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Table of ContentsLinda's LetterJust Let Go! Who We Are Names of God Bible Study Yahweh-Jireh & Yahweh-Shammah Check It Out! Fire Rainbow |
St. Patrick's Day Losing Your Marbles The Mouse Trap Dancing with God The Prayer of St. Patrick The Festival of Purim The Bridge Reasons for the Storms of Life A Happy Life Another World Winning the Game Rend the Heavens Baptism of the Holy Spirit For the Children Quick Jokes Bible Pages to Color Indulge! Funny Ads Cat Gets Killed Excited about Marriage Blind Man in a Store Bulletin Bloopers Have a Nice Day |
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Greetings, dear friends & family! I was watching a silly children's movie the other day when something happened in the movie that caused me to pause and reflect. The boy and his sister were engaged in a battle with a mysterious cartoon entity, which the boy was trying to force back into the crate from which it had escaped. As the boy was struggling with all his might to overpower the entity, his sister was holding tightly to him, trusting him to save her from being swept away. Finally, the boy shouted to his sister, "I can't save you unless you let go!" And I thought, "How simple.... The Gospel message wrapped up in only eight words!" That's exactly what God says to us. He says, "I want to save you, but first you must.... Let go of your good works. Let go of your niceness. Let go of your religion. Let go of your intellectual theories. Let go of your ideologies. Let go of your rituals. Let go of your preconceived notions of what God is and isn't. Let go of your church traditions. Let go of your self-righteousness." He says, "Just let go, so I can save you!" Have you ever seen someone rescue a person who's drowning? If the drowning person keeps struggling to save himself, then the rescuer can't save him; and in fact, he may even abandon his rescue efforts until the victim succumbs. Jesus, who came to be the Rescuer of our souls, says to us, "Stop struggling and trying to do it yourself! Stop relying on yourself and your works. Just let go...! Please let go...! Let Me do what I came here to do. Let Me save you!" So, why don't we....? Why do we keep insisting on our own goodness. Why do we keep depending on our own efforts, actions, baptism, church membership, or whatever? Perhaps Charles Spurgeon said it best: It is difficult because there is no difficulty in it. And it seems obscure simply because it is so clear." While every other god and religion in the world requires you to live up to certain standards, perform prescribed rituals, recite meticulous incantations, participate in specific religious observances, hold to regimented fasts, etc., the God of the Bible says, "You can't do it yourself. Just let go, and let Me save you!" That's what sets Yahweh apart from all the other gods. That's what sets true, Biblically-based Christianity apart from all other religions. Christianity acknowledges that we're all separated from God by our inherent sin nature and that, apart from Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross, we're lost. Christianity requires us to relinquish our will and our lives to the One who created us.... to the Holy One who set the standard.... to the Righteous One who will ultimately judge us by that standard.... to the only One who ever lived up to that standard and who paid the penalty for our shortcomings, sins, and failures....! (Ephesians 1:7) Some of you reading this newsletter are putting your confidence in yourselves — in your good works, or church attendance, or donations to charities, or being a Deacon or Elder, or volunteering at a soup kitchen, or teaching Sunday School, or just basically being as good as, or better than, the people around you. You've never let go of your "goodness" and surrendered yourself to the amazing grace of God's extravagant, outrageous, abounding love. (1 Corinthians 4:4) It's free.... it's everlasting. Jesus is softly and tenderly inviting you, "Let go of all that other stuff that has no power to save you, and let Me save you....!" (Ephesians 2:13) Oh, please...! Please say yes to Him today! become God's children, to those who believe in His name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13 (WEB)  Be blessed in Jesus' name, and remember: The Christian life is not what we do for God, but what God has done for us!
