After all, you have never yet struggled against sin and temptation until you sweat great drops of blood. And have you quite forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his child? He said, "My son, don't be angry when the Lord punishes you. Don't be discouraged when he has to show you where you were wrong. For when he punishes you, it proves he loves you. When he whips you it proves you are really his child." Let God train you, for he is doing what any loving father does

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord, let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around tho

See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children - think of it - and we really are! But since most people don't know God, naturally they don't understand that we are his children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, right now, and we can't even imagine what it is going to be like later on. But we do know this, that when he comes we will be like him, as a result of seeing him as he really is. 1 John 3:1-2 (TLB) And since

Read Romans 12: 9-21 The Marks of the True Christian "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6: 8 (NRSV) Wilma Rose Vernich is from Tennessee. One day while she was cooking yet another big meal in their family kitchen, she signed and asked aloud, "What will others remember most about me when I'm gone - the cooking or the cleaning?" Her husband jokingly su

Paul writes: How grateful I am and how I praise the Lord that you are helping me again. I know you have always been anxious to send what you could, but for a while you didn't have the chance. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want, for I can

I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keep you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber or sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your coming out and your going

Next morning as the disciples passed the fig tree he (Jesus) had cursed, they saw that it was withered from the roots! Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day, and exclaimed, "Look, Teacher! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" In reply Jesus said to the disciples, "If you only have faith in God - this is the absolute truth - you can say to this Mount of Olives, 'Rise up and fall into the Mediterranean,' and your command will be obeyed. All

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Hebrews 13: 1-3 (NRSV) Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:9 (NIV) Lollie Hofer is from Nebraska. Her twelve-year-old son, Mike, yelled for her

"But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said

Never tire of loyalty and kindness. Hold these virtues tightly. Write them deep within your heart. If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3:3-6 (TLB) The problem with this world is that it doesn't fit. Oh, it will do for now, but it isn't tailor-made. We wer