The Smell of Fresh Bread

By Julie Cosgrove

In the town where I grew up there was a bread factory. During the Viet Nam War years, that factory received a contract to bake for the troops.. The aroma of freshly baked bread penetrated for blocks each day, weekends too, spreading out into business parking lots, playgrounds, and neighborhood backyards. Whenever the folks smelled the bread, they thought of the troops.

We’d pass the factory on Sunday mornings as we drove to church. As soon as we got within a mile or so, the aroma would fill the car. Our mouths would water at the very thought of those loaves  meandering slowly on the maze of stainless steel carousels from the oven to the  packaging area, gradually cooling, giving off that enticing whiff of heaven.  

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Our Weakness, His Strength

By Keisha Bass

It’s my belief that there is no way you can kick any addiction without the help of the almighty God. He knows exactly what you need and exactly when you need it. We may take ourselves through a great deal of unnecessary stress and worry behind our current situations, but we must keep our eyes on Him. (Matthew 6:33, NIV) We must also remember that He is forgiving, loving, and merciful. Whether it be drugs or alcohol, cigarettes, food, shopping, self-pity, and the list could go on and on AND on. He helps us through ALL things.

I am a recovering drug addict and in my weakest moments, I called out to God. It was like I had tried everything else, and I had to really get broken down to fall on my knees and cry out for Him. I pray that you don’t have to experience “rock bottom” to get set free, but sometimes it’s the only thing that can open your eyes. God is made strong in our weakness. He broke me down, so He could build me up. And just as He did for me, He will be there to pick you up and dust you off. But then you must do your best to turn from those ways. The struggle is just that, a struggle, but lean on God and He will see you through.

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Teach Your Children

By Dorothy Ward-Winters

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6  NIV)

Our duty as parents is to train our child to be a responsible adult, just as our parents trained us. Why did we think they could only be happy if we gave them their heart’s desires?

I had it rough when I was small, and I wanted my children to have an easier life. Easier and happier. Happier meant stuffed animals, tricycles, bicycles, (I balked at motorcycles), designer clothes, cell phones, computers, I-Pods, and so on, things I did not have. No matter how hard I tried to satisfy her, there was always something new she craved. I never could make her understand that money does not grow on trees.

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When Women Aren’t Believed

By Susannah Wollman

“Don’t look at me like that! Why don’t you believe me?” She was indignant and heartbroken at the same time. It seemed like every time she tried to tell her husband something, he laughed, ignored her, or simply didn’t believe what she said.

Why is this such a common occurrence among women—even Christian women—today? Have we simply come to a time in society that women think they have something to contribute, but men are still thinking like cave-men and consider women generally less able, less intelligent, or less likely to “get it right”? Are you among the many women who can relate to this scenario?

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What Kind of Worship: Idol, Idle, or Ideal?

By Robi Ley

The first two commandments state very clearly the position God should hold in our lives as Christians.  He is to take first place of course.  There is to be no other person to whom we give our devotion and loyalty and no thing to which we give our respect and homage.  Only God is worthy of worship.

Why is it, then, that work, sports, cars, food, children, spouses, church, mission work and even Bible study take over our time and leave none for the Father?  Are we guilty of idol worship, or just idle worship?

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