Pete Miller is co-owner of The Writer's Friend, an editing and pre-publication business for authors, business owners and marketing managers. Prior to opening his business, he spent several years in the editing department of a daily newspaper. Pete grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the sixties and has been an avid student of the Bible since 1971. Pete is currently enrolled in Bible college and resides in Southern Oregon with his wife and two children.
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Spiritual Blessing of Forgiveness
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Forgiveness restores the severed connection, like repairing a bridge, like tuning an instrument with a sour note, returning unity and balance that was momentarily lost. It may be a small matter, or a life-altering situation. The power of forgiveness can bring about healing like no other medication or treatment can do.
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Spiritual Blessing of Fruit of the Spirit
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In sharp contrast to the works of the flesh and vile human activities, Galatians Chapter 5 describes the fruit of the Spirit, some of the most sought-after qualities of life. The context is walking by the Spirit in obedience to the Word of God as opposed to walking according to selfish cravings.
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Spiritual Blessing of Hope
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Old Testament believers waited for the promised Messiah, whose first coming was greatly anticipated. Today, there is another hope, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Spiritual Blessing of Hunger
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Only the truth of God's Word satisfies spiritual hunger and provides healthy food for the mind of a believer.
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Spiritual Blessing of Love
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the love of God is seen in everything, and is a spiritual blessing of indescribable magnitude. God has always deeply loved His people.
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Spiritual Blessing of Ministry
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The ministry is the organization of the believers designed to carry out the various services needed to guide people into the Christian lifestyle.
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Spiritual Blessing of Persecution
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Persecution is one of the last things a Christian would consider a spiritual blessing. Like suffering, no one needs to seek it out. Jesus did not avoid this subject, but spoke boldly that those who choose to live uprightly and stand for God and speak the truth will be persecuted.
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Spiritual Blessing of Power
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The apostles and disciples of Jesus utilized God's power, performing miracles of healing and deliverance. This is the power Christians have at their fingertips today. It has never been more important than right now for Christians to become spiritually educated.
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Spiritual Blessing of Relationship as Children of God
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When a person is saved or made whole, they have the Spirit of God inside, His incorruptible seed, which makes that person a child of God. Instantaneously taken from death to life, the person now has the spiritual blessing of an eternal relationship with God as their Father.
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Spiritual Blessing of Righteousness
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God has made Christians righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness is the God-given ability to stand in the presence of God without any consciousness of sin, guilt or inadequacies.
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Spiritual Blessing of Salvation
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At the moment a person saved, God creates a spiritual life within. The spiritual connection that Adam lost was restored by what Jesus did on the cross, and by way of His resurrection. At the split second of believing, wholeness occurs.
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Spiritual Blessing of Service
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The opportunity to serve is truly a spiritual blessing, because God has empowered His people. At this time, the need for Christian service has never been more urgent.
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Spiritual Blessing of Suffering
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There are worse things than suffering in life, and worse than suffering is not learning anything from the experience. When suffering is viewed as having a purpose, one can learn from it, and use it to teach or help others.
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Spiritual Blessing of the Seal
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The seal of God is the gift of the Holy Spirit, stamped, marked, imprinted within believers, a seal that no one can revoke and that the purpose concerning God' people won't change.
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Spiritual Blessing of Tribulation
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Tribulation is an ominous word, suggesting images of catastrophe and devastation. Decidedly, it is not a word that brings to mind rosy pictures of Sunnybrook Farm. But words in the Bible like persecution or suffering, or tribulation, are best defined according to their Biblical usage.
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Spiritual Blessing of Walking with God
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Christians have a future with opportunities galore to live positive, productive lives. The mission requires living exemplary lives, unwavering, showing love to all, enlightened and enlightening, being meticulous, perceptive and aware.
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Standing Your Ground
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when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar, the king demanded that the furnace be made seven times hotter, and had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown in the furnace. The king looked in and saw the three of them walking inside the furnace, miraculously unharmed. They stood their ground for God, and God delivered them.
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Story of Mordecai
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During the Babylonian captivity of Judah, a champion rose up to courageously defend God's people. Mordecai was an intelligent man with a heart of gold. He was a true servant-leader and he loved God and His people more than he loved his own life.
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Submission
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Submission to God is a safe and sound choice for every believer, acknowledging His perfection and trustworthiness. God is above all. He is the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth. Submission does not mean weakness or helplessness. Rather, it is a deliberate decision of obedience motivated by love, not only for God but for other believers.
