Seeking Him Daily Devotional

Rejection and Persecution

April 29, 2014 by Ahmee Bronaugh

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.
The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
Matthew 5:10

Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60)
The Apostles were put in jail for teaching in Jesus’ name (Acts 5:17-33)
John the Baptist was beheaded (Matthew 14:1-12)
Jesus was crucified

As Americans we are blessed and privileged to have the luxury of not being likely to suffer extreme persecution. Our modern-day persecution largely consists of Christians being labeled as intolerant.

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12

Christian’s are destined for persecution. Our Lord’s teachings go against everything the systems of this world idolizes. God’s children were not made to be accepted by the world. No! We were called to be salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Different. Godly.

I think one of the toughest tests of faith is persecution, right alongside hardship and loss. Even Peter failed to stand for Jesus and he walked to Him on water! Standing up and openly claiming Jesus as your Lord can be scary. Nowadays, the worst that we face is denial from people (people we were never suppose to be accepted by), thank God for America.

Rejection isn’t an easy thing to face. Jesus himself was rejected, though, but of course that doesn’t make it any easier. Here’s how I’ve decided to look at rejection. When faced with the choice to stand for Christ or not—to face possible rejection or not—if we choose to deny Christ to be accepted by people, we are rejecting Christ. Is rejecting Christ worth not being rejected ourselves?

I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth,
the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.
But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.
Luke 12:8-9

Will you stand for Christ in front of man?

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Lord, I’m thankful that I don’t have to worry about being beheaded! Give me the strength to stand for You, regardless of whether it’s easy or not. Right is right and Your truth is truth. One easy, but wrong, choice can set us on a road we never intended to take. Help us to make the right tough choices now so we won’t have to pay the consequences later. I pray that I do not shy away from proclaiming Your name to the world! Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: 2 Timothy 3:12, acts 5:17-33, acts 7:54-60, ahmee bronaugh, Beatitudes, daily devotions, GCH, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, Jesus speaking, matthew 14:1-12, Matthew 5:10, matthew 5:13-16, persecuted, persecution, rejection and persecution, Seeking Him devotional

Paving the Path

April 28, 2014 by cynda cottrill

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Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Matthew 5:10 AMP

Today, many of us living in the United States feel we have never been truly persecuted for our beliefs…for doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Oh, we may have been called into question for our actions or harshly criticized for our beliefs but persecuted? Probably not. Yet persecution has many forms and comes in varying degrees – from insults, harassment, and ostracism to imprisonment, torture, and even death. As representatives of Christ, the fact that we are a Christian will bother some people Our desire to live for Christ, our non-conformity to this world will bring persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 assures us of this. “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

As Greg Laurie states: “If you live a godly life, you will be persecuted. It is not a matter of if; it is a matter of when and how much.”

Why the persecution?

If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you. John 15:19

The world cannot [be expected to] hate you, but it does hate Me because I denounce it for its wicked works and reveal that its doings are evil. John 7:7

For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. John 3:20

Persecution is a result of righteous living. Most of us have never experienced the harshest extremes of persecution. Many of us never will. But we will experience persecution in some form. How we react to persecution, in any form, is what matters. What happens when we are taken out of our comfort zone? Are we steadfast, consistent, unwavering in the face of challenges? Or do we run from confrontation and actively try to avoid persecution? There comes a point in our lives where we must decide if we will stand for our Lord, no matter the cost. It takes courage to stand for our faith. The stand we take paves the way for others to follow.

He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others. Proverbs 10:17

Which path are we paving?

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Lord, help us to stand our ground and defend our faith no matter what the challenge. With Your strength we can remain steadfast and unwavering in any situation. You were willing to die on the Cross for me. Let me be willing to stand firm in doing what is right in Your eyes. In Jesus’ name, amen…so be it.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: 2 Timothy 3:12, Beatitudes, cynda cottrill, daily devotions, GCH, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, Greg Laurie, Jesus speaking, john 15:19, Matthew 5:10, persecuted, persecution, Seeking Him devotional

Persecuted for Righteousness

April 27, 2014 by Tonya Ellison

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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I pray that we do not have to suffer the persecution that Christ suffered! It would be nice to think that religious persecution is over and that we have grown enough to look past religious differences. But daily there are news stories of those who are being sought and harmed due to their religion, due to their faith. Daily we are asked to pray for those who are hurting and suffering simply for leading others to salvation.

per•se•cute

to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently. to annoy or trouble persistently.

