…free from your burdens!

Whatever Happened to Prayer Meetings?
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

In Acts 12 there is a kind of fun story about Peter in jail. Herod had James, John's brother, beheaded and found out the Jews liked it. So he had Peter arrested and planned to further the fun by killing him after Passover. Well, God had other plans. In the night an angel came in, kicked Peter and told him to get up and go, and they walked out. Peter didn't even know it was real until the angel left him outside the prison. Imagine that! So he went to where he knew Christians would be gathered and knocked on the door. Sure enough, there was a group inside praying for Peter, but when…

Helping the Grieving, Part 1
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. – Romans 12:15 According to Paul, part of God’s will for your life is that you learn empathy. We are to rejoice with others when good things come their way. But we are also to grieve alongside them when the dark times come. Notice that Paul didn’t say we are to comfort them? That’s because comforting them would be in large part impossible. There is no easy way to help. There are no clear-cut, three-step answers. There is no pill that can be taken, nor wonderful counsel that can be given…

Snow II (1-19-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

During the sunny but cold days that followed last week’s snowfall in Atlanta, I found it necessary to wear sunglasses when driving for any length of time. I had seen snow before, but not like this. Immediately after the snow fell, a slow and extremely cold rain began to fall and formed a crust of ice on top of the snow. The grass, trees, bushes and everything close to the surface of the earth reflected light from all directions; the indirect light literally hurt! For centuries, the word snow has been used to describe objects that are extremely white. In fact, the Bible uses…

For Many This Battle Is Unknown
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

Luke 18 verses 1 to 8 – It is all about Jesus and the lady who bothers the judge – and she is persistent – and she is relentless. Jesus invites his disciples to pray – but we must never think we can have a good Prayer Time. What does God think if it? One of the hardest……

Exhibiting the sanctity of life
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Do you ever wonder why David cut the corner off Saul’s robe rather than killing him in that cave? (1 Samuel 24). Then David’s heart was troubled after he did that. That word troubled is a very strong word in Hebrew that means to strike (as the KJV translates it) but also means to kill, slaughter, murder, stripes, wound. David felt that for just cutting off the corner of Saul’s robe. Yet, he took the life of Uriah (1 Samuel 11-12). One would think that David would remember how his heart wounded his soul for taking the robe’s corner, but…

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 of what the heck God was doing. 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…

What Is Going On...?
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

Why are events in the nations of the world happening as they are? It seems that the world as we knew it has been turned upside down. Events seem to be out of control worldwide. Is there something going on that the world in general does not see? Most details about world conditions are too complicated to be completely understood. However, the source of the condition of the world can be known and understood. There are only two major realities that we need to know in order for world events to be understood. World conditions are changing by the hour. Even by the minute. There are many…

Focusing On The Good
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

Seeing the positive in people is far easier than only seeing the negative. No matter who you work with, marry, be-friend, date, parent, or live beside, sooner or later there’ll be personality traits which you don’t agree with, or find uncomfortable to be around. We’re all created differently, are an original masterpiece created by God, and like any living thing, there are no two of us exactly alike. It’s what makes the human race such an incredibly diverse body of souls. But, how we interact, and appreciate each others positive and negative qualities…

Bible and Quote - November 23-25
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

The LORD has heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer. Psalm 6:9 Rather than repeated repetitions; reexamine, realign and revise prayer until there is a resolve that it is within God’s preferred will. Let all my enemies be ashamed (confounded) and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly. Psalm 6:10 For what good can thy neighbor's ill do for thee? If he had no ill, he would not even be thine enemy. (Pray) that he may end his ill, and he will be thine enemy no longer. St. Augustine You will be made rich in every…

Think on These Things.
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

Journal entry April 14,1997 Today’s scripture reading, Philippians 4:8-9, causes me to stop and think. “Whatever is true:” I shared some information ‘as I saw it’ yesterday evening about two different situations that I was aware of. One concerned an elderly lady who kept violating confidences and reacting to her surroundings. The other lady only came to God on her terms and as long as it didn’t hurt her to worship God, if she felt she had to change then she {stayed away and} came back in times of crisis and only on her terms (looking…

His Purpose
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

A newspaper that is curculated in the Louisville, Kentucky area ran a story on Kentucky basketball in this week's rag. They tied the idea of "passion" into it, which, in and of itself, was not a problem. However, the front cover showed Jesus holding a basketball with the story's caption emblazoned in print reminiscent of the move, "The Passion of the Christ", just below the picture of Jesus. The owner of the paper said that he was not mocking the Lord in any way. One of his deliverers saw it differently. David Wine refused to deliver the paper saying it was, indeed, a mockery…