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melissaOn December 1, 1997, Missy Jenkins was one of seven students gunned down at Heath High School in Paducah, Kentucky, following a school prayer meeting. A bullet damaged her spinal cord, leaving Missy dependent upon braces and a walker in order to move around.

At the time of the shooting, Jenkins was 15-years-old and described herself as "without direction." During her convalescence, she not only found the will to stay alive, but the determination to go forward in a positive direction with her life.
"I realized I did not die that morning. I'm all here. I'm alive," said Missy in a recent interview.

On December 18, 2004, carried by that resolve, Missy received a bachelor's degree in . . .

Read more: Don't Be A Victim

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No, I don't mean your kids--or mine--although there are days that either may qualify for the grand prize, I'm sure! AND I don't mean the terrorists on the streets of our cities that bomb buildings and blow up people, even including themselves sometimes, with no regard to life or the laws of the land. It's a stressful, scary world we live in....stress in the home, scare in the world...but THAT's not what I'm talking about.

You can't see or touch him; you?ll never catch him with human hands; you?ll never try him in a court of law--but he is the REAL terror of this world. He has his own in his grasp, so he doesn't bother them...but be a Christian living for the Lord, winning souls to the Kingdom, doing good in His Name...and the terrorist on the loose will be after YOU!

He will attack you--body, mind, soul and spirit. He will harass and hamper you every way he can. He?ll use every trick in the book to defeat, discourage, depress and dismay you...IF you let him. The terrorist from hell knows no backing down--UNLESS you . . .

Read more: Terrorist on the Loose!?!

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The C.E.O. stares blindly out at the spectacular view from his office window. After years of conniving and manipulation he is at the helm of the company. He had great plans for his future but circumstances have dictated otherwise. He ponders the wreckage of two failed marriages and children who rarely call. He has no friends in the company. His dictatorial style of management left no room for friendship. He tries to think of someone, anyone he can call just to talk, just to help ease the burden of his position. He can think of no one. He stares at the year-end financial statement lying on his solid oak desk. The profit margin has shrunk and his benefits have disappeared. He knows it will be a matter of days before he is unemployed. A man who controlled the flow of millions of dollars and the lives of thousands of employees has hit the brick wall of reality. His control of his own destiny was an illusion.

Since the garden of Eden, control has been a big issue. It was Satan?­s ploy to tempt Eve with the illusion that she could control her own destiny. Adam thought that would be a good thing. We have lived with that illusion ever since. Eventually, the illusion runs into . . .

Read more: Scratch the Surface and What Do You Find?

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You hear people moaning and groaning about what a bad life they have! They seem to never be satisfied with anything that ever comes their way. They covet what others have, or what others are doing. I haven't decided if it's because of the way they've been brought up, their inability to make a good life, or maybe they are jealous of what others have.

When sin fills our lives, we can never be satisfied. The enemy is always on our back, telling us that things aren't good for us. We need to get out there and 'take on the world?.....so to speak! And, we usually listen (confess up!) to the enemy.

Life is worth living, when you get the enemy under control, through the blood of Jesus Christ. Once, you become a Christian, and apply the Word to your life every day, there is nothing that you can't accomplish. All things are possible with God [Matt 19:26], and when you place your faith and trust in Him, then all things are possible for you. He asks only that we seek first His Kingdom and . . .

Read more: Life Worth Living

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Recently I was officiating at a funeral where I did not know many of the family particularly well. As it was near Christmas, I decided to us the idea of Advent as a departure point. I said that Christmas was the occasion for the God of the ages to come into the world in a unique way. That way was by becoming one of us. This is God's way of showing us His true nature.

When we contemplate our own deaths I wonder how each of us thinks about the time when we will face the God of eternity. Some face that day with faith. Others face it with fear. But when you think of meeting Jesus at the end of your life, I think it is a different matter, if you know who Jesus is.

At the internment, a family member said to me, "its comforting to know that the urn with the ashes is not my uncle. That is just an earthly body. His spirit lives on." I know this person well and could say, "yes that is true, but it is only through an earthly body that we know a person, and his earthly presence will be missed."

We can conceive of God in terms of many abstract . . .

Read more: The Whole In One

  1. Peace
  2. Forgive And Forget
  3. Between The Rock and a Hard Place
  4. The Day I Faced My Failure

Subcategories

The Spur Article Count:  92

Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada.  Her devotional book The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others.  To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com

Wonders of Creation Article Count:  37

Written By Richard Gunther.

Harris Dvores Article Count:  1

Harris Dvores is a corporate lawyer in Orlando, Florida. But only from 9 to 5. For more than 20 years, he has pursued his passion to create: everything from Christian music and church skits, to Star Trek scripts and board games. His new website, www.harrisdvores.com, is a playground for the mind and spirit. A Jewish believer, Harris has been given truly amazing stories to share about the power of God.

Rev. Spence Laycock Article Count:  49

Rev. Spence Laycock pastors at Church of the Open Bible, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada.

Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis Article Count:  2

Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis is the interim pastor at Somerset Bible Chapel, Manitoba, Canada.

Diane Davis Article Count:  1

Diane Davis, a former policewoman in Toronto, recently retired from a lengthy career as a civilian member of the Ontario Provincial Police.  Amongst many things, she is now turning her attention to writing, music, and her 5 grandchildren.  She is also Pastor Tim's mom.

Melva's Devotions Article Count:  48

Blog Writings by Melva Cooper.

Melva Cooper is a wife, mother and grandmother from Jonesboro, Arkansas. God has given her, in her retirement years, the ministry of writing for HIM. "Even in old age, you will still produce fruit" is a verse He has given her (Psalm 92:14). And it is her desire to serve Him all the days of her life.

Barb's Mantle Article Count:  59

Barbara, a Christian homemaker, began her Web Site through encouragement from her son, and a dream. It quickly became a ministry for the Lord. She began writing devotionals to encourage, inspire, and build up spiritually those coming to her site.  Barbara is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

Sandra Boyte Article Count:  10

Writing poetry that brings glory to God is Sandra's passion.  No matter where she has lived, or what she has gone through, she has found that God is always there before her to lead her in His paths and to catch her when she falls.  Married, with two sons two granddaughters on the way, Sandra's future goals include writing more poetry trying her hand at writing short devotionals for children.

Dr. Harold McNabb Article Count:  98

Dr. Harold McNabb pastors at Westshore Presbyterian Church in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Peggie's Den Article Count:  77

"Ever feel as though life is a lions' den and like Daniel, you're right in the middle of it all? Enjoy these "Devotions from the Den" (Lions 'n Life at Peggie's Place) and delight in God's promises of love, joy and peace for whatever is happening in YOUR den today!"

Misc Article Count:  77

Miscellaneous archived items.

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