Inspirational Message (67)
By Gladys McElmore
Being almost lost in the deluge of daily news of various problems, we must call on God’s help. How can we behave like Christians when we are tried and tested by Satan unexpectantly and frequently? James, a man of action, tells us in chapter 4 verse 7 to “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
By Gladys McElmore
Jochebed, Moses’ mother, evidently possessed faith in the promises of God. We find it interesting to note how her children also served God, their creator. It is difficult to trace her life’s activities, but we must agree that she was an outstanding mother and a prime example of great faith. Though she has never been vividly described in the Bible, she nevertheless became an unforgettable mother to her son Moses, her daughter Miriam and to her older son Aaron.
By Gladys McElmore
In each of these scripture readings, we learn about Miriam as a brilliant courageous sister of Aaron and Moses. When was her courage first shown? In Exodus 2, Miriam was an unnamed child, but is referred to as Moses’ sister. Courage was shown when she guarded her young brother as he floated in the Nile River while waiting to be discovered by the Pharaoh’s daughter. It took courage to ask that a Hebrew woman nurse the baby. Moses was safe at last with his own mother as his nurse.
By Gladys McElmore
We all constantly stumble as we strive to serve God. Are we able to keep our bodies in check? Let us begin with the book of James which was written probably about 45AD-48AD. Sometimes it is difficult to maintain a steadfast mind with the pressures our bodies face. The most active part of the head can be the tongue which is small, but can get us into more trouble than any other part of our bodies!
By Gladys McElmore
Feeling loved helps us to take comfort in God when circumstances confuse or upset us. Satan can make us feel abandoned at times, ignored or that God’s love is being withheld if we let him cause us to not use our steadfast minds. Can God love us in ways we do not recognize? Let us pray for a clearer sense of what it means to be loved by God. He loves us in various ways with different results. Can we learn about tough love through God? Brainstorm for examples of learning to trust and love God through trials and tribulations.
By Gladys McElmore
Why are we sometimes reluctant to serve God? Why are we often uncertain about our talents and anxious about failures? Gideon’s story may be considered an image booster as his excuses not to serve God can possibly sound familiar. In Judges 6:14-15, Gideon responded to God by saying, “My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” What did God say? “Go in the strength you have.”
By Gladys McElmore
Jesus Christ shed His blood for the redemption of humanity. We think of Jesus Christ as our intercessor and that He mediates on our behalf before God the Father. Recognition of our sins can create guilt, the need to be forgiven, overwhelming fear and we may feel the need to change our behavior patterns. As we read the scriptures we learn that Jesus Christ gave Himself as a sacrificial offering, once and for all, for our sins. In the beginning of Hebrews 9, the author discusses the worship practices God ordained such as giving the Israelites instructions for building the Tabernacle which traveled with them as they journeyed to the Promised Land. Christ did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; He took His own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us. He became a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood purified our lives from useless rituals so that we may serve God in an acceptable manner.
By Gladys McElmore
The book of Ruth is a family story with grief, complaints, gratitude, relationships, rescue tactics and a touch of romance. The story of Ruth and her family clearly reminds us that God is not to be blamed for our problems, but praised for His blessings. We always need to thank God for His goodness and mercy in our lives. In this story we see three strong characters who were true to God.
By Gladys McElmore
The prophetesses, wives, sisters and mothers of the Bible were strong, active and sometimes powerful women. These people are memorialized now and were blessed for their faithfulness to God who has special regards for women. Among some of the most interesting women in the Bible, many are nameless.
By Gladys McElmore
From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, we learn that Frances Jane Crosby (1820-1915) was also known as Frances Van Alstyne after marriage. She became blind as a six week old infant. Fanny was born in Putman County, New York (March 24, 1820) almost two hundred years ago.