Bible Studies, Christian Growth

Got Saved?


Saved, what does that mean? To unbelievers the term might mean, “Got religion.” Another phrase takes our consideration further. “He was saved from a fate worse than death!” I turn to a trusted thesaurus, and chose most applicable save synonyms: rescue, deliverance, ransom, liberation, release, salvation, atone, redeem, free, liberate. (Roget’s International Thesaurus)

Saved, what does that mean to you, personally? Look through the list of synonyms again.  Without Christ, all are in dire straits, in need of rescue from sin, deliverance from the bondage of sin. He paid the ransom with His sacrificial death, freeing all who trust Him as Lord and Savior.

Jesus saves sinful men.

“And she will bear a Son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21 NAS)”

“For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10 NAS).”


“But what does it say? ‘THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART’-that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Romans 10:8-9 NAS).”




Bible Studies, Christian Growth

Peter’s Pointed Question



“Why?” The repetitious questions of a three year old try the patience of parents. “What?”  The pointed question of Apostle Peter pricks my conscience. He was not giving believers a pop-quiz; his query is not testing intellect or IQ. Instead, he questions my commitment and character.  Do I pass the test? He sets the scene for a day of reckoning.


What type of person should I be and where should my focus be? “…looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat (2 Peter 3:12 NKJ)?” God has called me to testify of His mercy; yet, as Noah, I warn of His pending judgment.

Christian Growth, Devotionals

Buttons and Bows



We recently received two female kittens from our next-door neighbors.  I affectionately named them Buttons and Bows. The first couple of days they were reclusive but now put on regular entertainment. As children first learning to walk prefers the risk of running, our kittens know one speed, wide open. We wanted the kittens to curtail the farm mouse population; they throw in the antics as a bonus. I seldom see one kitten without the other.

“Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone? And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer, three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:11-12 Living Bible).” A third kitten…three kitty stooges. Hmm… Buttons, Bows and Barrettes. I think I’ll pass on that.