Your sister & servant in Christ,  My Redeemer Lives Christian Ministry Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, it is impossible for me to respond to every person who writes. If you have an opinion or question, please understand that I will not offer personal advice or debate theological issues. You are welcome to send your opinions, corrections and questions, but I can't guarantee I'll be able to respond. If you're looking for some good Bible study sources, I recommend: Bible.org — Trustworthy Bible Study Resources, Blue Letter Bible Study Resources, Christian Courses by RBC Ministries, Precept Ministries International, In Touch Ministries, Shepherd Serve, Today In the Word, Today's Turning Point, all of which offer hundreds of pages of well-organized teaching articles, Bible studies, and/or daily email devotionals. |
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Yahweh-Jireh and Yahweh-Shammah "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His Name alone is excellent; His glory [is] above the earth and heaven." Psalm 148:13 (KJV) Editor's Note: As there is considerable variance among Bible scholars as to former customs, usage, and translations of the numerous names of God in the Bible, the neutrality and factual accuracy of this article may be disputed. These studies are a summation of those ideas and conclusions on which most scholars agree. Most of God's compound names arise out of some historic incident, and portray God in some aspect of His character meeting human needs. Naturally, all of these names are significant because of their relation to the name Yahweh. As we've already learned, the name Yahweh reveals God as the Covenant-Keeping Eternal I AM, The Self-Existent One, The Holy God, and The God of Revelation. It isn't enough that we simply know these names as some sort of rote learning exercise. We must study their significance in the historical settings in which they're given. Only then, may we even come close to grasping all that the Elohim of Heaven and Earth wants us to know about Him. Yahweh-Jireh (Yireh) — Yahweh Sees / Yahweh Provides / Yahweh Will Provide Pronounced Yä-wá' (or Yä-vá') Yir-eh', the name appears in the Old Testament only once in Genesis 22:14 by Abraham to memorialize God's intervention in the sacrifice of Isaac by providing an animal substitute for the sacrifice of his son: "Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh-Jireh. As it is said to this day, 'In Yahweh's mountain (Mount Moriah) it will be provided.' ". The word "jireh" is a transliteration of a Hebrew word which means "to see" or "to foresee". In the Hebrew Bible, it is translated "to see" or "to appear", and it is often used to refer to certain men who could foresee — prophets — as in...
In the circumstance of the compound name in Genesis 22:14, Yahweh-Jireh is significant because it commemorated a great deliverance. Naming the place Yahweh-Jireh served as a perpetual reminder of the marvelous, awe-inspiring grace of God. Yahweh-Shammah (Samma) — Yahweh Is There Pronounced Yä-wá' (or Yä-vá') shawm'-maw, the compound name appears in the Old Testament only once in Ezekiel 48:35 to portray Yahweh's presence in the coming millennial kingdom: "It shall be eighteen thousand reeds round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, Yahweh Is There [Yahweh-Shammah]." The name "Yahweh-Shammah" may very well be the most exciting and comforting name God has given us. Why? Because in "Yahweh-Shammah" is the promise and pledge of God completing the work He began in us at creation, to bring us to our final rest and glory; for as the Catechism says: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." The word "shammah" is derived from the Hebrew word "sham", which means "there". Yahweh-Shammah is the last name God revealed through His Old Testament prophets. In the historic setting in which it's given, this name reassured Israel that God had not abandoned them during their 70-year period of Babylonian captivity, and that there would eventually be a restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple. As Ezekiel had prophesied 25 years earlier that Jerusalem and the Temple would be utterly destroyed — and the people's hopes of one day returning were declining — this prophesy was a promise to them that God was indeed in Jerusalem: Yahweh-Shammah! There are several beliefs concerning the fulfillment of this promise:
"In the New Testament dispensation it has a wider scope in that it is more spiritual than symbolic, and more personal rather than national. For now it has been fulfilled ideally in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. "As man, and representing the human race, 'the whole fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Him' (Colossians 1:19, marg.). He was the effulgence of God's glory and the very image of His substance (Hebrews 1:3, ASV). 'The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us,' says John, 'and we beheld his glory' (John 1:14, ASV). Thus He became 'God with us,' the Immanuel of Isaiah 7:14, the Child, the Son, the mighty God, the everlasting Father of Isaiah 9:6. "The One who in the Old Testament came in occasional, mysterious appearances as the Angel of Jehovah, the Angel of His Presence, the Angel of the Covenant, the Angel in whom is Jehovah's name, became in Christ both the Presence itself and the Temple in whom the Presence resided so that in Him and of Him it could be said Jehovah-Shammah, Jehovah is there. "This Presence is now in believers as living temples of God. 'Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you' (I Corinthians 3:16, ASV)." Oh, praise His holy name! Yahweh, the Covenant-Keeping God of the Universe, has chosen for His name — His very essence — to abide in me and in you! Knowing that He is always with us should bring immediate comfort, an infusion of courage, and a sense of confidence to endure. Hallelu YAH! Next month, we'll learn about the compound names Yahweh Rohi (Ro'i) and Yahweh Rophe (Rapha).  Click here for a print-friendly copy of this Bible study. The names God has used to reveal Himself to humankind represent His power, actions, and reputation. The Almighty cannot be conjured or treated as an object, as He is the Master of the universe and is neither subject to nor dependent on anyone. The Bible strictly forewarns us not to invoke the name of God for selfish or manipulative purposes. The materials provided here are for educational purposes only and are not intended to offer some sort of mystical insight into the Divine nature of Almighty God. Sources for this study include: Behind the Name Judaism 101 Lambert Dolphin's Library "The Names of God" by Nathan Stone "The Titles of Jehovah" by H. W. Webb-Peploe To view all of the "Names of God" studies to date, go to www.myredeemerlives.com/biblestudies/namesofgodstudy.html. Back to top |
