…He loves you and guides you!

The Birth of the Thessalonian Church
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

The letter to the Thessalonians – 52 to 53 AD – is thought to be the first letter Paul wrote to the disciples of Jesus Christ at Thessalonica. We see how it all began, and we learn something of how great his love was for the people of God. In Acts 15 verses 36 to 41 we get a glimpse of……

Longsuffering
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

The sun is warm on my face and it feels good to these old bones of mine. I listen, but the house is still. It is only me and Hara now. The children have homes and children of their own and my sweet husband has gone to rest in Abraham’s bosom. That other is gone, too, God bless her. Why Hara stays and takes care of this old woman, I do not know. God’s blessing, for sure, but why a young woman would care for an old woman when she should be caring for a husband is beyond the reach of my mind. “Enjoying the sun, my dear ‘Em? Here is something…

Crisis Of Change
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted.”- Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 It seems sometimes the very thought of the word “change” creates a kind of fear and apprehension that is almost mentally disabling. No one really wants change - even if it is for the present good, much less for the future good. There is mesmerizing aura about the statue quo that often prevents any kind of willful change, much less a change that, for the moment,…

Psalms 91:4
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

'He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. ' Psalm 91:4 KJV Strong's Definition of truth. Contracted from H539; stability; figuratively certainty, truth, trustworthiness: - assured (-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure,…

God's Inner Voice
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

We're all equipped with an inner voice, guiding us constantly through all things good and bad. When you were born, God equipped you with a conscious, a gut-wrencher, an energy feeling coming across when impending forces try causing you harm or propelling you toward greater good, a realistic sensation responding to all things emotional, a subtle voice. That voice is God trying to tell you something, for better or worse, even when you don’t want to listen. God knows what’s best for us. He oversees and plans everything we do way before any situation or person…

Bible and Quote - August 4-8
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

He has shattered gates of bronze And cut bars of iron asunder. Psalm 107:16 God wants us to be victors, not victims; to grow, not grovel; to soar, not sink; to overcome, not to be overwhelmed. William Arthur Ward, 1812-82 They cried out to the Lord in their trouble (that they had brought on themselves); He saved them out of their distresses. Psalm 107:19 If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest. Corrie Ten Boom, 1892-1983Dutch evangelist He…

Peace on Earth
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV) Each day in our newspapers and our television news broadcasts we read and hear about war, terrorism, and unrest affecting innocent people. Because of this, some of us don’t enjoy the news media. But can we ignore the reports? If we look away from these events we will be ‘sticking our heads in the sand’. The truth of this matter is we have to be informed about these atrocities…

Remember Me...Please
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

We preachers are rarely asked to serve as pallbearers for funeral services. Probably the exceptions are when it comes to our families. The last time that I served as a pallbearer was for my Uncle Orlyn Kelly. Late in their lives he and my dad had gotten closer as brothers should. I had always been fairly close to my cousins and thought the world of Uncle Orlyn and Aunt Helen. I was privileged to be able to be at his bedside when he passed away and even more honored when I was included as one of his pallbearers. Such is a sacred trust handed out by a family to those whom they…

American Christianity
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

From my youth I've seen many examples of "American heroes" on the TV and movie screens. John Wayne was probably the quintessential hero. He stood alone, strong, individual, fighting for what was right, that sort of thing. Most of them are like that in American lore. In comic books and their television and movie offshoots we have superheroes like Batman, Superman, and Spiderman. And they're not all fictional types. Abraham Lincoln, for instance, stood alone against slavery and, by his positions and choices brought about the emancipation of slaves in America. Heroic. That's…

Kilkenny Cats
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Galatians 5:14-15 There were a pair of proverbial cats in Kilkenny, Ireland, who fought till only their tails were left. Most likely the story is a parable of a contest between Kilkenny and Irishtown, two municipalities which fought about their boundaries till little more than their tails were left creating this popular limerick: "There…

The Fullness of Time (2-2-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Some things just take time! No one can argue with this statement. Also it seems like the things we want most take an abundance of time to come to pass. At times we may have exclaimed while waiting for a long anticipated event, “It seems like time is standing still!” Today's Little Lift takes a brief look at one such event. It was a long time coming and its effects will be a long time lasting. Consider this truly one-of-a-kind event! Paul wrote about it when he penned, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under…