…free from your burdens!

End Times Thoughts to Ponder
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Could we take a minute here and look at the Lampstand at Ephesus? The New English Bible translation says in Revelation 1:20 "Here is the secret meaning of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and of the seven lamps of gold: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lamps are the seven churches." Then Revelation 2:5 says: "But I have this against you: you have lost your early love. Think from what a height you have fallen; repent, and do as you once did. Otherwise, if you do not repent, I shall come to you and remove…

A Famine Of The Gospel
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

There is a prophecy recorded in the book of Amos which seems to indicate a universal gospel "famine" in the world. A time when the Christian Gospel message will no longer be available. Perhaps not even allowed by the powers in the world at that time. Prophetic occurrences are sometimes tucked away within other events and conditions that were extant when the writer wrote, that are dual in meaning, and predict an occurrence or condition in the world many centuries later. Some of these are for the end times - world conditions not long before the return of Christ. …

Psalms 91:8
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

'Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.' Psalm 91:8 KJV On my last blog on Psalm 91:7, we talked about the difficulty of believing God's words. At times, the Word of God seems to be too good to be true. Verse 8 gets better. When we submit our way of trying to live our life to the full and trust God's direction, we will see the enemy fail in every aspect of our life. God will also make the enemy return all he has stolen from us. Let's break this down. "Only with thine eyes" means you will be an actual witness on how…

Your Buried Treasure
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

It’s the Christmas season, meaning most are thinking of presents under the tree, trips to shopping malls and brightly-colored boxes filled with things on our wish lists. The holidays are a magical time, giving us hope and reasons to be thankful. The beginning of a new year will also start soon, dusting off those resolutions always filled with good intentions and promises to keep. But, aside from the gifts and changes we want, did you know that right now you’re already overflowing with everything you’ve always desired? That the person God created you…

Bible and Quote - September 1-5
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments. Psalm 112:1 We are happy when we have the disposition of a dutiful child toward a kind and gracious father, rather than that of a refractory slave toward a tyrannical and severe master. Joseph Benson, 1749–1821, English Methodist minister (those who fear and obey the Lord) His descendants will be mighty on earth. Psalm 112:2a What we desire our children to become, we must endeavor to be before them. Andrew Combe, 1797–1847, Scottish physician and phrenologist. The…

We Will Confess His Name
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

Confessing Faith “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue, for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. John 12:42-43 (NIV) John writes of leaders who secretly believed in the Master’s teachings. These men feared being cast out of the Hebrew house of worship. He makes a bold statement about the reason these men were quiet about their thoughts “for they loved praise from men more than from…

When Castles Fall
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

Every man needs a granddaughter. Last evening our twins were here for a few hours. My granddaughter, Grace, asked me to help her build a castle. For the better part of an hour we stacked cylindrical wooden blocks as high as we could to build her castle. I would stack one and then she would add one. When it came to the final one or two on the top of the precariously teetering stack, Grace would hand me the blocks and say, "Finish it, Pawpaw." I would finish and we would look at the completed castle for all of about two seconds. Then Grace would do something I consider…

Believes All Things
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

Paul wrote the definitive piece on biblical love in 1 Corinthians 13. Perhaps it's not as much a definition as a description, still he listed all sorts of aspects of what God calls love. And we get most of them: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Yes, yes, we get it.…

How to Whine Effectively - Part Two
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! I’d rather you killed me than treat me like this. Please spare me this misery!” – Numbers 11:14 -15 We saw how the Israelites were condemned by God for their arrogant whining. But just nine verses later, Moses whined and got help! How can that be? Why should the Israelites get scorched and Moses get saved? As always, context is everything. Moses had to feed, water and shelter at least three and a half million people in the middle of a desert. It would have taken five hundred…

Justification II (2-8-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Do we ever justify ourselves? Before you answer this question, I would beg you to complete the reading of this article. Yesterday we read where Luke wrote about a lawyer who came to Jesus with some very legitimate sounding questions. However, there was more to the purpose of the lawyer than met the eye. First, his very purpose in coming to Jesus was in order to test him (Luke 10.25). Secondly, when he was questioned by Jesus, he responded with the primary motive of justifying himself (Luke 10.29). These few facts certainly do not raise an honest person's opinion of the lawyer;…

Being Chosen and Called is Precious and Reassuring
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

The Church belongs to Christ and to God. When we belong to God we belong to Christ and when we belong to Christ we belong to Almighty God. There is another double emphasis – Grace and peace to you – which speaks of the unity between the Father and the Son, and of course the Holy Spirit. There is perfect……