Illustrator

Time-Out With God

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:45:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/06/07/time-out-with-god/"><span style="color:#000000;">Time-Out With God</span></a></span></h1> <h4 style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:16px;">June 8, 2026</span></span></em></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.</em><br /> <span style="line-height:107%">~ Psalms 91:1 NLT ~</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260608014513/ff9ec0b5bcbded23bd79448e1483f344_Time-Out-with-Jesus-N.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-size:18px;">Have you ever felt like there are not enough hours in the day? I have, and there are moments when it feels like I need more time to get caught up with the litany of tasks that multiply as fast as rabbits. Life is busy, and if we don’t schedule time for ourselves to rest and regroup, our stress goes up like a thermometer on a blistering hot summer’s day. Let me ask you another question, and it’s one that I also pose to myself.<br /> <br /> If you had just one hour with Jesus, a face-to-face time-out—the two of you sitting in a pair of matching red Adirondack deck chairs overlooking a pristine mountain lake—what would you say to Him? And perhaps more importantly, what would He say to you and to me? With all the busyness in our lives, and I am speaking from personal experience, I know how difficult it is to stop and rest a moment and to include God in everything—all of it; the good and the bad.<br /> <br /> As I envision myself sitting comfortably in one of two chairs and Jesus in the other, I would, for starters, be in a state of shock that my Saviour is taking the time to sit with me and take an interest in my complicated life. I’d likely spend the first 15 minutes drilling Him with questions about things that I don’t understand. Then, I’d probably use another 15 minutes and lay out a ton of prayer requests, followed by tears of praise and gratitude for saving a wretch like me. Lastly, as my deadline approaches, my final slot of time would be spent at Jesus’s feet, listening, worshipping, and basking in His eternal love and the astounding gift of salvation by grace through faith.<br /> <br /> What about you, my friend? How would you spend your in-person hour with Jesus?<br /> <br /> Did you know that you can take a time-out with Jesus 24/7, 365 days per year? In fact, Jesus Christ is ready, willing, and able to sit down with you any time you need a break. If you’re stressed, overworked, lonely, frustrated, broke, sick, young, old, happy, or sad, to name a few of the emotions that we carry, God is only a prayer away. You don’t need a lake with red chairs (although that would be lovely), or a church, or a legion of angels around you for support—Jesus wants a time-out with you, and He’s waiting with open arms, listening ears, and profound love, right here and right now.<br /> <br /> "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalms 91:1 NLT)<br /> <br /> "Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.” (Jeremiah 33:3 NLT)<br /> <br /> "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it the most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)<br /> <br /> In my busy life, and I’m sure you can attest, I need more one-on-one time-outs with Jesus, especially when He reaches out, grabs my hand and yours, and says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NLT)<br /> <br /> Paul Smyth</span></span></p>  <ol> </ol> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="line-height: 1.2; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Would you like to make a difference in the world? Why not join the Answers2Prayer Ministry prayer team? We have many volunteer positions. By joining in, you can help in carrying out the Great Commission: </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="text-decoration:none">"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in Heaven and on Earth have been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"> (Matt. 28:18-20 NIV)</span></span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">The time is right and we are in need of many laborers. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="text-decoration:none">"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"> (Matt 9:37-38 NIV)</span></span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">If you feel compelled, let us know by sending us </span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:answertoallprayers@PROTECTED" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">an email</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"> or message via What'sApp: +91 98696 68137</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:700"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/extensions/multiple_subscribe.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px solid #505050;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/ill_html///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

