Thoughts from The Bible: – 05/20/20

Significance of the first day of the week
by Terry Broome

Memorials play a big part in keeping the spirit of Patriotism alive in our country.

Read more ...

Thoughts from The Bible: – 05/13/20

The Blessing Of Motherhood
by Terry Broome

There are not many words that produce the kind of emotion in us as the word “Mother” does.

Read more ...

Thoughts from The Bible: – 05/06/20

“Are You A Disciple Of Jesus?”
by Terry Broome

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:18-20).

Read more ...

Thoughts from The Bible: – 04/29/20

A man’s growth toward God
by Terry Broome

One of the great needs of the day is a vision of the possibilities of the soul and how to attain those possibilities. Too many of us are satisfied without growth, blind to what we may become and ignorant of the means of growth. We often fail to visualize the marvelous power God has given us: “The Power To Become The Sons of God!”

This power to grow, to develop, to become, is one of the great characteristics of man as created by God. It elevates him above a brute creation. A monkey will never be anything but a bigger monkey. A tree becomes a larger tree, but mankind has been given by God the power to become more than he or she is. A young bungling surgeon can become the greatest in his field. A young musician can become an artist. Sinners can become sons of God. A babe in Christ has the power to become a spiritual giant in the service of God. John was guided by the Holy Spirit to tell us in John 1:11 – 12 (KJV) 11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

A world of discovery awaits those who begin and continue this journey with the Lord!! Growth – becoming more than we were yesterday – is designed and intended by God for His children. We’re not speaking of just growth out of sin into salvation. That’s just the beginning. There’s a whole world of possibilities awaiting us in Christ Jesus. Our growth should be toward spirituality maturity.

Ephesians 4:15 (KJV) 15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
Colossians 2:6 – 7 (KJV) 6 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) 18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The frustration of not growing, not improving, has its toll secularly and spiritually. This does not have to be the life of the Christian however: 2 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV) 16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

It begins when we hear and answer the Gospel Call, “Come unto me…” (Matthew 11:28-30). That’s where it always begins. It’s the discovery that life is more than working in a store, keeping house, or making money (Eccl. 2:1-13). It’s to see that life is a divine vocation. Ephesians 4:1 (KJV) 1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” It’s to see that a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things he possesses: Luke 12:15 (KJV) 15 “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” This may be the reason many have made no progress. They have not learned, nor taken this first step. Many haven’t even gotten into the game yet so they’re not running the race.

The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489

Thoughts from The Bible: – 04/22/20

God’s Rainbow Of Love
by Terry Broome

The story is told of a man out west who had a fine spring that furnished him with sparkling cold water for all his daily needs. One morning, however, an earthquake shook the earth and ruined the spring. The man was stunned and saddened by his apparent loss, but the next day a big gushing oil well appeared to take its place. The loss of something that he treasured actually opened the door for something better. In all likelihood this is more parable than fact, but it illustrates a very important truth for our lives. Many times God allows some apparent loss to come to us so that He might give us something better in its place.

It’s been said that for every cloud there is a rainbow, but we have to be in the proper position to see it. For instance, Noah and his family saw the rainbow of hope and promise set by God in the sky (Genesis 9:11-17); however, only after they had endured the flood and in complete submission to God’s Will could they experience this rainbow of hope. They had to get into the proper position by turning their backs to their home and the old world of sin that surrounded them in order to see God’s rainbow and learn of His promise to not destroy the earth again by flood waters. There had to be a cloud before they could see the rainbow of God’s love and promises.

Similarly, when the shadows of life fall on us, if we get in the proper position, facing Him in Christ, we can see God’s love shining through. Even as God’s Rainbow was set in the sky as a promise that He would never destroy the world again by flood, we have the hope of His promise that God will never leave us or forsake us as long as we stay in the right relationship with Him (Hebrews 13:5-6). We can see in the rainbow a kind of metaphor of God’s care for all those who are His.

Literal clouds come into every life. Hardly a day passes in which we cannot see a cloud and are reminded of God’s promise to Noah. Also, hardly a day passes but that there is a “cloud” of some kind in our lives. God knows that all sun and no clouds only creates a desert. If we never saw the “clouds” of life with all it’s heartaches, we would never see the rainbow.

He builds our lives by adversity as well as by prosperity. More character is built in the face of sorrow than in success. Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV) 3 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Heb 12:5-11 “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord…”

When we see all things in their true light, we see that life is made more beautiful and more useful because of the few hardships that God allows to come our way (1 Pet. 1:3-7). The same God who allows the clouds to come also sends the rainbow of hope and promises – deliverance through the trials we face, and ultimate salvation to those who are obedient to His Word and who walk in the light!!

The clouds do often cover our pathway, but just look up into the Father’s face, and you’ll soon know that He has a rainbow of hope and promises for you: Romans 8:1-2 (KJV) 1“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489

Your Community Newspaper

Local Weather

Clarion Facebook