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Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

Special treasure is what God called Israel several times throughout scripture. They did obey Him especially during the times of an obedient judge and obedient kings. Unfortunately, there were more often times of rebellion and disobedience. Christians have that problem, too.

A particular insight into God’s heart is what Jesus says in Matthew 6:21 “Where your treasure is, there is your heart also.”…  ( Click for more )

This Sunday, Southern Baptists focus on the Sanctity of Life with the focus usually on how abortion is murder. For the longest time I believed the poppycock that unborn babies were just parasites until I was teaching a Sunday school lesson on this theme. I realized how wrong I was. Then came time for me to kill a snake, and I just crumpled inside when I took its life. Killing roaches doesn't make me crumple, but I do cringe. Taking life from something that God has blessed with life just makes me raw inside.

On January 8,2008, a father of four children, (four months old,…  ( Click for more )

When I bought a new Bible several years ago, I transferred all my underlinings, highlightings, and notes over to my new Bible from my two other old Bibles. I had two reasons for this. One was because I wanted to see how much I had grown since receiving the older Bible as a high school graduation present, and the second reason was because I wanted that flow of familiarity when I turned the crisp, new pages of my new Bible.

I was astounded at how many promises God had made me over the decades. There was one particular passage that had several years notated beside it indicating…  ( Click for more )

Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Lamentations 3:22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD. NKJV

The word faith is used…  ( Click for more )

In your living room or somewhere in your house there may be a green tree standing tall and draped with beautiful, tinkling jewels of light and gaiety. Today there is an ongoing argument whether it should be called a Christmas tree or a Holiday tree. Most Christians realize holiday is a derivative of holy day, therefore there is no real difference between the two if we get down to the brass tacks of the matter. In fact, if we want to be extremely technical, the expression “happy holidays” describes the season better than “Merry Christmas” because Satan…  ( Click for more )

I used to really hate the holidays. It wasn’t the holiday itself or what each stands for, but it was all the rigmarole that went with it. It was so aggravating to have to change plans fourteen times to accommodate all the members of the family.

It wasn't so complicated when my girls were little and still living under the same roof as me. It wasn't so complicated when I was little... well… at least I didn't notice any complications. Except the day that I bawled and squalled because it snowed and we couldn't go to my grandmother's house in Oklahoma. All the…  ( Click for more )

I missed my regular posting this week due to heavy school schedule. I got my research proposal turned in and am able to relax just a bit. Have you ever had that muscle tension, bone crushing kind of pressure that you just could not relax the hair on your head? Well, this recipe I have had for ever and a day should help you to relax, take it easy, and get a good night's rest.

In honor of the Holidays, I dug up this recipe again and am re-posting it. I hope you enjoy :) Hey everybody, I wanted to share this favorite recipe of mine. I've had it for years and years and it…  ( Click for more )

(Excerpt from my book)

I have heard it preached from the pulpit. I have experienced the prejudice first hand. I have seen the devastating disappointment incurred by the mistaken belief that divorce is a sin. It is not a sin. What caused the divorce is the sin. Yes, God hates divorce; and from the very beginning it was not ever a godly solution to human problems. However, God exposes the sin which is good cause for divorce in several books of the Bible. We find these passages in Ezra 10, Ezekiel 16, the entire book of Hosea, and in every other book of the prophets. Adultery,…  ( Click for more )

Spanked or yanked home early?

1 John 5:14-17. We are instructed to pray within the will of God according to His will. There is sin that leads to physical death for believers. This whole letter of John's is to and for believers. Verse 16 carries a terrible implication. It is very possible for a believer to sin the final one that is at the end of God's tolerance for His child. In other words, it is the final embarrassment of God and He just yanks that rebellious child home. In this case, the sin that leads to death. You do realize, don’t you, that it is a deliberate…  ( Click for more )

The Associated Press has a story on the tragedy in Texas where a train crashed into a parade float killing four veterans: Killed were Marine Chief Warrant Officer 3Gary Stouffer, 37; Army Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Boivin, 47; Army Sgt. Joshua Michael, 34; and Army Sgt. Maj. William Lubbers, 43.

Then there is the story of Hostess Bakeries that has gone out of business after almost 100 years leaving 18,000 people without jobs right before the holidays. Perusing headlines can make a person want to sit down a cry. But, when it happens to you and your family it touches a nerve that can…  ( Click for more )

Devilish Advocates

There are numerous examples of this type of person, but Job’s wife is an epitome. By no means am I advocating divorce here. I am pointing to the need to choose a wife or husband carefully. Matthew Henry points out a stark truth. When Satan was given permission to take any and all that belonged to Job, he left Job’s wife. This seeming oversight was filled with devilish purpose as we see in Job 2:9. She was like Michal to David by scoffing Job’s faith. To her, trials and troubles were signs of God’s lack, not His power or purpose.…  ( Click for more )

I was going to repost this article last Sunday to be "in the season" so to speak. But, God had other ideas. So I guess this Sunday is as good as any to be reminded about the things that go bump in the night...

I have been studying something for months now because I see a trend that is frightening. The hours spent viewing several different programs where teams are in hot pursuit of paranormal activities from the netherworld have been heartbreaking. These teams are in earnest, yet have enormous nerve in that they taunt the entities of whom they are hoping to get physical…  ( Click for more )

Is there a difference between a God-given talent and a God-given spiritual gift?

