…free from your burdens!

Some People Think Their Ways Are Better Than Gods Ways
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

Give ear – pay attention – come to me – hear me. We are reading these opening words of Isaiah Chapter 55 – and these are such simple words in verse 3 – words of one syllable, coming from a man of God. Isaiah goes on to speak to the people of Israel -……

The City of The Dead
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

I recently read a very interesting article about people who live in, “The City of The Dead”. The City of the Dead is a four-mile stretch of tombs and mausoleums in Cairo, Egypt. The article states that tens of thousands live in the tombs without water or electricity. Yet they have a satellite dish and a television because it’s free. What a contrast of living and dying. In the book of Mark, chapter 5:2-5, it describes a man who lived amongst the tombs. 1. He was under the power of an unclean spirit 2. He continually lived among the tombs 3.…

Where was Jesus for 3 days?
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Let me ask you this... Matthew 11:11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than He. Why did Jesus say this if there was no difference between OT saints and NT saints? I am not trying to prove a hierarchy just that Jesus pointed out a difference between OT and NT. Was it so important to have this distinction? John the Baptist was the awaited Elijah, Jesus said so. John died before Jesus did. John died under the Law. Those "least…

The Bedside Evangelist
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

I know an evangelist like no other I have ever known or ever herd of before I met him. Many years ago he was a member of a moticycle groupwho traveled all over America. This he did for many of his younger years. Somehow, I know not how for sure, he was changed - in a big way. Athough he continued to love the motorcycle life, God choose for him another endeavor. One like none other I had ever heard of at that time. My knowledge of this man and his new life began abouit 10 years ago in the restaurant area of a large Mall. While sitting in the waiting area reading, I glanced up when…

Be Passionate
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

I had the pleasure of seeing the famous blues guitarist, B.B. King perform during the 90’s in Washington D.C., and most recently here in Dallas a while back. He’s definitely slowed down some, lagging the aggressive and mesmerizing zip he once had (taking about 30 minutes to introduce his band). But, despite the fact that Mr. King is now well into his 80’s, thousands still flock to see him play every year looking to catch the wave of a living legend, still doing what he can to make us smile through his supreme gift of music. And after recently reading his…

Bible and Quote - March 17-21
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree; He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalm 92:12 Help me to quit saying, ‘This is the way I am,’ and remind me that I am capable of tremendous transformation with You. Beth Moore, b.1957, Christian author and teacher, So Long Insecurity The righteous will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green. Psalm 92:14 Grace is often most vigorous and fruitful when nature's strength decays. Thomas Coke, 1747- 1814, Welsh, first Methodist Bishop Blessed is the man whom You chasten,…

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

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) “Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) God’s word through the Apostle Paul, admonishes us to be kind and considerate to all we meet. The person ahead of us at the grocery store check-out line sees we have one or two items and tells us to go ahead of him or her. The member of the gas crew, working at a neighboring house,…

The Lost Child
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

An amazing story has come out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A woman named Luz Cuevas saw her six year old daughter at a birthday party she was attending. Why is that amazing? Her daughter had been declared dead six years ago in a house fire. Here is what went down. In 1997 Cuevas was married to Pedro Vera who, that year, had fathered their daughter Delimar. A fire suddenly blazed in Delimar's room where she was supposedly sleeping. The blaze was so hot and so sudden that no one was able to get into the room to rescue the child whom fire officials assumed burned in the blaze.…

Faith and Reason
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

You know as well as I do that many (most?) people pit faith against reason. That is, they assume something like, "Faith is something you believe for no reason." Some go further and claim that faith is when you believe in something that the evidence says isn't true. Not the absence of reason, but in the face of it. So imagine my surprise when I came across this interesting statement from the pen of Luke, the physician. In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after he had given commands through…

A Guide for the Trip
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path…My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end. – Psalm 119:105 Men are notorious for not reading instructions. They don’t want to read the map or ask directions. We laugh and many sitcoms have used this premise as the basis for a comic situation. “How foolish of him to be so arrogant as to think he can go it alone!” we think. What is it that makes us feel this way? We learn as children that to learn something, we must ask someone older, wiser than ourselves. Ideally, this lesson…

Comfort, A Gospel Staple (12-28-10)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

There is a Bible story that is as timeless as God Himself. At this time of the year it is told and retold more than at any other season. It has been dubbed the Christmas Story because tradition (whether correct in chronology or not) has it that at this time of year Messiah was born. Because we are engaged in a study of Comfort in the context of God being The God of All Comfort, this story is absolutely appropriate. For this reason, the following passage from Luke 1 is quoted in its entirety without comment (numbers in parentheses indicate the verse numbers within this chapter): …