you serve a risen Savior!
Ask fifty people to finish the statement "Live As If" and you are likely to get fifty different answers. For Christians it will mean something different than for non-Christians. Incorporated into the top graphic are the answers given by friends of mine. It is our desire that your answer will be different each time you visit.
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Thorn in the Flesh
''Winging It' from Stan Smith
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions,
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One Away from Lonely
'The Way' from Kevin Pauley
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6
I was sitting in the lunch room, eating my pb ‘n’ j sandwich and reading my Bible, when a co-worker sat down beside me. “What are you reading?” she asked. I was reading Deuteronomy 6:4-9, a passage the Jewish people refer to as the “Shema”. I explained to her that they have been reciting these verses as a prayer every morning and evening for thousands of years. Suddenly
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The Believer's Modus Operandi
'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington
"Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2.11-12).
There are desires, and then there are desires! Paul, having been separated from the brethren at Thessalonica against his will, told them that he "… endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire." (Luke 22.15). Desire, even fervent
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Spiritual Warfare Can Leave You Emotionally Empty
'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw
There are times when we can feel so empty. Life drains us, and that has consequences.
Turn to I Kings Chapter 19 and verses 1 to 18 where we read about Elijah – quite a remarkable man, and yet we are told that Elijah was a man just like us – he faced all the various ups and downs of life
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No column this week
'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess
If you click on this, you will see a request for prayer. Satan is playing havoc with me this week. Among numerous things, my soul is sore which means there is some demonic oppression going on. Exactly from what quarter, I'm not sure. However, I just ask that you take a moment and pray for God's glory to rise above all else, for the strength to resist Satan's ploys, for the furtherance of His kingdom and His plan for His church, and for this ministry. And a tiny prayer for me to understand my school work, and to get it all done to the best of my ability through God's strength and despite
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The Unknown
''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs
The Apostle Peter has admonished us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These were the last recorded words that we have from him. We are to grow in the knowledge of God, about God, grow through His grace to become more like Him. But think for a moment about knowledge in a general sense. What if you and I somehow could know the details of our future experiences - everything that will impact us, that we will experience, regarding all things involving us? Some spend time attempting to discover what their future holds for them. They study and contemplate
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Psalms 91:12
'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro
'They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. '
Psalm 91:12 AMP
Remember the shocking feeling radiating through your body when stubbing your little toe? The extreme pain makes you jump around like a dancing gorilla. You jump around like a one-legged high wire artist. Your voice box clamps up like a Venus flytrap preventing your bellow from expressing itself.
In verse 11 of Psalm 91, we learned God sends out from under His protective shelter and into the world to be a strong, developed, fighting believer. In this verse, we can
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The Magic of Summer
'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell
We all have certain things which make us feel happier, content, less stressed, and wanting to claim more from life. For some, it’s the smoothness of silk against their skin, the adoring face of a puppy, a friendly encounter, a child’s laughter, or the sensuality of a lovers kiss. True, all these things can bring a huge smile to ones face and they definitely do mine, but I’ve also learned that weather can have a humongous impact on an individual’s emotional outlook, giving many a needed boost after the depressing effects of grey skies among bone-chilled winters.
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Bible and Quote - February 11-15
'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns
(Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving) And pay your vows to the Most High; Psalm 50:14b As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. John F. Kennedy
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. Psalm 50:15 When a man, in the dire hour of his distress, casts himself upon God and believes He is able to succor and to help him. Then there is evidence of true reliance and real confidence in a real God, whom the mind’s eye sees and rejoices in. Charles
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Trust
'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
I found this verse as I prepared a Sunday school lesson for a group of middle grade children in the mid 1980’s. I paused and reread it. The words resonated in my mind. I had come through a time of deep depression. I had, at the request of my husband, taken a 30 day leave of absence from my job. At the end of the leave, I decided to resign. A few years earlier, during another time of confusion,
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LIVING OUT LOUD
'Point of Reference' from Fred Price
A noted politician went on record sharing his views on the moral condition of his country, particularly citing the need for religious zeal among true believers in Christ. In addressing those he considered genuine Christians he said, “You are the most important members of our community. (And I doubt this
My apologies for yesterday's absence. I was overnighting in Walterboro, South Carolina on my way to see my nephews in Florida. Today's message is much later than my normal time and, for those who are used to it being there when you awake in the morning, I apologize for that as well. I felt that a visit with my nephews would be a good thing. Their mother, my only sibling, died this past August 24 of cancer. They felt like
Daily Refractions
Words to Ponder
God has often forgiven sinners, but He never forgives sin. - Arthur Pink (1886-1952)
'Daily Reading Plan'
from StudyLight.org
Bible-in-a-Year NAS
Deuteronomy 13-14; Job 10; Acts 2:1-13:
and the sign or the wonder comes true, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let's follow other gods (whom you have not known) and let's serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments,