Truth for Life

A. Our Purpose: Why God Created People The Father in heaven has great plans for us. He said in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God made us for three reasons: To Glorify God. God, being all-good, all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-perfect deserves our respect and worship. The apostle Peter wrote, “You are a chosen people… a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) To Know God. God wants a relationship with each one of us. He asks that we call Him “Father,” not “Life Force” or “First Cause.:” Jesus said, “I have made you (Father) known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26 NIV) To Have a Satisfying Life. Without God, life is shallow disjointed and purposeless. God has planned for ...

There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news.  The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program.  The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets." ============================= While driving in Pennsylvania, a family caught up to an Amish carriage.  The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign... "Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass.  Caution: Do not step in exhaust." =============================  A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend.  The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him in front of the service station.  Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump.   "Reverend," said the young man, "Sorry about the delay.  It ...

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.  Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.  On Monday, she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much" were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again.  She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it did not matter. The exercise had acc...

The best way to get even is to forget... Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death... God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts. Some folks wear their halos much too tight... Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be maintained on earth.... Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, then perhaps giving "advice" to God is not such a good idea! Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up... Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous.  You will be knocked down by the traffic from both ways. Words are windows to the heart. A skeptic is a person who, when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it is a forgery. It is not difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a little dirt. A successful marriage is not finding the right person; it is being the right person. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground. Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over them. The tongue must ...

Ruth went to her mailbox and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter: Dear Ruth, I’m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to stop by for a visit.Love Always, Jesus Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would the Lord want to visit me? I am nobody special. I don't have anything to offer." With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner.” She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...l...

Before U were thought of or time had begun, God even stuck U in the name of His Son. And each time U pray, you'll see it's true You can't spell out JesUs and not include U. You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name, For U, He was born; that's why He came. And His great love for U is the reason He died. It even takes U to spell crUcified. Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand He rose from the dead, with U in His plan? The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew, and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U. When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension, He felt there was one thing He just had to mention. "Go into the world and tell them it's true That I love them all - Just like I love U." So many great people are spelled with a U, Don't they have a right to know JesUs too? It all depends now on what U will do, He'd like them to know, But it all starts with U.  

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. It was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, "Good morning, Alex." "Good morning, Pastor," replied the young man, still focused on the plaque. "Pastor, what is this?" "Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service." Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little Alex's voice was barely audible, trembling with fear, when he asked, "Which service, the 9:45 or the 11:15?"

A lthough things are not perfect B ecause of trial or pain C ontinue in thanksgiving D o not begin to blame E ven when the times are hard F ierce winds are bound to blow G od is forever able H old on to what you know I magine life without His love J oy would cease to be K eep thanking Him for all the things L ove imparts to thee M ove out of "Camp Complaining" N o weapon that is known O n earth can yield the power P raise can do alone Q uit looking at the future R edeem the time at hand S tart every day with worship T o "thank" is a command U ntil we see Him coming V ictorious in the sky W e'll run the race with gratitude X alting God most high Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but... Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I will open up your heart..." "You will find Jesus there," the boy interrupted . The surgeon looked up, annoyed "I will cut your heart open," he continued, “ to see how much damage has been done ..." "But when you open up my heart, you will find Jesus in there," said the boy. The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up, and I will plan what to do next." "But you will find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You will find Him in my heart.” The surgeon had had enough. "I will tell you what I will find in your heart. I will find damaged muscle, low blood supply , and weakened vessels. And I will find out if I can make you well." "You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there ." The surgeon left. The surgeon sat in his of...

Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? A: Psalms 117 Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible? A: Psalms 119 Q: Which chapter is in the center of the Bible? A: Psalms 118 Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118Add these numbers up and you get 1188. Q: What is the center verse in the Bible? A: Psalms 118:8 Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives? The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word! Psalms 118:8 (NKJV) says, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was God in the center of it)?

Diane, a young university student, was home for the summer.  She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year.  She ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone.  She was not afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.  As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked "God" to keep her safe from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it.  However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.  She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for "God's" protection.  Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.  When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home sa...

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods. "What majestic trees!  What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself.  As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him.  He turned to look. He saw a 7 foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer.  His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster.  He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.  At that instant, the Atheist cried out, "Oh, my God..." Time stopped..... The bear froze..... The forest was silent....... As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky:  "You deny my existence...