Persecution isn’t always what we see on TV—it isn’t always the acts of bodily harm or imprisonment. And there are times when persecution is the whispers when we are seen reading the bible; it is eyes rolled when we share those words we read. We can see it when our children are encouraged and, at times, forced to hide their beliefs in school. Persecution is an attempt by satan to discourage Christians from sharing what we know to be true. Despite this persecution we are given instructions to continue to spread the love of God.

Mark 16:15-16

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Go into the world, without fear of persecution, because as He said “blessed are those who have been persecuted….” This is a promise that whatever we may encounter on this journey, He has promised us and has assured us of what awaits.

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Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for courage and strength to push through the persecution we may face, whether extreme or more subtle. Thank You for Your continued promises of Your reassurance of what is to come. I pray for those who are experiencing this extreme persecution! I pray for their strength and I know that Your hand is on their lives daily. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: Beatitudes, Jesus speaking, mark 16:15-16, Matthew 5:10, persecuted, Tonya Ellison

Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace

April 26, 2014 by coleen hayden

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love
Where there is injury Your pardon, Lord
And where there’s doubt true faith in You

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy

Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of Your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life

Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: Beatitudes, coleen hayden, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, Jesus speaking, Matthew 5:9, seeking Him

The Task of a PeaceMaker

April 25, 2014 by Tonya Ellison

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9

I have a piece of art on the wall in my children’s bathroom with a verse which reads “Happy are those who seek peace, God will call them His children.”

I think as parents we have a peacemaking role ingrained in our hearts and minds. I know I’m constantly trying to patch up spats between our three children, or teaching them how to mend relationships at school. It seems that some nights I soak in the peace and quiet that bedtime brings. Peace is a word that is often used in life today. It seems every day that there is another opportunity to spread peace—in the workplace, at home, even at church. But do we confuse quiet and a lack of fighting with true peace?

I don’t think I fully understood the meaning of peacemaker. It’s more than mending fences and encouraging “getting along.” We are tasked with spreading the Word of God and spreading His love to others. Peacemaking is part of this. He is the ultimate Peacemaker, and true peace can only be found in a relationship with our Heavenly Father. So the part of peacemaking that I need to add is to spread His love through examples of His peace…to model His character. This morning I read this… “God’s children reflect His character as they carry Jesus’ peacemaking mission to the world”… and began to think about how many times I have been a peaceTaker as opposed to a peaceMaker…? And wondered about how many times have I actually spread the words of God’s power and His ability to repair any situation, as opposed to simply offering nice words. Thankfully, He has given us a set of instructions, a “how-to” in regards to peace, along with an example of our task to reflect His character for those around us.

Romans 12:17-21
Repay no one evil for evil.
Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath;
for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes peace feels so far away, and the task of being a peacemaker seems difficult. But, You have shown us how. True peace can only come from You. Lord, please touch our hearts to model Your character, to be peacemakers and spread the word of Your love and peace. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: Beatitudes, daily devotions, GCH, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, Jesus speaking, Matthew 5:9, peacemaker, Romans 12:17-21, Seeking Him devotional, Tonya Ellison

Enter the Peacemakers

April 24, 2014 by Tina Marin

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9

Peacemakers:

a person, group, or nation that tries to make peace, especially by reconciling parties who disagree, quarrel, or fight

Do you know a peacemaker? Are you a peacemaker? All of my life it seems I have been a peacemaker. I usually try to smooth ruffled egos, or try to sooth the person who feels that he/she is not respected enough. Sometimes this is a tiring task. It can take a toll on you and on how you help others if you are not careful. Paul tell us in Galatians 6:9-10 (ASV)

And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.

Why do you suppose God wants to bless the peacemakers? I like to think it is because of them that treaties are made, pacts are adhered to, and wars are stopped. Some of these agreements may be for economic reasons but the peacemakers have a unique gift of diplomacy. These people have a way of studying the opponent by learning the culture and other customs. For instance…did you know that in Middle Eastern culture, when in negotiations, you are not to speak first? It is a sign of weakness. Silence is not the enemy and we should not be afraid to use it.

