Focus On His Love

You know, sometimes when I sin against God and it grieves me and I go back to Him once again and ask for His forgiveness I still feel I am missing something.
My relationship with my Heavenly Father urges me to be thankful as well and to truly look at how blessed I am. I believe God doesn't want me to focus on my sin more than the incredible love and grace He has for me.
As a father I understand this and wish to convey the same message to my children. He doesn't excuse my sin/disobedience but He wants me to get beyond it; "mercy before judgement" as the bible states.
If I understand more of and how deep His love is toward me, I invariably will sin less. I will want to please Him more than I want to please myself. I will no longer grieve over my sin (because I have done something wrong or broken a command) as much as how I've abused my relationship with Him.
After I have said, "I'm sorry." (for possibly the 10, 000th time), I must say, "Thank you!" It seems to put my heart in the right place; into His presence, into His loving arms. - JSS

Our Greatest Gift

The greatest present we could ever receive was wrapped in flesh and bundled with the garland of grace. This present was an expression of love, a Christmas celebration with our Father in Heaven. This present is Jesus, our Savior, our joy and our friend. He is our gift from on high, from cradle to the cross. How will we accept Him? How will we handle this beloved gift? He is for us and wishes to dwell within us. He is our greatest
gift! - JSS

Emmanuel, God With Us

Matthew 1:23 KJV
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Dear Readers,
May you and those you love experience the presence, peace and joy of Jesus Christ today. Have a very merry and blessed Christmas and New Year!

In His Love and Grace, 
Joe

Silent Night

Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin , mother and child
Holy infant so, tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night
Shepherds quake, at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Words by Josef Mohr
Music by Franz Gruber
This song is in the Public Domain.

In Darkness Or Light?

1 John 1:5-7 KJV
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 2:7-11 KJV
Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Thank You, Heavenly Father

Thank you, Heavenly Father...
Your love is greater,
Your mercy is deeper,
Your grace is wider,
Your steps are surer,
Your spirit is sweeter,
Your sacrifice is higher,
Your power is stronger,
Your reward is richer,
Than anything else in this world.
- JSS

Jesus: Wounded And Bruised...For Us

Isaiah 53:3-12 KJV
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

David's Prayer

Psalms 51:1-19 KJV
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

My Greatest Treasure

I may not have
The smarts,
Good looks,
Riches or fame.
But
I have Jesus
And He knows
My name.
When I think about 
How he died
On a cross
For poor,
Wretched me,
I can only thank
And praise Him,
Abundantly.
So,
I may not
Have much
In this world
But that's ok.
There's a place
Called Heaven
Where I'll be
Someday.
Yes,
It's a place
That promises
Streets of gold,
Mansions,
And a crown
On my head.
The reward
Not for what
I've done
But for what
Jesus has done
Instead.
So,
I may pout,
Fuss,
Gripe
And moan.
Yes, 
For those things
I wish
I owned.
But none
Of that matters,
They will soon
Rust and fade.
The most
Important thing,
The greatest
Treasure
I have today,
Is my dear
Savior,
My blessed
hope
That can
Never
Be taken
Away!

- Joe Scot Schroeder

He Doesn't Believe In Luck (Part 7)

I was overwhelmed by their story. I said "In my years in the Navy I never had the desire to do this. But I'd like to hug you, Commander!"
We did. We all did.
I am sending them a copy of my book, "The Flight of a Lifetime!" and a few other things. My story is in there. I know they will understand.
By the way. Their daughter and my son is doing very well. So is his beautiful wife. During dinner God had urged me to tell her that everything was going to be all right. There have been times when someone has shared a story with me that I get this overwhelming urge to share a message with the individual. Sometimes they think I'm full of it. But as I was walking back to the table during dinner, I argued with God, "They won't believe me. I'll be lucky if he doesn't punch me in the nose, sharing a message from God."
God said, "I don't believe in luck!"
"I believe in YOU!"
Bob Perks © 2001
Ashley is no longer in pain. She took her heavenly place July 13, 2001 
- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

He Doesn't Believe In Luck (Part 6)

