Identity
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A Sojourner’s Uncompromising Resolve
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. – Daniel 1:8 Daniel could have easily compromised. He was in a foreign land, living under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar, and had been chosen to undergo training… Continue reading
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Something Greater
For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will… Continue reading
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Just Say Yes
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” – John 4:10 There were a lot of reasons why I justified my alcoholism. Anxiety, depression, fear, failure, loneliness, insecurity, unworthiness… alcohol just seemed to be… Continue reading
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A Patient Faith
“Patience is more than endurance. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says–‘I cannot stand anymore.’ God does not heed, He… Continue reading
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When “We Had Hoped” Becomes “We Have Hope”
Sometimes things don’t work out the way we want them to. My wife realized this back in 2019 when her employer suddenly informed her that she was no longer needed after 28 years of faithful service to them. Perhaps this would’ve been much easier for her to accept had she not loved her job and… Continue reading
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Letting Go of Things That are Hard to Let Go Of
Every kid I grew up with in the 70’s had two things that he valued more than anything else: an old basketball, and a hoop nailed to a nearby telephone pole. Basketball truly was a religion in Kentucky. Years later, Gene Hackman would play the head coach of a high school team in Indiana, the… Continue reading
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Character over Comforts
“Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades… Continue reading
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Don’t Let Others Define Who You Are
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are – John Wooden As Jesus was preparing to go back to Bethany to see Martha and Mary and raise Lazarus from the dead, his disciples said, “But Rabbi, a… Continue reading
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When Your Mind Goes On a Test-Drive
“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”” – Genesis 39:7 It’s not a sin to be beautiful, nor is it a sin to be wealthy. But arguably no two attributes known to man can make him more vulnerable… Continue reading
About Me
Welcome! I’m Scott (aka Former Blackout Artist), and I’m so happy you decided to drop in! I hope you find the content here spiritually enlightening and uplifting. Most of all, I hope that my love of Christ is revealed through my writing and that it encourages you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!