Today, look at your words and actions, do they glorify the Lord? Do your words honor God as well as lift up and exhort the person to whom you are speaking? Growing up, did you hear the words, “If it isn’t nice, don’t say it.” How many times have I spoken and then replayed the scene in my mind of how I have failed to build someone up. This is not meant to condemn but rather to reassure you that you, too, can become a peacemaker—a person who builds up. To do this we need only to be silent, when we want to speak words that are not kind. Especially when we use sarcasm to disguise words that would be intended to hurt and wound.

God wants to use us in all of our ways. We may not feel adequate but be assured that God will use you where you are and give you the tools you need to start fresh. Begin you day with “God, help me to learn something about the person who tests me every day. Show me his/her heart and give me the peace that You are in control. Let me look at him/her through Your eyes.”

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: Beatitudes, daily devotional, galatians 6:9-10, GCH, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, Jesus speaking, Matthew 5:9, peacemaker, Seeking Him devotional, Tina Marin

What Truly Matters

April 23, 2014 by Ahmee Bronaugh

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
Matthew 5:9 MSG

This verse immediately made me think of the peace I experience internally. To have the ability to spread the Prince of Peace’s peace sounds awesome! But first we need to make sure we are showing what peace looks like in the Church.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.
For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.
And always be thankful.
Colossians 3:15

Formal clothes…jeans. Tie…no tie. Saturday…Sunday. Three hour service…one hour service. Bible study…no bible study. Some things which we allow to come between us as a Church are… trivial. God called us to be One Body. One. Yes, we all have different functions, but we are still one Church.

So then, let us aim for harmony in the Church and try to build each other up. Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat! Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.

Romans 14:19-20

I’ve been told before, by non-believers, that they don’t believe in God because of the inconsistencies in churches. This, along with “not living right enough,” and religion (vs. relationship) are common reasons I’ve heard.

To me this is saying that we as the Church need be mindful of how we represent our God. It irks me when Christians teach/preach the Bible and it’s incorrect. If someone came to me with a list of things I couldn’t do, I’d be turned off by it, too. Tell me about a Maker who cares about the hurts and heartache of this world AND wants to have a relationship with me and you’ve got a better chance!

Yes, sadly there are going to be those people/organizations that claim to do things in the name of the Lord that are off-balance, but our representation of the One, True, Living, Loving God can outshine anything. God’s character is so fantastic and we have got to portray it right!

As long as the true Gospel, from the Bible is being preached (nothing more, nothing less), we the Church, should be able to link together and represent a united and whole God to the world. One God. One Christ. One Church.

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Lord, help us not let our differences hinder people from seeing You. Instead let the Church’s light shine bright on the path leading to You because You care more about people than traditions and appearances. Thank You that we do not have to shine Your light on our own, but have brothers and sisters to help us! Help us to be kind to one another and stay focused on who truly matters—You! Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: ahmee bronaugh, Beatitudes, Colossians 3:15, daily devotions, GCH, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, Matthew 5:9, Seeking Him devotional

A PeaceMaker is Meek

April 22, 2014 by Ann Mwafulirwa

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

The “peacemaker” in this Beatitude, quite literally is, “one who makes peace.” It seems fairly obvious what this means: one whose life is characterized by creating harmony and not stirring up contention and strife. However, we know that if the Christian is faithful in his or her proclamation of the gospel, and living out that gospel message, peace and harmony will not always follow in his or her wake.

It isn’t those who seek to bring about the Kingdom of God by war and rebellion that are the sons of God. Rather, it is those who try to be peaceable, who balance an attitude of uncompromising loyalty to God with a desire to live at peace within the situation God has placed them. This attitude is clear if you read the New Testament. Nowhere are Christians ever called to take up arms against their persecutors. Christians are never told to advance the Kingdom of God no matter what physical damage they might do along the way. On the contrary, Christians are told to pray for their persecutors, live at peace in the world, and submit to the God-established authorities!

So, how can we be peacemakers? By exhibiting the love of God to all our brothers in Adam–those who are non-Christians, and perhaps even living lifestyles we find Biblically objectionable. Our goal should never be to upset people, or get people angry; the gospel should be the “rock of offense,” not us! That’s not to say we ignore sin and rebellion against God; but our attitude should be to see the non-Christian come to Christ and have peace with God, not to relish in their condemnation.

And within the church, we should be a community of peace, where we love even those with whom we disagree, learning how to discuss our disagreement–yes, to argue–but with love and respect. We need to recognize our common bond in Christ and in the gospel, and let that be what brings us together in peace.

