SALVATION IS A SURE THING
AM I REALLY SAVED?HOW CAN I BE SURE?(THE BIBLE SAYS SO) Your salvation does not depend upon the strength of your faith, for your salvation is found completely in Christ and his saving work for you. Take heart in God’s own words as he assures you of your salvation....
Reflections on the Ten Commandments
Shaped by generations of Egyptian bondage, Israel had lost the ability to organize their own lives and society. With no provision for self-rule, they essentially knew two things: God had called them to be a blessed and great nation[1] and they were Egyptian slaves....
GOD’S GOT YOUR NUMBER
Ken Gaub "God, sometimes I wonder if you know where I am!" I mused to myself. A melancholy cloud of self-pity enshrouded my mind as I tried to concentrate on driving. "God, even a preacher needs for you to let him know once in a while that you are aware of him," I...
Ministering to One Another In the Christian Marriage
The term "one another" appears throughout the New Testament and applies beautifully to the husband and wife of a Christian marriage. The Bible’s advice on how to encourage, admonish, or instruct one another in matters of conduct and response is for the mutual good of...
On Suffering
Elizabeth Rooney Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.~Galatians 6:2. We are one another's burdens, and when we relate to someone, we bear them, not just their burdens. This concept gives significance to the most casual contact, between the...
The Nativity and Christmas Traditions
Compiled by Peter Schipper THE BIRTH OF JESUS This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin's...
A Heavenly Report on Lawn Care
“Francis, you’re my expert in nature and gardening. Tell me, what is going on down there on the blue planet? Whatever happened to the dandelions and violets and milkweed I started eons ago? I started out with a perfect no-maintenance garden plan, you know, with...
Practicing the Presence of God in the Midst of Pain and Illness
Excerpt and paraphrase from The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence Brother Lawrence (Nicolas Herman, 1614-1691) came from a French peasant family. Following his army service during the Thirty Year’s War, he served as a lay...
Forgiveness: What it Is, What it Isn’t
In the sermon, the pastor spoke of Maria, who had come to him for counsel and prayer several years ago. “Maria came to me seeking help in dealing with the abuse she had suffered as a teenager,” the pastor said. “If that wasn’t enough, a team of doctors had concluded...
For Five Hundred Dollars…Kay Marshall Strom
Several years ago, I was at a Christian Writer’s Conference. One afternoon, the conference director offered an opportunity for attendees to relate any stories of how God had been working in their lives. Kay Marshall Strom took her turn and told this wonderful story....