This is a Fire Rainbow, or to be technically accurate, this atmospheric phenomenon is called a circumhorizontal arc. It's the rarest of all naturally occurring atmospheric phenomena.  The picture was taken on 3 June 2006 near the Washington border of the western United States. The event lasted about one hour. In order for this to occur, clouds must be cirrus, at least 20,000 feet above ground, with just the right amount of ice crystals, and the sun must strike the clouds at precisely 58 degrees. This phenomenon and photo may be verified as legitimate at Snopes Urban Legends Reference Page. Back to top |
"A happy life is not a life free of trials, pain or suffering, but it is a life full of His presence and peace." Michelle Molina Living for the Call |
 St. Patrick's Day It's March — time for setting aside one day when we all become a little Irish. March 17th is a time for shamrocks, leprechauns, kissin' the Blarney stone, and wearin' o' the green. Who Was St. Patrick....? Contrary to popular folklore, he didn't chase the snakes out of Ireland; there never were any snakes in Ireland. Yet St. Patrick well deserves to be honored by the people of Ireland — and by downtrodden and excluded people everywhere. The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in what is now Great Britain about 385 A.D. His given name was Maewyn. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped and enslaved by Irish marauders. He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Italy where he studied in the monastery for 12 years. During his training he changed his name to the Christian name Patrick and became convinced that he was called by God to convert Ireland's native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors appointed Bishop Palladius to Ireland instead. Two years later when Palladius transferred to Scotland, Patrick was appointed as the second Bishop to Ireland. Patrick was quite successful at winning converts, a fact which greatly disturbed the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but God delivered him each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries, schools, and churches — all of which further aided him in converting the Irish country to Christianity. In the process of converting the primitive people of Ireland, however, the former slave experienced a conversion, too. In the years that followed, he not only shared God with the people of Ireland, but he also grew in his understanding of God through them. His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down in northern Ireland where he died on March 17, 461 A.D. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since. As you celebrate St. Patrick's Day March 17th, take time to reflect on the awesome contribution this one man made to advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ! How did the shamrock come to be associated with St. Patrick....? It has been said that during an open-air meeting, he plucked a shamrock from the grass beneath his feet, showing it to his congregation as one leaf with three distinct parts combined into one, thus illustrating the doctrine of the Trinity. Why is green connected with St. Patrick's Day....? No one is quite certain how the commemoration of Ireland's Patron Saint came to be characterized by the color green. Many believe it's because the holiday takes place just a few days before the first day of Spring. That, combined with the green shamrock, has made St. Patrick's Day the "first green" of Spring. Why are the leprechaun and Blarney stone associated with St. Patrick's Day....? Although leprechauns and the Blarney stone have their origin in Ireland folklore, neither has anything to do with St. Patrick. Today, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into a celebration of all things Irish, so it's not surprising that other national symbols, such as the leprechaun and the Blarney stone, surface every March 17. |
 Each kit contains a camouflage New Testament, a 90-day devotional, and a "Would You Like to Know God Personally?" booklet — all packaged in a waterproof plastic bag small enough to fit into a soldier's pocket. Back to top |
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. I love the quiet solitude of being first to rise, the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. The first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable. A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life hands you from time to time. Let me tell you about it. I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older-sounding chap with a golden voice. He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named Tom. I was intrigued and sat down to listen. "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well, but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work 60-70 hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's recital." He continued, "Let me tell you something, Tom, that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles". "You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about 75 years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about 75 years. "Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.  "Now stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part."It took me until I was 55 to think this through in detail, and by then, I had already used over 2,800 Saturdays. I figured that if I lived to be 75, I had about a thousand Saturdays left to enjoy. "So I went out and bought 1,000 marbles and put them in a large, clear plastic container here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since, I take one marble out and throw it away. "By watching my marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time on earth run out to help get your priorities straight. "One last thing before I sign off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday, then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones.... "It was nice to talk to you, Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!" You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife with a kiss. C'mon, honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special," I said. "It has just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey! Can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles." many happy years after you lose all your marbles! Author Unknown Back to top |
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A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. "What food might it contain?" the mouse wondered. He was aghast to discover that it was a mouse trap! Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, "There's a mouse trap in the house! There's a mouse trap in the house!" The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me; I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There's a mouse trap in the house!" "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray; be assured that you are in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow, who replied, "Like wow, Mr. Mouse, a mouse trap. Am I in grave danger? Duh!" So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mouse trap alone. That very night a sound was heard in the house, like the sound of a mouse trap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with chicken soup, so the farmer went to the farmyard to fetch the soup's main ingredient. His wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; in fact, she died. And so many people came for her funeral that the farmer butchered the cow to provide meat for all of them to eat. The next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and you think it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk. Back to top |
desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water... If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." C. S. Lewis Back to top |
Quick Jokes Which day of the week do chickens hate most? Fry-day! Is chicken soup good for your health? Not if you're the chicken! How did the telephones get married? In a double ring ceremony! What is a polygon? A dead parrot! Dad, there's a man at the door collecting for the new community swimming pool. Give him a glass of water! Eat your spinach. It'll put color in your cheeks. But I don't want green cheeks! Where does success come before work? In the dictionary! Did you hear about the fool who keeps going around saying "no"? No. Oh, so it's you! Back to top |
letting others less able than yourself win." Richard Fischer, Jr. Back to top |
When I meditated on the word, "Guidance", I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.  My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw the "G", I thought of God, followed by the "u" and "i". "God", "u", "i", and "dance". God, you and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. My prayer for you is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting Him to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. I hope you dance! Author Unknown Back to top |
The Prayer of St. Patrick The beautiful prayer of St. Patrick, popularly known as "St. Patrick's Breast-Plate", is supposed to have been composed by him in preparation for his victory over Paganism in Ireland. The following is a literal translation from the old Irish text. I bind to myself today The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity: I believe the Trinity in the Unity The Creator of the Universe. I bind to myself today The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism, The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial, The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension, The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day. I bind to myself today The virtue of the love of seraphim, In the obedience of angels, In the hope of resurrection unto reward, In prayers of Patriarchs, In predictions of Prophets, In preaching of Apostles, In faith of Confessors, In purity of holy Virgins, In deeds of righteous men. I bind to myself today The power of Heaven, The light of the sun, The brightness of the moon, The splendour of fire, The flashing of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of sea, The stability of earth, The compactness of rocks. I bind to myself today God's Power to guide me, God's Might to uphold me, God's Wisdom to teach me, God's Eye to watch over me, God's Ear to hear me, God's Word to give me speech, God's Hand to guide me, God's Way to lie before me, God's Shield to shelter me, God's Host to secure me, Against the snares of demons, Against the seductions of vices, Against the lusts of nature, Against everyone who meditates injury to me, Whether far or near, Whether few or with many. I invoke today all these virtues Against every hostile merciless power Which may assail my body and my soul, Against the incantations of false prophets, Against the black laws of heathenism, Against the false laws of heresy, Against the deceits of idolatry, Against the spells of women, and smiths, and Druids, Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man. Christ, protect me today Against every poison, against burning, Against drowning, against death-wound, That I may receive abundant reward. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left, Christ in the fort, Christ in the chariot seat, Christ in the poop [deck], Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. I bind to myself today The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity, I believe the Trinity in the Unity The Creator of the Universe. |
