Topic: Faith

Let Me Sow Hope, Where There Is Despair

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | December 27, 2015 |

This is the fourth of a series of articles based on the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi beginning, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”

St. Francis of Assisi

Clarksville, TN – The short days of winter can set up feelings of despair in the best of us. We long for the green leaves of spring, the flowers, the warmth that pervades the atmosphere, the lightness of spirit that comes in hearing the songs of birds and the renewal of the Earth’s beauty.

Almost everyone at one time or another suffers from “winter blues” when you want to sleep more and eat more and wish away the cold winter months.

For others, these short days actually set up a chemical reaction in the brain now branded SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Symptoms can begin as early as September and continue through April, but the worst days are the darkest days when one feels that he gets up in darkness and returns from work in darkness.

Seasonal affective disorder

«Read the rest of this article»

Let Me Sow Faith, Where There Is Doubt

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | December 26, 2015 |

This is the third of a series of articles based on the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi beginning, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”

St. Francis of Assisi

Clarksville, TN – St. Francis was born in 1182. His name at birth was Giovanni Bernadone, the son of Pietro and Picca Bernadone. His father, a cloth merchant, was probably the richest man in Assisi, Italy. Giovanni was nicknamed “Francis” (“Francesco” in Italian) supposedly because of his father’s love of France where he traded a great deal.

Francis lived the typical life of a spoiled rich young man during the time of the Troubadours. He loved to sing, wear expensive clothes, had a witty sense of humor, and was known to be the leader of frolic and good times with the young men of the town. He went to war as a soldier fighting for Assisi in 1204.

During his days as a soldier he contracted an illness and he is reported to have had a vision that caused him to return home and to lose his lust for a worldly life. He went on a pilgrimage to Rome and begged with beggars. This strengthened in him a desire for the life of poverty and returning home to Assisi, he began preaching in the streets, giving his money to charitable causes, and rebuilding churches that had fallen into ruin.

«Read the rest of this article»

Please Don’t Think You Know Me

By Kris Wolfe | October 11, 2015 |

Clarksville, TN – Please don’t think you “know” me.

Please don’t take a look at me, or even my public self on social media and think you got me all figured out.

Just because I am a woman, does not mean I cannot take charge.

Just because I am little, doesn’t mean I won’t put up a fight.

Just because I am a Christian, doesn’t mean I am judging you. «Read the rest of this article»

Keep Your Eye On The Prize

By Richard Garrett | November 10, 2013 |

Clarksville, TN – When your eyes are examined, the doctor holds a card in front of you and says, “Keep your eyes here, but tell me when you see my other hand.” Then he brings his hand from behind your head and pretty soon, out of the corner of your eye you see that hand.

That is the capacity God has given our physical eyes, and also our spiritual vision. We can be looking at Christ, and at the same time, out the corner of our eyes, there is something else trying to catch our attention. «Read the rest of this article»

How Not to Irritate People While Trying to Share Your Faith

By Kris Wolfe | February 24, 2013 |

Those of you who know me well know I didn’t grow up in church. I mean, I went, occasionally. I went to church camp with a friend once. It was okay. Nothing really moved me. The worst part was, I always felt like an outsider.

It seemed that all the other kids knew more Bible stories and verses, and knew the customs of the church. This left me feeling sort of dumb and secretly embarrassed.

This didn’t keep me from going to church when I was invited, but it did keep me from feeling like I would ever be a part of the church. I always imagined myself on the outside looking in, and at least three steps behind everyone else. «Read the rest of this article»

Who Are You?

By Mat Lasater | February 18, 2013 |

Most people don’t realize who they really are. Most of us think of who we are at this very moment, not who we were created to be.

Adults, young and old alike, initially define their worth based on what they do for income. Their view of self-worth usually branches out from there, as that is easy to do, limiting who they are from the world’s eyes, escaping having to define who they really want to be. This may come from past failures and unfulfilled desires. «Read the rest of this article»

The False Gospel Of America

By Carlo Serrano | January 20, 2013 |

Clarksville, TN – Let me start by saying that I love America. I’ll compare my combat patch with anyone who would dare question my love for country. I could have been born anywhere else in the world but God in his mercy and grace chose to allow me the privilege of being born in the USA. I love this place!

Our country is so awesome that someone with nothing can come here, work hard, and die a millionaire…and do it all legally!

I love that I get to publicly proclaim that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the father except through Him, and there are no state police outside waiting to take me away (for now). «Read the rest of this article»

Where There Is Despair, Let Me Sow Hope

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | February 1, 2011 |

Author’s Note: This is the fourth of a series of articles based on the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi beginning, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”

St. Francis of Assisi

The short days of winter can set up feelings of despair in the best of us. We long for the green leaves of spring, the flowers, the warmth that pervades the atmosphere, the lightness of spirit that comes in hearing the songs of birds and the renewal of the Earth’s beauty.

Almost everyone at one time or another suffers from “winter blues” when you want to sleep more and eat more and wish away the cold winter months.

For others, these short days actually set up a chemical reaction in the brain now branded SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Symptoms can begin as early as September and continue through April, but the worst days are the darkest days when one feels that he gets up in darkness and returns from work in darkness.

«Read the rest of this article»

Where There Is Doubt, Let Me Sow Faith

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | January 24, 2011 |

Author’s Note: This is the third of a series of articles based on the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi beginning, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis was born in 1182. His name at birth was Giovanni Bernadone, the son of Pietro and Picca Bernadone. His father, a cloth merchant, was probably the richest man in Assisi, Italy. Giovanni was nicknamed “Francis” (“Francesco” in Italian) supposedly because of his father’s love of France where he traded a great deal. Francis lived the typical life of a spoiled rich young man during the time of the Troubadours. He loved to sing, wear expensive clothes, had a witty sense of humor, and was known to be the leader of frolic and good times with the young men of the town. He went to war as a soldier fighting for Assisi in 1204.

During his days as a soldier he contracted an illness and he is reported to have had a vision that caused him to return home and to lose his lust for a worldly life. He went on a pilgrimage to Rome and begged with beggars. This strengthened in him a desire for the life of poverty and returning home to Assisi, he began preaching in the streets, giving his money to charitable causes, and rebuilding churches that had fallen into ruin. He lived to be only 44 or 45, is responsible for assembling the first Christmas manger scene, and is commemorated in many contemporary gardens with statues of him with birds in his hands and animals around his feet. He is also reputed to have been the first person ever to have received the stigmata, the wounds of the crucifixion of Jesus.

«Read the rest of this article»

Children’s Faith

September 19, 2010 |

A Devotional By Brother Shepherd

In the scriptures in Luke 9:48, Jesus speaks about children. That verse reads this way in the KJV, “And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” Jesus speaks about children in a lot of different places and how we are supposed to be like children.

It can be a little confusing a lot of the time, but when he speaks, he’s talking about faith. If you ever observe a child and their parents, a child usually believes everything their parents tell them because they love and trust their parents. Christ wants us to love God the same way! Each day we should trust God and live the way he wants us to and that pleases the Father.

I have found in my own life that I am happier, more content, and satisfied when I trust my Heavenly Father. As this verse tells us that, we should receive a child in his name. He is telling us that we have a duty to less mature Christians than we are and that duty is to show them our child like faith as we trust God. An old song that some of the lyrics say, Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus. Let’s all live to please our Heavenly Father.

This is Bro. Shep asking you to think about it.

Matthew 28:18-20

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