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Post by Boston Red Sox on Apr 28, 2023 11:55:31 GMT
Day 30 Week 4
When things seem lost and hopeless, fix your eyes on Jesus. What He endured for us, even when we were sinners, is the shinning example of perseverance in the face of suffering and loss. Don't give in. He didn't and because of His victory, we have ours.
Message Bible: Hebrews 12: 1-3 "Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. 2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. 3 When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"
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Post by Boston Red Sox on Apr 29, 2023 11:58:35 GMT
Day 31 Week 4
So sometimes you might ask yourself: "Why has God made my life so difficult?" He is purposeful in what He gives us in our lives. He is God, all powerful, omniscient, alpha through omega, He knows what He's doing. Had he so desired He could have left us in the garden where Adam and Eve started. I'm pretty sure He found it boring. So He upped the ante by creating evil and putting us in the position of choosing what is right. Everything He sends is for our benefit. The difficulties make us overcome and hang in there through thick and thin. Be an overcomer. Trust He will see you through. Persevere!
Message Bible: James 1:2-4 "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors."
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Post by Boston Red Sox on Apr 30, 2023 21:34:09 GMT
Day 32 Week 4
I awoke this morning to a great sadness. One of our church deacons, Jim Hacker, whom I have known and been close friends with since I joined our church in 2001 unexpectedly (do we ever expect this?) passed away. His wife, Jeni, is one of our worship leaders who sings from our platform most Sundays. She has the voice of angel. They have two children, Reed, a sophomore in college, and Baily a high school senior. Both have been active in the Pelican Playhouse. Jeni became intrigued by theater watching her children in the Pelican Playhouse. She began her theater career a half-dozen years ago and took the South Florida stage landscape by storm, winning four Carbonelles (the equivalent of NYCs Emmy) in as many years. Jim was an amazing professional trumpet player who brought music and life wherever he went. Saturday he was scheduled to play an event that evening. When he didn't show, they went to his hotel room and found him. Natural causes. He was only 55. Way too young. Lord, oh, Lord. I know Your ways are higher than ours, but we don't understand. I ask for your prayers for Jeni, Reed, and Bailey Hacker. Send them the peace that passes understanding. We are all saddened by Jim's passing but are confident that Gabriel has a new 1st trumpet in God's orchestra.
Message bible: Psalm 4:8 "At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, For you, God, have put my life back together."
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Post by San Diego Padres on Apr 30, 2023 21:45:09 GMT
Day 32 Week 4 I awoke this morning to a great sadness. One of our church deacons, Jim Hacker, whom I have known and been close friends with since I joined our church in 2001 unexpectedly (do we ever expect this?) passed away. His wife, Jeni, is one of our worship leaders who sings from our platform most Sundays. She has the voice of angel. They have two children, Reed, a sophomore in college, and Baily a high school senior. Both have been active in the Pelican Playhouse. Jeni became intrigued by theater watching her children in the Pelican Playhouse. She began her theater career a half-dozen years ago and took the South Florida stage landscape by storm, winning four Carbonelles (the equivalent of NYCs Emmy) in as many years. Jim was an amazing professional trumpet player who brought music and life wherever he went. Saturday he was scheduled to play an event that evening. When he didn't show, they went to his hotel room and found him. Natural causes. He was only 55. Way too young. Lord, oh, Lord. I know Your ways are higher than ours, but we don't understand. I ask for your prayers for Jeni, Reed, and Bailey Hacker. Send them the peace that passes understanding. We are all saddened by Jim's passing but are confident that Gabriel has a new 1st trumpet in God's orchestra. Message bible: Psalm 4:8 "At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, For you, God, have put my life back together." So sorry to hear about this. Thinking of you and their family.
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Post by San Francisco Giants on May 1, 2023 3:58:38 GMT
Day 32 Week 4 I awoke this morning to a great sadness. One of our church deacons, Jim Hacker, whom I have known and been close friends with since I joined our church in 2001 unexpectedly (do we ever expect this?) passed away. His wife, Jeni, is one of our worship leaders who sings from our platform most Sundays. She has the voice of angel. They have two children, Reed, a sophomore in college, and Baily a high school senior. Both have been active in the Pelican Playhouse. Jeni became intrigued by theater watching her children in the Pelican Playhouse. She began her theater career a half-dozen years ago and took the South Florida stage landscape by storm, winning four Carbonelles (the equivalent of NYCs Emmy) in as many years. Jim was an amazing professional trumpet player who brought music and life wherever he went. Saturday he was scheduled to play an event that evening. When he didn't show, they went to his hotel room and found him. Natural causes. He was only 55. Way too young. Lord, oh, Lord. I know Your ways are higher than ours, but we don't understand. I ask for your prayers for Jeni, Reed, and Bailey Hacker. Send them the peace that passes understanding. We are all saddened by Jim's passing but are confident that Gabriel has a new 1st trumpet in God's orchestra. Message bible: Psalm 4:8 "At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, For you, God, have put my life back together." 🙏🏼
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 1, 2023 12:22:50 GMT
Day 33 Week 5
And then there were three. Only the Mets (40.5), Cubs (39.5) and Giants (30) kept their unblemished 4 - 0 records. For the third week in a row the Giants won by a "squeaker" handing the Cardinals (34) their first "L" of the season by virtue of a single (SV). OTH! Clearly God is currently a Giants fan. 4th place is occupied by the Padres (37) who went back-to-back, the Astros (31) who picked up their first "L", the Royals (41) who rebounded with a "W" and the aforementioned hard luck Cards. Eighth place has the White Sox (33) who rebounded with a "W" and the Mariners (30) who won their 2nd in a row. Three teams tied for 10th at .500. The Athletics who won (32), Rays (30.5) who lost, and the surging Diamondbacks (27) who won their 2nd in a row. No first time winners, however, the Jays (20.5) refused to take another "L" and laid a sister kiss on the Yankees. (27). Five teams still searching for that elusive first "W. Stat leaders for week 4: Dingers - Padres (14) Runs - Rockies (40) RBI - Padres (34) Purloineds - Marlins (9) AVG - Diamondbacks (.295) K's- Mets/Royals (79) ERA - Royals (2.26) WHIP - Padres (0.941) W+QS - Royals/Redsox (11) SVh - Royals (10) Key matchups for week 5: Marlins/Rockies. Somebody is likely to get their first "W." Giants/Mariners. Can the Giants extend their squeak? Can my Redsox (15) do the work to overcome those P/Oed Cardinals? Work. This week's focus.
