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Devotions from Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat. How childlike are we in our walk of faith? Jesus said , “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” Matt. 18:3-5. As we think of the characteristics…
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Often when men gather for “wildman” saturdays the conversation will often turn to the struggle men have with feeling inferior “spiritually”, especially to our wives. I suppose this reflects part of our competitive nature. That is why it is good for men to process their feelings about spirituality with other men, since most men have the same…
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Devotions from Brennan Mannings book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat Often we feel like we are wasting time when we aren’t doing something productive and accomplishing something. We may feel guilty and selfish when we take time to go off alone. But spending time in quiet before God is not wasting time but a time when we…
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Devotions based on Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat The author’s spiritual director told Manning to define himself radically as one beloved by God. God’s love for each of us constitutes our worth. We need to accept that and let it become the most important thing in our lives. The basis of our personal worth…
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Devotions based on Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat So often we want to present a perfect image to others that they may admire us but consequently they don’t know us. Augustine wrote, “There can only be two basic loves, the love of God unto the forgetfulness of self, or the love of self unto…
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Devotions based on Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat The author said that what is denied cannot be healed. If we remain in hiding and deny the reality of our sin, we deprive the community of our healing gift. “In Love’s service, only wounded soldiers can serve.” ( Thorton Wilder) If we conceal our wounds,…
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Devotions from Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat God wants us to stop hiding and openly come to Him. Why do we hide what we feel ourselves to be ( which we assume is unacceptable) and put on the appearance of what we are not? God loves who we really are—whether we like it or…
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Devotions from Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.” I John 3:1 The Father doesn’t want us to be perfect but real. Yet at times we try so hard to please…
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Richard Bode in his book “First you have to row a little boat” has this to say about life, “The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time. I can remain on shore, paralyzed with fear, or I can…
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Devotions from Lisa McMinn’s book, The Contented Soul “Our ultimate happiness is not found in external circumstances but in a trust that we are made for eternity.” God is present with us now but one day we will be brought into His direct presence. In the meantime we may go through suffering which may allow…