He loves you and guides you!
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.
-
Parent Types
'The Way' from Kevin Pauley
Discipline your children while there is hope. If you don’t, you will ruin their lives. - Proverbs 19:18
Let me ask you a question: What kind of a parent are you?
“Peter Pans” try to be mistaken for their teen’s older sibling. They know the name of the lead drummer of the latest rock band and can actually recite the words of heavy metal songs. They watch MTV and share clothes with their teens.
“Good old boys” try to get along with their kids by sharing beer with their underage friends and lending them a car for their date alone
-
Comfort and Light (12-30-10)
'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington
The greatest story, the story of comfort and light, continues with quotations from Luke 2:
21And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law
-
Never Allow the Word of God to Frighten You
'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw
Isaiah 56 - "This is what the Lord says" – might that phrase frighten some people – as with these words Isaiah Chapter 56 opens - and this is one of the main reasons why we come Sunday by Sunday - to hear what the Living God says.
And not just on Sundays –
-
Jesus groaned in the spirit
'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess
This Sunday morning we are studying John 11. I never get tired of studying this passage because there are so many volumes spoken in these few words. Jesus illustrates His perfect purposes in this chapter. One of His famous I AM statements is here. He weeps. He is troubled. His glory is illustrated in such magnificent ways I am constantly astounded. He is so amazing!
“A person can cry for multiple reasons.” I have grown up a little since I wrote that last year in a column titled Jesus Wept.
I said that I believed Jesus wept because of a deep compassion
-
Canoe and the Waterfall
'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro
Two men were escaping from their enemy. At one point they made a small make shift raft in a river so it would help pull them down stream. It was working pretty well until they realized there was a waterfall not to far in front of them. They suddenly panicked as the water current got stronger and was pulling them faster and faster to the edge of the deadly waterfall. With the sound of the waterfall haunting them they narrowly escaped as they desperately struggled to swim to the rivers edge.
This is how life is concerning self-development.
Let's clarify the meaning of self-development.
-
Reaping As We Have Sown
''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs
America today...and Tomorrow?? Will there be spiritual revival in America? Are we too far away from God and a from spiritual revival? Is there a way back into God's favor and protection? This judgment comes on nations and churches, when they forget God, and begin to depend upon their own wisdom and resources. America, traditionally has been the bulwark of Christianity. But has it drifted too far from its moorings? Is there hope for America again? There comes a time for individuals and nations when God allows them to simply reap what has been sown. There is deep-seated undefinable
-
The Magic of Summer
'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell
We all have certain things which make us feel happier, content, less stressed, and wanting to claim more from life. For some, it’s the smoothness of silk against their skin, the adoring face of a puppy, a friendly encounter, a child’s laughter, or the sensuality of a lovers kiss. True, all these things can bring a huge smile to ones face and they definitely do mine, but I’ve also learned that weather can have a humongous impact on an individual’s emotional outlook, giving many a needed boost after the depressing effects of grey skies among bone-chilled
-
Bible and Quote - March 24-28
'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Psalm 94:19 Minds are very prone to contemplations more puzzling than profitable and we have been vain to hope to untie them ourselves; only God’s mind shall perfectly unriddle our thoughts and in the end bring joy. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 1834-92
Bless the Lord’s name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2
Witnessing is not putting on a Christian front as to convince prospective customers. Witnessing is just being honest - being true to what God has
-
Peace
'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester
“For, ‘the one who desires life, and good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.’ 1 Peter 3:10-11 (NASB)
The Apostle Peter sets down some guide lines for His readers. He encourages them, and us, to refrain from gossip (keep our tongues from evil) and not twist facts to suit us. (to steer away from untruthful talk.) We have to learn how to steer clear of evil and place our focus on the good things of life. He tells us that we who want to have
-
When Pigs Sing
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley
Paul Dickson once said, "Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig." I used to work on farms during the summers of my teen years. One farmer, Robin Wright (no not THAT Robin Wright...this was a guy 20 years older than me), raised hogs. Every now and then I would have the chance to work the hogs with him. It was difficult work but fun, nonetheless.
One particular day we were trying to get the hogs to go through a run to a chute and into a pen. One sow wasn't cooperating. She kept turning around and going back the other way which created confusion
-
Going to Church
''Winging It' from Stan Smith
I'm going to use a phrase which, I'm pretty sure, will conjure up an image to most of you with reasonable similarity. "I went to church last Sunday." Okay, now, I'm pretty sure that most of you now have some sort of an image that involves a building, a sign on the front, maybe a cross or something, a place in which people gather. And if I were to tell you that phrase, that image would be fairly accurate.
Here's the thing. Nowhere in Scripture can you find anything remotely like that image associated with the word, "church". Jesus said, "Upon this rock I
In Cooperstown, New York, stands professional baseball's Hall of Fame. Enshrined within those hallowed halls are the immortals of the game of baseball; the best of the best. The all-time home run hitters, runs batted in men, stolen bases champions, strike out champions, most pitching wins all-time; you get the picture. There is something sadly missing. The all-time hits leader is absent.Pete Rose is not a part of baseball's Hall of Fame. He has more hits than anyone in the
Daily Refractions
Words to Ponder
God takes away the world, that the heart may cleave more to Him in sincerity. - Thomas Watson
'Daily Reading Plan'
from StudyLight.org
Bible-in-a-Year NAS
2 Samuel 7-8; Daniel 4; Mark 3:20-35:
that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God remains within the tent." Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you." But in the same night, the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, "Go and say to My servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: "Should you build Me a house for My dwelling? "For I have not