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve.  He had not been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away.  He had no decorations, no tree, and no lights.  It was just another day to him.  He did not hate Christmas; he just could not find a reason to celebrate.  There were no children in his life.     He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.  Instead of throwing the man out, George (“Old George” as he was known by his customers) told the man to come and sit by the space heater to warm up.   "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger.  "I see you're   busy.  I'll just go."   "Not without something hot in your belly," George turned and opened a wide mouth thermos and handed it to the stranger.  "It ain't much, but it's hot ...

(image placeholder) Mark EarleyPrison Fellowship President The glossy, coffee-table book was grandly titled The Greatest Weddings of All Time . It featured media stars like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, Ted Turner and Jane Fonda. Sadly, most relationships like those didn't last very long -- which is probably why the book celebrates great weddings instead of great marriages. Many of these couples apparently had no idea what qualities to look for in a spouse, or how to keep a marriage together. This is tragic -- not only for the people involved, but also because many of our young people idolize those they watch on television or in films. And they're imitating what they see -- one reason the divorce rate even among Christians is so high. What is the Church doing about this? Not nearly enough. Too many churches have allowed their role to deteriorate to being little more than what author Mike McManus labels "...

Two Becoming One by Barry R. Leventhal, Ph.D. One sign of a growing economy is the increase of building projects. And in the divine economy, the same is true. However else we may measure spiritual growth and development, especially in our marriages and families, one thing is for sure: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” That is the way the wise King Solomon put it in Psalm 127.   He knew what we need to constantly bear in mind: We are totally dependent on God to build our marriages and families. Without such a total reliance upon Him, all of our marriage seminars, biblical principles, and church activities are doomed to failure.   So what does this kind of total dependency on God look like? If we are to keep from “laboring in vain” in our marriages and families, how can we trust Him in all aspects of our lives? In Psalm 127, King Solomon gives us the divine blueprint for marriage and family faith. This building blueprint comprises three spiritual bricks that...

One day, one friend asked another, "How is it that you are always so happy?You have so much energy,and you never seem to get down."With her eyes smiling, she said, "I know the Secret!"“What secret is that?"To which she replied, "I'll tell you all about it,but you have to promise to share the Secret with others.""The Secret is this:I have learned there is little I can do in mylife that will make me truly happy.I must depend on God to make mehappy and to meet my needs.When a need arises in my life, I have totrust God to supply according to HIS riches.I have learned most of the time I don't need halfof what I think I do.He has never let me down.Since I learned that 'Secret', I am happy."The questioner's first thought was,"That's too simple!"But upon reflecting over her own lifeshe recalled how she thought a biggerhouse would make her happy, but it didn't!She thought a better paying job wouldmake her happy, ...

Characteristics And Attitudes Of A Godly Woman         A meek and quiet spirit   . . . let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.  (1 Peter 3:4)   A meek and quiet spirit is the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest. It is looking beyond all that she is and that is happening to her and looking to God, seeing Him in control of it all. It is a calmness of spirit and a quietness that is not occupied with herself, but has God’s eternal perspective before her eyes.         A submissive spirit to her husband’s rule over her   To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall bring forth children; yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16)         Self-controlled, holy, and pure in her behavior.   . . . be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the w...

Max Lucado The secret to loving is living loved. This is the forgotten first step in relationships. Remember Paul's prayer? "May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love" (Eph. 3:17 NLT). As a tree draws nutrients from the soil, we draw nourishment from the Father. But what if the tree has no contact with the soil? I was thinking of this yesterday as I disassembled our Christmas tree. That's my traditional New Year's Day chore. Remove the ornaments, carry out the tree, and sweep up all the needles. There are thousands of them! The tree is falling apart. Blame it on bad rooting. For two weeks this tree has been planted in a metal bowl. What comes from a tree holder? Sound familiar? Does bumping into certain people leave you brittle, breakable, and fruitless? Do you easily fall apart? If so, your love may be grounded in the wrong soil. It may be rooted in their love (which is fickle) or in your resolve to love (which is frail). John urges us...

CONVICTS US (John 16:8-11) 8  "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9  concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10  and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11  and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. GUIDES US IN ALL TRUTH (John 16:12-15) 12  "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13  "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14  "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15  "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.       LEADS US (Romans 8:14) 14  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ASSURES US...