 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field." Matthew 13:44 |
The Festival of Purim  Purim is the most festive Jewish holiday, a time of prizes, noise makers, costumes, and treats. The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory over oppression as recounted in the book of Esther in the Bible.During the time between the destruction of the first Temple and the building of the second Temple, the Jews came very close to being annihilated because of the evil scheming of Haman, the highest ranking official in King Ahasuerus' kingdom of Persia. However, because of the intervention of Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai, the Jews were spared, and instead the nation of Israel was able to avenge themselves against their enemies. To commemorate this miraculous turn of events, Jews celebrate Purim with feasts, sending gifts of food to their friends and the needy, and with the reading of the Megilla (Meghillath), the scroll of the story of Esther. The Fast of Esther is held on the day before Purim to commemorate Esther's fast before she went before the King Ahasuerus to plead for mercy for the Jews. The two observances take place on the 14th and 15th days of Adar, the twelfth month in the Jewish calendar. This year, the Fast of Esther begins at sundown on Friday, March 2nd; and the Festival of Purim begins Saturday, March 3rd, at sundown and ends Sunday, March 4th, at sundown. |
The Bridge It is an ancient bridge. Built hundreds of years ago, it has become one of the most photographed sites in all of Scotland. Very old documents refer to it as the Bridge of Carr, eventually influencing the name of the village that grew beside it, today known as Carrbridge. Tourists flock there each year for the festivals and the skiing nearby, but especially to see The Old Bridge. There's a strange but strong attraction that beckons them. I know. I've been there. And for me, I've figured out what it is. The bridge was built for foot travel, horses, and cattle. The stone blocks create such a pronounced arch, there would have been no doubt you were crossing a bridge, unlike those of today that run seamlessly from end to end. It's rather small as bridges go, but it sufficiently spanned the River Dulnain, providing a safe connection for either side. And that was its purpose for existing in the first place. There was a time when people tried to go it alone, fording the River as best they could. Those in the area knew the dangers that lay in the brackish, flowing water and would travel far to reach a safer crossing. For the traveler, well, the dark water just didn't look that deep and they would struggle across. Then one day it happened. A storm came, the river rose, and the water flowed faster than anyone remembered. Two young men, just wanting to get to get to the other side, drowned. The news spread and people became determined. Help . . . at last . . . would finally come. A bridge would be built, but not just any bridge, it had to be of "a reasonable Breadth and Height as will Receive the water when in the greatest speat." In other words, the bridge would have to withstand the force of the River when it was at its highest, fastest, and most dangerous state. And for more than 100 years the bridge did just that, serving the villagers and travelers alike.  Carrbridge grew, spanning the River Dulnain and bringing people on both sides together in such a way that what was once a great obstacle, no longer prevented the bond, connection and identity that developed among them.But on August 3, 1829 came the great flood. The waters of the Dulnain rose to an incredible height and flowed with enormous force. Bridges were destroyed and crossings washed away. The lower countryside was submerged, hidden under a sea of water. In time those waters receded, the River returned to its banks, and the sun shone once again across the Scottish hills and valleys. And there, as though a symbol of assurance and comfort, was The Old Bridge. Its parapets were gone, but it was still standing. It's been a while since I gazed at the bridge, yet from time to time I still find myself thinking about it. Not about the architecture or the beauty, but what it represents. God often does that in my life. He takes an experience, a person, a thought, even a bridge, and uses it to teach me something. And this is what I've learned from The Old Bridge at Carrbridge, Scotland. Within the Body of Christ, we need bridges. Bridges are the spans that connect us. And look how we are separated: clergy, laity . . . couples, singles, seniors, youth . . . those who go to church, those who don't, those who can't . . . professionals, proprietors, employees, the unemployed . . . income, where we live . . . race, language, nationality. We even divide based on health and illness. Sometimes separations just happen. Sometimes we create them. A men's group refuses to meet at different times so others can share in the fellowship. A pastor refuses to visit the sick. Teenagers refuse to help the seniors, who refuse to share their wisdom. A couple has problems in their marriage, but no one offers help. We can be so quick to judge, show no mercy, and never share the love of Christ. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul urges us to show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. Why is this so important? Because they are the stones we are to use in building the bridges among ourselves and to a lost world. Then he said, over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:14) Just as a solid bridge must have something to bind its stones together, so do the bridges in our lives. And that is love. But it's easy to miss the lesson here. These virtues . . . our stones . . . are important. Love . . . our binding agent . . . is critical. But only when they are brought together is there a bridge. And such bridges are not programs or organizations. They are built upon the lives of God's people. They are found in those who choose to love one another. Jesus walks along them to be with His friends. He moves across them to reach the lost. And He points to them as the sign of who He is. Have you figured it out yet? You . . . are the Bridge of Christ. to let the world know that you sent Me and have loved them even as you have loved Me. John 17:23 by Chuck Graham, "A Note of Encouragement". Copyright © 2007 by Ciloa, Inc. Back to top |