For some reason I rarely looked in his eyes as he told the rest of this story. I found myself watching his wife. Her eyes lit up when his did. They filled with tears when he shared stories of painful memories and long difficult months. She smiled in anticipation of his words of hope and funny stories they have both told a hundred times since this ordeal. She loved him deeply. I could tell.
We sat silently. Tears mixed with nervous laughter.
"I know it to be true. I have heard many stories just like it from
others." I said.
He looked at me and reminded me again "I don't believe in luck."
Just before we said our good-byes, he casually mentioned, "Oh, yes. In the middle of all of this we found out that my wife had cancer, too."- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

He Doesn't Believe In Luck (Part 5)

We talked over dinner, watched the show and then our new friends shared the rest of their story. Not only did their child have Ewings Sarcoma, but then after defeating that, she developed another similar cancer within a short time. He went on to share this story with us...
"I told you when we first met this evening that I don't believe in luck. I am a military man. A commander of helicopter pilots. I believe and trust only in what I see and know. When flying, I look at my meters, my controls, my equipment and trust what they tell me is accurate. But!", he pauses for a minute to gather his thoughts.
"My daughter needed a bone marrow transfer. I was with her alone the evening she came close to death. I held her hand as I sat by the side of her bed, never letting go. It was in that moment..." he stops. I can see how difficult this was to share. "It was that evening in the hospital as I held her hand and prayed to God to save her, that...I swear this to be true. Remember I told you that I was trained to believe in my instruments, the true readings they provide. I swear to you that as I prayed for her I felt a third hand. It was on top of mine as sure as my wife is holding my hand now. I believe it was God. I knew then that she would survive."
- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

He Doesn't Believe In Luck (Part 4)

I spoke to him about the past tens years and discovering my true purpose in life and I told them about my son Keith's fight against Ewings Sarcoma, a cancer.
His wife grabbed his hand and with tears in her eyes, still looking at him, she said "Our daughter had Ewings Sarcoma." Oh yes the cancer was in the same leg as our son's.
Confirmed. My thoughts of "meant to be" were confirmed. I laughed and cried in amazement that this couple would sit next to us. Harold held four seats for us on this final night. I thought we only needed two.
But God was in charge of seating this evening.
- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

He Doesn't Believe In Luck (Part 3)

It all started when I asked him what he did for a living. He replied "Nothing." His wife immediately reached for his hand and urged him to explain. I instantly had the feeling that our meeting was meant to be.
He obviously was unemployed and struggling with the new changes in his life, I thought. So I went into my story about losing my job and facing thoughts of suicide.
I said, " I can't believe how lucky we were to have both of you sit next to us tonight."
"I don't believe in luck!" he said. He then told me that he was a Commander in the Navy and recently was taken out of the one position he loved and assigned to a desk. He flew helicopters. He lead men and women in the air. "The finest."
I spoke to him about change and turning seemingly bad events into positive ones. "God has bigger plans for you!" I said.
- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

He Doesn't Believe In Luck (Part 2)

I put on my finest Hawaiian shirt and Marianne was as beautiful as ever. We had already started our "It's our last night in paradise. I don't want to return to reality!" crying and moaning. So we were determined to wrap it all up in a big way.
I located Harold and asked him to show us to our seats. As promised, Harold came through again. Front row center. "There are four of you, right?" asked Harold. "No. Just the two of us." "Ok. Enjoy!"
This time we were at the end of a long banquet table. Within a few minutes Harold sat another couple next to us in the extra seats he mistakenly reserved.
"Hello. How are you?" the man asked as he turned to everyone seated. We all shook hands and made the necessary introductions. When he heard that a young couple at the other end of the table was from his area of the U.S. the conversation turned toward them and all of the things they had in common. I was Ok with that. This was our last night and I wanted to enjoy these final hours here with my wife. But before long the four of us became instant friends.
- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

He Doesn't Believe In Luck (Part 1)

We were fortunate indeed to have met Mr. Bagheri, the Director of Food & Beverage at the Allegro Resort Aruba. He had no idea the important part he would play in fulfilling God's plan for this vacation.
"I'm so glad that you enjoyed the stage show. Did Harold take care of you?", asked Mr. Bagheri. "Yes, it was incredible! Harold had a table for us front row. The show was magnificent!" I told him.
"Your plans for tonight?" "We are attending the beach barbecue." "Please see Harold again. Tell him I said to save seats for you right down front. You'll love our limbo show!"
I was very uncomfortable and always am when it comes to "pulling strings", using influence or name dropping. But it was our last night and this vacation at the Allegro was absolutely perfect. I found Harold and mentioned Mr. Bagheri's request.
This wonderful trip was about to become even more incredible.
- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