You Can't Buy God's Grace

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 22:04:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/05/31/d-l-moody-a-heart-on-fire-for-souls/"><font color="#000000">You Can't Buy God's Grace</font></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:16px;">June 7, 2026</span></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><em>For by grace you have been saved through faith...</em></span></span></span><br /> <span style="color:#4e5f70;"><em><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-style:normal">~ Ephesians 2:8 ESV ~</span></span></span></span></em></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="267" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260606230456/c20e3fa84c13f8bcc2dbc3ea4e803f57_100-Dollars-N.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style="padding-left: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)<br /> <br /> A professor was giving a big test to his students.  After everyone finished, they turned in their papers.  But when he gathered them up, he noticed something odd — one student had paper-clipped a crisp $100 bill to his test with a note that said, "A dollar per point."<br /> <br /> The next class rolled around, and the professor handed the tests back. When that student got his paper, he found a score of 36 marked on it with $64 in change attached!<br /> <br /> You have to admire the student's creativity, but it’s a great reminder of an important truth: you can’t buy your way to a better grade... and you can’t buy your way to God’s grace either.<br /> <br /> Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking that if we just do more — pray more, serve more, give more, “be better” — then maybe, just maybe, God will love us a little more.  It's easy to view God’s grace as something we have to earn.  But grace doesn’t work like that.<br /> <br /> God’s grace isn’t for sale. It isn’t a reward for good behavior.  It's a gift.  And the thing about a gift is that it doesn’t depend on what you’ve done — it depends entirely on the heart of the giver.<br /> <br /> God doesn't look at your résumé of good deeds to decide whether or not you’re worthy.  He already decided you were worth loving when he sent Jesus to the cross. And he’s not standing over you like a professor with a red pen, grading your every move -- he’s a Father with arms open wide, ready to welcome you in.<br /> <br /> So, whenever you’re down because you feel like you’re not measuring up, remember that you are not loved because you’ve got it all together, but because God is loving.  You don’t have to bribe him.  You don’t have to impress him.  You just have to trust him.  Allow his love to calm you and remind you that you are his — no price tag attached.<br /> <br /> Prayer: Father, thank you for loving me even when I feel unlovable. Thank you that I don’t have to buy your blessing or earn your approval. Help me to stop stressing and start resting in your love.  In Jesus’ name, amen.<br /> <br /> Alan Smith<br /> Reprinted with permission from </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/998642318987215/"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Alan Smith's Thought For the Day</span></a></span></span><br /> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:36px;">Announcements</span></h2> <p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><br /> <span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Do you have a prayer request? Do you know someone who needs to be prayed for? Prayer works! The Bible confirms this in James 5:16: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (NIV) Send your prayer request by email here, or through What'sApp to this number: +91 98696 68137, and let us pray in agreement with you! "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt 18:20 NIV) Hallelujah!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px solid #505050;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/ill_html///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

Elves in P.E.I.?

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:58:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/06/04/elves-in-p-e-i/"><span style="color:#000000;">Elves in P.E.I.?</span></a></span></h1> <h4 style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:16px;">June 5, 2026</span></span></em></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!</em><br /> <span style="line-height:107%">~ Luke 6:31 MSG ~</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260605005828/9452f47465c8562fbc2bb9d286a8ad5c_Christmas-Elves-N.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p><em style="font-size: 14px;">Classic Illustrator, Written in 2005</em></p>  <p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Do you believe in elves? You know, those magical creatures that come out of the woods to surprise you with unbelievable services provided in secret? I sure do, especially since my last visit to Prince Edward Island!<br /> <br /> Let me explain.<br /> <br /> We had arrived at our first campground on this beautiful island and had enjoyed our first evening at a dinner murder mystery theatre in Charlottetown. We got back to our camp late, and we welcomed the softness of our beds, where under our comfortably warm blankets, we quickly drifted into dreamland.<br /> <br /> Early in the morning, just as the sun began to graze its rays over the surrounding scenery, my wife went for her daily run. She usually runs with only God as her partner, but today she was also accompanied by the cries of the highflying gulls. Back at the trailer, I was still in dreamland. I had been desperately trying to catch up on the sleep I had missed during the many sleepless nights I had experienced over the past few months, and since I wasn't awake to tell what the boys were doing, I can only relate the story they told me! It went something like this:<br /> <br /> They were both awakened out of dreamland by the appearance of a pair of elves who apparently slipped out of the woods and into the trailer. They worked quietly, only letting dishes clatter together just as they were leaving, and when this woke me up, a delicious breakfast was on the table and the beds were made up (I'm not sure how THAT happened, when we were all still sleeping in them!). When my wife returned from her run, she was greeted by three grinning faces sitting around the table, all ready to satisfy their grumbling stomachs with the delicious-looking food.<br /> <br /> Would these unseen elves reappear tomorrow?<br /> <br /> The next morning, while my wife was out for her morning power run with God, I woke up to find an elf staring me in the face. I thought he looked like my oldest son, but I must have been mistaken as he swore later that it wasn't him! There was the sound of clattering plates and clanging eating utensils in the background as the elf whispered: "Go back to sleep papa (he called me papa!). It is still only 5:30 a.m."<br /> <br /> "Why not?" I reasoned to myself, and I closed my eyes once again. Sleep wouldn't return, however, so I enjoyed talking with my Forever Friend instead. I still perceived kitchen noises and the rush of running elf feet when I finished, and I decided to join these unseen creatures. By the time my wife appeared, not only was breakfast ready, but the tent trailer had been readied for our departure as well!<br /> <br /> So do elves exist? My wife swears they do!<br /> <br /> Would you like to make a difference in the lives of others? Surprise them by taking part in an elf's endeavors! Ask yourself how you can make an impact on someone and take the initiative to carry out your scheme! "Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: "Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!" (Luke 6:31 The Message)<br /> <br /> Is there someone who hates you, someone who is trying to make your life miserable? Instead of seeking vengeance and talking behind their backs, join an elf! Return their anger with love, and in so doing, let them bring out the best in you. You will be amazed at the impact you will have in their life. Some of them will possibly even turn into your closest friends. "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst." (Luke 6:27 The Message)<br /> <br /> Perfect love is only possible when God is in us. Rely on Him for this, and enjoy this pure unbelievable love. "No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us - perfect love!" (1 John 4:12 The Message)<br /> <br /> Do you believe in elves? It all depends if you are one or not!<br /> <br /> In His love,<br /> Rob Chaffart<br /> Founder, </span><a href="http://www.answers2prayer.org"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Answers2Prayer</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"> Ministries</span></span></span></p>  <ol> </ol> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="line-height: 1.2; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Back by popular demand: A classic devotional from the Illustrator files will be appearing on the first Monday of every month.  If you have a classic devotional that you would like to see republished in the Illustrator, please </span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:lyn@PROTECTED" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">let us know</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/extensions/multiple_subscribe.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px solid #505050;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/ill_html///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

