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And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because
they tested the LORD saying, ?Is the LORD among us or not?? Exodus 17:7

This past week in our prayer group,Georgina and I asked for prayers for our families in Houston, and my nephew in Galveston, Texas. Our prayers were answered. Also this week, we watched an aircraft circle Los Angeles waiting to land because the nose wheel had turned at ninety degrees and would not retract. I along with millions watched on TV in the safety of home as the plane managed a safe landing. I prayed for them too, I am sure along with millions of others. God answered those prayers.

But what about all the others who were not so fortunate? Did God love Houston better than New Orleans, or south Texas better than the gulf coast of Mississippi?
Or better than any others who lost their lives in mishaps.
Why does God seem to respond to one request, and seemingly not to another?

Read more: Where is God?

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The lenses in your eyes are the only transparent tissues in your body.  If they were not transparent you could not see these words.  How do these two lenses form?  They are produced by some unique activity in a small number of cells, which activate a self-destruct program, which stops them from developing just before they are complete - leaving empty, but sustainable cells that transmit visible light.

The eye's lens is a biological marvel.  It is dense, flexible and also clear.  If it were imperfect in any way your vision would be warped or blurred, or you may be overcome by glare.  If it had any hint of colour it would discolour your vision.

The lens is made of about 1000 layers of perfectly clear, living cells.  It has no melanin and no blood supply.  Cartilage is similar, yet it is translucent.  This is because the cells in cartilage are grouped at many different angles, so light cannot pass evenly through them.  The cells in the lens are stacked in layers, like bricks in a wall. Every cell is precisely . . .

Read more: Wonders of Creation - The Eye Lens

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On April 14th, 2003 scientists announced to the world that they had finished sequencing the human genome. This meant they had managed to log the three billion pairs of DNA nucleotides (specially shaped molecules) that describe how to make a human being.

One of the leaders of the Human Genome Project (Francis Collins) said this was just 'the end of the beginning?, because comparatively nothing was known about how those strings of molecules controlled the production of all the billions of different processes that make up a living human body.

DNA's alphabet was known to consist of only four types of nucleotide, so the information encoded in the double helix had to be DECODED according to some rules to tell cells which of the 20 amino acids to string together, to make the thousands of proteins that are needed to make a viable living organism.

Since 2003 more discoveries have revealed how sophisticated the code built into DNA really is. It behaves like intelligent programming, and is quite literally a CODE.

Genetic instructions are built into DNA and RNA as a sequence of nucleotides, but in order to produce a protein this code has to be altered into another system of symbols ? a bit like changing Morse code into English. One code is changed into another. This involves an enormous amount of decryption and encryption.

Read more: Wonders of Creation - DNA

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One of the routines in worship is our practice of saying the Lord's Prayer in unison.
As you know, the Lord's prayer says, "give us this day our daily bread".
That's a simple enough statement. I suppose most of us think of it from time to time, but I have to confess that repetition doesn't always cause me to think more deeply. In fact as often as not I find myself having to work at thinking about what I am saying.
I suspect you experience the same.

So, give us this day our daily bread.
When we are eating all we need, and often, more than we need, this does not strike at the heart of our concerns.
But when you don't have enough to eat or enough to pay the bills, it is uppermost on the mind.
This prayer is for God's provision for our daily needs. Food to eat, a roof over our head, clothes, school supplies...you know the list. Maybe when we pray it next time, we should pause for a moment and think about the significance. It is enormously important.

Read more: What Is It?

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One thing very few people do is sit down with a given amount of time and a pile of facts and think things through. The result of such an exercise is quite often a reversal in what was previously believed ? which may be one reason why such an activity is so seldom pursued! But isn't it more important to know the truth, than to cling to error?

Most people look for data which will confirm what they already believe, and ignore or rationalize what we do not want to believe. All of us are prone to this bias in our thinking ? even the most sincere Christians, and open-minded scientists. It is part of our human nature to build up a personal base of what we consider to be solid facts.

In a survey of Americans, a few years ago, it was found that about 30% believed UFOs were space vehicles from other civilizations, 60% believed in ESP, 40% thought astrology was scientific, 32% believed in lucky numbers, and 70% believed magnetic therapy was based on good science.

The Bible counters the natural bias of . . .

Read more: Wonders of Creation - Facts

  1. Will Life Ever Be Normal Again?
  2. Stirring The Paint
  3. School Daze ... and Knights!
  4. When God Believes - Part 2

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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