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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 )

Let me just say that Satan is truly playing havoc in my life right now. But, he does that continually so it isn't such a big surprise. Years ago, God warned me one morning at 5:39 AM that Satan would sift me. Remember when Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked permission to sift him? That night before Jesus was taken by the Temple guards and Roman soldiers, Jesus told Peter, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold! Satan asked for you, to sift you as wheat…” (Luke 22:31).

If we take a look at that word sift, the same connotation appears in Amos 9:8b-9…  ( Click for more )

What is the one thing that usually gets us in trouble? James says it can light a fire. James 3:5 So also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how little a fire kindles how large a forest! I used to have a plaque that had an "Elroy-was-here" face on it. If you are too young to remember that, back during WWII, you could find this hand drawn icon in a lot of different places. It was a straight line with a huge nose draped over it and large round eyes and hands on each side of the nose gripping the fence. My plaque read, "Lord, help me to keep…  ( Click for more )

A person can cry for multiple reasons. I believe that Jesus wept because of a deep compassion for their grief. Not the professional mourners... but those who loved Lazarus. I go to funerals for the living, not for the dead. If one of my friend's has a loved one who dies, I go for that friend and lots of times, I cry because they are grieving. When we know the person who died is a Christian because of his fruit, we know he is in a better place. (I am usually very jealous that person is in heaven--at least for a few minutes anyway.) However, our hearts have an Eternity…  ( Click for more )

...not sacrifice

Matthew href="https://pro.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q=mt+12:6-8">Matthew 12:6-8 But I say to you, One greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this is, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice," you would not have condemned the guiltless.

I was watching the news the other day and there was this young girl whose dad had been murdered and the reporter asked her what she was hoping for. She said she needed the murderer to be given the death penalty and even that wasn't good enough for her revenge. This wasn't the first time I've…  ( Click for more )

(Taken from the first 6 chapters of Nehemiah.)

This week will take some work on your part. I have only outlined the facts, but you will need to fill in your own blanks.

I noticed the way Nehemiah led his people, and his administrative tactics when reading Nehemiah. The first six chapters (and beyond) give excellent guidelines for Biblical leadership.

1. Get all your facts from trusted sources (Nehemiah 1). 2. First pray about the situation, and ask God’s guidance for direction. (Ibid) 3. Talk to the person who had the most authority to help with resources…  ( Click for more )

One of my professors said, "God's objective truth has become subjective truth for all of us, and none of us has excuses to deny His Truth (Romans 1)." I agree with this wholeheartedly. God has set down the Truth which is solid and indisputable. Because a person believes there is no God does not dispense with God. He remains Truth. Just as no amount of denial can remove gravity from existence, no amount of denial can dispense with God, or the eternal consequences of such denial. He is the one that made us complex beings in His image. Scientifically, Jesus was. He…  ( Click for more )

It feels like forever. The constant waiting and waiting. When, Lord? When will You go to my defense? When will You fix this problem? When will I see daylight? When will I feel normal again? When will I be able to look up from this problem and focus on others again? When will You release me from this prayer vigil? When will I find a job? a husband? a wife? When will You give us a baby? When can I stop and rest?

That's just it. We must rest or we burn out. God knows just how long we need because it was He that issued the six day work week and the one Day of Rest. Only that…  ( Click for more )

It truly takes a real man to be a great daddy. The best traits of a father, we learn from God because He is, was, and will be the first Dad.

If you haven’t seen the movie Courageous produced by the Kendrick brothers from Sherwood Films, then run and get your copy of the DVD. I found the Resolution and have been thinking about the way each of the individual resolutions come directly from the Bible and how God has exhibited them to us as our Abba Father.

THE RESOLUTION I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children. …  ( Click for more )

Why does He love me so?

Remember when love first blossomed?

What about now? Is it Saturday Night Fever or is it Monday Night Football? Is it The Sound of Music or The Sound of Silence? Is it $60 a dozen or $1.50 a stem including thorns? Ideal or Idle? Which of these best describes your fellowship with your First Love, our LORD Jesus?

Those questions come from one of my very favorite devotions coming to my inbox by Alan Smith of Helen Street Church of Christ in Fayetteville, North Carolina called Thought For The Day

I cannot fathom why God loved us so much He…  ( Click for more )

I laughed at this video, but without playing the video, I know I've been on the back of one of those horses, trying to live the life Christ would be proud of and still maintain respect of my peers and my boss so as not to get fired in secular corporate America. I can't tell you the number of times I fell off my horse or got scratched to ribbons. Sometimes I never had the strength to get back up in the saddle, but I found myself there nonetheless. Only God can put us back in the saddle when we're face down on the ground tasting dust and blood. I know you've been there, too. …  ( Click for more )

I have read about twenty translations of Song of Song of Solomon 8:6-7. The paraphrases do not seem to get that this verse is from the Ketubah or the Marriage Contract. I have heard at least a hundred sermons on how our relationship with Jesus is as a betrothal between the groom and the bride, but I haven't heard much at all on the contents of the marriage contract, or the Ketubah. It comes from the Mishna.

It’s fascinating, in a word.

The original purpose of the ketubah was to protect the wife and children in case something ever happened to the husband and papa.…  ( Click for more )