…you are the image of your creator!

Watching Your Dollars Fly Away
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

Our economy is still struggling. We see it everyday with continued layoffs, further drops in the housing arena, jittery stock markets, and a stubborn unemployment rate that doesn't want to budge. All of these are coupled with the most negative political atmosphere since the gloomy days of the Great Depression. Money affects everything we do. Like bright sunshine or a dark, ominous cloud constantly floating overhead, money represents a huge part of what drives us from birth until death. It's the reason why most roll awake in the morning, draining 95% of the population's minds…

Bible and Quote - February 3-7
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

God established a testimony . And appointed a law, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, Psalm 78:5-6 Godly fathers are, both by the order of nature and grace, the best instructors of their children; they cannot delegate that sacred duty. CH Spurgeon 1834-92 Thus He remembered that they were but flesh. Psalm 78:39a God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome.…

The Importance of Prayer
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

God told King Solomon that His people, those who claim to know Him, are to pray and how to do it. When God’s people are confronted with illness, other people intercede in prayer for them. As Jesus ministered on earth, prayer kept Him in touch with His Father. When Christ was physically exhausted He got away from the crowds and spent time conversing with God. As Jesus knelt in Gethsemane, He communicated with His Father about the most important deed of His life- that of shedding His blood for you and me. (Matthew 26:36,38-39,42, 44) Prayer became important…

The Fair Way
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

In all the Scottish lore which comprises the rich history of golf, there is a tidbit concerning the naming of the area on which the game was to be played. As the story goes, two gentlemen were contemplating their attempt to advance a round object toward an area of green grass. "So, Angus," began one of the men, "how will ye advance this wee ball ta yonder beautiful green?" "Tis not so much a problem, Collin," replied Angus, "I'll just strike her in that direction. That looks like a fair way." "Aye, the fair way it is then." Thus was born the term "fairway" because it was the…

The Problem of Proof
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

That's something solid, determined, clear. Proof. It isn't an argument; it is ... proof. It's not evidence; it is evidence and argument that convinces. And therein lies the problem. The dictionary defines the word as "the cogency of evidence that compels acceptance by the mind of a truth or a fact". That sounds pretty settled. Except it does not offer a standard of "compels acceptance by the mind." Consider the recent debate between rapper B.o.B. and Neil deGrasse Tyson. B.o.B. insists that the earth is flat. "Look at any picture with a horizon. It is flat.…

Everlasting Love
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” - Jeremiah 31:3 They say hind sight Isaiah 20/20. We look back on our lives and see God at work. Those situations that we thought would be the end of us turned out to be our finest hour. Those people that we mistakenly thought were our best friends or the loves of our lives, ended up being jerks. We were heartbroken when we lost them and shook our little fists at God and cried “Why, God? Why are you doing this to me?”…

Comfort in Isaiah I (12-13-10)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Have you ever heard the book of Isaiah referred to as a Bible within the Bible? Well, it is an interesting comparison to say the least. We will begin this mini-series on Comfort in Isaiah by taking a brief look at the features which have prompted some to allude to Isaiah, the grand book of Messianic prophecies, as a Bible within the Bible. The Bible has sixty-six books that are divided as follows: the first thirty-nine books comprise the Old Testament and the last twenty-seven books are referred to as the New Testament. The Old Testament is principally about the nation of Israel…

This Poor Rich Man Walks in the Wrong Direction
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

In Luke Chapter 18 and at verse 18,- we read of a certain young man coming up to Jesus Christ. It is the rich young ruler - and he has a question to ask Jesus. "Good teacher - what must I do to inherit eternal life?" This young man was a most attractive person - he was a ruler - he was……

Well…it's a well of Living Water
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

It was the sixth hour—around noon. Can't you just feel the heat of that day? Jesus was weary from His journey from Jerusalem to Sychar in Samria. He was hot and He was thirsty, but that didn't stop Him from recruiting a most unlikely missionary. Someone who was counted as worthless in her village, but would be instrumental in the salvation of the entire village... He chose Jacob’s Well to rest. The word John uses for well in 4:6 is pege meaning gushing or running. Jacob’s well is spring water that is still running today. When the woman mentions the well…

The Importance of DIfficulty
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

There is this gravely false notion that once we commit ourselves to following Christ, life will just be better as a whole in a short period of time. This is not true. Once a decision has been made to make a change in our life for the good, whether we are followers of Christ or not, life will get more difficult just as sure as the sun rises every morning. God, the creator of all that is, has set in motion a natural order of things. And one natural order is the very decision and act to make an improvement in our lives requires us to go through a series of difficulties to prepare us…

Moving Out Of Your Past
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

"The Past"... Two four-letter words that can exercise power over us like no other. One of the greatest single hindrance to happiness, joy, peace of mind, and contentment in our world today. Millions struggle with it in their life day and night. Some call it "baggage", carried around as part of the memory, and passing through the mind with regret and sorrow. At times it can be accompanied by depression that burdens and distorts even personality and sense of reality. The past was real then, when it was real, when it was experienced. But not now. Have you…