The Blanket

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 01:07:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/06/02/the-blanket-2/"><font color="#000000">The Blanket</font></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:16px;">June 3, 2026</span></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags...</em></span></span></span><br /> <span style="color:#4e5f70;"><em><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-style:normal">~ Isaiah 64:6b NIV ~</span></span></span></span></em></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="301" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260603020716/8c9c1aeaebd41c65559b92327c113b30_Baby-Blanket-N.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style="padding-left: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:6 NIV)<br /> <br /> Watching television, my hands are often busy crocheting baby blankets.  Over the years some have gone to individuals, others to groups and churches. The ones I remember best however went to an orphanage in Guatemala.  Missionary friends, had let me know that newborns, in the poorest sections of the country, were sent home from the hospital wrapped in newspapers to keep them warm.  Having delivered newspapers for many years, I remember how black my clothes would get from touching the newsprint. They truly did look like filthy rags. Surely the babies of Guatemala deserved something better. Eventually, by means of our missionary friends, handmade blankets made their way to those hospitals and many newborns were no longer wrapped in the equivalent of filthy rags.<br /> <br /> The Scriptures also talk about filthy rags. Isaiah pens that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. How though can the right things, the good and lovely things which people do be classified as filthy?  In fact, they are not.  When we seek to wrap ourselves up in the blanket of them however, with the hope and belief that they will make us acceptable to God, they become as pitiful and useless as filthy rags.  Our good deeds mean nothing to God when it comes to preparing us to stand before Him.  They all fall short and no amount of them will ever be able to cover our sins, they can never make us righteous before Him. So, then what are we to do, if our good deeds are not enough to gain us entrance into heaven and fellowship with God forever?<br /> <br /> The apostle Paul shows us the way: righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (See </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203&version=NIV"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Romans 3</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;">).<br /> <br /> Blanketing ourselves in God’s grace, through belief in Christ and the work he did, when he shed his blood on the cross for mankind is the only way we can stand before a holy God, in righteousness.  Not our righteousness through good deeds but the righteousness of Christ and only Christ. <br /> <br /> Therefore, may each of us examine ourselves to see what blanket we are wrapped in today.  The saving blanket of Christ’s grace, or our own good deeds, that are in fact, no more able to save us from our sin than are filthy rags.<br /> <br /> Prayer:  Father God, thank you that it is by grace that we are saved, through faith—and this not from ourselves, it is your gift to us—not by works, so that no can boast.  In Christ’s name. Amen.<br /> <br /> "Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,<sup> </sup>and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things." (Ephesians 3:8,9 NIV)<br /> <br /> Lynne Phipps<br /> Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada</span></span></span><br /> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:36px;">Announcements</span></h2> <p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Got questions about the Bible? Good news! The Answers2Prayer team has people who specialize in helping you to understand the Word of God! 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Not This Door But Another

