No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand.  Then its light shines on everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way let your light shine in front of people.  Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 5:15-16 -- GW)

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim though this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more,
feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through;
strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer.
be thou still my Strength and Shield,
be thou still my Strength and Shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
bear me through the swelling current,
land me safe on Canaan's side;
songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.

(William Williams)

The jack-o'-lantern legend, according to the Wikipedia of Halloweens past (World Book encyclopedia) . . .

 

So if someone tells you, ‘He’s in the desert!’ don’t go out looking for him.  And don’t believe anyone who says, ‘He’s in a secret place!’ ²⁷ The Son of Man will come again just as lightning flashes from east to west.

(Matthew 24:26-27 -- GW)

 

 

We can’t allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way.  Certainly, each of us will receive everlasting life at the proper time, if we don’t give up.¹⁰ Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.


(Galatians 6:9-10 -- GW)

The angel showed me a river filled with the water of life, as clear as crystal. It was flowing from the throne of God and the lamb. ² Between the street of the city and the river there was a tree of life visible from both sides.  It produced 12 kinds of fruit.  Each month had its own fruit. The leaves of the tree will heal the nations. ³ There will no longer be any curse.  The throne of God and the lamb will be in the city.  His servants will worship him ⁴ and see his face.  His name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them.  They will rule as kings forever and ever.

¹⁴ "Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ Outside are dogs, sorcerers, sexual sinners, murderers, idolaters, and all who lie in what they say and what they do."

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book: If anyone adds anything to this, God will strike him with the plagues that are written in this book. ¹⁹ If anyone takes away any words from this book of prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that are described in this book.

(Revelation 22:1-5, 14-15, 18-19 -- GW)

If we say, “We have never sinned,” we turn God into a liar and his Word is not in us.

(1 John 1:10 -- GW)

“Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so my ways are higher than your ways,

and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”

(Isaiah 55:9 -- GW)

In the same way let your light shine in front of people.  Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.

(Matthew 5:16 -- GW)

The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.
(Psalm 9:17 -- NKJV)

I’m But a Stranger Here, Heaven is my home;
Earth is a desert drear,
Heaven is my home;
Danger and sorrow stand
Round me on every hand;
Heaven is my fatherland,
Heaven is my home.

What though the tempest rage,
Heaven is my home;
Short is my pilgrimage,
Heaven is my home;
And time’s wintry blast
Soon shall be over past;
I shall reach home at last,
Heaven is my home.

Therefore I murmur not,
Heaven is my home;
Whatever my earthly lot,
Heaven is my home;
And I shall surely stand
There at my Lord’s right hand.
Heaven is my fatherland,
Heaven is my home.

(by Thomas R. Taylor)

When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.
(Psalm 86:7 -- NIV)

Be alert.  Be firm in the Christian faith. Be courageous and strong.

(1 Corinthians 16:13 -- GW)

A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings.  Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. ⁴ People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths.
(2 Timothy 4:3-4 -- GW)

"Never commit adultery."

(Deuteronomy 5:18 -- GW)

The Lord guards you as you come and go, now and forever.
(Psalm 121:8 -- GW)

Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.  But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

(Hebrews 9:26-28 -- NIV)

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
(Psalm 42:1 -- NIV)

God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. ¹⁶ Live as free people, but don’t hide behind your freedom when you do evil.  Instead, use your freedom to serve God.

(1 Peter 2:15-16 -- GW)

“Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55:9 -- GW)

How would evolution produce a light sensor?

 

Why would evolution produce a system that knows the image on the retina is upside down? 

 

How would evolution produce a system that would control a muscle which regulates the size of the pupil?

 

 

He created the moon, which marks the seasons, and the sun, which knows when to set. ²⁰He brings darkness, and it is nighttime, when all the wild animals in the forest come out.

(Psalm 104:19-20 -- GW)

 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

(Genesis 1:1 -- KJV)

In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
(Acts 19:20 -- NIV)

www.StevertS.com

He wants all people to be saved and to learn the truth.

(1 Timothy 2:4 -- GW)

Suddenly, a severe storm came across the sea.  The waves were covering the boat.  Yet, Jesus was sleeping.
²⁵ So they woke him up, saying, “Lord! Save us! We’re going to die!”
²⁶ Jesus said to them, “Why do you cowards have so little faith?”  Then he got up, gave an order to the wind and the sea, and the sea became very calm.
(Matthew 8:24-26 -- GW)

And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ where 'the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.'

(Mark 9:47-48 -- NIV)

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
(Matthew 9:37-38 -- ESV)

We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things. ²⁵ We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing.  Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.
(Hebrews 10:24-25 -- GW)