~ Death ~

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door;
on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...

I know my Master is there and that is enough."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; - John 11:25 (NIV)


2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (NIV)
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.


Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)
20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

God In Me

by Mary Mary

35 Cents of Time

There I am Sunday afternoon after church thinking about the laundry.
"I have to wash clothes today."

Today came and went and the laundry didn’t get done.

There I am Monday after VBS thinking about the laundry.
"I have to wash clothes tonight."

Tonight came and went and the laundry didn’t get done.

So Tuesday rolls around and after VBS I thought about the laundry.
"I have to wash clothes tonight."

Again, tonight came and went and the laundry didn’t get done.

Wednesday. Wednesday it will definitely get done!
"I have to wash clothes tonight."

And still the laundry didn’t get done.

So now it’s Thursday. One day before the ‘end of the week.’ The day before payday. With the laundry (already) in the car, I say "I have to wash clothes tonight." After days of procrastination, this day was different... this time I actually made it to the laundry mat after VBS!

It’s almost 10pm; we are all exhausted from our busy day. My daughter fell asleep while our (now) 3 big loads wash. Time to dry finally!

1st load, 32 minutes. 2nd load, 16 minutes… I’ve used all my money. How am I supposed to dry the rest of my clothes?? I send my son to scramble for change in the car where he finds $1 hidden in a compartment. My 3rd load, 27 minutes. But I still have to figure out what to do with my 2nd load because it won’t be dry after a mere 16 minutes.

With 10 minutes to spare on my 1st load, I decide to take the clothes out and put the 2nd load in for the remaining time and practically burn my hands while removing the 1st load from the dryer.

The 1st load was burning hot. And the remaining 10 minutes completely dried the 2nd load.

Now this sounds like a simple story of utilizing a really good dryer and juggling around to get the laundry done. But there’s one detail in the story that stuck out to me.

How did a typical 30 minutes of drying become sufficient to completely dry TWO full loads of laundry? Only by God’s provision!

In all the times I’ve been to that laundry mat. In all the times I’ve used the dryers, I’ve never had my clothes come out in such little time and so scorching hot.

I went there with limited means to clean the clothes. And I left with more than I could physically supply. Thank you Jesus!

There are times where God intercedes in our lives in a grand way and we praise Him for the "big" things. But more times than none, God provides in the most obscure ways, in the tiniest of details. Do you take notice of these subtleties? Do you thank Him for ALL He has provided?

* The gas tank that’s on "E" but somehow got you back and forth to your destination.


* The laundry mat dryer that dried 2 loads of clothes with the time needed for just one load.


* The kind gesture or words from someone during a private personal battle that help you get through it.


God is present in our everyday lives (Acts 17:27-28; Colossians 1:17). He provides for His children so we can flourish. It is through our Almighty Father, Jehovah Jireh – God our Provider (spiritually, emotionally and physically) that we are able to press forward in abundance.

Philippians 4:19
19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:28-33
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

So what started out to be an extremely long day... work, volunteering, and late night laundry... ended with a subtle reminder of how wondrous our Lord is. His provision was a gentle embrace; a touch from loving hands. Yet another praise before my day ends.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High; (Psalm 92:1)

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. (Hebrews 13:15)

With Him there are no limitations!

A Decision Changes Everything

Sometimes I sit and ponder
How our lives would be today
If old Adam had not fallen
And sweet Eve had walked away

Everything would be perfection
With no sickness, sin or pain
With no death or resurrection
Nothing done would be in vain

Every person would be happy
As they lived from day to day
Never angry, sad or snappy
Souls would never pass away

Tribes from every tongue and nation
Would be nice and get along
Just one lovely congregation
Always ready with a song

There would be no wars and fighting
Strife and danger would be gone
Laughter, joy and things exciting
Would pervade and carry on

But this world can never happen
For when Adam took the fall
He destroyed what once was perfect
And his sin affects us all

When that couple in the Garden
Took the fruit and sinned that day
God devised a precious pardon
To restore what went away

Jesus came to make The Difference
Shed His blood for every sin
Opens up the Gates of Heaven
Welcomes all to enter in

If you take His invitation
And respond in one accord
You are made a New Creation
In The Family Of The Lord

Just remember Eve and Adam
God has standards still today
At each level, height and stratum
Jesus Is The Only Way!!!

by Jim Lake

The White Squall

I haven't written; I've had writer's block.
I haven't expressed myself; I've had an emotional wall.
I haven't spoken; I've been mute.
I haven't read; I've had my mind closed.

Minor cuts and scrapes. Penny sized bruises. Minute infractions. Diminutive at a glance; there's no need to share the affliction. The big things seemed so monstrous; the little things seemed so effortless.

With a white squall amidst, a massive wave crashes upon my squandered time. The realization set in… the swell which has enveloped my days was an accumulation of little things. It wasn't the big things after all.

I carry the affliction. I bare it on my shoulders. I see its weight in my eyes. I hear the imperfections in my voice. I feel the millstones in my heart.

So how to rid myself of this well developed burden? A burden whose heaviness is more savage than an innocent prey succumbing to a lion's vicious maul?

As I stammer across the fields of time, I bring every weight with me; slowly reaching a sordid pit. I take one burden at a time, gradually peeling each layer of sin off my surface and placing it at the foot of the cross.

For I know the voice of joy and the voice of gladness.
For I know 'not a trace will be left of the wicked or their families. The Lord protects His people, and they can come to Him in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and saves them from the wicked because they run to Him.'

And with this knowledge I bring the swell which has consumed me. I bring my battered and injured soul. I bring my heart, my mind, myself; all pieces of me.

I peel away the imperfections. I praise my Almighty Father. I pray for his mercy. I read and learn of His ways and wishes for me.

And in this the white squall subdues. What began as minute infractions; what brought me to a sordid pit has diminished at His feet! Now with hands raised high, I celebrate the grandeur of our Lord in a pinnacle of revelry!

Dare I share my story… Dare I speak of my defeats and triumphs… Dare I share stories of His glory…

Dare you listen and heed these words wholeheartedly?

by: DeAna Colon

What Do I Know of Holy

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?