The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand;
    you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

(Psalm 145: 15-16 -- ESV)

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. 

 

(Psalm 113:3 -- NIV)

New CAREtoons at www.steverts.com . . .

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

(Numbers 6:25-26 -- ESV)

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The Lone Ranger eats barbed wire . . .

Abraham's children . . .

What are you looking at?

I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

(Ecclesiastes 1:14 -- ESV)

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea.
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee.
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

(by Henry Francis Lyte)

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Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

(from the Hymn "Abide With Me" by Henry Francis Lyte)

Christmas in July . . .

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  (2 Corinthians 3:18 -- ESV)

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much
fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." 
(John 15:5 -- ESV)

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“What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?   And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.   So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."  
(Matthew 18:12-14 -- ESV)

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.   (Proverbs 17:12 -- NIV)

According to Shaunti Feldhahn, ". . . half of all marriages are not ending in divorce.  According to the Census Bureau, 72% of those who have ever been married, are still married to their first spouse!  And the 28% who aren’t, includes everyone who was married for many years, until a spouse died.  No one knows what the average first-marriage divorce rate actually is, but based on the rate of widowhood and other factors, we can estimate it is probably closer to 20-25%.  For all marriages (including second marriages, and so on), it is in the 31-35% range, depending on the study.

"Now, expert demographers continue to project that 40-50% of couples will get divorced – but it is important to remember that those are projections.  And I’m skeptical because the actual numbers have never come close, and divorce rates continue to drop, not rise!  Even among the highest-risk age group –baby boomers—seven in ten are still married to their first spouse. Most of them have had 30 years’ worth of chances to get divorced…and they are still together.

"Now any amount of divorce is still too high!  But still, knowing that most marriages last a lifetime is good news that urgently needs to be part of our conventional wisdom.

"Another myth that is begging to be debunked is the notion that 'Barna found that the rate of divorce is the same in the church.'  Actually the Barna Group found no such thing and George Barna himself told me he would love to correct this misunderstanding.  Because he wasn’t studying people 'in the church.'

"The Barna Group studies were focusing specifically on the divorce rates of those with Christian and non-Christian belief systems and didn’t take worship attendance into account.  So I partnered with the Barna Group and we re-ran the numbers: and if the person was in church last week, their divorce rate dropped by 27%.  And that is one of the smallest drops found in recent studies: overall, regular church attendance lowers the divorce rate anywhere from 25-50%, depending on the study you look at."

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.  Do not turn to the right or the left;  keep your foot from evil. 

(Proverbs 4:26-27 -- NIV)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

(From "It Is Well with My Soul" by Horation Spafford)



Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.  (Philippians 4:6-9 -- NIV)

First, we were fed the theory of evolution as fact, then all of this followed . . .

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.  Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.  And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed.  Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.    (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 -- NIV)

Happy Independence Day! 

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,
 you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
 wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
 kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
 young men and women,
    old men and children.

(Psalm 148:7-12 -- NIV)

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
   On which the Prince of glory died,
   My richest gain I count but loss,
   And pour contempt on all my pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
   Save in the death of Christ my God!
   All the vain things that charm me most,
   I sacrifice them to His blood.
3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
   Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
   Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
   Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
   That were a tribute far too small;
   Love so amazing, so divine,
   Demands my soul, my life, my all.

         (by Isaac Watts)