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:41:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h1 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scripturalnuggets.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:noticia text,georgia,times new roman,serif">THE NUGGET</span></span></a></h1> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:14px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #FFFFFF;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal;text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1><a href="https://scripturalnuggets.org/2026/06/01/not-this-door-but-another/"><span style="color:#000000;">Not This Door But Another</span></a></h1> <h4>By: Alice Burnett<br /> -----------------------------------------------</h4> <h4>June 2, 2026</h4> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #FFFFFF;font-family: Helvetica;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal;text-align: center;" valign="top"> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnRetinaImage" height="173" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260602014135/2b67d9a576ec4c9ce9aaee8a0a8d2732_Server-N.jpg" style="max-width: 1200px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; display: inline !important; border-radius: 0%;" width="225" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">At one point in my husband Terry's teaching career, he thought about getting his master's degree. He had been offered the position of administrative assistant at the K-12 school in which he taught. He agreed, with the stipulation that he would not have to take over once the current principal moved away. Perhaps Terry thought having a master's degree would be necessary for his job. One perk was definitely an increase in pay. Terry did apply for the master's program, but was denied because his university marks were not high enough. That was a definitely a closed door in his teaching career. After a couple of years as administrative assistant, he was glad to go back to full-time classroom teaching.<br /> <br /> In closing this door for Terry, God opened a door to what he really needed, not what what he thought he wanted. God led him to his true gifting, that of a “server”. In the book, <em>Discover Your God-given Gifts</em> by Don and Katie Fortune, “server” is the name given to the “helps” ministry of the King James Version of the Bible. The old-fashioned name is accurate in one way; there is nothing Terry likes better than to be able to help someone. Instead of the short term benefit of higher pay, Terry has had a lifetime of developing into the role in which he functions best.<br /> <br /> “<em>If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.</em>” (Romans 12:7 NLT)<br /> <br /> Terry and I complement each other well. Once I understood his gifting of “server” I understood what makes him tick, and why he relates to others the way he does. After we retired as teachers, Terry's server inclination really came into its own.<br /> <br /> A server is quick to meet practical needs, and is good at discerning them. When we were at the YWAM base near Tijuana last winter, Terry was in his element. A basic outline of chores to do on a daily basis was quickly accomplished. Then Terry went above and beyond the list, and spotted other needs on campus that he could tackle. He ended up doing more than was asked, to make the campus run more efficiently.<br /> <br /> A server enjoys manual projects more than thinking projects. Terry enjoys taking apart wheelchairs to clean at the Lending Cupboard where he volunteers. He also enjoys the challenge of recycling surplus mobility equipment, keeping it out of the landfill, and re-directing it to another warehouse for shipment oversees to ministries that serve the needy.<br /> <br /> Because I, as a “teacher” love words so much, I sometimes long to hear words of affirmation from my husband. But a server shows love in deeds and actions instead. I think of the time when a messy room full of fabrics and sewing and craft supplies began to really bother my orderly server husband. Finally, he quietly set about building me a tall shelf to hold all the things that cluttered the room. I made sure I lavishly praised him, because servers love to be appreciated for what they do.<br /> <br /> “'<em>Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave .For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many'.”</em> (Matthew 20:26b-28 NLT)<br /> <br /> In highlighting the type of person who loves to serve, it's important to note that we are <em>all </em>encouraged to serve. We can't sit back and think, <em>It's not my gift, I'll let someone else do the work.</em> We all need to follow Jesus' example and serve each other.<br /> <br /> Prayer: <em>Thank You, Lord, that You have blessed each one of us with at least one spiritual gift. Help us to use our gifts for Your glory. Help us also to remember to meet needs even when they don't match our gift. In Jesus' name. Amen.</em><br /> <br /> Alice Burnett<br /> Red Deer, Alberta, Canada</span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF; border-radius:10px;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important; text-align: center;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Is there a particular subject or series you would like to see featured in the Nugget? 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D.L. Moody: A Heart on Fire for Souls

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:36:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/05/31/d-l-moody-a-heart-on-fire-for-souls/"><font color="#000000">D.L. Moody: A Heart on Fire for Souls</font></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:16px;">June 1, 2026</span></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;">Now then we are ambassadors for Christ...</span></span></span></em><br /> <span style="color:#4e5f70;"><em><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-style:normal">~ 2 Corinthians 5:20a KJV ~</span></span></span></span></em></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="267" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260601013647/22ebf327aff761ff7aee7412ca8170c4_Surrender-2-N.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style="padding-left: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV)<br /> <br /> Dwight Lyman Moody, known simply as D.L. Moody, was one of the most influential evangelists of the 19th century. Born in 1837 in Northfield, Massachusetts, Moody grew up in poverty. His father passed away when he was just four, leaving his mother to raise nine children alone. Despite these hardships, Moody’s early life foreshadowed his relentless determination and unshakable faith in God’s power to transform lives.<br /> <br /> At 17, Moody moved to Boston to work as a shoe salesman. There, his Sunday school teacher, Edward Kimball, took a personal interest in him and shared the Gospel with him. Moody later recalled how Kimball spoke with tears in his eyes, pleading with him to surrender to Christ. That day, Moody gave his life to the Lord, and everything changed.<br /> <br /> Moody soon felt a deep burden for souls and a desire to serve God. He began leading Sunday school classes, ministering to street children, and sharing the Gospel wherever he could. Though he lacked formal education and polished speaking skills, his passion for Christ and his love for people were undeniable.<br /> <br /> In the 1870s, Moody’s ministry exploded in scope. He conducted evangelistic campaigns across the United States and Great Britain, drawing massive crowds wherever he preached. Known for his simple yet powerful messages, Moody relied heavily on the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. He often quoted <strong>John 3:16</strong>, saying it encapsulated the heart of his message:<br /> <em>"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."</em> (KJV)<br /> <br /> Moody also prioritized equipping others for ministry. He founded schools such as the Moody Bible Institute and the Northfield Schools, which continue to impact generations of Christians. His philosophy was simple: "It is better to put ten men to work than to do the work of ten men."<br /> <br /> Despite achieving international fame, Moody remained humble. He once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”<br /> <br /> D.L. Moody’s life reminds us that God uses willing hearts more than polished talents. His legacy calls us to surrender fully to Christ and reach the world with the Gospel.<br /> <br /> <em>Darrell Stetler II is a 20 year pastor and creator of a </em></span><a href="https://www.newstartdiscipleship.com/post/a-mentoring-meeting-for-discipling-new-christians"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><em>mentoring guide for disciple-makers</em></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><em>.</em></span></span></span><br /> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:36px;">Announcements</span></h2> <p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Is it easier for you to access information via What'sApp than via email? If so, we are now sending out the Illustrator newsletter to What'sApp subscribers. Just send me a text via What'sApp here +1 (905) 228 - 5072, and I will be happy to subscribe you.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px solid #505050;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/ill_html///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