Message Bible: Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, For there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think In the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed."
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 2, 2023 12:18:27 GMT
Day 34 Week 5
Work. We all do. Some harder than others. Some at jobs they love and some at jobs they don't love. I was blessed beyond measure in getting to do what I truly love doing for most of my life. One of the drawbacks to many jobs is the repetitive nature of what you do. Theatre is never the same. The plays change, and even if we repeat shows, which we do from time to time, the different cast makes it an entirely different experience.
Message Bible: Psalms 90:17 "And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!"
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 3, 2023 11:45:20 GMT
Day 35 Week 5
If you find your work dull, monotonous, and stressful shift your focus from what you are doing to who you are doing the work for. Jesus. Doing so will lift your spirts and your day will brighten.
Message Bible: Colossians 3:23-24 "Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, 24 confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ."
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 5, 2023 12:48:43 GMT
Day 36 and 37 Week 5
Work. Sometimes work is just too, too much. Yesterday was one of those days. It started early and played late. Exhausting physically and mentally. So much so that I totally neglected to set my fantasy lineups, or write my Holy Word blog. Arrrg! My teams are struggling enough without the manager going A.W.O.L. So what to do? Pick myself up, dust myself off and get back at it, inspired by the knowledge that God is still in charge and He knows what He's doing. Today is a new day. We open our next show, "The Hobbit!" in one week. Are we ready? No. Will we get there? We always do. How? Only God knows. It's a mystery.
Message Bible: Colossians 3:17 "Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."
Message Bible: 1 Corinthians 15:58 "With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort."
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 6, 2023 12:39:27 GMT
Day 38 Week 5
The very best way to ensure maximum productivity without stress is to remember Jesus is right alongside you at work. Without Him, you can do nothing.
Message Bible: John 15:5 "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing."
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 7, 2023 12:12:05 GMT
Day 39 Week 5
How to excel at work: Simple. Make God your highest priority, the focus of your thinking. When you do that other priorities fall into their proper place when God is first and foremost in your life. Start your day in prayer and read His Holy Word. Throughout the day, let your thoughts go to Him, even if only briefly. A one word prayer is always a good way to go. "Jesus."
Message Bible: Ephesians 6: 7 "And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God."
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 8, 2023 13:07:10 GMT
Day 40 Week 6
Week 6 shows the same three teams: Mets (52), Cubs (49.5) and Giants (39.5) who actually won without a squeak last week, are all still undefeated and tied for first with five straight wins. Fourth place went from a four-way to a three-way tie with the Padres (50) winning their third straight, the Cards (44) and Astros (42) who both rebounded with a (W) and the Royals (42) stumbling to a tie for 8th with the Athletics (41) who rebounded with a (W) while the White Sox (42) bounded past them both into seventh place with back-to-back "W"s. That left 10th place to be shared: Yankees (40) who won and the Mariners (34.5) who lost. The bottom feeders were led by the Marlins (32) grabbing their first "W" of the year! Everybody else took yet another "L" with four teams still searching for that elusive "W." Squeaker of the week: Marlins getting their first "W" with a single save that won them the SV cat and the SVH cat. OTH! Gotta feel for ya "Rockies." Maybe this week! Stat leaders for week 5: Round-trippers - Mets (18) Touch-the-plates - Mets (48) RBI - Mets (58) Swipes - Braves (7) AVG - Mets (.320) Wiff's- Padres (72) ERA - White Sox (2.98) WHIP - Cubs (1.042) W+QS - Rays (11) SVh - Royals again (10). Winning four of the five batting cats (and by a lot!), the Mets are hereby dubbed "Mighty Mets!" Personally, I can't wait to face them in week 11! NOT! Key Matchups this week: Undefeated Giants prove they are for real as they test the undefeated Cubs. Can they pull out another squeaker? They've scored ten fewer PFs than the Cubs. They're going to have to really lean on their faith. Which is, of course, this week's focus. Keep the Faith!
Message Bible: Hebrews 11:1 "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see."
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 9, 2023 15:52:01 GMT
Day 41 Week 6
You have all heard "seeing is believing." Faith is believing without seeing. Nobody has ever seen God. But He leaves His finger prints everywhere. We only need to open our eyes and view His handywork.
Message Bible: John 20: 29 "Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 10, 2023 12:15:11 GMT
Day 42 Week 6
Christianity is really all about practicality. If you haven't applied that, you have missed the point of Christ's message. Christ was the preeminent practical person. Talk about walking the walk He talked! Message Bible: John 14:12 "The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it.
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Post by Boston Red Sox on May 11, 2023 11:37:13 GMT
Day 43 Week 6
Jesus feed the hungry, calmed the crazy, visited prisoners, and did all His work for the Glory of God. It was all about His love. Your love should find expression in service.
Message Bible: Galatians 3:26 "By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God."
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