…you serve a risen Savior!

The Power of the Tongue
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

I was sitting in a church auditorium recently, listening to a preacher talk about the power words have on us all, both written and spoken, and the great impact they convey to those around us. It was a well articulated speech, causing me to think about how large a role words play in our lives. Words are extremely powerful— carrying the strength to heal or wound, encourage or discourage, speak truth or deceive, praise or criticize. In fact, the Bible says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Since that’s true, controlling what we say and how we…

Bible and Quote - May 12-16
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

Moses . stood in the breach before Him.. Psalm 106:23b How greatly the intercession of the saints on behalf of others prevaileth with God. Saint Augustine of Hippo 354-430 Then Phinehas stood up and interposed, And so the plague (as a result of sin) was stayed; it was reckoned to him for righteousness, To all generations forever. Psalm 106:30-31 My legacy to my family - ‘It’s stopping here’ – my sin stops with me! Joyce Meyer, 1943- Christian teacher, author They shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters, Whom…

The Little Foxes
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

“Catch for us the little foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” Song of Songs 2:15 A discussion we had in a prayer group one recent morning got me to thinking about the vexing things that seem to bring us down. Our pastoral assistant referred to a devotion she read that began with my focus scripture. Our conversation set me to thinking. Those ‘little foxes’ create a lot of havoc in our lives, personal as well as spiritual. My Sunday school teacher calls the process of allowing insignificant…

By Choice
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

I had just finished reading an e-mail and there it was. That little tag at the end. The e-mail was a moving piece concerning God's love and then I got to the end. There at the end was that addendum that just aggravates me. I'm sure you may have seen it sometime. It goes something like this: If you love God you'll pass this on. If you delete this... You get the picture. Just this morning a dear friend of mine sent me an e-mail concerning 9/11 that ended this way. "Pass this on to someone else if you'd like. There is NO LUCK attached. If you delete this, it's okay: God's…

Marriage and the Gospel
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

Clearly our culture has lost its way when it comes to marriage. We started our most serious departure from the truth in the '50's when we decided that "marriage" and "offspring" were distinct. We continued that departure with "no fault divorce". With these twin assaults on marriage came a parallel attack, euphemistically called "free love" -- have sex with whomever you want. The cancer has eaten away at the body of marriage for decades and now we have the contradictory concept of "gay marriage" as not merely acceptable, but as law…

Deep Roots
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. – Philippians 4:13 (The Message) There once was an old man who wore overalls and a straw hat. He smiled a lot and his smile matched his hat – old, crinkly and well worn. He never yelled at kids who played in his yard. His house sat on ten acres, and his life-goal was to make it a forest. He had some interesting theories concerning trees. He came from the “No pain, no gain” school of horticulture. He never watered his new trees. He said that watering…

Two Graces (1-14-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Who needs help? The plain fact is: We all do! That was the principle behind God’s creation of woman, i.e. to be a helper suitable for man. As much as we might like to believe and/or have others believe to the contrary, no one is entirely sufficient in and of himself or herself. The strongest man and the strongest woman – both need help from time to time. The principle of fellowship involves helping; it involves more but certainly helping one another is included. The New Testament is replete with examples and commands that involve helping one another. Jesus Himself…

Balance Worshipping God with Serving Our Neighbour
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

In Luke Chapter 10 and at verse 25, we read of a religious lawyer coming up to Jesus - with a question - and it just happens to be one of the most important questions a man can ask - "Teacher - what must I do to inherit eternal life?" But, this religious man with his keen legal mind proves……

Is Change Really Necessary for New Year's Resolutions?
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

(I'm cheating... this is from my blog post yesterday.) I get depressed thinking about making New Year Resolutions. Do you? Do you look at your list six months down the road and think... ACK! I've failed! How often do we recognize what others need to change in their lives before we recognize what changes we need to make? So many of us make New Year’s resolutions with truly less resolution and more "feel better about myself". After the first month it seems all the resolution to change and be a better person dissolves. Sometimes we keep those resolutions…

Twas Anything but Silent
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

Twas the night before Christ was born and all through the barn, all the creatures were stirring wondering who these two were. Mary was frightened and Joseph unsure, It seemed like a blur. They had to leave home to give birth in a barn. It didn't make a bit of sense. The Redeemer born in a barn. And it was anything but silent. The person who wrote "Silent Night Holy Night" apparently didn't have kids. With restless animals and Mary in labor it was not silent. Joseph had to be on edge and unsure what to do. And who delivered the baby? Did neighboring…

Argument From Silence
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

The lack of a specific command in the new testament, especially from the epistles of Paul, for Christians to observe the seventh day Sabbath, or any other day as sacred, has generated two issues: arguments (proof) from silence, and arguments (events) from circumstance. (Jerusalem conference; and Paul's comments on "days“). In the first four verses of Romans 14, Paul addresses those who apparently made religious distinctions concerning foods, which is relatively clear. However, beginning in verse 5, he apparently changes the object of his discussion to address the differences…