Stephanie Pavlantos: Tribulation in the Lab

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Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ~Hebrews 11:1 ESV At twenty-five years old, I had a stomach ulcer from the unbearable stress of my job. I had found a laboratory that would hire an inexperienced college graduate with a B.S. in biology. The VA hospital needed a histology technician, and they would train me to do the job. Histologists make slides from the tissue removed from the body during surgery which … Continue reading →

Diane Virginia: Royal Appointment

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Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2 NIV “Excuse me,” I said to the stranger who had leaned on my shopping cart. I thought about elbowing him, but I refrained. I was dealing with grief. Mom had just died, so I knew my emotions were raw. Our home Bible Study group wanted me to make chicken stew. I was painfully aware I couldn’t phone Mom for advice, and I had never made … Continue reading →

Diane Virginia: Show ‘n Tell

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A GRANDMOTHER AND A GRANDDAUGHTER “We taught the daycare children by example, and you were with me.” Mrs. Gertrude said, tickling her granddaughter, Sharon’s side. “I remember,” Sharon said, “but I’m twelve now!” Mrs. Gertrude smiled as her ‘little Sharon’ donned her best grown up imitation. “Do you remember our career center? You and your friends pretended to be scientists, engineers, beauticians, firefighters, or ballerinas by wearing hats. Then we’d share read-to-me books while we passed the featured hat around.” “It was fun,” Sharon … Continue reading →

Diane Virginia: Our Soon-Coming King

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Recently a lady from our church shared a dream she’d had about sounding the shofar to announce the returning of our King Jesus. The dream was riveting; I couldn’t stop thinking about it. “Religion doesn’t work, but a relationship with Jesus does.” Prepare to meet your Soon-Coming King. Although we cannot know the day or the hour Jesus will return, we do know we are in the season of Christ’s return. Jesus tells us to consider the parable of the fig tree:  “Now … Continue reading →

Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: Blessing the Father’s Child

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Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ~Romans‬ ‭12:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Many of us are working diligently to learn to be “blessers”—those that are purposeful to bless and be a blessing to those the Lord places around us. As the Body of Christ, we are endowed with the authority to speak blessing and to be a blessing. The Father strategically positions us to be agents of grace and mercy, ministers of comfort and bringers of peace and hope … Continue reading →

Glenda Shouse: Distracted Living

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Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as (something done) for the Lord and not for men.  ~Colossians 3:23 AMP Take my word for it, you cannot bake cookies and write a devotion at the same time. The results are not what I intended–overly brown sugar cookies. My thought was it will only take a minute to type these few words before I totally forget them. But that one thought led to another thought, and … Continue reading →

Diane Virginia: An Expected Visitor (3-Min)

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Jenny expected a visitor, so as moonbeams danced through the curtains, she welcomed the day. She opened her Bible, which was to her the best love-letter ever. “Speak to me, Lord,” she whispered. Jenny’s thought meandered to the Bible Study she’d attended two days ago. The leader had asked God to enable them to reach someone trapped in a cult religion that week. “My Jesus,” Jenny said, “Am I prepared should You choose to send this visitor to my door? What … Continue reading →

Martin Wiles: Perspectives on Possessions

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I couldn’t help but wonder what George Vanderbilt thought about Jesus’ warning against storing up wealth on earth. But then again, did Jesus really say it was a sin to do so? Perhaps His warning was only against the dangers of what wealth can do to our focus.

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Charles E. Maldon, Jr.: Beyond The Sacrifice

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We tend to use the word sacrifice loosely in our marriages. On the surface it appears to be the harder of the two. But the truth is, sacrifice can be an outward expression of what could be real or not truly in my heart. …

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