Everlasting Arms

Jul 27
2005

http://www.bennycornett.com

Read Psalm 103:13-18

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

-Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)

OFTEN I step out on the balcony of my apartment and listen to the chirping birds as they light on the branches of a nearby tree. One day it was not the chirping of the birds that drew my attention but the cries of a child. The child, barely two years old, was clinging to a fence and crying at the top of his voice. But why? I realized the loud sounds from the rice factory at the rear of our apartment caused the child’s fear and distress.

Upon hearing the child’s cries, the boy’s father hurried over to the child and quickly gathered him up in his arms. The father tried to dispel the child’s fears by holding him gently but securely. The child became noticeably calmer, safe in the loving arms of his father. In the same way, when we seek refuge in God, we can experience peace in situations that challenge or frighten us.

Irma Dominguez (Matanzas, Cuba)

Prayer
Loving Father, may we find reassurance and comfort in your protective arms. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Thought For The Day
In fearsome times I will seek refuge in the loving arms of God.

Prayer Focus
Those who are afraid

Desperate

Jul 26
2005

http://www.bennycornett.com

Read Acts 2:42-47

Peter answered, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

-John 6:68-69 (NRSV)

I was desperate. Every morning I woke up and tried to make life “work.” I showered, pulled on my trousers, and ate my cereal. Out in the world, I made my own way, without giving thought to God. I understood the way to fellowship with God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. But still I labored on my own to make life work.

Then a crisis arose. An area of secret sin became known. I could not deal with this by my own efforts, and I felt trapped by tight fingers of shame.

God never intended it to be this way. Reading through the Bible, I saw that God wants us to have life and that we find the life of God within a community of faith. I reached out to Christian friends who loved me despite my sin. Through knowing them, I came to realize that life doesn’t work without God’s love expressed through the community of God’s people. This love brings life even in the midst of sin’s death grip.

Trying to live on my own, apart from the body of Christ, brought me to despair. I now find life with others who desperately seek Christ — together.

Jim Jannotti (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)

Prayer
Thank you, God, for giving us life in Christ and for allowing us to share it with others. Amen.

Thought For The Day
We find the way to life in fellowship with God’s people.

Prayer Focus
The body of Christ around the world.

A Door into Life

Jul 25
2005

http://www.bennycornett.com

This is something that I do everyday and I thought that I would share it with you. This will also help me in being consistant with my daily devotional readings…hope everyone enjoys.

The website that I use is http://upperroom.org/devotional/.

As all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-24

MY father had been sick for some time before he was diagnosed with lung, bladder, and prostate cancer. My six siblings and I gathered to celebrate his 75th birthday, and not long after that celebration he was no longer able to get out of bed. Daddy’s illness was a difficult time for our close-knit family. We sang to him, read scripture, laughed and reminisced. But we also began grieving the loss that was soon to come. We wanted him to walk again, to eat again, to sing again — to be active and vibrant again.

Yet, through prayer and our faith, we were reminded that Christ’s resurrection has robbed death of its destructive power. We need not fear death because in Christ, death ushers us into the full presence of God to live as we have never lived before.

God who cares for us now also tenderly holds our future. When our life is over on earth, we are perfectly and completely in God’s care and will be forever.

Sherry Brooks Martin (South Carolina, U.S.A.)

Prayer
Dear Lord, we do not understand death, loss, and separation. Help us as we face them to remember that for followers of Christ, death is not the end of our existence but the beginning of unlimited life. Amen.

Thought For The Day
Christ shows us that death is the way to life.

Those facing a loved one’s death

RE: Vacation

Jul 25
2005

http://www.bennycornett.com

We have made it back from our vacation…now it is back to the grind.

San Antonio was great as usual. We made it to Sea World and had a blast there. There is sooo much more at Sea World now than there was 12 or 13 years ago. There was a dolphin petting and feeding pool, the kids loved that. Anheuser-Busch has added a beer school and, of course, free beer samples…that was nice, I loved that. And the water park was pretty cool, literally, and Mari loved that. We didn’t make it to the water park until 40 minutes before they closed it, that wasn’t very good so next time we go we will spend more time there. The Shamu Adventure show was very cool. The Steel Eel and the Great White were very fun rides. The log ride was ok but the wait, long lines, was not worth it IMO.

We also made it to the Childrens Museum and the BuckHorn Saloon & Museum. The kids loved the Childrens Museum…lots of fun playing. We all enjoyed the BuckHorn, I would suggest that it be a stop for everyone that makes it to San Antonio.

And of course we made it to the Alamo…can’t go to San Antonio without visiting the Alamo.

Our trip to Austin was pretty good also. I really enjoyed visiting the Capital. We really didn’t do much while we were there, I guess we were already tired because of San Antonio. We took the kids out to Chucky Cheese and watched a movie…Charlie and the Chocolate Factory…very funny.

All in all, we had a great vacation. I hope to add some pictures soon.

VACATION!

Jul 14
2005

http://www.bennycornett.com

Man, thought it would never get here. It is finally time for a week long vacation starting Friday afternoon. We are off to San Antonio for three days then to Austin for two or three more days, fun…fun…fun.

San Antonio:

  • Sea World
  • Childrens Museum
  • BuckHorn Saloon & Museum
  • The Magik Theatre

Austin:

  • Texas History Museum
  • Capital
  • Omni Theatre
  • And some other cool stuff

There will be plenty of time for fun and relaxation for me and the family….aaahhhh….almost here.