Created With Love

Sun, 31 May 2026 01:31:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/05/30/created-with-love/"><font color="#000000">Created With Love</font></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:16px;">May 31, 2026</span></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;">The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.</span></span></span></em><br /> <span style="color:#4e5f70;"><em><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-style:normal">~ Psalms 19:1 NIV ~</span></span></span></span></em></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260531023153/8ca7d994d4b395b5c57329a93e7e2a0c_Robin-N-Hor.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style="padding-left: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." (Psalms 19:1 NIV)<br /> <br /> The first signs of Spring are finally arriving here in the mountains of my home. The days are gradually lengthening. The air feels cool and comfortable instead of cold and bitter. The sun feels warm on your face as you go outside. Flowers are blooming in spite of the yellow grass and frosty mornings. And the air is full of songs of love sung by dozens of different species of birds. I even saw a Finch and a Robin inspecting the limbs of my Maple tree, possibly scouting a location for their next nests.<br /> <br /> I once watched a Robin build a nest on the cross beams of my daughter’s front porch. It took her only a day to complete it. She wonderfully wove twigs, grass, and mud into a sturdy home to raise her babies. As I watched her do so with such perfection, with such completion I wondered where did that intelligence come from. There are no nest building schools out there and the baby birds leave the nest after only a few weeks so how is such knowledge passed on.<br /> <br /> Perhaps it is the same Divine intelligence that tells the flowers to come up again each Spring. Perhaps it is the same wisdom that causes the grass to grow, the trees to create leaves, the animals to raise their babies, and the sun to warm the Earth. Perhaps it is the same wisdom that guides me to grow, to learn, and to love. Perhaps it is the same wisdom that helps us each day to gradually become the people God meant for us to be.<br /> <br /> All I know is this. I can feel in my soul that this world was created with Love. I can see that God’s Universe is filled with intelligence and wisdom. And I know that God wants us all to take our own place in His Loving Creation. Take your place then. Let your love shine as bright as the sun on a Spring day. Let your soul soar like a bird in flight. And build your life here like a Robin builds her nest: with wisdom, with love, and with joy.<br /> <br /> Joseph J. Mazzella</span></span></span><br /> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:36px;">Announcements</span></h2> <p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Are you blessed by mini-sermons and devotionals? 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Denning Coyotes

