Eternally Minded

I for one am very guilty of thinking I and my puny faith can be of no use to God. I have the feeling I'm not alone. Today the world is breeding our generation to be self-centered and introverted, yet we wonder why suicide rates and depression stats are sky high: Could it be that young people feel void of purpose? We are God's created treasures: nothing else is made in God's image the way we are. God doesn't look like us, but He has given us a will, emotions, and a mind-- the ability to create. Elephants don't have these gifts, neither do apes, plankton, or beetles. That because we are made in God's image, special-- PRECIOUS-- in His sight. "So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27 "Sure, I'm made in God's image. Big deal. Nothing I've never heard before." How could God ever use me? I want to propose to you the importance of individual...

Proverbs 4:25 - Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. I recently read The Hiding Place  by Corrie Ten Boom. I must confess, going into it I didn't want to read it. I was only doing it because I told my friend I would. (It was a huge encouragement and is now at the top of my recommendations list.) Something from it that stood out to me was Betsie Ten Boom and her resolute faith. In one instance, when she had been beaten in the prison camp, Corrie was trying to help her. But she joyfully pushed her away and said, "Don't look at [my wounds], Corrie. Look only at Jesus."  Let me tell you, that rocked my world. I got to thinking, "How many of my troubles are a reality because I've taken my focus off Jesus and have been distracted with myself?" The answer hurt. Too many.  Throughout scripture, the idea is given that we must look to Christ to be delivered. In the Old Testament, because the People of Israel spoke again...