…you are the image of your creator!

Those who mourn are happy?
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

They that mourn are happy. What a conundrum. I was wondering how mourning and happiness being in the same person at the same time. I thought of all the weeping passages (well probably not all of them). There are so many different things that people in the Bible mourned over. Abraham mourned and wept when Sarah died. Joseph wept when his brothers came to him in Egypt. Jephthah made a foolish vow to God to sacrifice the first thing that came out of his door if He would vanquish his enemies for him. The first thing out the door was his beautiful daughter. It became a custom…

Indulging in Fruit
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

John 5:6-7 When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well? [Are you really in earnest about getting well?] The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me. Think about this man’s response to Jesus. His statement gives us a very revealing look at his spiritual state. To better understand this, we must clarify the meaning of the…

Can We Become Perfect Before Christ Returns
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

The answer is - no? And yet, there is a thrilling scripture that seems to say otherwise! If we belong to Jesus Christ when we die, does our life continue as an eternal life in heaven? Does the soul go on living after the body dies and in the grave? Or - does our soul "sleep" silently (similar to physical sleep} without consciousness until Jesus returns and raises our body from the grave then composed of "spirit" rather than flesh and bone, the period in between having been completely unknown to us until we are given a new life at the resurrection? Many opinions…

Giving the Gift of Yourself
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

I was sitting at home this past Saturday morning, thinking of several ways to spend the day. I needed to do some things: a grocery run, dry cleaners, write, lay by the pool and soak up some rays, catch up on correspondence. But, rather than making the day about me, I decided instead to drive across town and visit someone who I’ve known my entire life. A man whose approaching ninety five years old, one of my dad’s best friends, a gentleman who showed interest in me ever since I was able to walk, a guy whose given far more to the world than it’s given him, a person…

Bible and Quote - March 30 - April 3
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. Psalm 121:5 His hand can cool the heat of my burning brow, and stay the tumult of my palpitating heart. That glorious right hand which molded the world can new-create my mind; the unwearied hand which bears the earth's huge pillars up can sustain my spirit; the loving hand which encloses all the saints can cherish me; and the mighty hand which breaketh in pieces the enemy can subdue my sins. CH Spurgeon, 1834-92, British Reformed Baptist The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. Psalm…

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

In The Colson Way, a book I am reading for review, I find myself focusing on the statements: “The apostles of Jesus Christ were witnesses. This did not only mean they had physically seen Christ—as they had—but that they had been transformed by Christ through a personal encounter with him.” 1 Transformed Lives In our 21Century world, do we see transformed lives or do we see people who think it is fashionable to go to church. If we see the latter types, we, as a church, will suffer whenever we present ourselves before Jesus Christ and he…

The Risk Taker
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

There are risk takers and there are risk takers. Yesterday I met a risk taker. Or, I should say, I came close to meeting a risk taker. She was driving a black pickup truck. She thought she could pass safely with a blind hill ahead. She was right. She could pass safely, but only because I stood on my brakes when I came over the blind hill right at her. Her risk was not just hers but mine as well. Such risk takers are the ones we might deem undesirable. I met another risk taker last week. She was "shopping" at WalMart. She removed some items from the shelf in one section,…

The Importance of the Resurrection
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

Our annual celebration of the Resurrection is upon us. I thought we ought to look at it for a moment. There are some today who question the Resurrection of Christ. Oh, they're okay with a "spiritual resurrection" of sorts. You know, spirituality is quite popular today. I mean, it's a popular theme that when someone dies they're "up there in heaven, looking down on us." Nice. And that was Jesus, too ... right? No, not right. The bodily resurrection of Christ is not negotiable, nor is it minor. The Resurrection assures us that there is a God. Its violation of…

Courting Christ: Trust Him, Part 2
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.” - 2 Chronicles 20:20 (NASB) Here we see some old, formidable enemies that arose against Jehoshaphat. Who were these enemies? Interestingly, all three enemies were distant relatives. The Meuranites were Edomites who came from Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. The Moabites and Ammonites…

Justification XXII (3-23-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

“Are We Blind Also?” In order to fully understand the focus text that will be used for today's devotional, one must read the entire story of Jesus' healing of the blind man in John 9. We have referred to this chapter time and again in this series, but with good reason. The figurative language in the last few verses of this chapter is interpreted by the literal events that precede it. In the closing verses of the chapter, “seeing” doesn't mean “seeing,” and “blind” doesn't mean “blind.” The Pharisees understood…

The Future Is Revealed as the Dream Is Interpreted
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that is in reality is a nightmare – and in Daniel Chapter 2 he and three trusted friends pray regarding this situation. They asked together. All four prayed. That is what mattered – but only one asked what they each asked for. This could have been Daniel’s……