Nehemiah's Prayer

Nehemiah 1:5-11 KJV
I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

Love And Unity

So, I have been observing the variances in beliefs/behaviors of my fellow Christians lately. I do this with an interested curiosity. We all have different beliefs, but the same G-d. When we let theological differences come between us we inhibit the spirit from moving. It says "they will know you by your love for one another" - and yet even people who I know love the Lord will forget this. Our greatest witness is our love for each other. 
I have explained denominations to my kids as we all have the same parent (G-d), but we live in different houses with different expectations, although it doesn't have to apply to denominations only - sometimes within a denomination, or even a church itself.
Much like a family, the parents have children, and they start their own families with their own beliefs/values/traditions. It doesn't make them not part of the parental family, and arguing does not make for a very desirable visit. The grandchildren will take on some of the characteristics of the family, and still have their own identity. 
Issues such as drinking, Halloween, tattooes, clothing, company, days of church, arg! the list goes on - I am not singling out anyone in this post, but it has seemed to be such a HUGE observation for me everywhere I go that people are in discord. 
I get made fun of for being a "hippie" with my "peace, love, happiness" mantra, but seriously people! Peace, love and happiness! I am not endorsing other hippie behavior with that; please don't come by my house with anything illegal, or I will decline it. 
God reaches us where we are, convicts us by the Holy Spirit, and leads us to where He wants us to be. This doesn't mean we can control what we do by what we feel; we are responsible for acting on our beliefs. But please be kind to your brothers, sisters, friends, fellow churchies, strangers, and the community that is full of broken people looking for Yeshua.
Written by Christine Embry
Used with permission.

Habakkuk's Prayer

Habakkuk 3:2-19 KJV
O Lord , I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord , revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord , I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Jonah's Prayer

Jonah 2:1-10 KJV
Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly,
And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord , and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.
When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord : and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord .
And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

The Evidence

In a Court of Law, evidence is only admitted if it exists. It is not admitted because someone says it exists. A court needs proof. It needs to see, verify and test all evidence before it can be admitted.

We, as Christians, tell the unbelieving world that Christianity is a life of joy, strength, courage, forgiveness, love and grace. But we are often guilty of not exhibiting any evidence. We should question where is the evidence of Christ in my life? If I am Christ’s representative, how will Christ be judged on earth through my actions? What am I really proving to the unbelieving world about God, Christ and Christianity?

For reasons known only to God, He has chosen Christians to represent Him in an unbelieving world. Through well-lived Christian lives, people will see undisputed evidence of a Higher Power working as the Christian exhibits God’s grace in a graceless world.

- Taken from www.freechristianillustrations.com.

Designed by Ian & Sue Coate.

Used with permission.

Hannah's Prayer

1 Samuel 2:1-10 KJV
My heart rejoiceth in the Lord,
mine horn is exalted in the Lord:
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;
because I rejoice in thy salvation.
There is none holy as the Lord:
for there is none beside thee:
neither is there any rock like our God.
Talk no more so exceeding proudly;
let not arrogancy come out of your mouth:
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty men are broken,
and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
They that were full have hired out themselves for bread;
and they that were hungry ceased:
so that the barren hath born seven;
and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
The Lord killeth, and maketh alive:
he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich:
he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,
and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,
to set them among princes,
and to make them inherit the throne of glory:
for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and he hath set the world upon them.
He will keep the feet of his saints,
and the wicked shall be silent in darkness;
for by strength shall no man prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
out of heaven shall he thunder upon them:
the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth;
and he shall give strength unto his king,
and exalt the horn of his anointed.

