Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Waiting Game August 9, 2024 Be still and know that I am God. ~ Psalms 46:10a NIV ~ I don't like to Wait. Please understand that this actually isn’t a choice that I make. Nor is it a lack of patience. Rather it seems to have emerged as a new symptom of my failing cognition.  Take last night for example. My wi ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Missing August  7, 2024 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ~ hebrews 11:1 ESV ~ “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV) Recently Caroline decided to take the children and her mum on a trip into Manchester shopping and because I ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE NUGGET God's Got This! By: Paul Smyth --------------------------------- August 6, 2024 I am not sure where you stand on this, but for me, waiting can really be hard. Waiting for a birthday present, waiting in line, waiting for the snow to melt in the spring, or as a believer in Jesus Christ, waiting for answers to an admittedly long list of urgent prayer requests. When I pr ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Hope Chest August 5, 2024 I have put my hope in your word. ~ Psalms 119:114 NIV ~ As I think back, the blond-colored box was not at all that fancy, but he made it strong and sturdy. It was white pine, unstained but buffed and varnished. My grandfather built this wooden box to be my “Hope Chest.” Some might not even know what that is. It came from a time when a dowry wa ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Hope Chest August 5, 2024 I have put my hope in your word. ~ Psalms 119:114 NIV ~ As I think back, the blond-colored box was not at all that fancy, but he made it strong and sturdy. It was white pine, unstained but buffed and varnished. My grandfather built this wooden box to be my “Hope Chest.” Some might not even know what that is. It came from a time when a dowry wa ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Looking Towards Home August 5, 2025  ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. ~ Hebrews 12:1b NIV ~ “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR A Piece of Gravel and the Windshield August 2, 2024 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. ~ Matthew 12:35 AMP ~ “The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.” (Matt 12:35 ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Getting Out of a Trap July 31, 2024 But now we are released from the Law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. ~ Romans 7:6 ESV ~ "Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the Law—that the Law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? ... Like ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Daydreamer July 29, 2024 Finally, brothers, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~ Philippeans 4:8 ESV ~ I have always been a daydreamer! Today, they would probably call it ADD (attention deficit disorder) and medicate m ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Inheritance July 28, 2024 But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. ~ Joshua 24:15b NIV ~ "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve ...Continue Reading