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Weary, Rain Soaked Campers Looking for a Home

Resurrection Infirmities Aging

Source: Unable to locate original source

Contributed By: Fred Gates | Date Posted: 2014-02-06

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:52 ; 2 Corinthians 5:1

Author: Unknown
8

ILLUSTRATION

One author observes that The Apostle Paul is a master of analogies who uses one to help us understand the "cryptic" mystery of our earthly "tent" vs our eternal "home."
 
2 Corinthians 5:1-5 reads: 
 
For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever. And now we sigh, so great is our desire that our home which comes from heaven should be put on over us; by being clothed with it we shall not be without a body. While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to get rid of our earthly body, but that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life. God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us.
 
"A tent," says the author, "is a temporary place to dwell. It's fun to camp in a tent, but let's face it, it's not home. there's no fireplace, no cozy chair, no soft bed. It's cold in the winter, hot in the summer, and leaky when it rains. And the older it gets, the more it sags. Eventually it frays and tears and finally rots."

APPLICATION

"No wonder 'we groan' (v. 2)," he says. "Physicians make their living by listening to groaning tents. An orthopedic surgeon tries to keep the tent pegs from pulling loose, a dermatologist tries to keep the canvas in good shape, and the general practitioners are always stitching and patching us up.
 
"We groan because we are weary, rain soaked campers longing for home (v. 2b). But when we shed this earthly tent from our shoulders, we will not be left naked and shivering (vv. 3-4). We will be clothed with immortality (1 Corinthians 15:52-54). Like a huge down comforter, life--not death--will swallow us up (2 Corinthians 5:4)."
 
"To assure us of this, God puts His seal of approval upon it all by giving us His Spirit as a deposit or down payment for our eternal home (v. 5).

Scribbled Prayers

Prayer

Source: Facebook

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-05-29

Scripture: Luke 18:6 ; Romans 8:26

Author: Abe Nelson
4

ILLUSTRATION

One of the great privileges of serving as a deacon is the opportunity to be one of the first to pray over needs shared at the beginning of the worship service. Our congregation is invited to fill out prayer request cards which are available in each pew. They simply say, "Let us pray with you," leaving a blank space, with the prompt, "My request is ..."

A particular prayer request stood out to me. It was the scribblings of a young child filling out the blank prayer card as he sat in the pew. Just a squiggly line — up, down, and back and forth on the card. 

I love the heart of a child eager to participate and share their scribbles for prayer. “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭16‬, NIV).

APPLICATION

It also reminded me that this is how a lot of my prayers must sound before the sovereign God. My praying must often be not much more than scribbles of unintelligible ideas and whinings when presented to Him. But I am glad that he knows them better than I do.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬, ESV).

Thank God For Spiritual Spring!

Poetry Renewal

Source: preacherpollard.com

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Neal Pollard | Date Posted: 2023-05-11

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22 ; 2 Corinthians 4:16

Author: Neal Pollard
0

ILLUSTRATION

Bound in each blossom and the green of the lawn
Is a message for the whole world to see
Witnessed by each person who beholds the dawn
Or every bush, plant, and flower, each tree

The deer, the rabbits, the birds of the morning
So many testify of its coming
As God brings new life, His gracious performing
Is heard in their songs, sounds, and humming

Nature displays in graphic depiction
How God brings life after death
Look up at His Son and His cruel crucifixion
As He yielded and breathed His last breath

The cold of the tomb could only envelope
God in the flesh for so long
The faithful writers with words develop
How a dirge became a victory song

“He is not here! He is risen!”
The angels their chorus related
His grave was a powerless prison
His disciples would soon be elated!

The good news spread like a blanket of flowers
In the field of men’s hearts full of trust
It still bursts forth in fruitful bowers
That new life can spring up from the dust

Dear friend, you may be in the winter of despair
The icy grip of sin bringing guilt and strife
Believe that the Son can make your skies fair
Defeat death and bringing you new life!

APPLICATION

"The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him'" (Lamentations 3:22-24, NASB).

The Godly Mother

Motherhood

Contributed By: Chris Huff | Date Posted: 2022-05-20

Scripture: Matthew 23:37 ; Luke 23:34

Author: Chris Huff
3

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We Cannot Control Our Enemy

Preparation Enemies

Contributed By: Thomas Bevers | Date Posted: 2020-10-22

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10 ; Psalms 23:4

Author: Homer Adams
4

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What's Your Favorite Pair Of Shoes?

Christlikeness

Contributed By: Neal Pollard | Date Posted: 2020-03-08

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21 ; 1 Corinthians 11:1

Author: Neal Pollard
1

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The World Celebrated A Full Tomb

Resurrection Easter

Contributed By: Howard Harden | Date Posted: 2019-10-06

Author: Howard Harden
19

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Living In Glass Houses

Criticism Golden Rule

Contributed By: Neal Pollard | Date Posted: 2019-09-15

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Author: Charles Panati
2

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Giving Quotes Part 2

Giving Quotes Part 2

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2017-09-19

Author: Various
2

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Forgiveness Quotes Part 2

Forgiveness Quotes Part 2

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2017-06-16

Author: Various
4

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