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Surrender and Submit -- Trusting God in Hard Times
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To trust God in hard times includes surrendering to Him and submitting to His Word. Surrendering to God demonstrates love, trust and faith in Him. When God sees one of His children so completely relinquishing every aspect of their life to Him, He is able to work mightily in and through the life of that believer.
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Surrender to God
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To acknowledge Jesus as Lord is to surrender to Him. The word surrender implies a giving up after resistance to the power of another, and, in this case, includes accepting the superiority of someone else. It is not accepting defeat, per se, as there is no loss of life or property. To surrender means the end of the fight, and there is no more argument. It is the solid realization that His way is a better way.
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Teaching Teens About Being Special
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Never think that life has no purpose. God's people have been given the greatest reason to live. It's not for fame and riches, but to learn about and share what Jesus Christ did. It is more important today than ever before.
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Teaching Teens About Forgiveness
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There's an old saying often used by youth which promotes the concept that sticks and stones may break bones but words will never hurt. Not so. To be treated disrespectfully, ignored or insulted are forms of rejection that can be humiliating, or even devastating to one's self-esteem. The response might be simple avoidance, or maybe introversion, or to lash out in anger towards them or to get even. Life is full of different situations where people's actions or reactions towards others are unpleasant or even mean. Vengeance is not the answer. God's Word says to forgive them.
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Teaching Teens About Happiness
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God's Word teaches about a way of thinking and living that doesn't come natural to the human mind. According to Scripture, believers are to be internally at peace even when challenged with outward situations and circumstances that bring confusion and chaos. The Word confirms that no one can control the struggles or temptations that arise, but everyone can control how they react or respond to them.
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Teaching Teens About the Problem of Getting Even
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No one likes to be rejected or feel unwanted. It can be very painful and depressing. When rejected instead of being accepted, the response might be to lash out in anger towards the person who is being unkind. However, God's instructions are very clear: Be like Jesus and do not fight. Forgive people for their mistreatment of you and move on. Do not obsess or stew about it.
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Teaching Teens About Trusting God
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To trust means to depend on the strength or ability of a person or thing. Many people put their trust in the amount of money they have, their friendships or perhaps their job. But God's people are taught to trust in the Lord. Trusting anyone or anything else will almost certainly be disappointing.
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Teaching Teens Not to Gossip
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Gossips have been around since the beginning of time, and no one likes what they do. Gossips tend to start rumors and dig up dirt on people. They whisper about those they hardly even know. They make up stories, twist the truth and even tell lies. The Bible has condemned this kind of behavior for thousands of years. Number nine of the Ten Commandments speaks clearly about this.
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Teaching Teens that Jesus Heals
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Jesus Christ experienced every pain humanly possible while on earth, both prior to his crucifixion and while on the cross. But as he hung on the cross, Jesus, took upon himself all the sicknesses and diseases of mankind so that by his wounds people could be healed.
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Teaching Teens the Ways of God
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They are not little kids, nor are they adults. They are teenagers -- hurricanes of hormones and emotions transitioning from adolescence to adulthood as fast as they can in an increasingly malicious world. More than ever, parents need to oversee and watch over, not lord over, their teenage children. Yes, children. They are not 'of age' and while young, they remain the responsibility of their parents/guardians.
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Teaching Teens to be Fruitful
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To call oneself a Christian and to bear fruit as a Christian should are two different things. Some who say they are Christians consistently bear bad fruit, including immoral behavior, addiction, anger and unforgiveness. On the other hand, good morals, self discipline, love and forgiveness is the kind of fruit Jesus spoke of and expects from those who use the Christian title.
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Teaching Teens to Control Anger
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This Scriptures confirms that anger is a sin if it controls a person. It also implies that it is possible to control anger, which is through prayer and calling on the Holy Spirit. When troubling situations arise, take time to think about whatever or whoever is causing the problem, and look to God for the way through. Don't freak out or explode because once that happens, anger is even harder to control.
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Teaching Teens to Follow Jesus
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Movie stars, athletes, and entertainers that appear on TV and in the tabloids are real and often thought of as heroes. But many of today's stars are troubled and some are addicted to drugs or alcohol. When they make mistakes, their embarrassing moments are caught on tape or in photographs and are seen by millions of people. Still, they are held up as models based on their ability to become famous. Yet, the true super heroes of today are rarely in the news and get very little recognition, if any.
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Teaching Teens to Read the Bible
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When people first start to read the Bible, most barely get through Genesis, and the majority give up by the time they get to Leviticus. New and long-term need a Bible reading plan, no matter what the age. The Bible deserves attention, and it requires concentration to learn what God wants His people to know.