Yes, I believe there is. Doing a word search/study on Talents, we first notice that this was a measure of money back in Bible days. I think it is such a word play when we look at the servants of the harsh master. The Master gave each servant according to his abilities. To one, he gave five talents, to another he gave two talents and to the last he gave one talent. Noticing that each received according to his abilities is important. (Matthew 25)

The Hebrew word translated talent means round as…  ( Click for more )

To say that a person just doesn't have enough faith is the reason they are not healed is an out right lie straight from the Father of Lies, Satan himself. You want to know why? Because God takes care of His children and their needs regardless of what, when or how they ask. Matthew 6

You don't have to believe when you pray for something. Go read Acts 12. Peter was amazed he was standing outside the prison. The church was absolutely shocked that Peter was standing outside the door completely free.

Please note, I am not at all denying clear Scripture that we have not…  ( Click for more )

If you click on this, you will see a request for prayer. Satan is playing havoc with me this week. Among numerous things, my soul is sore which means there is some demonic oppression going on. Exactly from what quarter, I'm not sure. However, I just ask that you take a moment and pray for God's glory to rise above all else, for the strength to resist Satan's ploys, for the furtherance of His kingdom and His plan for His church, and for this ministry. And a tiny prayer for me to understand my school work, and to get it all done to the best of my ability through God's strength and despite…  ( Click for more )

Great as an elephant, least as an ant…

Here are two creatures side by side: one of the world’s largest creatures and one of the world’s smallest. The elephant, even in all his great size and mighty strength is still meek in the hands of man doing his bidding and serving his master. The ant serves his whole life never stopping to think if his own life is more important than his brothers’ lives, he gives it freely to protect them and his queen. The ant, unlike most creatures of the earth, can carry up to 50 times its own weight. So many things we can…  ( Click for more )

Servant Leader

Last week we talked about Jesus as the servant washing Peter’s feet in an act of servantship as well as cleansing and forgiveness. What of the servant as leader?

In the 1990s Robert K. Greenleaf “discovered” the truth that “a leader is best experienced first as a servant” (Spears, 2004, p. 9). Jesus exhibited this axiom better than any other leader before or since He rose from the dead. While Spears does not bring out this biblical truth, he does point out ten of Greenleaf’s ideas about the characteristics of a good servant-leader,…  ( Click for more )

Peter showed his motivational gift of Perceiver at the Passover supper when Jesus knelt to wash his feet. (John 13) For Peter, it was either all or nothing. He was so passionate about everything, and he had a sureness about Jesus that was only a little misplaced as Jesus taught him that evening.

Jesus brought the water and the drying cloth to Simon Peter who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Peter probably drew up his knees and leaned away from his beloved friend.

Jesus gazed up at Peter and replied, “You do not realize now what I am…  ( Click for more )

When Jesus told Peter that he was Petros meaning a stone in Matthew 16:18, Jesus was using a play on words that was a prophecy.

Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter (Petros), and on this rock (Petra) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (NKJV)

Too often people remember this verse and don’t recall the verse before it. 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And that comes directly after Peter…  ( Click for more )

I will watch to see what He will say to me.

What is God going to say to my questions?

I will look forth to see what He will speak with me.

I will wait and learn how He will answer my questions.

Wait to see what the Lord will tell me, what answer He will give to my complaint.

I will wait and see what the LORD will say about me and what I will answer when he reprimands me.

And God answered, “Write this down. Write what you see. Write in huge letters on a big sign so no one may miss it when they are running by it.

“The vision is about what…  ( Click for more )

Remember the words from the old song “Leaning on the everlasting arms, safe and secure from all alarms…”and think about what that actually means.

Exodus 3:5 Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."

When the people looked into the Ark of the Covenant, 1 Samuel 6:20 And the men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall it go up from us?"

Psalm 35:1ff A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with…  ( Click for more )

I live in Picayune, Mississippi and we were pounded by 48 hours of rain and wind. We lost power for just a few hours but lost phone service and internet for more than 24 hours. I do ask for prayers because water is creeping up my street. Boule Creek is supposed to crest between 7 pm and 9 pm tonight (Friday). It is already 1/4 of the way up my street. If it does crest tonight, we're safe with no water in our home, but the people at the end of the street are facing about a foot of water in their homes. In the last 100 years, water has never come onto this street. There are homes not…  ( Click for more )

(An excerpt from my book)

Jesus is the physical side of God. He is the one that we can relate to so He is the one that we are betrothed to.

I am so in love with Him that I cannot fathom how deep my love is and where His love begins. I cannot fathom how His Spirit has made my soul so vibrantly alive that I am not alone for He is constantly with me. Power and Glory and Majesty is He, but more also is He. Only Jesus, only God can pour righteousness over me as fragrant oil...and through nothing that I do, it is just His love that makes me pure. He does this for…  ( Click for more )

by Rachel D. Ramer

Reproduced with permission under freeware law.

There is more to discussing evolution than debating the age of the earth or the wing breadth of the archaeopteryx. There is value, for example, in examining how evolutionists make their defense. Looking beyond the argument to the arguer's techniques can expose fallacious reasoning which keeps many from considering the God of Creation.

If Christians plan to argue from the Genesis account of creation, they must first support biblical authenticity. Although the Bible can be supported, that may be the long way…  ( Click for more )