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:52:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/05/28/denning-coyotes/"><span style="color:#000000;">Denning Coyotes</span></a></span></h1> <h4 style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:16px;">May 29, 2026</span></span></em></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.</em></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="line-height:107%">~ Proverbs 4:14 NIV ~</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="400" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260529015238/aa4464a7577580bd5ee5d5cf9d654ba7_Coyotes-Denning-N.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="300" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Our move to western Canada brought about a surprising complication: Apparently wild (and huge!) coyotes live within city limits!<br /> <br /> My wife had been warned, but she didn't take it as seriously as she probably should have and one day, our dog, who was apparently off-leash (but in an official off-leash area), was chased by one... But the coyote moved away when our dog, who is coyote size, was obedient to my wife's call!<br /> <br /> She played it safe for a few days after that. The dog wasn't allowed off leash in that particular area. But when the coyotes were no longer heard howling at night, they returned to their normal habits.<br /> <br /> A couple of weeks later, the dog was running free in a different official off-leash area along the river. Both my wife and the dog had fun, and later that week, they returned to the same spot with a friend. They went far out onto the off-leash area when one of the area's locals ran after them. The lady reported that there were aggressive coyotes in the area and that one had chased her Bernese Mountain Dog while it was on leash...<br /> <br /> I would have taken it seriously and not returned, but my wife is cut out of a different fabric. She went back to the same area the very next day. This time she didn't go out nearly as far and she said she was keeping a close eye on the, again, off-leash dog. Apparently someone again ran after her another time. This time not only did he report a coyote chasing a German Shephard on leash, but he showed her a picture ... one he had just taken ... of a coyote watching ... <em>our </em>dog! The man said he thought there was a female coyote denning in the area and said he was going to report it to the wild life authorities.<br /> <br /> To my wife's credit, she didn't try to go back down there for about a week, and the next time she came anywhere close, someone had posted a sign across the river: "Coyotes Denning in this area. Use caution as aggressive behaviour has been reported. Stay on trails and walk in groups. If approached, make yourself appear larger, wave arms and shout loudly."<br /> <br /> I am proud of my wife for turning back towards home then and there.<br /> <br /> What was different this last time that finally made her understand she needed to use more caution?<br /> <br /> It was the sign. If the threat was serious enough for the city to post the danger, she understood that it should be taken seriously!<br /> <br /> My wife will be the first to admit that she is a risk taker, and I will admit that when she and I roamed the roads together, I sometimes even encouraged such behaviour. It appears that neither of us seem to learn very quickly. If it isn't posted, nothing bad will happen!<br /> <br /> Unfortunately, this laissez-faire attitude carries over into our spiritual lives as well. No, there aren't any coyotes denning in spiritual life; but there is a roaring lion: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). I know this. I've learned it—and believed it—since I was small. I understand the dangers of associating myself with the wrong company, of watching bad movies or reading iffy books. Nonetheless, part of me just figures. "it won't happen to me!" I mean, can that TV show really be all that bad?<br /> <br /> Wouldn't it be nice if there were a sign posted around all the things that could have a negative influence on our lives? Something like, "Devil lurking in this area. Use caution as people have recently been pulled away from the Lord in this area. Stay on the 'narrow path' and keep your eyes on Jesus. If approached, draw your 'sword'—Fight back with God's power and the power of His Word!"<br /> <br /> But there isn't such a sign. Instead, we have something that, though less obvious, is truly better. We have God's Spirit who will speak to our consciences: "Danger! Stay away!" The only problem is, so often we tune out that voice… Perhaps this is why the world's wisest man warns, “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.” (Proverbs 4:14-15 NIV), and the Apostle Paul says, “Flee the evil desires of youth…" (2 Timothy 2:22a NIV).<br /> <br /> Easier said than done… Yet Paul gives us the way to do so in his next words: "…and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22b NIV)<br /> <br /> Let's commit to keeping our eyes on Jesus and fleeing the temptations of this world. Let's strive to listen to God's Spirit and follow His guidance. Let's turn away from even the prospect of sin!<br /> <br /> Oh, and maybe my wife will take the coyote threat more seriously in the future as well…<br /> <br /> Inspired by Rob Chaffart<br /> Founder, </span><a href="http://www.answers2prayer.org"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">Answers2Prayer</span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"> Ministries</span></span></span></p>  <ol> </ol> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt; font-variant:normal; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">G</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ot questions about the Bible? 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The Sun

