…you have been made new!

Pass The Salt
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you]. (Colossians 4:6 Amp) My friend once told me a trick he used to help him avoid eating all the food on his plate lest he over eat. He would open the salt shaker and pour salt over the remaining food. I’m not so sure it was a good plan. It may have solved the issue at the moment but what about the discipline it takes to live a healthy lifestyle. The apostle Paul wrote…

Jesus the Passover Lamb
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Centuries before Jesus was led to Golgotha, God provided a picture of that event, a promise to His chosen people in the form of the Passover. He said it was to be an ordinance forever. Even today, Jews have Passover Sedar and speak the Hagadah. All Christians should understand how completely Jesus fulfills the Passover. We remember Him when we take communion, but we need to understand that Jesus was promised for millenea before He was cut off, and that everything prophesied was fulfilled in Him. The lighting… The lighting of the candles... Only the woman of the…

The Permanent Solution
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

Over and over again the nations of the world of the bibical old testament obeyed, rebelled and disobeyed. They repented, and then disobeyed again - over and over again and again, and again! Nothing was ever resolved. It still hasn't. Why? Throughout the Old Testament, God raises up nations of that time. Then, when that nation's sins reach a certain point, He reveals through His prophets what He will do as punishment . Not only what He will do, but usually the reason why. Even a casusl read of the prophets, one sees a pattern. There are so many raisings up and putting down of nations…

Choosing Your Words Carefully
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

Have you ever been to a party, or other form of social gathering, drinking, talking, laughing, even dancing when all of a sudden, in a blink of an eye, the mood suddenly pauses, even swings to a deafening silence? The cause? Someone, somewhere, decided to say something inappropriate causing everyone to take notice, clearing the room, looking for the nearest exit to run toward. And they didn’t need to be spoken words. It could be something written, an expression you gave at just the wrong time, or a thumbs up or down you clicked in social media land. No matter what, and no…

Bible and Quote - April 27 - May 1
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

Though I walk in the midst of distress, You will revive me. Psalm 138:7a It is our want of watchfulness for the coming of God’s help that we are ever overwhelmed by the tasks, or difficulties, or sorrows of life. Alexander Maclaren, 1826-1910, British Baptist expository preacher The Lord will accomplish what concerns me. Psalm 138:8a In every area, allow God to define for you and show you the fullness of His provision. Henry Blackaby, Canadian evangelical pastor, author Psalm of David - O Lord, You have searched me and known me. Psalm 139:1 God…

Rest
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

“The LORD replied,” My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” Exodus 16:14 (NIV) As a senior citizen, I find myself sometimes taking morning naps. Sometimes this happens out of necessity; other times, it just happens. Rest is important to us as human beings. We fortify our physical bodies when we have restorative sleep. It actually helps our bodies to heal itself. When our children were very small, an afternoon nap gave them a chance to revitalize themselves and we were able to get somethings done…

Is Your Life More Than A Dash?
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

My parents are buried in a cemetary some three hours from my current home. My wife and I try to make it to their gravesite at least twice a year to make sure that there are flowers on the stones. Every time we go I look long and hard at their tombstone. It reads, "William Nelson Kelley; February 17,1921 - March 25,1998; Dorothea Margaret Kelley; January 6,1923 - December 14,2002." I lived with my parents for the first twenty-one years of my life. I remember all the things that we did during that time period as well as all the things we did after that time period. It's…

Mothers Day, 2017
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

There are lots of mothers in the Bible, some good and some not. For the "not good" you can think of folks like Jezebel or Lot's wife. But there were some really good ones. Take, for instance, Hannah. She prayed that God would give her a son and, in so doing, vowed to give him back to God (1 Samuel 1:10-11). That's a devoted mother. She highly valued children and wept for not having one, but more highly valued her God and believed that a child is a gift from God. She did quite literally what all good mothers must do in spirit as well; she gave her child to God. …

Charaktocracy, Part 2
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town: someone who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or rebellion. For an overseer, as God’s manager, must be blameless, not arrogant, not quick tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute…

The Incorruptible Word (3-29-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because 'All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." (1 Peter 1.22-25). In the text just quoted, Peter identifies…

This Book tells Us About God, About Man and About Ourselves.
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

We come to Daniel Chapter 4 and verse 27 – As we have been reading of this incident in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar, where we see both judgment and concern, a question arose in my mind. What about all the poor people in the cities? What about all those who were suffering in Babylon at this……