Very Good Article found on Smartmoney.com Finally, Time to Buy a House Hough: The conditions are now right for homebuyers looking long-term. By JACK HOUGH   U.S. house prices have plunged by nearly one-third in five years and the nation's homeownership rate is falling at the fastest pace since the Great Depression. Also See Now, Mortgage Lenders Offer Discounts 6 Things to Consider When Making a 'Lowball' Offer   Two key measures now suggest it's an excellent time to buy a house as a long-term residence or an income property (but not for a quick flip). First, the nation's ratio of house prices to yearly rents is nearly restored to its pre-bubble average, suggesting the financial advantages of homeownership once again await buyers. Second, when ultra-low mortgage rates are taken into con... 10/18/2011

Matthew 25:35-40 New International Version (NIV) 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’    37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’    40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ God is so wonderful and the more you share His love the m... 07/23/2011

If you are looking for a home for sale near Scott AFB, then you should be considering homes for sale in OFallon, Freeburg, Mascoutah and Belleville (East High School) homes near the Scott AFB base. There are currently 896 "re-sale homes for sale" Status - A TOT LP: $178,514,694 HI: $1,750,000 LO: $9,900 MEDIAN: $169,900 AVG: $199,235 AVG DM/CDM: 127/169 Property Type - S TOT LP: $178,514,694 HI: $1,750,000 LO: $9,900 MEDIAN: $169,900 AVG: $199,235 AVG DM/CDM: 127/169 Grand Total: TOT LP: $178,514,694 HI: $1,750,000 LO: $9,900 MEDIAN: $169,900 AVG: $199,235 AVG DM/CDM: 127/169   Displaying matches 1 through 896 of 896at an average listing price of $199,235If you are looking for a New construction home there are 121 "Inventory" New Construction Homes on the market for sale. Status - A TOT... 06/06/2011

Psalm 77:19 (The Message)  16-19 Ocean saw you in action, God,       saw you and trembled with fear;       Deep Ocean was scared to death.    Clouds belched buckets of rain,       Sky exploded with thunder,       your arrows flashing this way and that.    From Whirlwind came your thundering voice,       Lightning exposed the world,       Earth reeled and rocked.    You strode right through Ocean,       walked straight through roaring Ocean,       but nobody saw you come or go. His Footsteps are not known!   God's ways are holy, and mysterious to us. We all have heard of Jesus walking on the water, and in this passage of Psalms 77 it speaks of the Ocean being afraid of God and He strode right through the ocean. We are often told to "remember the deeds of the Lord" in this passage and man... 05/26/2011

"This Is My Body" Mark 14:22-25  22In the course of their meal, having taken and blessed the bread, he broke it and gave it to them. Then he said,    Take, this is my body.  23-24Taking the chalice, he gave it to them, thanking God, and they all drank from it. He said,    This is my blood,    God's new covenant,    Poured out for many people.  25"I'll not be drinking wine again until the new day when I drink it in the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 10:16 (The Message)  15-18I assume I'm addressing believers now who are mature. Draw your own conclusions: When we drink the cup of blessing, aren't we taking into ourselves the blood, the very life, of Christ? And isn't it the same with the loaf of bread we break and eat? Don't we take into ourselves the body, the very life, of Christ? Becau... 05/25/2011

Phillipians 2:5-11  5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.  9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship ... 05/23/2011

  God Loves You Perfectly 1 John 4:18 (New International Version) 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 (The Message) To Love, to Be Loved  17-18God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. If you are gripped with fear, let me give you hope! God's love is the answe... 05/22/2011

I Want To Live My Life Daily, Making Sound and Wise Decisions That Have Eternal Consequences! Lord, Help me to live meditating in your word daily and in a prayerful attitude every moment that I would be a "Salty" Christian. Salt helps to preserve, helps to flavor, heal & cleanse toothaches, makes one thirsty, but can also be an irritant, and melt ice. Thank you Jesus that you came to fulfill the law and not to abolish the law, and I am now a bond servant to you! I cannot fulfill your law, but by your grace I can serve you though I am not perfect nor without sin, but you accept my willingness to show my appreciation for your life, your death and your preparing a place for me in Your kingdom. Amen. Philippians 2:11 (The Message)  9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and hono... 05/21/2011

Romans 12:17-19 (GOD’S WORD Translation)  17Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble. 18As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone. 19Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord.”   When you are serving God, there may be people that will mistreat you! But don't get angry or upset with them. Continue to serve God and not people. If you continue to be obedient and faithful to God, God himself will be faithful and reward you for your obedience. Don’t bow to bitterness. Tell God what has happened. Let Him deal with it in His time. He’ll take care of it. Local Scott AFB ... 05/18/2011

2 Timothy 2:1-4 (The Message) 2 Timothy 2  1-7So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!— to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn't get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It's the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3 We’re called upon to endure hardness as a good soldier of the cross, and take it on the chin! Many of us can talk a good religion... 05/14/2011