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:16:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/05/26/the-sun/"><font color="#000000">The Sun</font></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:16px;">May 27, 2026</span></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>….to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes...</em></span></span></span><br /> <span style="color:#4e5f70;"><em><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-style:normal">~ Isaiah 61:3 NIV ~</span></span></span></span></em></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260527011631/1ed4e4a8f0383293275193d8c3b09032_Sun-on-snow-N-Hor.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style="padding-left: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">"….to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair….." (Isaiah 61:3 NIV)<br /> <br /> It was a cold winters’ day.  So cold that I debated on going for my daily walk with the dogs, worrying that it would be too frigid for their feet.  Never-the-less, they were all anxious to get outside, so off we went.  As we trudged around the snowy path, I pulled my parka hood up over my hatted head to try and cut the searing north wind. What a bitter day, I thought to myself. In spite of the cold however, the beauty of the brilliant blue sky against the stark white landscape was a sight to behold. Best of all however, was the heat of the winter sun beating down upon us, making our glacial experience, that much more bearable.<br /> <br /> That winter sun reminded me of the last part of todays’ scripture verse: a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Life, just like the weather, can at times become quite bitter, causing us to become discouraged or even despair.  God understands this and has thus given us a remedy to make our difficult situations bearable.  Praise is the key for lifting our spirits and blessing us with the encouragement, hope and strength to persevere amidst the winters of life.<br /> <br /> Praise focuses our attention on the truth of who God is, what He has done in the past and what He will do now, as well as in the future.  Praise opens the door of hope, as well as expectancy.  God is ever-present.  God will never leave us. God goes before us. God is able to lead us in the right path.  He is the God of peace who will provide every good thing we need in order to do His will.  God is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.  He hears us when we cry and answers our pleas.  He is also able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever hope or dream.  More even than our highest prayers.<br /> <br /> Yes, when we don the garment of praise amidst our times of discouragement or despair, our spirits are lifted, our burdens become lighter and hope for today as well as tomorrow begins to shine down upon us, just as that warmth of that winter sun shone down upon me, on that cold and bitter winters’ day, giving me strength to keep going.<br /> <br /> Prayer:  Father God, thank You for the garment of praise to banish the spirit of heaviness within our lives when the storms of life assail us.  Remind us please Jesus, to don it quickly and wrap it tightly around us.  In Your name we pray. Amen.<br /> <br /> Lynne Phipps<br /> Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada</span></span></span><br /> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:36px;">Announcements</span></h2> <p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">The blood of Jesus: It is amazing in its healing and protective qualities. Have you been covered with Jesus' blood? If not, why not do so today? You can do so in one of three ways: </span></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">1. You can view our </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/L3rHlP02ewk" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Salvation video</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">;</span></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">2. You can visit our </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://dev.answers2prayer.org/2020/11/14/the-saviours-call/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Savior's Call</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"> webpage, available in 10 different languages;</span></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">3. Or you can </span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:lyn@PROTECTED" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">email us</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">, and we'll be happy to help you accept Jesus into your heart!</span></span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Don't wait! Do it today!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px solid #505050;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/ill_html///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

Doing What You Can

Mon, 25 May 2026 01:28:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/05/24/doing-what-you-can/"><span style="color:#000000;">Doing What You Can</span></a></span></h1> <h4 style="font-style: normal; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:16px;">May 25, 2026</span></span></em></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.</span></span></span></em><br /> <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="line-height:107%">~ Hebrews 13:16 NIV ~</span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 9px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnImageBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnImageBlockInner" style="padding:0px" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnImageContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnImageContent" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260525022829/e1a190850743dc9e733b8184e40dc050_Grocery-Bag-N.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-size:18px;">“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16 NIV)<br /> <br /> I have been making some dietary changes recently to better my health and hopefully live longer. I want to be here to care for my two Special Needs sons for as long as I am physically able. That means switching to whole grains, cutting back on sugars, and eating more of the fats that are good for you and less of the fats that are bad for you.</span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-size:18px;">This, however, left me with some boxes of pasta and rice that I couldn’t use anymore so I decided to take them over to donate to a local food pantry. My daughter added a lot of things that were just sitting in her pantry as well. When I arrived I lifted the huge bag up and put it on the desk of the lady in charge of the pantry. She thanked me over and over again. It seemed clear that while the pantry was well stocked she didn’t get many individual donations. Most came from huge stores in big trucks. And while that was great it made me wonder why more people didn’t donate the extra food or clothes they had.</span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-size:18px;">I don’t think that it was because people weren’t good or kind or giving or loving. I see the evidence of their love every single day. I think rather some people have become discouraged because the problems and needs of this world seem so great. They don’t think that they can make a difference. That is why the food pantry lady was so shocked when I came in with our bag of food. It surprised her that I was just doing what I could, with what I had, where I was.</span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-size:18px;">Don’t let the problems of this world make you feel helpless. You are a bigger force for good in this world than you know. You can make a difference every single day. You can help God to make this world a better, more loving place. Do what you can then, with what you have, where you are. Like a pebble thrown in a pond every act of love, kindness, and giving you do will ripple out in waves of joy and will touch the souls of more people than you can ever imagine.<br /> <br /> Joseph J. Mazzella</span></span></span></p>  <ol> </ol> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span>Announcements</span></h2> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Submit your prayer requests to us in one of three ways: </span></span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">- Via Email -- Send requests </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://answertoallprayers@PROTECTED" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; 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white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">, send a private message to Answer to all Prayers; or if you wish your prayer request to be published on the main answers2prayer facebook wall, click </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/230485490316012/" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:underline"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">here</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color:#2c3e50;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none"> and post your prayer request! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; padding: 18px 18px 0px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateFooter" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="footerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnCodeBlock" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center; font-family:helvetica;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/extensions/multiple_subscribe.cgi" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Subscribe</a><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Our Devotionals</a><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org/contact/" style="color: white; padding: 20px;">Contact</a></div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px solid #505050;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"><em>Copyright © 2020 Answers2Prayer, All rights reserved.</em><br /> <br /> Want to change how you receive these emails?<br /> You can <a href="" target="_blank">unsubscribe from this list</a>.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <img src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/spacer_image/ill_html///spacer.png" width="1" height="1" alt="" />