The Lord's Prayer (Part 1)

Now we move on to the Lord’s Prayer. First, let’s look at the title itself; “The Lord’s Prayer”. The name is appropriate because it was instituted by Jesus Christ, our Lord. Therefore, it was not a common prayer. The same is true today. It does not stand alongside the seemingly thousands of prayers that have been passed down through the years. It stands alone. It comes directly from God through His Son. It is a divine prayer of the highest caliber. There is no equal! 
So, we must make a paradigm shift in our minds when we think of and recite this prayer. It comes from the sacred throne of God, through the strongest form of relationship to Him (Jesus Christ) and emphasizes the most important elements needed when we go before Him. Therefore, it must receive our greatest attention, reverence and respect. I believe that if we do these things, God will honor and respond to what we ask. If, however, we enter in with complacent recitation or vain repetition, the Holy Spirit will be absent and God will not hear us. - JSS 

The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 5)

Finally, Jesus instructs His disciples to not use vain repetitions when they pray.
I don’t believe Jesus is necessarily against repetitious prayer in general, especially when it comes to certain prolonged matters (ex: illness, a person’s salvation). The keywords  are “vain repetitions”.
Heathens and those who do not consider what they’re saying and whose presence they are in repeat useless, conceited and foolish words. This does not please God and again, God is not listening. The Holy Spirit is not present and active, only our flesh is. Sometimes short, intentional, Spirit-directed prayers move the biggest mountains in our lives. - JSS

The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 4)

Jesus wanted his disciples to go in a different direction when it came to prayer. He told them to “enter into thy closet” and “shut thy door”. In other words,  get alone, in secret, with God.
God operates best when His disciples give their fullest attention to Him. God does not accept divided loyalties from within or without. He wants our whole being, 100%, when we are in His presence. This is especially true when we are engaged in contemplative prayer.
The  disciples’ reward? Jesus does not say. He only stated, “and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”. A promise that essentially says, the sky’s the limit! Since God is limitless we can only conclude that His rewards or blessings are limitless. And we don’t have to wait until we make it to Heaven to receive His limitless rewards. We can have them now, here on earth as well as in a future Heaven. Wow! - JSS

The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 3)

The same applies today. This may explain why many prayers in the Church do not get answered or at best, are delayed. God may not be listening. He’s waiting for us to get our heart right, to come humbly before Him in earnest prayer.
Additionally, instead of receiving the reward (blessings) of Heaven, the reward becomes self-glorification, self-importance, recognition from others, which always feeds the flesh. The ego is stroked and is naturally pleased. - JSS

The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 2)

These two paragraphs are a continuation of Jesus’s famous Sermon On The Mount that began in Chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel. I have included both paragraphs because although I wish to eventually focus on The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:5-8 seems to serve as an appropriate introduction.
Jesus began with “when thou prayest”, acknowledging the importance and common practice of prayer among his followers. Also, Jesus prayed both privately (Matthew 14: 23, Mark 1:35)  and publicly (John 11:41-42, John 12:27-30). So at a quick glance it seemed as if Jesus was condemning public prayer. This, however, was not the case. He was  condemning public prayer done in pride for he continued, “thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.” When public prayer became an exhibition filled with pride and for others to see, it seemed worthless in God’s eyes. - JSS

The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 1)

Matthew 6:5-8 KJV
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

I Wish You Enough (Part 3)

"When you were saying goodbye I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. "When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much
bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

He then began to sob and walked away.

- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

I Wish You Enough (Part 2)

They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?"

"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me.

Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me.

So I knew what this man experiencing.

"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?" I asked.

"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back would be for my funeral," he said.

- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

I Wish You Enough (Part 1)

On one of my recent business trips, when I arrived at the counter to check in, the woman said, "How are you today?" I replied, "I am missing my wife already and I haven't even said goodbye."

She then looked at my ticket and began to ask, "How long will you...Oh, my God. You will only be gone three days!" We all laughed. My problem was I still had to say goodbye.

But I learn from goodbye moments, too.

Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together.

They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, "I love you. I wish you enough." She in turn said,

"Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy."

- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

I Wish You Enough (A Poem, Intro)

I never really thought that I'd spend as much time in airports as I do. I don't know why. I always wanted to be famous and that would mean lots of travel. But I'm not famous, yet I do see more than my share of airports.

I love them and I hate them. I love them because of the people I get to watch. But they are also the same reason why I hate airports. It all comes down to "hello" and "goodbye. "I must have mentioned this a few times while writing my stories for you.