 Indulge in the things you love! |
2 Corinthians 1:3-6 The Lord is never taken by surprise. He knows everything we are going through. And He is orchestrating our circumstances for both our benefit and His glory, according to His good will. One purpose for hardship is our cleansing. Because of our own "flesh" nature, and the self-absorbed world we live in, it's easy to develop selfish attitudes, mixed-up priorities, and ungodly habits. The pressures that bear down on us from stormy situations are meant to bring these impurities to our attention and direct us to a place of repentance. Our trials are not designed to sink us but to purify us and guide us back to godliness. A second reason we face difficulty is so that we'll bring comfort to others. God's work in our lives is not intended solely for us. It's designed to reach a world that does not recognize or acknowledge Him. The Lord uses our challenges to equip us for serving others. As we experience suffering, we will learn about God's sufficiency, His comforting presence, and His strength to help us endure. Our testimony during times of difficulty will be authentic. Those we minister to will recognize that we know and understand their pain. What credibility would we have with people in crisis if we never experienced a deep need? Reflecting on the divine purpose in hardship can help us respond to them in a God-honoring way. Take a moment to fix your attention on the Lord. Seek to understand what He wants you to learn. Back to top |
"Instead of praying, 'Oh, God, rend the heavens and come down,' realize that He already did that 2000 years ago. Now He wants to rend you and come out!" Rev. Eddie Smith U.S. Prayer Center |
The following are advertisements that have appeared in papers across the USA. Mt. Kilimanjaro, the breathtaking backdrop for the Serena Lodge. Swim in the lovely pool while you drink it all in. The hotel has bowling alleys, tennis courts, comfortable beds, and other athletic facilities. Toaster: A gift that every member of the family appreciates. Automatically burns toast. Sheer stockings. Designed for fancy dress, but so serviceable that lots of women wear nothing else. Stock up and save! Limit one. We build bodies that last a lifetime. For Rent: 6-room hated apartment. Man, honest. Will take anything. |
 FREE Worship Music Online! 3 Formats, All Commercial-Free! Back to top |
A little boy is gone to school one day and while he is gone, his cat gets killed. His mother is very concerned about how he will take the news. Upon his arrival home, she explains the tragedy and tries to console the boy saying, "But don't worry, honey, the cat is in Heaven with God now." The boy replies, "What's God gonna do with a dead cat?" |
For the Children Bible Pages to Color Click on an image to open a page for printing it full-size.  ...... ...... Provided by BibleStories.org — Children's Bible Stories & Funny Books Back to top |
Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding and on the way they pass a drugstore. Jacob suggests they go in. They address the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?" The pharmacist answers yes. Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?" Pharmacist: "Of course we do." Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?" Pharmacist: "All kinds." Rebecca: "Medicine for rheumatism, scoliosis?" Pharmacist: "Definitely." Jacob: "How about Viagra?" Pharmacist: "Of course." Rebecca: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundice?" Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety. The works." Rebecca: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?" Pharmacist: "Absolutely." Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers?" Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes." Jacob says to the pharmacist: "We'd like to register here for our wedding gifts, please." |
 Come to sing and dance like King David did with the Psalms. We pray you will worship and praise in spirit and in truth with our anointed messianic CDs. Back to top |
A blind man walks into a store with his seeing eye dog. All of a sudden, he picks up the leash and begins swinging the dog over his head. The manager runs up to the man and asks, "What are you doing?!!" The blind man replies, "Just looking around." |
is not about how 'spiritual' you are; it's about how gracious God is!" Dr. David Jeremiah Turning Point Back to top |
There is joy in the presence of the angels over one singer who repents. Thursday night — Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs. On March 16th, the prayer group met at the home of Margaret Ressler, who is no longer able to attend church. What a blessing! O worship the King, all glorious above, and gratefully sin... PASTOR: "Happy are those who find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord..." PEOPLE: "We shall sin with joyfulness to the Lord our God!" You will soon receive, as part of the September archdiocesan Priest's Monthly Mailing, a Liturgy Guide, and a Massage of His Holiness Pope John Paul II for World Mission Sunday. On July 17, ______________ will share with the women how God set her free from alcoholism and gave her back her husband after an almost fatal death. |
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National Association of Evangelicals United Christian Ministries International Scripture taken from: King James Version (KJV), Copyright © 1990 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. New King James Version (NKJV), Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. New International Version (NIV), Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society World English Bible (WEB), 2001 MT-based public domain update of 1901 American Standard Version (ASV) Copyright © 2007. My Redeemer Lives Christian Ministry™. All rights reserved. |