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Teaching Teens to Remember Jesus
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It is easy to get involved with life, friends and activities and to forget about Jesus. Many Christians only think of Jesus when they are at church. It takes a conscious effort to remember Jesus, and how much his sacrifice means in terms of everyday life.
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Teaching Teens to Witness
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When people live through life-changing experiences, they often have a personal encounter or intimate realization of who Jesus Christ is and what he did on the cross. Having come through circumstances with the help of Jesus, they can become experts at sharing their personal story. And many of young witnesses for Christ have decided to live a life in service to God rather than for themselves.
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Ten Men with Leprosy - Healings of Jesus
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This unappreciative snubbing of the nine men was also symbolic of Israel’s rejection of their Messiah, Jesus Christ. The Samaritan, detested and rejected by Israelites, and, in this case, also a leper, a reject of the rejects, was the only one who graciously and thankfully responded to the Lord’s goodness.
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The Biblical Elijah, Prophet of God
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Elijah knew the provision and the power of God, the life-giving mercy and the fiery wrath of God. He lived up to his name: The Lord is God.
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The Bigness of God - Trusting God in Hard Times
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Psalm 147:4 says that God knows how many stars there are, and that He has a name for every one of them! But people are much more important to God than the stars. God cares about every detail of people's lives, and He sees every tear that is cried. He hears every prayer that is prayed and He never forgets anyone's name.
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The Christian Anointing
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God's Word declares that Christians have Christ within and are complete in Him. Therefore, Christians have everything need for success in the Kingdom of God.
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The Faithful Steward - Parables of Jesus
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In the parable of The Faithful Steward, the steward and the servant are one and the same, working for the master. Their job is well-defined, and their responsibility is great. If they get lazy and apathetic about their duties, and fail to do what they were called to do, there are consequences.
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The Father's Heart: God as the Role Model
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Perhaps there has never been another time in history when fatherhood has been so greatly needed. With ever-increasing divorces and broken families, Godly fathering needs to be learned, understood and practiced in Christian homes.
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The Favor of God -- Trusting God in Hard Times
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The word translated favor is the same Greek word translated grace. The word especially denotes God's divine and undeserved grace, free and unmerited, regardless of sin or good works. It is the goodness and love Those who faithfully apply the principles of the Bible in daily living abound in God's graciousness and goodness. He shows His favor to those who do His Word and helps them in hard times.
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The Good Samaritan - Parables of Jesus
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The parable of the Good Samaritan speaks as loudly today as it did 2,000 years ago. Jesus exemplified compassion every time He saw weary, weak, exasperated people, sheep without a shepherd. This compassion is needed today more than ever. Christianity needs fewer self-centered legalists, and more caring and merciful Samaritans.
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The Great Supper - Parables of Jesus
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Jesus addressed the aloofness of the spiritual leadership of Israel. All through the years, the prophets and the Scriptures had foretold of the Coming One, but when He arrived, they were too hardhearted and blind to realize that the day of their salvation had finally come. They had endless excuses, and with Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ, the door opened for the Gentiles to receive God’s blessings.
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The High Priest's Servant - Healings of Jesus
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Peter lunged out and struck the high priest’s servant, Malchus, and cut off his right ear. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” Then He touched the man's ear and healed him.
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The Importunate Widow - Parables of Jesus
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The parable of the Impoprtunate Widow teaches that persistence pays. People can be so impatient that they give up and quit right before their answer comes. At the end of this parable, Jesus discusses the concept of persistent faith.
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The Laborers in the Vineyard - Parables of Jesus
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Jesus commanded His disciples to preach God's Word to everyone everywhere in the world, but not all will believe, not all will choose His way. In that sense, He calls everyone and gives them the opportunity to respond, but to be chosen, people must act obediently. This is the lesson in the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard.
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The Lost Coin - Parables of Jesus
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In the first parable in Luke 15, one sheep left the large group and got lost. The shepherd left the others to find the lost one and return it to the flock. In the parable of the lost coin, it is close by, nevertheless it is lost. Though it may be covered with dirt, it is still silver, and its intrinsic value has not changed.
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The Lost Sheep - Parables of Jesus
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When any person is rescued, and brought back into the fold, so to speak, there is rejoicing. In God's sight, every lost and found soul is valuable to Him.
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The Marriage Feast - Parables of Jesus
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Over the years, the greatest opposition that both Peter and Paul faced came from legalistic Israelites, all the same religious people who had opposed Jesus. It became clear that it was time to invite others to the marriage feast of the king’s son.
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