…free from your burdens!
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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Joy to the World - Verse 4
''Winging It' from Stan Smith
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
“He rules the world with truth and grace.” Somehow, this seems an understatement. Abraham asked, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen.18:25). The implication is, “of course!” Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus is The Truth. In Isaiah we read, “For to us a child is born, to us a son…
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What is the Book of Life? 1 of 3
'The Way' from Kevin Pauley
So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, this people has committed a great sin; they have made for themselves a god of gold. Now if You would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book You have written." The LORD replied to Moses: "Whoever has sinned against Me I will erase from My book. Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, My angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin." - Exodus 32:31-34 HCSB
The idea of the Book of Life (“Sefer ha ch’aim”…
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The Nations Rage (Psalm 2.1)
'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington
“Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” (Psalm 2.1-3).
The second Psalm had a specific objective, namely the foretelling of certain aspects of the Messiah's reign. It is quoted repeatedly in the New Testament with that explicit fulfillment in view (see Acts 13, Hebrews 1, and others). Among other things, the second Psalm foretold the fact that…
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Are You Satisfied Being a Clay Pot - An Earthen Vessel?
'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw
It is not fitting that a man should put a beautiful photograph or painting in some tawdry frame – or a priceless jewel in a cardboard box. That would not be appropriate – would it? Yet, Paul sees that this is precisely what Almighty God has done in Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians……
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Works Of Grace (6)
''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs
Now we have ascended and built to the ultimate height. We have reached the apex. All should be ready for the construction of the capstone of the grand pyramid of Godly character! The capstone is perhaps the most talked about, the most used, misused, abused , and misunderstood of all character traits! It is often portrayed and practiced in the most vulgar, demeaning and evil contexts. It is almost incomprehensible, that this highest of all qualities of God’s nature is co-mingled with such evil and degrading situations, and defined in such base emotions, human experience and conduct.
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1,000 Years of Peace
'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess
After God has dusted and cleaned up the earth and the heavens so that life can continue upon the face of the earth, those who made it through the final 45 days of clean-up are the Believers who made it through the Great Tribulation, both Gentiles and Jews. Joel 3:1-3 tells us “For behold in those days…” “before the coming of the great and awesome day of Jehovah” (Joel 2:31). Jesus speaks of it in Matthew 25:31-33, with the judge being the Messiah. These saints are the ones who will inhabit and procreate and fill the earth.
Those who are…
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A Day For Love
'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell
Its Valentine's Day week, that wonderful time of year when significant others spend a little time expressing, and sharing their common attraction. For many, it’s a time of reflection, a day of sharing that certain chemistry bringing souls together, a period of needed sexual bliss, an occasion where hearts communicate a little bit deeper, and even moments when personalities come together for the very first time.
In the fifty years I’ve been alive, I’ve experienced, desired, wanted, expressed, shared, rejected, and written about love. I’ve wanted to be…
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Bible and Quote - November 5-9
'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns
Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David . Now Jonathan . caused David to vow (in agreement with the covenant), because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 1 Samuel 20:1
The value of a friend comes and goes, but mutual commitment holds the relationship together.
(after Jonathan sets up a plan to warn David to flee or stay, he says). And as for (our covenant of friendship), indeed the Lord be between you and me forever." 1 Samuel 20:23
Man's ways are variable, but God's ways are everlasting. Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-92)…
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New Song
'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester
I waited patiently for the LORD he turned to me and heard my/cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit. Out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.……
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I thank God every time I remember you Phil. 1:3
'Point of Reference' from Fred Price
Paul’s approach to prayer followed a fairly well-established pattern, one we would do well to emulate. But how do we keep it from becoming routine and obligatory? A brief examination of Paul’s practice of prayer demonstrates how that can be achieved.
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Thanatopsis
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley
Recently, a friend and I sat down and conversed about death. It wasn't a morbid conversation but a rather light hearted one as we talked about how scary death is to so many and how welcome others view it. Then he shared a nugget of information with me that I didn't know. "Did you know that Henry Ford had a bottle in which he kept Thomas Edison's last breath?" Oddly enough, it's true. Ford and Edison were close friends. When Edison died in 1931 Ford was at his bedside and caught Edison's last breath in a bottle and then capped it. He still had it when…
Marshalltown, Iowa. Why Marshalltown, Iowa? Because Marshalltown, Iowa is where the legend began. Legends always have to begin somewhere and this one began in Marshalltown, Iowa in the mid 1920s. A young man with a drive in his spirit that few had seen before was new to this small town in Iowa. The school had a limited budget as schools did then. Many of the teachers were not only coaches but also coaches of several sports.Adolph Rupp was the coach...of…
Daily Refractions
Words to Ponder
At heart, self-denial is about the question of ownership: Who is really in charge of my life - God or me? - Mark Shaw (20th century)
'Daily Reading Plan'
from StudyLight.org
Bible-in-a-Year — NAS
Genesis 35,36; Psalms 27; Luke 20:1-26:
So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears,…
