God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

~Saturday Stories~

As a boy, Brother Andrew had always dreamed of "adventure", but little did he know just how adventurous God's plans for him were. The Iron Curtain that held so many out could not hold him when he was smuggling Bibles and encouraging the Church. God closed the eyes of the officers at checkpoints, God let rain fall so no one would see them unpacking Bibles in the car, God provided enough money just when it was needed. And so, so much more...  

I don't read much non-fiction, but this was ABSOLUTELY GREAT! I could almost imagine the places he was describing, I would worry about how they were going to get out of this one. But God always provided. Fast-paced and insightful, this book is a true life story like not many other. I recommend everyone over twelve read it. 

The Iron Curtain isn't there anymore, but God's Smuggler ends with a call - to the growing world of Islam. Here is Open Door's website for more info on how YOU can help the persecuted Christians out there. 

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die.  Revelation 3:2a (NIV)

Abreast

~Friday for Friends~

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

Continuing the Friday for Friends post series, we have the word "abreast", which means "side by side". (Webster's dictionary, 1993)

Friends usually do a lot of fun things together. It's unique, interesting, refreshing. It's something we enjoy doing.

But being friends means sticking with each other even when the going is rough. When you'd rather be doing something else or when you're  just tired. It means 'being there' for each other - 24/7. Well, not really, but as much as you can.

The best Friend of all is, of course, Jesus.
He is really with us 24/7 and He'll always be there for us.

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mathew 28:20

Praying for others

~Tuesday Thoughts~

A week or so ago, I had at least three people say they'll pray for me. That can be SO uplifting and cool. Praying is talking to God and it's wonderful to know that someone will mention you in their own conversation with the Almighty.

It's something you can always do for others no matter what. Do you have a friend or relative who's having a hard time financially? Pray for them. Are they sick? Pray for them. Are they having doubts about the faith? Pray for them.

And let them know that they are in your prayers.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16 (NIV)

We Can't Wait Any Longer

~Monday Movies & Music~

A thought-provoking song : We Can't Wait Any Longer by Michael W. Smith. Here are the lyrics.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

Think about it.

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill

~Saturday Stories~ 

Typical Ellie: I’m ninety-nine percent sure the only reason I’m interested in Palmer Davis is because I know without a doubt I could never have him. “Ellie?” I turn from the doorway— the one Palmer stands in with Diego Ortiz—and face Lucy. 

Ellie Sweet is just a usual girl trying to survive high school with her friends. But then those friends decide that they're too cool for her and avoid her. And what's worse is that her secret crush is shouted out for the whole world to hear. Now's the time for Ellie's sweet revenge - writing a novel. 

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet was a very interesting story. I could understand Ellie on many levels. And I loved her not-cruel-and-often-funny sarcasm from the start. Reading about a writer was so fun too. What would really make this book great, in my opinion, would be more about God. Ellie says she's a Christian and she doesn't party, but otherwise there's not too much about her faith. 

The sequel to The Revised Life is The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet. Another book of Stephanie Morrill's is her novella Throwing Stones, which is free on her website.

For more on Stephanie Morrill visit her website and Facebook page. She is the founder of Go Teen Writers, a blog with lots of writing advice.  

Abiding

~Friday for Friends~

Continuing the Friday for Friends post series, the next word is "abide".

Abide means "to tolerate; to bear; to remain; to last; to conform to; to comply with". (Webster's dictionary, 1993)

Let's take the first 3 meanings. To be real friends with someone means to remain with him, even if you don't quite agree. I don't mean when he/she is sinning_- that's different-but when you just don't think alike on a topic. Like music tastes, book favories, the amount of risk you're willing to take. Maybe it just drives you nuts when your friend goes babbling on about her garden and you don't know the first thing there is to it. Or you're waiting for his soccer practice to end and he's taking a good long while in the locker room. Or maybe she's crying her heart out and you just don't see what's the big deal.

We're all different. Now matter how alike you and your friend are, there are always differences. We should try not to concentrate on them, but rather on the things that bring us close.

Just try to imagine how much God bears with us!

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV) says "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

Amen!

God's glory

~Tuesday Thoughts~

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 (NIV) 

Sometimes we sort of forget how glorious our God is. The comparison in this passage is to Exodus 34:29-35 where Moses's face is radiant after talking with God. If that was glorious, we can't begin to imagine how glorious "the ministry that brings righteousness" is. Our God is a God of glory. And He's merciful to let us come and know Him. 

Amen!