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Read more: 300 miles later

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Read more: Another Day...

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I imagine it's a very scary thing for athletes who have to perform in front of a crowd. But ask any one of them and they?ll tell you it's great to play in their home-town. The fans can make the difference between a win and a loss. Nobody wants to disappoint the home-town crowd. Their cheers energize the athletes and help them to give their best. One high school athlete, for instance, quickly gives his home-town fans an assist for the performance that helped send him to the Sydney Olympics. ?It was certainly a big gush of wind at my back,? he said. ?I think I harnessed it.?

As I spoke at a women's retreat recently and had my own personal cheering section, I understood what that ?gush of wind at my back? feels like. It made a big difference to know many in the audience were supportive. There was one elderly lady there, whom I had never met, but almost from the moment I started to speak she leaned forward in her seat. It wasn't long before she was nodding her head and smiling. Her whole demeanor seemed to shout, ?Yes! You go, girl!? My eyes frequently returned to her and I was able to harness her encouragement and speak with confidence.

In the book of Hebrews, the apostle Paul talks . . .

Read more: Playing for the Home Town Crowd

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Sat on a bench at the mall one day, and I mall-watched! A parade of humanity streamed by--people of every feature, face, and fashion imaginable. Now my real preference is to "boardwalk-watch" by the ocean, but seeing I live in the Midwest, I have a slight geography problem! I just don't let it spoil my fun, though, for I find it fascinating to watch people anywhere--people-lover that I am!

I know Someone else who is a people-lover--He even watches ME! In fact, today, on Mother's Day, He sits by the Well and watches us all...and He's not just seeing moms. He's seeing women of every feature, face, and fashion imaginable. Women displaying every facet of human emotion--joy and sorrow, love and loneliness, hurt and heaven--some are mothers, some are not, but each one is watched and loved by the Well-Watcher on this special day.

You see, the Well-Watcher knows that whatever our situation, we become drained of the resources we need for life. He understands too that some special days are not special to everyone. Unexpressed dreams, wishes, memories, and hurts? He know--and He cares. Exhausted bodies, worn spirits, weary souls? He knows--and He cares. Fragmented, funless families? He knows that too--and He . . .

Read more: The Well Watcher

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There's a thing that we do in all cultures and in all languages that is the same. It is so common that we almost don't even think of the significance of it. For a parent it's a privilege, for children, an expression of preciousness, for organizations, an expression of identity? what I'm talking about is that we name children, corporations and pets and sometimes even cars, trucks and various kinds of machines. You've certainly done that, in fact most of us in this room have probably named someone or something. I once had a 1966 Chev pick up that I named ?Patches?, for obvious reasons. Names have meaning don't they, it's unlikely that you?ll call a pure white dog , 'spot?. Peoples names have meaning too, though it's not always that clear. For instance the name ?Karen? means ?Pure?, the name 'marcia? means ?Brave?, the name ?Jeffrey? means ?Gift of Peace?. It's interesting to note that the world's most favorite name for a baby boy has not changed since 1999, and the most favorite name for a girl has not changed since 1996? Jacob and Emily.

Okay, so why all this talk about names, what does this have to do with Palm Sunday? Well if you have a name, and that name not only means something, it in a sense represents you, that is your reputation is attached to your name, then is this also true for . . .

Read more: Glorify Thy Name

  1. Prayer - Our Daily Communication With God
  2. Gordon's Challenge at Talladega
  3. Observations About an Unknown God
  4. The Comfort of the Visible King

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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