I have great difficulties with saying goodbye. Even as I write this I am experiencing that pounding sensation in my heart. If I am watching such a scene in a movie I am affected so much that I need to sit up and take a few deep breaths. So when faced with a challenge in my life I have been known to go to our local airport and watch people say goodbye. I figure nothing that is happening to me at the time could be as bad as having to say goodbye. 

Watching people cling to each other, crying, and holding each other in that last embrace makes me appreciate what I have even more. Seeing them finally pull apart, extending their arms until the tips of their fingers are the last to let go, is an image that stays forefront in my mind throughout the day. 

- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God (Part 3)

4. That the reason why they are not fallen already, and do not fall now, is only that God's appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.

The observation from the words that I would now insist upon is this. "There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God." By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God's mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment.

- Written by Johnathan Edwards. This excerpt is in the Public Domain. To access the complete sermon in written form, please click here. To access it as an mp3 download, please click here.

Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God (Part 2)

2. It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18, 19. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!"

3. Another thing implied is, that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the hand of another; as he that stands or walks on slippery ground needs nothing but his own weight to throw him down.

- Written by Johnathan Edwards. This excerpt is in the Public Domain.

Sinners In the Hands Of An Angry God (Part 1)

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
Enfield, Connecticut
July 8, 1741
--Their foot shall slide in due time.--
Deuteronomy 32:35

In this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God's visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God's wonderful works towards them, remained (as ver. 28.) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. The expression I have chosen for my text, Their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following doings, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed.

1. That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed, Psalm 73:18. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction."

Please note: This and a few following entries are just an introduction to Jonathan Edward's famous sermon, "Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God". It will not be presented in its entirety due to its considerable length. A link will be provided in Part 3 to give the opportunity to read/listen to it as a whole. This excerpt is in the Public Domain.

Start Over (A Poem)

When you've trusted Jesus and walked His way,
When you've felt His hand lead you day by day
But your steps now take you another way,
START OVER.

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry,
When you've tried your best 'til there's no more try,
When you've failed yourself, and you don't know why,
START OVER.

When you've told your friends what you plan to do,
When you've trusted them but they didn't come through,
Now you're all alone and it's up to you to
START OVER.

When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone
When you've done your best but it turned out wrong,
And now your grandchildren have come along
START OVER.

When you've prayed to God so you'll know His will,
When you've prayed and prayed but you don't know still,
When you want to stop 'cause you've had your fill,
START OVER.

When you think you're finished and want to quit,
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit,
When you've tried and tried to get out of it
START OVER.

When the year's been long and successes few,
When December comes and you're feeling blue,
God gives a January just so you can
START OVER.

Starting over means victories won,
Starting over means a race well run,
Starting over means the Lord's "Well done,"
So don't just sit there,
START OVER.
- Words by Woodrow Kroll. Taken from www.backtothebible.org. Used with permission.

A Birthday Message

13 years ago a beautiful, talented, and awesome girl was born. She has blessed the lives of her proud parents, Joe, Debi and Tim. Her compassionate, confident, and often quirky character has brought tremendous joy into the hearts of others. God has certainly given the world another precious gift. He has offered a shimmer of hope in that infectious smile and life has not been the same. She has captured her sister's affections and has found a permanent home in their hearts. A foundation has been set. Her journey has begun. Her steps are being guided by a loving God. The world eagerly waits to see what she will become.
Happy 13th Birthday Kathleen Danae Schroeder!
- JSS

God's Law (A Prayer)

Today's prayer: Psalm 119:153-176

Father,

I bring myself and ______________________ before you today in the name of Jesus. I pray that when we suffer, we will not forget your law so that you may look upon us and deliver us. Please defend our cause and redeem us; preserve our lives according to your promise, your great compassion, and your love. I pray that we will not swerve from your testimonies even when many foes persecute us. When rulers persecute us without cause, I pray that we will tremble not at them but instead stand in awe of your words.
We affirm with the Psalmist that the sum of your word is truth, and that every one of your righteous rules endures forever. May we rejoice in your promises like one who finds great spoil. Prompt us to hate and abhor falsehood but to love your law. Let us praise you seven times a day for your righteous laws.
I claim your promise for us that those who love your law will have great peace, and that nothing can make us stumble. May we long for your salvation and wait for it; please deliver us according to your word when our cries and our pleas come before you. I pray that we will choose your precepts and that your law will be our delight so that your hand may be ready to help us.
When we stray like lost sleep, please seek us and draw us back to you. Give us understanding according to your word. May our lips pour forth praise as you teach us your statutes, and may our tongues sing of your word. Let us live that we may praise you, and may your laws continue to help us and sustain us. Amen.
- Written by Bryan Fischer of Focal Point on American Family Radio.

