…you are the image of your creator!

When No One Understands You
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

What are we to do when no one else understands our goal – when we know that it is Almighty God who has given us a goal, and aim, a purpose. God gave Noah a vision to save the planet. How did Noah handle getting this Ark built when there were so few people around him who realised what was happening? God had……

When No One Understands You
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

What are we to do when no one else understands our goal – when we know that it is Almighty God who has given us a goal, and aim, a purpose. God gave Noah a vision to save the planet. How did Noah handle getting this Ark built when there were so few people around him who realised what was happening? God had……

The broken jar
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Sometimes broken things fascinate me. It was a passion with my Dad to fix broken things. He was an engineer without a degree. If something was beyond repair, he would set the thing aside to make sure there were no parts or pieces that could be used to fix something else. I cannot testify that he ever threw anything away except maybe used paper towels or Kleenex. There isn’t enough room here to itemize all the handy tools and gadgets that Dad had engineered. When he passed away, my sister and I found little bitty pieces parts organized in boxes, cans, and other containers…

Run for Your Life
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

One warm day while walking on a trail, I saw an etched message carved on the path. It read, “TURN BACK”. For a moment I actually felt a touch of concern. Then I had to laugh at the humor. But isn’t this what we often hear in our minds when we want to try something new or when the Lord is showing us a bit of our future. I’ve heard this voice many times in my life. It was loudest when I went parachuting. Everything inside of me yelled, “STAY IN THE PLANE!” Obviously, it was a false alarm. I remember opening night of a play in which I had a…

The Search For Comfort
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

"For this is a rebellious people, faithless and lying sons, children who will not hear the law and instruction of the Lord; Who [virtually] say to the seers [by their conduct], See not! and to the prophets, Prophesy not to us what is right! Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceitful illusions. Get out of the true way, turn aside out of the path, cease holding up before us the Holy One of Israel. - Isaiah 30:9-11 (AMP) Smooth things were comfortable - in the days of Isaiah. And also, today. In our times, many attend churches in order to be comforted. We live in a harsh…

Inside The Mind Of A Narcissist
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

Is it just me, or has our society become increasingly, narcissistic? Up until the past few years, I really hadn't even heard this word used before. But, to start things off, some of its meanings are stated below from the online source, Wikipedia: Narcissism is a term with a wide range of meanings, depending on whether it is used to describe a central concept of psychoanalytic theory, a mental illness, a social or cultural problem, or simply a personality trait. Except in the sense of primary narcissism or healthy self-love, "narcissism" usually is used to describe…

Bible and Quote - November 18-22
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24 Should all the hosts of death and powers of hell unknown put their most dreadful forms of rage and malice on, I shall be safe, for Christ displays superior power and guardian grace. Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, English hymn writer, theologian and logician Whom have I in Heaven but You? And I have no desire on earth besides You. Psalm 73:25 Let God be first, and the second rises higher in the scale than when we thought it first. Alexander Maclaren, 1826-1910, British Baptist expository…

"Make My Joy Complete"
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV) Paul writes to the Philippians; he encourages them to look into their hearts and consider their stance with Christ. He points out that they should receive a building up, an empowerment, from being in His presence. The apostle then spells…

In Privilege's Way
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

Something happened this past weekend that was barely a blip on most people's radar. I don't remember hearing mentioned on any of television's news magazines or reports. Perhaps I just missed them. The event was the death of Philip Crosby. He was 69 at his death. Died of natural causes unlike his three brothers. Philip Crosby was the last remaining son of Bing Crosby and his first wife, singer/actress Dixie Lee. Philip was one of a set of twins. His brother, Dennis, preceded him in death in 1991. Dennis, like his brother Lindsay in 1989, committed suicide. Their older brother,…

A Joy Alignment
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

Some thoughts from Hebrews. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3) What "cloud…

Blue Blood
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: - Matthew 1:1 A tzaddik was called to be the elder of a wealthy church in a large metropolitan city. Shortly after his arrival, some of the more prominent members invited him to lunch. Hoping to impress their new elder, they each began listing their various exalted positions within the social strata of that great city. As the conversation progressed, they started discussing their heritage. “My ancestors came over on the Mayflower” claimed one. “I list Robert the Bruce as…

Comfort in Penitence II - Psalm 32 (11-23-10)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

The second of the Penitential Psalms (Songs of Penitence) contains more poignant truths that relate to mercy, forgiveness, and comfort. Our devotional today will center on only a few selected phrases from this Psalm, but it will emphasize some essentials of godly comfort. [Note; Yesterday's article mistakenly stated that there are six penitential Psalms; it should have read seven, not six.] “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept…