"Who doesn't know that the Lord does things like that? Ask the dumbest beast - he knows that it is so; ask the birds - they will tell you; or let the earth teach you, or the fish of the sea. For the soul of every living thing is in the hand of God, and the breath of all mankind." Job 12: 7-10 (TLB) Pat Luffman Rowland is from Tennessee. A while ago, Pat suffered quite a few losses in a short period of time. Days were filled with sadness as sorrow after sorrow came her way. E

O how abundant is your goodness that you have laid up for those who fear you, and accomplished for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of everyone! In the shelter of your presence you hide them from human plots; you hold them safe under your shelter from contentious tongues. Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as a city under siege. I had said in my alarm, "I am driven far from your sight." But you heard my supplic

Read John 19: 17-30 The story of Jesus on the cross. Then he said to all, "Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me! Luke 9: 23 (TLB) Steven Paul Simmons lives in Texas. Sitting in jail, Steven learned to occupy his time with things he normally would not do, such as creative writing and drawing. With his newfound Christian walk, Steven decided to draw a cross as a visual reminde

Read 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, bu it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are his. The Holy Spirit displays God's power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church. 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7 (TLB)

Read John 11: 1-45 The story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. But when Jesus heard about it he said, "The purpose of his illness is not death, but for the glory of God. I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this situation." Although Jesus was very fond of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days and made no move to go to them. John 11: 4-6 (TLB) Martha and Mary were dealing with a painful experience: their brother was ill, and they ne

Read Romans 8: 28-39 What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won't he also surely give us everything else? Romans 8:31-32 (TLB) Chuck Kralik is from Missouri. On a recent visit at his sister-in-law's house in Nebraska, Chuck noticed a baby robin that had fallen into a basement window well. The well was too deep for the bird to free itse

The point is this: The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8 (NRSV) Christine Adhikari lives in Georgia. One

God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble! There is a river of joy flowing through the City of our God - the sacred home of the God above all gods. God himself is living in that City; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help. The nations rant and rave in anger

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he wh

The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him, to those who seek for him It is good both to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a young man to be under discipline, for it causes him to sit apart in silence beneath the Lord's demands, to lie face downward in the dust; then at last there is hope for him. Let him turn the other cheek to those who strike him, and accept their awful insults, for the Lord will not abandon him forever. Althou