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Join The Table Sometimes We Endure Darkness So Others Can See Light
And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” -Mark 15:39 (ESV)
It was in the Lord’s death that the centurion found life.
It was in the time of darkness that he saw the light.
‘Lord,’ we cry, ‘if You loved me enough to die for me, if the veil was rent to open the way for me, then why am I going through this difficulty, this tragedy?’
‘Because there are centurions watching,’ He declares. ‘And they will see My light in your dark days.’
Dear saint, if you want to be used by God, there is no other way than to go through disappointment, difficulty, and pain in order that people might relate to you, observe you, and see by the reality of Jesus in your life that He truly is the Son of God.
People are not convinced of His reality when they see us sailing through easy times and prosperous days. Such times cause only envy and cynicism. When people are truly touched is when they see us navigating adversity and difficulty all the while trusting the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:4).
This centurion was won, saved, and converted not because he was one of the 5,000 eating bread and fish in the sunlight, but because he saw Jesus in the darkness.
—
from A Day’s Journey devotional
Recommend: Logos Bible Software – iPhone App
My Vote -
Now the best Bible App for iPhone, iPad, & iPod users!
The newest update came out this morning for the Logos Bible Software app on the iPhone, iPad, & iPod touch… and its still free!
Make sure to update (or download for those who didn’t have it) & check it out! In my opinion, the new new features make it FAR better than any other Bible app out there.
Here is why:
Highlighting
You will be amazed at all the different highlighting palettes & options available. from basic colors, underlining, inductive (graphical) and much more. one great thing about the new Logos app over the ESV app, is you are not forced to highlight an entire verse, but can highlight a single word, a phrase, or the whole verse. Its really wonderful.
Notes
Logos now has notes for the mobile iOS! This is phenomenal as you can now use this as your all-inclusive Bible and note taking application. During your quiet time, something jumps out at you… take a note. Had a great prayer time over a verse? Write it in your notes. Have a question? Take a note and even mark it with a question mark graphic. Listening to a sermon is great, as you can now take notes in your Logos Bible app! Notes also comes with a full selection of color and graphic markers so you can systematize it however you prefer to.
Faster
One of the reasons I preferred the ESV app over Logos was because it seemed “snappier”. Meaning it seemed to be faster in response to page turning, etc. This is no longer the case. Logos Bible app is very responsive and excellent to work with in study & keeping up with teaching/preaching. One quick note of advice – make your favorite Bible translation & commentary available offline (download it to your device) for even quick responses!
Cloud Sync
Another thing I truly love about Logos Bible Software and its App is that they are cloud based. So all of your preferences, books, highlighting, notes, etc. are saved on a cloud server that automatically syncs with all of your computers and devices. Highlight a verse on your iPhone, and it will show up on your desktop that way. Add a note while studying at home, and your iPad will have it on it when you travel. Its amazing and seamless.
Bible Word Study
Logos iPhone & iPad app allows for you to do a Bible Word Study just by tapping a word with your finger. Its that easy! Find a word that you find interesting or would like to study, tap it, and click “Look Up”. If you have a Logos base package with original language support, you will then see the Greek/Hebrew along with morphology and much more. You can also click “Bible Word Study” to get much more detailed information from your resources that you have available.
Two Resource Panels
Logos not only gives you access to your Bibles, commentaries, and all other resources, it even allows you to see two at the same time! With their split-screen view, you can have your Bible on one screen, and your commentary on the other one. Want a different commentary or resource, you can easily switch them out from something else in your library. You can also choose for the panels to follow each other, so you don’t have to update them both. Turn your Bible to Ephesians 2, and your commentary automatically follows. Its that easy!
Its the Best!
All in all, this is the best Bible app I have seen on the iPhone and the iPad. I will now be using this for further study, teaching & preaching prep, and for my quiet time. You can get a free account to sign up for free resources. Even better, if you already have a Logos base package, you get almost your entire virtual library available at your fingertips. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an iPod touch, an iPhone, or iPad! Excellent job Logos! Click here to get it for free!
Here is a brief video to show you more of these features in action:
Recommend: Finally Alive (Now Only $5!)
—
What does the Bible teach about the miracle of rebirth? In his book Finally Alive, Pastor John explores Jesus’ peculiar command, “You must be born again.”
You can now order the book for just $5.
Or, if you’d like to purchase a case, you can order 60 books for a suggested donation of $160, and shipping is free within the continental United States. For this option, please call 1-888-346-4700 Monday to Friday, 9am – 3pm (CST).
(Because our inventory is limited, this offer is good while supplies last)
Ed Young and the Prosperity Gospel?
I found a very troubling news article & video report regarding Ed Young.
Here is the video:
Praising God for Your Election
Praising God for Your Election
“Having been predestined according to [God’s] purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11).
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God took the initiative in salvation by choosing you and granting you saving faith.
In Ephesians 1:4 Paul says that God “chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.” In verse 11 he reiterates that marvelous truth by affirming that believers have been predestined to salvation according to God’s own purpose and will.
Many reject the teaching that God chose (“predestined”) believers to salvation. They think believers chose God. In one sense they’re right. Salvation involves an act of the will in turning from sin to embrace Christ. But the issue in predestination goes deeper than that. It’s a question of initiative. Did God choose you on the basis of your faith in Him, or did He, by choosing you, enable you to respond in faith?
The answer is clear in Scripture. Romans 3:11 says that no one seeks for God on his own. Unregenerate people have no capacity to understand spiritual truth; it’s all foolishness to them (1 Cor. 2:14). They are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1), blind (2 Cor. 4:4), and ignorant (Eph. 4:18).
How can people in that condition initiate saving faith? They can’t! That’s why Jesus said, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him. … All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:44, 37). Paul added, “God … has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim. 1:8–9).
God took the initiative. He chose you and gave you saving faith (Eph. 2:8–9). Rejoice in that truth. Rest in His power to conform all things to His will. Draw strength and assurance from His promise never to let you go (John 10:27–29). Then live each day as God’s elected one by shunning sin and following after holiness.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for placing His love upon you and for granting you salvation.
✧ Pray for the salvation of others, and seek opportunities to share Christ with them today.
For Further Study: Read Ezekiel 36:22–32.
✧ Why will God one day redeem Israel? ✧ What does that passage teach you about God’s initiative in salvation?
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- from Drawing Near – Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith by John MacArthur (Logos Bible Software)
