He's coming again Tomorrow!
Ask fifty people to finish the statement "Live As If" and you are likely to get fifty different answers. For Christians it will mean something different than for non-Christians. Incorporated into the top graphic are the answers given by friends of mine. It is our desire that your answer will be different each time you visit.
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Bible and Quote - November 9-13
'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns
Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Psalm 5:11c
Hedges, walls moats and cloaks: This day He devotes. We in joyfully gratitude welcome or in bitter indignation dismiss - His grace.
For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12
God promises special protection to his loved ones who fear him and serve him. That protection doesn’t come by removing us from trials and difficult circumstances. His special care is most clearly seen when we are in the midst of
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Joy, Complete,Everlasting
'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester
Complete Joy: “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” 1 John 1:3-4 (NIV)
Have you ever shared some good news with a friend so they can rejoice with you? Families of high school graduates usually have open house parties to honor the work of the teens. Newly married couples have receptions to greet their friends. Brides-to-be and mothers-to-be receive shower gifts to help them being new chapters
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Cat Tracks
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley
It was one of those days right after a rain when the weatherman had said that the skies would be clear for several days. I washed my car. Actually got out the car wash formula, hose, wax and chamois. Spent some serious time working over my little gem to make her shine like the sun. I was proud of the way she looked and relaxed in my home that evening smug in the thought of a job well done. Then came the morning.
My wife left for work and I settled in with my computer to get some work done. About ten o'clock I decided to head to the local hospital and check on one of our church
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The Problem of the Authority of Scripture
''Winging It' from Stan Smith
I'm convinced that the primary authority on matters of faith and practice for Christians is the Bible. I've said more than once that the Bible is the God-breathed Word, infallible and inerrant. These things make the Bible a pretty important book. Oh, maybe not "sacred" like the Moslem's Quran, but pretty important. So ... what's the problem?
We believe that the Bible is God's Word and authoritative for Christians. So why is it that Christians seem to be so biblically illiterate? It appears to be rampant in the church. I heard a discussion over the holidays about how Joseph
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Carrying An Umbrella
'The Way' from Kevin Pauley
…Because of your faith, it will happen. Matthew 9:29
I read a story about a church that was located in an area beset by drought. At last, they decided to pray about the matter. Isn’t it funny how we don’t start out praying? We always wait until the situation seems hopeless then yell out, “God! Help!” Anyway, only one person showed up to the prayer meeting with an umbrella. They were all there ostensibly to ask God for rain, but only one among the congregation actually believed God would answer. When you pray, do you carry an “umbrella”
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Comfort in the Psalms III (12-10-10)
'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington
It is almost a sure bet that you have looked for emotional comfort at one time or another. It sometimes comes in the form of an encouraging word from a friend, or perhaps just a sympathetic ear from a loved one. Many times, just having someone listen to our troubles is enough to lighten our load and make the day seem brighter. However, have you ever sought for comfort and could find none? There is no lonelier feeling on earth than to realize that no one stands with you; you are alone in your plight and there is no human help to be had from any quarter.
The author of the sixty-ninth
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Man No Longer Needs To Remain In The Dark Without Christ
'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw
Consider just for a moment, that interim period between John Chapter 19 and John Chapter 20, but out of necessity, we go into Chapter 20 where we read of the risen resurrected living Jesus.
This broken warring world is living on the wrong side of the resurrection and it is our task to tell the world that there are answers,
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Captivate Them All
'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro
2Corinthians10:5 AMP…and we lead every thought and purpose away captive…
Next level thinking will cause you to check your every thought and take it captive until you clear it with a very high set of standards. This can be exhausting at times but very rewarding.
Some things that change as you learn to take every thought through your set of standards.
1. You notice change in yourself
2. You see the world differently
3. You notice more negative and unproductive language in yourself and society.
The bible is clear that the Lords
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Weeping turned to Joy
'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess
The sweet sound of rain splashing outside filled me with joy this morning. It was so soothing I went back to sleep listening to it. So, I slept late. Sometimes that is a very good thing, and this morning was no exception.
When I awoke again, the rain was still coming down, and it was still dark outside. I love how it sounds dripping through the oak trees, splashing in the puddles. Refreshing, cleansing, and reviving. I was acutely reminded of when I lived in the high desert of Arizona.
Months of dry, clear skies, and months of heat never washed clean of dust by cleansing
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Love Is - Love Is Not
''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs
Love Is Not: Giving to the poor; serving in your church; paying your debts on time; making others happier; working hard, etc. And... "If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can
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The Choice Between Science and Alternative Healing
'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell
Not many people knew, besides his inner circle, that Steve Jobs could've possibly beaten his fatal cancer if he had only taken his doctors advice and succumbed to traditional medical procedures, particularly, an operation which could've removed his tumors much sooner than he decided. This information has been coming out as the release of his authorized autobiography will soon arrive on everyone's Kindle, I-Pad, and Bookshelf.
Now, this wasn't all that surprising to me. After all, he'd turned to Buddhism as his religious affiliation, alternative medicine for pain and healing,
One thousand miles south of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean lies a tiny island that has been named the Palmyra Atoll. As tiny islands go it is fairly large encompassing the grand total of some four and one half square miles. And, as tiny islands go, it is uninhabited. For some reason no one wants to live on an insignificant speck of land stuck a thousand miles from civilization. Small just isn't attractive and desirable when it is that remote.Even
Daily Refractions
Words to Ponder
We are taught to read in order to gather information. Our schools train us to read books so that we can pass examinations. We're good at looking for facts. "Knowledge is power," they tell us. Books contain stuff that we can use to get a degree, fix an engine, hold down a job, solve a mystery. But the Bible is not primarily a source of information; it is one of the primary ways that God uses to speak to us. "God's Word" we call it, which is to say, God's voice - God speaking to us, inviting, promising, blessing, confronting, commanding, healing. The Bible is not so much God telling us some thing - some idea, some fact, some rule - as God speaking life into us. - Eugene Peterson (20th century)
'Daily Reading Plan'
from StudyLight.org
Bible-in-a-Year NAS
Deuteronomy 29-30; Job 18; Acts 7:1-22:
And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, "You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants, and to all his land; the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders. "Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear. "And I have led you in the wilderness for forty years; your clothes have