A Turning Point

Sun, 24 May 2026 02:16:00 GMT

<center> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" id="bodyTable" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" id="bodyCell" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateHeader" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="headerContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnTextBlockInner" style="padding-top:9px;" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="max-width:100%; min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding-top:0; padding-right:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-left:18px;" valign="top"> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="font-family:merriweather,georgia,times new roman,serif">Welcome To</span></span></div> <h2 class="null" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sermonillustrator.org"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">THE ILLUSTRATOR</span></a></h2> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" data-template-container="" id="templateBody" valign="top"> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="templateContainer" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="bodyContainer" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" valign="top"> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sermonillustrator.org/2026/05/23/a-turning-point/"><font color="#000000">A Turning Point</font></a></h1> <h4 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:16px;">May 24, 2026</span></h4> <hr style="width:20%; height: 2px; background: black !important; border: none !important; display:flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center;" /> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;">And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.</span></span></span></em><br /> <span style="color:#4e5f70;"><em><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-style:normal">~ Romans 8:26a NLT ~</span></span></span></span></em></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width: 100%; 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padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; text-align:center;" valign="top"><img align="center" alt="" class="mcnImage" height="300" src="https://sermonillustrator.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/show_img/ill_html/20260524031629/38361aa19316ecf82e38bfec43220f28_Anxiety-N.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; border-radius: 0%; width: 350px; display: inline !important; height: 233px;" width="400" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;" valign="top"> <p style="padding-left: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;color: #000000;font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-weight: normal;line-height: 200%;text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="color:#2c3e50;">A few years ago, the family was finishing up our restaurant meal. My husband and I were visiting our oldest son who had just started a new job at Teen Challenge, which rehabilitates those struggling with drug or alcohol dependency. Chris was in charge of a group of men who were putting their lives back in order. They cooked meals, chopped and delivered wood, and studied the Bible together. As Chris described his responsibilities as a leader, we sensed he was struggling with his job. As he talked, he began to sound more and more overwhelmed. The atmosphere in the quiet restaurant began to feel gloomy and oppressive as we listened to the frustration in his voice. I could feel the insurmountable negativity my son could not shake off.<br /> <br /> <em>We should pray</em>, I thought, but I didn't know <em>how</em> to pray.<br /> <br /> I knew it was God's will that our son do his job with faith and confidence. He had all the resources of heaven at his disposal. Somehow, momentarily, he had taken his eyes off God, and bogged down in inevitable challenges. But how to put this into words?<br /> <br /> “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” ( Romans 8:26 NLT)<br /> <br /> I began to pray quietly under my breath, using the words of the prayer language Jesus had given me when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.” (Romans 8:27 NLT) Although I didn't understand my words, God did, and my prayer reached its mark with speed and efficiency. As I prayed, the atmosphere in the room began to change and lighten. Our son stopped his negative talk; there was a definite turning point in his demeanor.<br /> <br /> But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere (Acts 1:8 NLT)<br /> <br /> The day of Pentecost was a turning point for the early followers of Jesus. As the believers met together, "everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages." (Acts 2:4 NLT) From that day on, the disciples went forward in power and boldness. A turning point in my life came when <em>I </em>was filled with the Holy Spirit.<br /> <br /> As believers, Jesus already lives in you through the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord to fill you, to baptize you with his Spirit for power and boldness to witness for Him. Ask Him to give you a prayer language for those situations when you don't know how to pray.<br /> <br /> Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that through Him we can have power and boldness in our Christian lives. Fill us to overflowing, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.<br /> <br /> Alice Burnett<br /> Red Deer, Alberta, Canada</span></span></span><br /> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnDividerBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnDividerBlockInner" style="min-width:100%; padding:18px;"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnDividerContent" style="min-width: 100%;border-top: 2px none #EAEAEA;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextBlock" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody class="mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter"> <tr> <td class="mcnBoxedTextBlockInner" valign="top"> <table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnBoxedTextContentContainer" style="min-width:100%;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-top:9px; padding-left:18px; padding-bottom:9px; padding-right:18px;"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" class="mcnTextContentContainer" style="min-width: 100% !important;background-color: #FFFFFF;" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="mcnTextContent" style="padding: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 200%; text-align: left;" valign="top"> <h2 class="null" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; padding-left: 15px !important; padding-right: 15px !important;"><span style="font-size:36px;">Announcements</span></h2> <p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 11px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-variant: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="text-decoration:none">Is there a particular subject or series you would like to see featured in the Illustrator? 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