As we have studied previously, the Beatitudes build upon one another. Therefore, a man who seeks to be a peacemaker humbly seeks God’s grace for his salvation, mourns the destructive power of sin in his life and the lives of others, casts aside his selfish desires in meekness, pursues righteousness passionately, shows mercy to others in light of the infinite mercy God has given him, and seeks a purity of heart that overshadows his entire life. He cannot fathom attaining a level of true peace without living out the first five Beatitudes. They provide support to his peacemaking and enable him to seek and promote peace at the expense of himself because he has been made holy and righteous through humble repentance unto God and living out the Gospel through his own life. Specifically, a man who is a peacemaker is one who is meek, for he has only one concern—which is the glory of God amongst men.

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Dear heavenly Father, make us to be peacemakers at all times to everyone in Jesus’ name. Amen!!!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: ann mwafulirwa, daily devotions, GCH, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, Matthew 5, matthew 5:8, peacemakers, Seeking Him devotional, sons of God

Peace of Jesus

April 21, 2014 by laurapattillo

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9

Ever been in the middle of an argument? Ever been in the middle of chaos? When you have kids, it seems like you are there every day. Our children are now five and three, and the arguments, though low in frequency, have started. As a mother, I sometimes feel like I am at my wits’ end. Yet, they are a blessing from God that I would never give back. As their mother, it is my job to be the peacemaker when they fight or do something to each other. For my role in that, I get the blessing of being their mother, and they get the joy (and thrill) of being my children.

Peacemaking is just not about settling the petty arguments of our children. It is about bringing peace to world. It is about bringing the peace that Jesus brings to the world. For those of us who bring that peace or know the peace of Jesus, we are the children of God. Jesus lives in us, and He is with us at our most troubled and stressed times. He comforts us and brings us the peace that we ourselves cannot give to ourselves.

As the children of God, we know peace, love, joy, healing, hope, and we receive the blessings of God every waking moment. God loves us and, through this love, He brings peace to our hearts. It is up to use to feel the peace that God brings. If we do not feel the peace, then how can we survive this world. This world has gotten chaotic, and it is getting harder to live in. Let God bring you the peace that He wants you to have at this moment. Then share this peace with the world by living as God has intended us to live in this world.

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Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the peace that You bring to us as Your children. That peace brings us through each day in this troubled world. For it is in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: daily devotions, GCH, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, laura pattillo, peacemakers, psalm 5:9, Seeking Him devotionals

Active Not Passive

April 20, 2014 by cynda cottrill

Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—
with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation,
regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace,
for they shall be called the sons of God!
Matthew 5:9 AMP

Peace is so much more than a passive state. It is not just the absence of fighting or the maintaining of the status quo. Peace requires viewing the situation in light of the Gospel and actively setting out to promote and make peace.

According to Hebrews 12:14 we are to:
Work at living in peace with everyone,
and work at living a holy life,
for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

In Classical Greek, a peacemaker was one who strove to bring about peace: an ambassador that pursued peace, putting faith to work doing good for all. That is what we are called to be. However, there is one stipulation:

“Before one can be a peacemaker, one must be entirely delivered from self, from self-interest, and self-concern. The peacemaker does not look at things in terms of how they may affect self.”

– Chuck Smith

A peacemaker seeks the glory of God above all else, placing the well-being of others above his own. It is the “less of me, more of Him” mentality in action.

God took the initiative to make peace with us by sending His Son to die in our place. Jesus is the One True Peacemaker. Shouldn’t our mission be to share the Gospel of peace with others? The inward peace only God can give? When we choose to actively pursue peace, God rewards us with the very same peace.

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind
[both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You,
because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
Isaiah 26:3

And we will be known as His children.

The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit,
[assuring us] that we are children of God.
Romans 8:16

Peace is the evidence that we are His. We reflect our Father’s characteristics in acknowledgment of our adoption into His family. The family resemblance can be seen in us.

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Father God, thank You for the many blessing You bestow upon us. We are honored to be called a child of God. Help us deny our own interests to promote Your peace so that others may benefit. Guide our steps as we yearn to become more like You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen, so be it!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: active not passive, children of God, Chuck Smith, cynda cottrill, daily devotions, GCH, Girlfriends Coffee Hour, Hebrews 12:14, Isaiah 26:3, Matthew 5:9, peace of God, peacemakers, Seeking Him devotional

Rejection and Persecution