Turn on the television on any given day and you will see news of terrorist group activity. It might be at a movie theater, a restaurant, a school, a business, a marathon or even a church building. This can lead one to think there is no safe place in this world. Just taking care of one’s day to day responsibilities can end in tragedy. This may make one feel insecure, lost and nervous. Where can we go from harm? Where can we find a safe place? We can find safety in God Almighty. When we are afraid, we must go to God. When we are unsure of our future, we must go to God. Psalm 46:1-2 refers to God as our refuge. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” This is such a reassuring Scripture to the Christian! It reminds us that the Creator of the earth and mountains is in control. He is our refuge. God will be present despite whatever comes our way. Psalm 46:10 states, “Be still and know that I am God.” This reminds Christians there is no need for panic, no need for anxiety and no need to get upset; be still, be calm. He is God and is in full control. What comfort! What a feeling of safety and security! We can find safety in God

“Please take this down to the recyclable basket,” I asked my young son as I handed him the plastic bottle. He took the bottle as he swallowed hard and choked back his tears. He took a step in the right direction then stopped and hollered at me, “I can’t, I’m scared!” The recyclable basket was located in our basement, and this night was dark and cold. Though the basement is clean and carpeted with plenty of possible lights along the way, my son had a fear that overrode the facts. He was afraid and that’s all that he cared to consider. As adults, we also have fears, and as Christians, fear can affect our walk with our Lord. Yet, as His disciples, we need not be slaves to fear. Romans 8:15 states, “For you did not receive the Spirit of bondage again to fear but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” One way fear can affect our walk with the Lord is that fear keeps us frozen. Have you ever found yourself in a situation with which you knew you were unhappy, but due to fear you made no change? This could be with your job, a relationship, where you live, your health or any number of situations. Perhaps you are in a place where sin in present, and yet you make no change for you fear the future. Second Timothy 1:7 states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but

I paced back and forth the living room floor, not really knowing what to do with myself. I couldn’t believe I had been treated this way. I felt hurt. I felt angry. I felt such disappointment. It was then that a bit of advice, given from a friend years ago, had come to my memory. “When you have ill-feelings, study the life of Jesus.” Feeling persecuted, I opened my Bible to Luke 22 and 23, the account of the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. As I began to read this familiar text, a new significance seemed to leap off the pages. Here are three lessons I learned from the cross that night. Pray for those who cause us suffering. It is our sinful humanity that wants to retaliate and “get them back” when we have been hurt. The inspired penman affirmed that we daily have a battle going on between the carnal and the spiritual (Romans 7:15). However, if we follow the example of our Savior, Jesus the Christ, we see that He took the spiritually mature route. Luke 22 and 23 records that Jesus had just suffered hours upon hours of illegal and unfair treatment, betrayal from so called friends, a conspiracy of corruption full of lies smeared on his name, defamation of character, arrest, mocking and beatings. All alone he faced the Sanhedrin, a crew of 71 men. Our Lord faced the public who falsely accused Him and then demanded that Barabbas, who was a criminal in prison for

We are blessed here in Ohio to have such blazing orange, crimson reds and lemony yellow fall leaves to see on the trees this season. I recently took my annual autumn trip with my husband and children. We travel through parts of Ohio to admire the fall foliage, the rows of orange pumpkins and speckled gourds, the teams of mystical horses, bushel baskets full of crisp, colorful apples and the many other delights this time of year brings. At one location, a woman was selling her wares from her country cottage. I had seen rows and rows of her handmade quilts and walked to them for a closer look. The geometric shapes fit perfectly together with bright fabrics. Each shape different, yet put together made a glorious fabric collage. “How did she do that?” I thought in impressed amazement. All the while, I understood she used a pattern to make such a lovely piece of art. When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them a pattern to follow for a successful marriage. Genesis 2:18-24 reads, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” With God’s pattern, a lovely product is the end result. Likewise, when Noah built the ark, God have him a pattern (Genesis 6:13-22). Humans marvel at the monstrous size

Mary and Martha: Martha and Mary.Two sisters are they yet their views are contrary.One sister sits at the Master’s feet.The other one worries, what will her guests eat! Mary and Martha: Martha and Mary.Two sisters are they- one is calm one is weary.One sister scurries about in a rushThe other one listens in the still silent hush. Two sisters trying to put forth their best.One is so busy and one is at rest.One sister wants to make her home so cleanThe other wants wisdom from Jesus to glean. Two sisters whose views of both I can see,One sets the table and gets water for tea.The other puts spiritual things ahead of the restTwo differing views, yet which sister was blessed?”

