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Faith / Living Faith
Published 09/02/2010 - 7:00 a.m. CST

We as a society are sometimes like Jonah. The Lord will tell us to go in a certain direction and we will ignore Him or rebel against Him. Just as God got Jonah's full attention, He can get ours too. He will get us right where He wants us and tell us again what He wants us to do. When God want us to do something, we should be honored and ready to do His will. It is going to benefit others and it will be a blessing to us. Plus, God gets the glory.

Published 09/01/2010 - 7:34 a.m. CST

A man had a fig tree in a vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it but found none. There was nothing but leaves on it. The man told the keeper of the vineyard that for three years he has came seeking fruit on this fig tree and has found none. He told the keeper to cut down the tree, because it is just wasting the ground.

The keeper told the man to leave it alone for a year, and he would dig around it and fertilize it. Then, if it bears fruit, fine, but if it doesn't, then he could have it cut down.

Published 08/31/2010 - 7:05 a.m. CST

This is a note to future generations. I write this to you in hopes that you can garner some wisdom from those who have come before you.

We have made great strides in the world, and we have had great failures as well. Learn from our failures and pattern yourselves after our successes, but do not become complacent and content. Broaden your horizons and expand your knowledge. Contentment only breeds laziness. Stay on your guard. Do not let others extort or corrupt your technologies, inventions, or your minds.
Published 08/30/2010 - 7:01 a.m. CST

John 12:20-26

There were devout Greeks who came to worship at the feast. They came to Philip and asked to see Jesus. Philip told Andrew, and they both went to tell Jesus about the Greek's request. Jesus explained to Philip and Andrew that it was time for Him to be glorified.

Jesus explained to Philip and Andrew, through a parable, how a grain of wheat can bear fruit once it dies. If Jesus does not sacrifice His life, the world will remain lost. They will never realize the seriousness of their sins. However, through His sacrifice of giving His innocent life up for the sins of the world, it will bear fruit that will last until He returns to earth.

Published 08/28/2010 - 7:03 a.m. CST

If you live in Jesus, and His words live in you, you can ask what you desire and it shall be done for you. When people believe in Jesus and all he taught and stands for, and the Word of God is in us, we can overcome wickedness. Everything that Jesus does, and therefore everything Christians should do, is to glorify God. God should always get the glory, and in return we get the blessing. We are to ask the Father for what we want, in Jesus' name, and it will be given to us.

Published 08/25/2010 - 7:25 a.m. CST

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean noton your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

This admonition has been running through my head and heart for several weeks now. I’ve looked up the word trust and lean and understanding. To trust in something or someone indicates reliance upon them. The same is with lean. If you are leaning on something you are shifting your weight into that object allowing it to hold your weight. Such is the case when you lean into a wall. The wall holds you up, not you any longer.

Published 08/23/2010 - 7:01 a.m. CST

Ever felt like your walk with Christ is like a see-saw?  UP and Down. UP and Down.  It can be fun one minute and scary the next if we get in fear of getting hurt or hitting too hard.  Feeling good, Feeling scared.   UP and DOWN, UP and DOWN.  Only Jesus can balance it out.

Published 08/21/2010 - 7:07 a.m. CST

I noticed something the other day. A sunny day usually has a happy effect on our disposition while a cloudy, rainy day brings the opposite. Okay so sometimes I love the rain, and sometimes I am in a 'mood' even on a sunny day... go figure. But generally speaking I find this to be true, we all know it.

Published 08/19/2010 - 7:00 a.m. CST

In a traditional ancient ceremony, the bridegroom would go and seek out his potential bride. When he saw the lady that he liked, he would go unto her father’s house carrying with him three items: His best financial offering, a wedding contract and a skin full of wine. If the father was impressed with the bridegroom's offering, he would call his daughter into the room and ask her response. If she found everything to be acceptable, she would take the wine and drink it. Immediately, a trumpet would sound, symbolizing their engagement.

During the following year, the couple was not allowed to be alone. Anytime they were out together, there would always be a chaperone present. Also during this year, the bridegroom went to his father’s house to prepare a place for his future bride. He would spend much time doing this because it had to be acceptable to his father.

No invitations were ever sent out for the wedding. When the young bridegroom was asked for the date of his wedding, he could only reply, “No man knows except my father.”

Published 08/31/2010 - 7:01 a.m. CST

Christ in our lives is more valuable than all the treasures that the world can provide.

When Moses became old enough, he refused to embrace the Egyptian heritage and all of their passing pleasures. He was Jewish, and he chose, by faith in God, to suffer hardships with the people of God, the Jewish people. He knew that putting his faith in God was more valuable than the treasures of Egypt. Moses looked to God and put his faith in Him for all his needs (Heb. 12:24-26).
Published 08/29/2010 - 7:10 a.m. CST

All week long I have been receiving or viewing video clips of animals and the way they can express love. There was a beautiful dog whose litter had been adopted out of the animal shelter, and when several orphaned kittens came along, she fed and cared for them as her own. There was a clip I viewed of an elephant retirement sanctuary. All of the elephants couple up, not necessarily as mates, but girlfriends, or buddies etc. One elephant chose to get along with and adopt a stray dog. They were inseparable.
Published 08/26/2010 - 7:16 a.m. CST

The weight and feel of throwing rocks taught my heart a lesson.

I never realized how rocky the Appalachian mountains were until we vacationed there this past summer. My boys hoisted heavy rocks, climbed boulders, and pocketed pebbles. However, their favorite activity was throwing rocks: into the woods, off a ledge, down the slope, into the water. They couldn’t get enough.



Published 08/24/2010 - 8:45 a.m. CST

Luke 9:23 (The Message)

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am.

My husband is a NASCAR™ fan from way back. His favorite driver drove the black #3 car. Tragically, his beloved driver was killed in the early 2000’s when his car hit the wall just short of the finish line. This event took away a lot of my husband’s enthusiasm for racing and it just hasn’t been the same for him. His love for the sport has been revived, and now he cheers on his favorite’s son.
Published 08/22/2010 - 8:00 a.m. CST

I don’t know if it is possible to fully understand the depth of God’s love for us. I do know that it is only when I first started trying to love myself that I began to get a glimpse. Honestly, I don’t know that we will ever fully comprehend that love until we pass into the realm of heaven. How deep our understanding becomes while in this world will be entirely up to us. It depends on how deeply we decide to get to know Christ.

Published 08/20/2010 - 7:34 a.m. CST

One of the foundational basics in Covenant relationship with Christ is our attitude toward God’s word. It must be a vital part in that relationship. In a vibrant healthy relationship with God, we must consider His view of things in our life as most important.