’re looking in awe at someone else and how they keep it together, there are people marveling at how well you are keeping it together, spinning all your plates. We each think the other one has it all figured out because we don’t know all the details. But the truth is: no one can do it all. Not one single mom on this planet can take on everything with grace and do it all with poise. And that’s okay. We weren’t designed to do everything on our own. We were designed and created by God and given very specific gifts. You were given very specific gifts and a purpose all your own. And each time any of us tries to do it all, it doesn’t work out, because we’re living outside of the actual gifts and superpowers God has given us. Have you ever thought about that before? That God made you so intentionally that your best days will be ones where you live fully into your gifts and purpose? It’s amazing! In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul outlines some of the gifts God bestows upon His children. In verses 4-10, he says this: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the... https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp40P8FO9uW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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#dailyword #readingGodsword #IbelievethewordofGod https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp4y3HxOBTP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tdowning79]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 SOAP: 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Paul is seeking to comfort the believers in Thessalonica regarding the day when Christ will return to judge the earth. Because the young church was in the midst of severe persecution, some false teachers were saying that this was the “day of the Lord,” but Paul encourages the church to not be misled or shaken by their current circumstances. When Christ returns, He will gather His own and remove His children from the judgment to come. No one knows the exact day of Christ’s return, but we should live in anticipation of His imminent return. The coming of Christ should fill us with hope, not horror. We can trust our faithful God will never fail us. My King, I look forward to Your glorious return. Help me to remember You are faithful and trust You will never leave me nor forsake me. Amen. #morningdevotional #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2PtUyODYt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I’ll never forget when my first son entered the toddler years. Everyone else’s toddlers were tantrum-throwing little maniacs, but not mine. Oh, no! I just knew he wasn’t going to display such unsightly behavior. But, he did. He kicked. He screamed. He tested limits and he refused to listen. He did all the cringe-worthy things that other toddlers had done that I judged the moms for. How silly I was to think I could stop those troubling toddler meltdowns with my superb parenting. Sigh. I was terribly mistaken and humbled. You see, no matter how hard we try, no matter how many books we read, strategies we use, or discipline tactics we use we simply cannot control our children’s actions. It’s such a bummer! Sure, we can guide them in the right direction and offer consequences so the wrong direction seems less appealing, but ultimately we can’t choose for them. We have been given and they have been given, Heaven help us, our own right to choose. They have free will to do as they please. And they will not always make decisions that please us. Especially when we’re in the checkout line at Target. And because our children get to make their own choices about the way they live, we have to learn to refute the lie that we, their moms, are responsible for every decision they make. It’s an insidious little lie that gets in there. Our children are responsible for their own lives, their own choices, and the blessings or consequences that result from those choices. Just like we are. What mothers are responsible for is instructing them well and leaving it up to them when it's the right time. Here’s what I mean. In Joshua 24:14-15, Joshua is addressing the nation of Israel before his death. He had led the nation into the promised land decades earlier and had remained their leader ever since. Now, he was about to pass his mantle on to someone else. But before he did, he spoke a few words to the people. He said: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you.... https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2PhN7OHwI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tdowning79]

#dailyword #readingGodsword #IbelievethewordofGod https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2NrGROnf_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tdowning79]

Memory Verse But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2 Thess. 2:13 #morningdevotional #youversion https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpz-s4Bu0qI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=