Psalm 1 (Lyrics)

V. 1 
O greatly blessed is the man,
Who walketh not astray
In counsel of ungodly men,
Nor stands in the sinner's way.

V. 2
Nor sitteth in the scorner's chair,
But placeth his delight
Upon God's law and meditates
On His law day and night.

V. 3
He shall be like a tree that grows,
Set by the waterside
Which in its season yields its fruit,
And green its leaves abide.

V. 4
And all he does shall prosper well.
The wicked are not so
But are like chaff which by the wind
Is driven to and fro.

V. 5
In judgment therefore shall not stand
Such as ungodly are
Nor in th'assembly of the just
Shall wicked men appear.

V. 6
Because the way of godly men
Is to Jehovah known
Whereas the way of wicked men
Shall be quite overthrown.

Tune: Am I A Soldier Of The Cross?   
Music: Thomas A. Arne
This hymn is in the Public Domain.

True Love

1 John 4:19 NKJV
We love Him because He first loved us.

I don’t know how to genuinely love without God.
I don’t know how to give tangible love without Jesus.
I don’t know how powerful love can be without the Holy Spirit.
True love doesn’t just change a life for the moment; it transforms countless lives far beyond the moment. - JSS

Luke 6:27-36 NKJV
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

Waiting At The Traffic Lights

We all dislike the inconvenience of traffic lights.  They stop us mid-journey and delay us from reaching our destination.  However, think of the chaos on our roads without them.
In our busy lives we can become so impatient to reach our destination that we grow irritated with life’s many red lights.  Sadly, when interruptions make us frustrated, it is the first sign we are losing our graceful way.  It won’t be long before we are so preoccupied with our own plans that we are completely insensitive to the destinations of others.
Instead, we should take every delay as an opportunity to relax and look around – otherwise, we will never enjoy life’s journey because we are so focused on reaching our destination.  God is in control of all life’s traffic lights.  We should be confident of reaching our objectives at precisely the right time - even allowing time to show compassion and consideration to other travelers.
If we continue to speed through life’s red lights, God is the policeman who stops our reckless driving to avoid a fatal accident.  He gives us a ticket (divine discipline) to remind us there are other drivers on the road-of-life who also have very important destinations. (Philippians 4:11-13)
- Taken from www.freechristianillustrations.com.
Designed by Ian & Sue Coate.
Used with permission.

Grow In Faith

2 Peter 1:3-11 NLT
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In The Furnace Of Affliction (Part 2)

Fear not, Christian, Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. “Fear not, for I am with thee,” is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in “the furnace of affliction.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Daniel 3: 24-25 NKJV
Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

The burden of suffering seems a tombstone hung about our necks, while in reality it is only the weight which is necessary to keep down the diver while he is hunting for pearls. - Richter

In The Furnace Of Affliction (Part 1)

Isaiah 48:10 NKJV
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

Pain’s furnace heat within me quivers,
God’s breath upon the flame doth blow;
And all my heart in anguish shivers
And trembles at the fiery glow;
And yet I whisper, “As God’s will!”
And in the hottest fire hold still.

He comes and lays my heart, all heated,
On the hard anvil, minded so
Into His own fair shape to beat it
With His great hammer, blow on blow;
And yet I whisper, “As God will!”
And at His heaviest blows hold still.

He takes my softened heart and beats it;
The sparks fly, off at every blow;
He turns it o’er and o’er and heats it,
And lets it cool, and makes it glow;
And yet I whisper, “As God’s will!”
And in His mighty hand hold still.

