…free from your burdens!

Bible and Quote - April 13-17
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

Lo! Children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3 According to His perfect design, it is through selflessness of parenting that we can become truly fulfilled. Charles Stanley, b 1933, First Baptist Church of Atlanta pastor Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. Psalm 127:4 Mothers and fathers are granted a single decade in which to lay a foundation of values and attitudes that will help their children cope with the future pressures and problems of adulthood. James C. Dobson, 1936- …

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

A Promise Is A Promise From time to time when I was in kindergarten, my teacher reminded our class, “A promise is a promise and should be kept.” The motive behind her saying this may have been to help us learn that our words carry weight. She also may have been trying to build our character. Vows When a man and woman go before a clergy person and get married, they repeat vows—promises to each other to remain by the other’s side through all kinds of circumstances. Those circumstances cover…

The House
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

Owning a new home is both a blessing and a cursing. The blessing is that you own it. The cursing is that you own it. No, you're not seeing things. Owning a new home is such a blessing in that you know it is yours and you can do with what you wish. However, anything that happens to it is also yours; every failed appliance, every threadbare carpet, every squeaky step, every cracked wall. Right now the walls are what are starting to get to me. There is nothing on them. We are still trying to let them "speak" to us. That's what we were told concerning walls. Walls will tell…

God Revealed
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

In his epistle to the Romans Paul writes the wonderful, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16) Good stuff. He says, "For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:17) Powerful. But it begs the question, doesn't it? "Salvation ... from what? Why do we need salvation?" And Paul answers that in the very next verse. For the wrath of God…

The Goddess
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

"No! You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. "In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate [it]; – Genesis 3:4-6 (NASB) There is a recurring theme throughout the course of history that finds its source in this initial act of rebellion. Our ancestress Eve longed for divinity and in reaching for that unattainable state,…

The Door of Faith (3-25-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

For the better part of three years Paul and Barnabas labored in the spiritual fields of Cyprus and Asia Minor. They preached to, exhorted, strengthened, and equipped the new converts so they could stand fast in the faith once they were on their own. As one of the final acts before departing and returning to Antioch in Syria, Paul and Barnabas "…appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting." (Acts 14.23). Once they arrived back at their sending congregation, Paul and Barnabas "…reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened…

Three Lessons from Three Men - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

We are in Daniel Chapter 3 reading of that incident when three of Daniel’s close associates have been thrown in the fiery furnace – and miraculously they emerge unharmed. What can we learn from these three men? They had been some years in Babylon and had stood for God and for godly……

Are You Hoarding?
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

Matthew 6:19-20 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal I admit it. I enjoy watching…

Grace, Mercy, Peace - in that order.
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Jesus uses the word mercy with the intent of compassion, kindness, or good will towards those who are miserable and afflicted. The Greek word is éleos. According to Vine’s it is the outward manifestation of pity and assumes the need of the one who receives it. So when Jesus says, “The merciful will receive mercy,” that assumes the need of the one giving the mercy as well as the one the merciful bestows mercy upon. How fascinating! Oh, not that God receives mercy. No, God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), so what He pours out of the windows…

Lighter Burdens
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

There are times when living life in our world can be expressed only by one word: a burden. Especially this is so in the lives of Christians. Once one believes in Jesus Christ, and begins to change, it may seem that their life and the whole world has changed. Of course, the world is changing - faster that ever before, ever since God created it. The world - and it's inhabitants - have been changing ever since creation. But for the Christian, their personal world may seem to have become completely out of time with what is going on in the world, the lives of those around them, their…

Your First Fifty Years
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

I’m turning the big 50 this week, a milestone in a person’s existence, and more than likely the halfway point in a human beings life. Surprisingly to me, it seems pretty pleasant because I feel good, appear well, and am looking forward to the next 50 if I’m blessed to do so. I’ve become one who believes life can get better as we age because by this time we’ve all learned a few things, experienced much, hopefully loved and cared for others, and been a friend to many. Fifty years doesn’t seem possible because I remember certain events from my childhood…