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It happened in the kitchen. I was chatting with a friend while preparing supper. He'd stopped in unexpectedly so I was "adding a potato to the pot," so to speak. As I made trips back and forth between the stove and the fridge, I noticed our friend's eyes kept returning to one spot ? the door of the refrigerator. My children were quite young at this time, so that door was covered with a jumble of magnetic numbers and letters. As my friend and I chatted, he slowly made his way toward it. Without skipping a beat in the conversation, he began arranging the magnets. It wasn't until my husband called him into the living room that I realized he had put all the numbers and letters in order, except for the x, y and z. They were hiding on the side of the fridge.

Order is important to us. We function best when things are in place. But sometimes the need to control our environment can go to extremes. Like my friend who could not stand to see that jumble of letters and numbers on my fridge, we demand that things be put right. But sometimes it's the chaos that suits God's purposes. Sometimes God has to . . .

Read more: Looking for X, Y and Z

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"Ok, now do fifteen leg stretches." It was the voice of my Physical Therapist, Tracy.
Three times a week Tracy would fill the water tank up to my shoulders and begin my exercises. After knee bends and leg and toe stretches, the treadmill under the water would be turned on for several minutes. I could now do this procedure from memory.

I loved the friendship and communication that was established between us when therapy was first needed three years prior. Tracy is younger than my daughters, but kindred spirits developed as she worked diligently to strengthen me physically following major surgery.

Now, more degenerative back problems had been found and my physician ordered another series of physical therapy. I requested, and was allowed to have, Tracy once more as my therapist.

Read more: Give Jesus A Hug

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What happens for you when you walk past a mirror?
Are you pleased? Do you look away?
Sometime if I get up in the middle of the night and turn on the bathroom light, I am frankly startled by what I see. I have been tempted to call 911 a time or two. I figure anyone looking that rough must need help.

But even when we look in the mirror, we don't see what others see. I think that's why many of us find our own photograph never looks quite right. Its because our everyday view of ourselves is flip flop.

The rich and famous hire professional consultants to trim and mold their image so they are seen the way they hope to be seen.
But every now and then the mask slips and reality leaks out.

Do you ever wonder how God sees you?
I know that I do.

Read more: Who Does God Think We Are?

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All of us want to be loved. There's a need instilled within us that just strives for attention and love. Lots of people get like and love all mixed up. You can like someone, but not love them. Or, you can love someone and not really like how they are.

Love, in the secular sense, is sometimes mistaken to always be intimacy with someone. That is not always the case. We can have an affection for someone, feel very close to them, as in our siblings, parents, or kinfolks. Then, there is the attraction we feel toward someone, as if we feel a oneness with them ,someone with whom we would like to spend our life.

There is a closeness we feel with someone, when we really love them. When they hurt, we hurt. When they have problems, it hurts us to . . .

Read more: The Love Of God

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I was reading a newspaper the other day and noticed something interesting. A fairly well-known ministry has just changed how it refers to itself in advertising. Its full name is no longer apparent. Instead, the logo is enlarged and an anagram prominent. The name is there only in very small print. Hmmm. I wondered why. Is there something attached to the name that the organization no longer wants identified with them? Are they trying to move away from a previous public perception of their ministry? Are they just trying to publicize a new image, or are they trying to hide something?

I notice a number of well-known fast-food restaurants are doing the same thing. One in particular caught my attention because it is quite obvious they are trying desperately to improve their image. There's a word in their name that doesn't sit well with health- conscious consumers these days. Their food doesn't sit very well in the stomach either and I suspect that's why they've switched to the anagram. It is no doubt a lot less expensive to change their name than to change their product. I suppose they hope that eventually the public will forget what the initials stand for. They're hoping to cover their sins instead of getting rid of them.

Read more: A Change In Name

  1. My Cup Runneth Over
  2. Overtime
  3. The Baptismal Vows of Jesus
  4. We Have Been Warned

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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