He shall be to you a restorer of life… Ruth 4:15 It is amazing to see how people remodel wrecked and old worn-out cars. It is more amazing to see what God can do with lives that have been dilapidated by sin. Think of the stories that those old cars could tell. They have traveled so many places: family visits, vacations and all the other places where people go. Some…Keep Reading

Instructions to Take the Shield of Faith We hid behind a fence and planned the attack. There were several of them and only two of us, but we were bigger than they were. The plan was that on the count of three we would unleash our artillery of rocks and then run like the wind. The rocks were right on target and wow did we ever make them mad. They…Keep Reading

The Believers Trust Fund for the Future “The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety” (Proverbs 18:10-11, NLT). No better comment can be made than the words of the apostle Paul: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them…Keep Reading

Setting the Record Straight “Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight” (Proverbs 18:17, TLB). I, like many others, have been guilty of hitting the “Forward” button on plausible-sounding emails, or the “Share” button on Facebook, sending them speeding around the world, and polluting the truth. We not only have a responsibility to speak the truth, but we also have a responsibility to…Keep Reading

Being God’s Child; Keeping the Wonder “Then God looked over all that he had made, and he saw that it was very good.” Genesis 1:31 Ah, these hot and lazy summer days are slipping by. The honeybees hum as they work the clover, and the box turtle stops for a visit. Have you ever seen a black snake rise in a warm field and look at you as if to…Keep Reading

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you – Isaiah 41:10 A cartoon showed Lucy instructing Charlie Brown about life. She begins by saying, “Life is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going; and others to see where they have been. Some just want it…Keep Reading

Good Things Come to Those That Wait “Truly my soul waits upon God: from him cometh my salvation.” Psalm 62:1 The cell phone has changed the way we wait. With heads down and fingers texting, no one seems to notice or talk anymore. Is waiting becoming a passing art? What about waiting on the Lord? Do we wait with anticipation? The Bible says much about waiting and the good that…Keep Reading

Lazy Thinking “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (Proverbs 18:9, ESV). The Living Bible reads: “A lazy man is brother to the saboteur.” Solomon was speaking of physical laziness, as he does in Proverbs 26:15: “A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.” For most of us, we need to beware more…Keep Reading

Rev. Nate and Julie Ware Peace – Definition A. The absence of war or other hostilities. B. An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities. “negotiated the peace.” C. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations. Most of us are so fortunate that in our areas, there is the absence of war, which is not the reality for many. Hopefully, we are free of disagreements and enjoy living in harmony….Keep Reading

A Word to the Wise If we were so inclined and had the brute strength to do so, we could beat someone senseless; however, contrary to the common expression, we cannot “beat some sense” into anyone. Solomon said, “A single correction makes a more lasting impression on one who is wise than a hundred lashes do on a fool” (Proverbs 17:10, The Voice). Behavior that is changed by coercion lasts…Keep Reading

Growing Old Gracefully “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness” (Prov 16:31, NKJV). Some people say they want to grow old gracefully, when they mean they want to live a long, long time without looking their age. While neglecting what really matters—the inner self, they enrich plastic surgeons, cosmetic companies, supplement peddlers, and others in the age-defying industry. The secret…Keep Reading