…He loves you and guides you!

Bible and Quote -  August 6-10
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! Psalm 38:21,22 The heart of God is not turned though His face be hid; and prayers are not flung back, though they be not instantly answered. Timothy Cruso Psalm of David: I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence. Psalm 39:1 We are watched; our words are caught; our lives are examined. Let us take care that we exhibit our Master, and not ourselves. Charles Spurgeon 1834-92 I…

Christ's Love Compels Us - To What? 2 Cor. 5:14
     'Point of Reference' from Fred Price

Answering that question necessitates posing another. What does it mean to be compelled? Webster’s defines it as accomplishing a task by force or great effort, doing something forcefully or to be driven; the definition most applicable for the concept under consideration. Significantly, the……

Blessed Mary
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. Luke 1:49-50 (NKJV) Verses from the Magnificat of Mary. Mary, the future mother of Jesus, sang praise to the Lord.……

Careful Drivers
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

I spend a lot of time on the road as a preacher. It takes time to make the distance between people's homes and the occasional hospital in which they might be receiving care. As such I am often on the local interstate highway, I-75. I-75 dissects the state in its run from Detroit to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Almost every day a traveler can see cars from Canada (usually Ontario) as well as Florida and many other states in between. While traveling North on I-75 the other day I was approaching a vehicle that was stalled on the shoulder. It was parked fairly close to the…

Camping with Dad
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

I never really realized how good I had it growing up. We weren't rich by any means. Dad worked for the county. Government workers are typically not among the wealthy. But we had food, clothing, and shelter. We weren't hurting. I didn't really appreciate that. (Appreciate: to assign value.) One thing that struck me the other day was my father's penchant for vacations. He loved vacations. (Still does, in fact, well into his 80's ... and retired.) So we would go on camping trips. Tents, sleeping bags, fishing poles ... you get the idea. I remember us three kids stuffed in the back…

A Healing of the Soul
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." – Mark 2:5 Jesus was back in his adopted home town called Capernaum after a quick tour of Galilee (Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44; Matthew 4:23-25). As usual, the news spread quickly that he was home and soon, the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. Four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed friend on a sleeping mat. Realizing that they could not approach Jesus the normal way due to the crowds, they climbed…

Not Worthy to be Compared (Romans 8.18)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Pat and I were recently privileged to see some wonderfully scenic landscapes and seascapes in the state of Maine. I know we used the word beautiful repeated to descripe the things that we saw, but physical beauty really is quite subjective. I knew of a person who was actually frightened by trees and saw them as an ugly reminder of an unhappy past. When we speak of beauty, we usually realize that it is a matter of perspective. However, we need to realize that even the most breathtaking and glorious earthly objects are nothing when compared to the features of a world yet to be revealed.…

Vital Spiritual Lessons from The Feast of Tabernacles
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

Leviticus 23 verses 33 to 43 - where we read about The Feast of Tabernacles. What is the significance of the Feast of Tabernacles - for the Jews - and for those of us who are disciples of Jesus Christ? Well - for us - this is the time of year when probably Jesus was born - but also - this is a season……

Take Your Small Group Off Life Support
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Introduction In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he admonishes and corrects these new Christians not because he wanted them to accomplish more good works, but because he deeply desired that they be more than just good works. Brad House reflects on this theme in his book on how Christians in small groups can be more than just Christians in ordinary small groups meeting the needs of others. He states in the introduction to the book, “I want to bring together theology and ministry philosophy with practical application and strategy that is worked out with effectiveness”…

Stealth Move
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

It was the same pattern as before. Subtle, stealth and snipe are the staple words for how He works. It’s His modus operandi to apply maximum damage with little visibility. Who is this guy? He is God. But not just any god, He is the God of army angels. In the beginning He spoke the stars, moon, sun and earth into existence. But when it came to mankind, the reflection of Himself, He took special attention. Silently He molded the future of the earth’s existence, keeping the fallen, in anxious terror. It was a stealth move. We see it from time to time…

Thanks For The Memory
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

There was once a network show in which the MC ended the broadcast by singing "thanks for the memory...".is faculty of what is called memory is a marvelous thing. It is one of God's miiracles of our being. a mixed bag of memories. Some good, some bad. Some filled with joy and pleasantness. Some with deep sorrow and an aching heart. Memories of each of us are utterly unique. Some of us have similiar memories in one way or another, but none are the same. Memories prove the uniqeness of each human - and of every Christian. tiple billions of humans each completely…

The Blessings of the Christmas Drumsticks
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

Just when you thought the true spiritual meaning of Christmas had pandered to materialism, flashing lights, and political bickering over religious beliefs, an unexpected surprise and gift from an anonymous source splashes some holiday spirit along your way. Isn't it sad that some of the only places anyone dares talk about, or demonstrates true acts of giving these days is where they're expected (church, charitable organization)? And usually then, they only appear at certain scheduled times of the year or days of the week. So, when someone surprises you with an unanticipated…