Why should I murmur? For the sorrow
Thus only longer-lived would be;
The end may come, and will tomorrow,
When God has done His work in me;
So I say trusting, “As God will!”
And, trusting to the end, hold still.
- Julius Sturm

I Feel Blessed

Have you ever had one of those days, although far from perfect, where you felt very blessed. Well, today is one of those days for me.
As a matter of fact, I've felt this way for a few days now. I'm breathing. I'm relatively healthy (although I could use a little tune-up). I have an awesome group of kiddos who love me. I have beautiful, loving parents who helped to create who I am today. I have faithful friends who I've grown up with over the years. I have a good job that takes care of my needs, the needs of others and even some of our wants. I have a sound mind that seeks after knowledge and truth (although the memory could use a little work). I have a long-awaited home in Heaven to look forward to.
But most of all, I have a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally and provides endles mercy, forgiveness and grace. I have a Savior, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross so that I may truly live. And I have the Holy Spirit who guides and strengthens my steps.
So, I feel very blessed today...and that makes all the difference. - JSS

Strong Faith (A Prayer)

Lord, help me to have strong faith today. Please grant me not just bold faith but meaningful faith. Lord, I don't want to just be a great lion of faith if their isn't the pursuit, the striving for holiness, the purpose in fulfilling Your will. Faith without works is dead. Please strengthen me as I face the day ahead. Allow the Holy Spirit to go before me to soften hearts and prepare souls to receive your gift of salvation. And may I be given the courage to speak Your word, to exercise faith and to help transform lives. I humbly ask these things in the precious name of the Savior, Jesus Christ, amen!
- JSS

A See-Saw Spiritual Life

A see-saw is a plank balanced in the centre of an upright support in such a way that each end can rise and fall alternately.  To function properly, a see-saw needs an equal load on both ends.  A single person on a see-saw is just a dead weight which will move neither up nor down.
Our spiritual life is like a see-saw.  God is the upright support in the middle which never moves.  The plank is our spiritual life.  On one side we must balance - ‘studying the Word’.  On the other side - ‘spiritual production’.  One without the other results in either a dead-spiritual-life or the production of dead-works.  Study without production is like a tree that never bears fruit.  Works without study inevitably result in the production of wood, hay and stubble to be burnt at the ‘Judgement Seat of Christ’.  As with most things there must be a balance.  However, one does come before the other - learning the Word of God always comes before production.  Yet if there is no production (applying those things we learn) there will be no movement.  Our spiritual lives should always be in motion.  If it is one-sided we should not be surprised when we become a spiritual dead weight moving nowhere.
- Taken from www.freechristianillustrations.com.
Designed by Ian & Sue Coate.
Used with permission.

Love: The Greatest Gift

I Corinthians 13:1-13 NKJV
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Dearest Lord, I need You and Your selfless gift of love. Without You I am nothing, I can't become anything and without Iove I can do nothing. I wouldn't even know what love is if it had not come from You first.
Lord, I need to understand how to love, how to give unselfishly and without restraint. So, Lord, lead me in love. Please teach me to wash other's feet like Jesus did. Teach me to love the unlovable and even my enemies.
Graciously humble me. Break my stoney heart and nurture a tender heart instead. I need a heart like Your son.
Heavenly Father, help me to extend Your mercy, forgiveness and grace. May true love work it's way through me to offer hope and healing. It's in
the precious name of Jesus, I pray, amen. -JSS

Trust The Creator

I have made the earth, and created man upon it; I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways.
Isaiah 45:12,13

HE who suns and worlds upholdeth
Lends us His upholding hand;
He the ages who unfoldeth
Doth our times and ways command.
God is for us;
In His strength and stay we stand.
Thomas H. Gill

YOU have trusted Him in a few things, and He has not failed you. Trust Him now for everything, and see if He does not do for you exceeding abundantly above all that you could ever have asked or thought, not according to your power or capacity, but according to His own mighty power, that will work in you all the good pleasure of His most blessed will. You find no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more complex or difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of it?

Excerpt written by Mary Wilder Tileston from the book, "Joy and Strength" by Hannah Whitall Smith.
This is a Public Domain version of "Joy and Strength."

