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- God waits (a 40-day devotional series) February 18, 2021
- Christian Confidence 105: Security for the Present January 23, 2020
- Christian Confidence 103: “What is ultimately ‘good’?” January 16, 2020
- Christian Confidence 102: “What is God like?” January 9, 2020
- Christian Confidence 101: “What is real/true, and how can I know?” January 2, 2020
- “Stamina” – physical and spiritual fitness in Christ January 1, 2020
- Link to “Becket Law” (a Christian Website) December 31, 2019
- Christian Music Videos on “Stamina” (physical pictures of the Gospel) December 30, 2019
- A Word for the Week: “Emotion” (Ephesians 4:26-32) December 29, 2019
- Christian Confidence 100: an Introduction December 26, 2019
- “Safety” – physical and spiritual fitness in Christ December 25, 2019
- Link to “Christian Book Distributors” (a Christian Website) December 24, 2019
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Author Archives: Jeff Dillard
The successful garden will be rewarded…and punished (Exodus 1)
Maybe you’ve heard a shorter version. “The successful will be punished.” It’s usually said by someone who’s done their work so well that they’re given even more to do. No break. No promotion. Not necessarily even a “thanks”. Just more. … Continue reading
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Studying Mindfulness in Christ: a Scriptural Theology of Fear (Psalm 1 and 2)
This week, we’re taking a bit of a break to exercise only our mind and spirit. Don’t worry, we’ll get back to working out next week. At that time, God willing, we’ll use the substance of this week’s article and … Continue reading
“Freedom versus Safety” (28 March 2017)
The greatest freedoms are not secured by complete safety but by the elimination of fear. Those who know the grace and power of Jesus to forgive, change, and keep His people know that this is true (1 John 3:19-21 and … Continue reading
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1 & 2 Kings (part 1 of 2): the need for godly leadership
Love in Christ is vertical and horizontal. Godly leadership is the horizontal care for others by equipping and encouraging them to follow the Lord by faith. It is the Lord Himself dwelling among His people toward that goal, and it … Continue reading
Peer Counseling: Posture and Assessing or Conveying Value/Interest
“How are they really doing, and do they want help?” Whether we’re a parent, coach, supervisor, or anyone else in a position to take care of others, our first task is to assess their level of stress. One of the … Continue reading
Joseph’s fruitful vine: planting, pruning, and plans
All of us enjoy fruit, but few of us love the labor that goes into it. Planting and pruning, for example, can be a real pain: breaking up hard ground, bending down in the dirt, sowing seeds that may or … Continue reading
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Exercising Mindfulness in Christ: Anxiety versus Integrity
Anxiety is one of the least discussed yet most dreaded of stresses among Christians and non-believers. It communicates a lack of confidence and faith, and most of us have a hard time admitting that struggle. Yet, God’s Word often addresses … Continue reading
1 & 2 Kings (part 2 of 2): the need for godly counsel
Last week we looked at 1 and 2 Kings as a graphic record of the need for godly leadership. These same two books also show the ongoing need for godly counsel, especially to leaders who were wayward or felt stuck. … Continue reading
“Help! My happiness has fallen!”
Did you know that yesterday (20 March) was World Happiness Day? And on that day for the last five years, an organization has been ranking the level of “happiness” in 155 participating countries. Today’s article addresses the search for happiness … Continue reading
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2 Samuel: because human kingdoms get muddy
As powerfully as the book of 1 Samuel gave us clear distinctions between servants after God’s own heart versus pretenders after their own profit, 2 Samuel shows us that it’s not always that clear. This record of God’s people is … Continue reading
Because we’re called to counsel: 4 levels of peer counseling
Jesus calls all of His people to be leaders, equipping and encouraging others to follow Him. He also calls all of His people to counsel others, helping the stuck or wayward to get back on track. This week’s video on … Continue reading
Genesis 12, being fruitful and blessed.
God called Abram to follow Him by faith in Him, and He also promised that all who did the same would be fruitful and blessed. Although there are no explicit references to “fruit” in this passage (or until chapter 17, … Continue reading
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1 & 2 Chronicles (part 2 of 3): the King of Joy
Last week we started looking at a three-dimensional view of God’s love in “1 & 2 Chronciles (part 1 of 3): the King of Eternity“. You can refer to that article to see that one clear dimension of God’s love … Continue reading
Exercising Mindfulness in Christ: an example from Romans 7
Mindfulness is Christ is being a true member of “Israel”, which means “one who wrestles with God”: knowing the Lord is good but struggling with our own fears, small faith, selfishness, doubts, and clinging to God Himself as our only … Continue reading
“It is what it is”
The Lord God Almighty is the master of surprise. Just when we begin to think we have Him figured out, He throws us a curve ball. I don’t mean that He ever acts out of His character. Scripture is clear … Continue reading
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Leaders’ decisions: magnets, munitions, and mud
Whether we’re to lead as a husband, parent, supervisor, coach, or in another other position by which we have responsibilities for others, each of our decisions will have an impact on them. Godly and even ungodly decisions can act as … Continue reading
Poisonous Apples and Door #2: the two trees in Eden
“That’s apples and oranges!” Maybe you’ve said or heard that to communicate that two things really shouldn’t be compared. Yet, apples and oranges aren’t completely different. Some might even argue they have more in common than not. The two trees … Continue reading
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Exercising Mindfulness in Christ: understanding ‘bad, mad, sad, and glad’
If you’re wondering “what in the world is ‘mindfulness in Christ?’”, I recommend starting with last week’s video: Exercising Mindfulness in Christ: some Why’s and How’s”. In that video, I try to anticipate and answer several questions, but we only … Continue reading
“Normal” versus norms
Many people define “normal” as their daily experience, because that’s all they know. What about you? If you’ve had a broader experience than just one community, you probably know that one family’s “normal” can be completely different than another’s. Of … Continue reading
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The book of Ruth: 4 subtle “why’s” that ask for the Answer
Ruth is a favorite among many people. It grips us by the familiar struggle for security, meaning, and identity. And we long to know its romance, provision, and eventual overcoming. Yet, it subtly points to even more good news than … Continue reading
1 Samuel: servants after God’s own heart…and others
Many books of the Bible are commonly associated with a key verse, section, or recurring concept around which everything else seems to revolve. In 1 Samuel, that’s probably God’s call to be a servant after His own heart as we … Continue reading
The Tower of Babel: granite gardens and fake fruits
Over and over in the Bible, we’re told to “root” ourselves in God Himself for fruit will reflect real Life (see the contexts of Psalm 80:15, Isaiah 11:1ff, 27:6, and 37:31, Jeremiah 17:8, Daniel 4:26, Hosea 14:5, Malachi 4:1, Matthew … Continue reading
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“God’s love for the whole person”, (Matthew 5:5)
The brief video below is one in a series of about 25 devotionals on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. I originally produced these for the 14,000 personnel in the Department of the Army whom I serve because … Continue reading
“Spiritual hunger & thirst”, (Matthew 5:6)
The brief video below is one in a series of about 25 devotionals on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. I originally produced these for the 14,000 personnel in the Department of the Army whom I serve because … Continue reading
“Blessed are the merciful”, (Matthew 5:7)
The brief video below is one in a series of about 25 devotionals on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. I originally produced these for the 14,000 personnel in the Department of the Army whom I serve because … Continue reading
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