Romans 4:25 (New Century Version) 25 Jesus was given to die for our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God. Do you believe in the One that was raised from the dead? There are many religions in this world, but only Christianity teaches that God loved the world so much that He sent His one and only begotten Son to die a death a cross and was raised from the dead. This is the basic tenet of Christianity--that Christ is Alive, by the power of God to raise the dead to life. There was a skeptic who was talking with a little girl one day. She loved the Lord Jesus with all of her heart. He was trying to shake her faith and he said, “Young lady, Christianity is not the only religion, you know. There are plenty of religions in the world. There are plenty of Christs. Which... 04/22/2011

1 Peter 4:12-13 (GOD’S WORD Translation) Share Christ’s Sufferings  12Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don’t feel as though something strange is happening to you, 13but be happy as you share Christ’s sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory.   When you are facing a trial in your life are you also counting it all joy? Just as a young tree that has just been planted our roots are not very deep until we have matured. A young tree needs to be watered, staked in order to grow straight and pruned to keep branches from crossing or becoming to heavy right away. We also need to be watched and then sprayed for bugs that may be harmful to our leaves. We will face some strong winds that will blow and... 04/21/2011

Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira  1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.  3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”  5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his bod... 04/20/2011

Wild Wednesday Beauties For the Wild Wednesday Group There was a weather warning and watch issued for Scott Air Base last night, so just in case, I decided to take pictures of our tulips in full bloom in the backyard late afternoon yesterday.   To be fair, my husband planted them last fall.  He seems to have the green thumbs in the family.  Aren't they beautiful?    Enjoy these beauties! Picture of the Moment - Tulips in Bloom The storm came in O'Fallon with pea-sized hail and very heavy rains, which lasted about an hour. It's too dark to assess the damage, if any.     04/19/2011

Colossians 2:8 (GOD’S WORD Translation) Beware of Requirements Invented by Humans  8Be careful not to let anyone rob you of this faith through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ. Jesus never approved of putting the traditions of men above the Word of God (see Mark 7:1-13). What about you? Are you willing to change your life in order that God may use you, or had you rather hold onto your traditions? There are three qualities I believe every Christian should exhibit: availability, expendability, and adaptability. We need to be walking with the Lord so closely that we ought to be ready to witness at a moment’s notice. It is God’s ability and your availability. It is His power and your ... 04/13/2011

Luke 23:34 (GOD’S WORD Translation) 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”    Meanwhile, the soldiers divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.   Jesus knew that we (mankind) remain so blind (crippled) to our sins, that He was teaching us that God is a God of mercy, compassion and grace. God is slow to anger and abounding in love towards us, His creation. Psalm 103:8 says that "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Just as King David asked...  "Is there anyone left in Saul's family to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" 2 Samuel 9:1 We can now eat at the Kings table just like Mephiboshith, even as we are crippled with sin. It is not because we have done or deserve anything, but it is by t... 04/03/2011

1 Happy are those who don't listen to the wicked,        who don't go where sinners go,        who don't do what evil people do.  2 They love the Lord's teachings,        and they think about those teachings day and night.   Many people consider themselves blessed or happy when they have more "things". If they have more money, a nicer car or a bigger home, fame, power, or better looking than average. They believe that the more that they can acquire they will become even happier. But, happiness does not come from what a person has (think Charlie Sheen) but from what a person is or has become. The Ten Commandments teach us how we are to live! The Beatitudes teach us how our hearts are to become, what we should try to think, feel and act if we want the kind of life God wants to give us. Wh... 03/01/2011

  As I was reading my daily Proverb this morning, I read Proverbs 24:27 it reads Prepare your work outside and get things ready for yourself in the field. Afterwards, build your house. I have read that verse every month for many years on the 24th day of the month, but this morning is struck me "again" but perhaps even more that God really wants us to work and be in the field (out among the sinners, doing His work) and that will makes us strong. Have you ever seen young men working in a field picking up straw bails? Those young men really build muscles! When we are working in the field, then our house will become strong and built up. Why, because we are not worried about building our house, we are just working for our master! Our house will supernaturally be built by God Himself.  If we... 02/24/2011

ALZHEIMERS' EYE TEST   ALZHEIMERS' EYE TEST(I love this part.. it’s absolutely amazing!)Count every " F " in the following text:FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITHTHE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS... (SEE BELOW)HOW MANY ?WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke.READ IT AGAIN !Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down.The reasoning behind is further down.The brain cannot process "OF".Incredible or what? Go back and look again!!Anyone who counts all 6 "F's" on the first go is a genius.Three is normal, four is quite rare.                     Local Scott AFB | Metro East IL Real Estate Guide Metro East & Scott AFB Illinois Home StoreBe The First To Find Your New Home You may use this local Scott AFB - Metro East Illinois real estate website to search ... 02/22/2011

Proverbs 23:7-16 (New King James Version) 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.       “ Eat and drink!” he says to you,       But his heart is not with you.    Cleanliness is next to..... When a teacher asked a little boy to finished this proverb the boy said "cleanliness in next to impossible" The little boy was probably probably not that far wrong! Zig Zigalr says call it "stinkin thinkin"! Before we can hope to have a life of purity, we must have a clean thought life. Human efforts are not the pathway to purity. We can look clean from the outside, but God looks at the heart. When was the last time you memorized a verse of Scripture? It’s easier to stay away from “stinkin’ thinkin’” when your mind is focused on the Word of God. Psalm 51:10-13 (New Living Translation)  10 Create ... 02/14/2011