I Have Made Many Mistakes (A Poem)

I have made many mistakes.
I have plenty of regrets,
Or pain,
Or sorrow,
That I could focus on.
But I choose to learn,
To ask for forgiveness,
To live in peace,
To move on,
To walk courageously,
To love passionately,
To be that person
God created me to be,
And seize a hope,
A promise,
For a better tomorrow.
-JSS

Custom Made By God (Part 4)

How odd that in our day the U. S. government and the politically correct no longer refer to the unborn child as a baby. The fact is no one likes to think about killing an unborn baby so it has been renamed a fetus or an embryo or human tissue. God said it is His creation fearfully and wonderfully made. It is a baby custom made by God.

The LORD said to Jeremiah, “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5). Each one of us is custom made by God.

Selah!

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006. http://www.abideinchrist.com
Used with permission.

Custom Made By God (Part 3)

I worship a God who knows me and is near me.  He created me for today.  There is only one me.  I am a pattern that God will never use again.  In all the time to come, there will never be another me.  I am somebody. I am a unique creation of God.  Therefore, I must be found doing the will of God.  My responsibility is not to seek the praise of men, but to be what God made me.

Have you considered who you are in God’s eyes?  Have you in humility thanked Him for making you so wonderfully complex?  The Lord’s work is marvelous.

The Psalmist catches his breath and declares, “How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God!  How vast the sum of them!”  (v. 17).  “How weighty are your designs” (NAB).  “How immeasurable your concepts are” (R. K. Harrison).  “How hard it is to grasp your thoughts” (Jerusalem Bible).  “How deep I find Your thoughts” (NEB).  “How precious and weighty!” (Amplified Bible).

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006. http://www.abideinchrist.com

Used with permission.

Custom Made By God (Part 2)

God’s dealings with you and me are not a duplicate of His dealings with anyone else in time and space.  It is unique to me because I am unique.  There is no one else like me.  A person who wants to be something different from God’s purpose for him is like a cancer cell. We become like cancer cells in the body of Christ when we want to be like someone else and not what God wants us to be.  God deals with each child differently.  We do not trust Him when we ask that our experience duplicate someone else’s.  No one is inferior or unspiritual because his or her experience is not just like someone else’s.

Thank God that you are who you are. His resources have already been revealed in creating you.  "I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well" (Psalm 139:14).  Have you thanked God for making you just the way you are?   "My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them " (Psalm 139:15-16).

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006. http://www.abideinchrist.com

Used with permission.

Custom Made By God (Part 1)

Our great God and Savior knows everything, is everywhere, and is all-powerful.

The LORD God knows me because He made me, and since He made me, I am responsible to Him for my actions.  That’s probably the biggest reason why people do not want to accept the fact that God created man.  But whether a person acknowledges the facts about creation or not, he or she will still have to answer to Him personally.

The Psalmist David observed that the LORD God “formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).  Our Creator not only created the first man Adam, but He continues to create.  There is not another person on the face of this earth with the same genes, DNA, and chromosomes.  I am a unique person, custom made by God for a specific purpose in history.  No one else can fulfill that purpose in history; no one else can fulfill my purpose.

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006. http://www.abideinchrist.com
Used with permission.

By The Babe Unborn (A Poem)

If trees were tall and grasses short,
As in some crazy tale,
If here and there a sea were blue
Beyond the breaking pale,

If a fixed fire hung in the air
To warm me one day through,
If deep green hair grew on great hills,
I know what I should do.

In dark I lie; dreaming that there
Are great eyes cold or kind,
And twisted streets and silent doors,
And living men behind.

Let storm clouds come: better an hour,
And leave to weep and fight,
Than all the ages I have ruled
The empires of the night.

I think that if they gave me leave
Within the world to stand,
I would be good through all the day
I spent in fairyland.

They should not hear a word from me
Of selfishness or scorn,
If only I could find the door,
If only I were born.
- G. K. Chesterton

Barbers Don't Exist

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me." "Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
- Author unknown

All Creation Praise The Lord!

Psalm 148 NKJV
Praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
And He has exalted the horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him.

Praise the LORD!

Prayer Of Sir Francis Drake

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
Amen

Written by Sir Francis Drake.
It is believed that this prayer is in the Public Domain.

The Power Of Belief (Part 5)

External Belief (continued)
Luke 8:49-51 NKJV
While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”

But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.

John 7:37-39 NKJV
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 11:39-41 NKJV
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.”

Acts 8:12-13 NKJV
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

1 John 5:4-6 NKJV
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

John 14:12 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”