Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Never Beyond Reach August 21, 2024 Notice that it says, ‘he ascended.’ This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live. ~ Ephesians 4:9 NLT ~ “Notice that it says, ‘he ascended.’ This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live.” (Ephesians 4:9 NLT)  Though he tries ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Waiting August 19, 2024 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you... ~ Isaiah 30:13a NIV ~ "Miss Grady! Miss Grady! Jimmy didn't drink his milk again" came the tattling voices of three kids in my first-grade class. So, we all waited and waited for what seemed like hours, for little Jimmy to drink his milk before we could go out to recess. Poor kid probably hated m ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Yes, God Still Loves Us August 18, 2024 If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ~ Romans 8:31b NLT ~ When my youngest son was little, he went through a period of time when he wouldn't be able to eat all the dinner on his plate. I don't know why I just didn't put less on his plate; I thought I did, but it would never be “less enough”. He would start his dinner, and then al ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Finicky Water Heater August 16, 2024 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness… ~ 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV ~ The nightmare all begin when the gas company offered to change out our gas meter … for free. Everyone likes something free, so we readily agreed.  What we ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Dining on Scraps August 12, 2024 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! ~ Galatians 5:22-23 NLT ~ “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR God Winks When You Least Expect Them August 11, 2024 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. ~ Psalms 139:5 NLT ~ There are times in my life as a believer in Jesus Christ, that I feel that God is more hands off than hands on. Have you ever felt that way? And often when it is least expected, God very succinctly reminds me that He is worki ...Continue Reading

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