Years ago, I worked with a lady who lived nearby my home. Our place of employment was located quite a distance from our homes, and therefore, the two of us agreed to take turns carpooling to work. The two of us had some interesting conversations on our lengthy drives to work. On one such occasion, we began a discussion on religion, and she politely asked me, “What denomination do you belong to?” I explained to her that I did not belong to any denomination, but that I was simply a Christian, a follower of Christ through reading and obeying God’s Holy Word. Frustrated, she stated that her religious party “pretty much did the same thing too,” but they called themselves by another name. She continued to insist that the group of people I worshipped with had a name other than Christian. She wanted me to tell her a name of some denomination so she could get an idea of my religious views. I took the opportunity to teach her what I could about the church for which Christ died. As I concluded, she added that though we differed on some points, we were basically the same! Could it be that two could differ such as this and be the same? Is it true that Jesus died so that people could walk separately? It has been my experience that many people take great pride in identifying themselves with their religious denominations. Just as a lengthy career title can often make one

Think in your mind of someone you love very deeply. This someone is extra special to you. You love to spend time with this person and would do anything for him/her. Isn’t that right? Now let’s say that there was going to be a gathering to honor this special someone of yours. Would you be there? Certainly, you would! Morning, noon or night you would make certain to do whatever was needed to arrive at this honorary gathering of your special loved one. Now let’s say this someone you love very deeply is Jesus, and the gathering to honor Him is when the saints assemble. Are you there?     Erroneously, some believe one can be a faithful Christian without the church. The Hebrews writer stated Christians are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some (Hebrews 10:25). Through inspiration, the message clearly states Christians are not to skip the worship, Bible classes and gathering of other Christians like some people were doing. Acts 2:42 states of the first century Christians, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” These Christians were faithful in hearing the preaching and teaching of the apostles, in fellowshipping with one another, taking the Lord’s Supper and praying. This idea of steadfastly here means “to give constant attention to a thing” (Thayer 547). Inspiration records the frequency of that constant attention: “On the first day of the week when the disciples came

The heart is an amazing organ of the human body. According to the Texas Heart Institute, “The heart weighs between 7 and 15 ounces (200 to 425 grams) and is a little larger than the size of your fist. By the end of a long life, a person’s heart may have beat (expanded and contracted) more than 3.5 billion times. In fact, each day, the average heart beats 100,000 times, pumping about 2,000 gallons (7,571 liters) of blood” (http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Anatomy/anatomy2.cfm).     The heart has four chambers. The upper chambers are called the left and right atria, and the lower chambers are called the left and right ventricles. A wall of muscle called the septum separates the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles. The left ventricle is the largest and strongest chamber in your heart. The left ventricle chamber walls are only about a half inch thick, but they have enough force to push blood through the aortic valve and into your body.    Doctors tell us that in order to have a healthy heart, it is important for us to eat low fat foods, get plenty of exercise, get the proper amount of rest and keep our bodyweight at a healthy amount for our stature.     In the Bible, the word heart is used numerous times. However, the term seldom refers to the blood-pumping organ of the human body. Alexander Cruden states, “the word heart is used in Scripture as the seat of life or strength; hence it means mind,

Have you ever greeted a person with a happy, “Good morning!” and received the snide reply, “What’s good about it?!” It seems such a shame to me that a person would be so unhappy as to reflect such a dismal attitude. It is true that life does have its trials and disappointments, yet it’s also true that we as Christians serve a trustworthy God. He’s someone on whom we can count! God never makes a promise that He won’t be sure to keep, and He promises to take care of us (cf. Matthew 6:25-34). There are many things in the world that promise they will make one happy and fill one with joy. However, it doesn’t take long to discover that the so-called joy is shallow and superficial, and it often leaves a person hurting and alone. Most people are seeking to live a happy life. If a person is looking for real happiness, he can find it simply with a S-M-I-L-E.     S- Spend time with the saints (cf. Hebrews 10:25). Christian fellowship is such a vital ingredient in a life of happiness. God created us and He, therefore, knows how we humans operate. He set up His church in a manner that we get together with others of the faith. We need other people. We need fellowship to communicate our feelings, share our sorrows, share our joys, ask for prayers and get help with our questions. In spending time with the saints, we find human companionship and strengthen our faith (cf. Philippians

I had returned home from my morning walk when I noticed my hostas were losing their deep green luster and were beginning to take on a yellow phase. As I scanned the landscape, I saw my daylilies were also following suit. It was a reminder to me that another season of change is about to take place. To God’s wonderful creation, change is inevitable, and as with autumn, each season brings about a new identity to the firmament created by the Almighty. Such is true for the Christian as well. Obedience to God’s will brings about inevitable changes.     In the first place, there is a change in name.The Messianic prophet of old prophesied of a time when God’s people would be called by a new name (Isaiah 62:2; 65:15). Luke, the beloved physician, records the fulfillment of Isaiah’s inspired prophecy. “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26, emphasis added). Like the first century church of Christ, Christians should be honored to wear this name and should do so with respect and dignity.     In the second place, there is a change in will.The Christian no longer seeks after his own desires, but rather conforms his will to the will of the master. Just as the apostle Paul affirmed, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