About to Begin...

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there are always some obstacles in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

Alfred D. Souza.

A New Year's Prayer

Dear Lord, please give me… A few friends who understand me and remain my friends; A work to do which has real value, without which the world would be the poorer; A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed; An understanding heart; A sense of humor; Time for quiet, silent meditation; A feeling of the presence of God; The patience to wait for the coming of these things, With the wisdom to recognize them when they come. Amen. ~ Anonymous

Time for New Beginnings

"This is a time for reflection as well as celebration. As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life, Remember each experience for the good that has come of it and for the knowledge you have gained. Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached. Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought. Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears. And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come. Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life." ~ Taylor Addison, Blue Mountain Arts, 1989

Cure for Jealousy

"I have learned that I am not equipped to handle what others have—both good and bad. I am, on the other hand, completely equipped to handle what I’ve been given. And the more time I spend being thankful for my life, the less I look around wishing for something else." ~ Lysa TerKeurst

Good Habits

"Good habits are not made on birthdays, nor Christian character at the New Year. The workshop of character is everyday life. The uneventful and commonplace hour is where the battle is lost or won."

~ Mattie Davenport Babcock

What's Ahead?

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." ~ C.S. Lewis

Too Late?

“One moment after men die, they know exactly how they should have lived. But then it is too late to go back and live their lives over again. Too late for the unbeliever, in the jaws of hell. But also too late for the believer, who cannot relive his life, remake his choices, this time following his King more faithfully.”

~ Randy Alcorn (from his book "Safely Home)"

New Year's Day Approaches...

"As we grow older in life, years somehow seem to shorten and New Year's Day approaches with an ever increasing tempo. The more mature we get, the more we realize that time is only relative; how we live means more than how long we live. Haply also we do not live by years, but by days. In His wisdom God does not show us all that lies ahead. So we enter a new year to live it day by day. What is past is past. Today we start anew, and what we do today will make our life for tomorrow. Chin up, shoulders straight, eyes agleam, let us salute the New Year, and each day let us follow more faithfully, more courageously, more daringly the lead of our great Captain who bids us follow Him."

~ William Thomson Hanzsche

Singles...Advice from Gary Thomas...

"Singles, learn to value humility when choosing a lifemate: the only thing worse than marrying an imperfect person is marrying an imperfect person who thinks he/she is perfect." ~ Gary Thomas

Be On Guard...

"As you prepare for the coming year— remember Jesus is coming. These are the last days-- difficult times are here... "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." - 2 Peter 3:17-18"

~ Repost from Kay Arthur

Self-Pleasing, Self-Indulging...

"A crucified Savior will never be content to have a self-pleasing, self-indulging, worldly-minded people." ~ J.C. Ryle

Christmas Is...

Christmas is God’s gift to us – a gift of light and life, hope and grace. The gift is a reflection of God’s concern for the world, and God’s desire to heal it and drive away its darkness. The gift of Christmas therefore, comes with a mission, a calling and a responsibility. We must bear Christ’s light into the world by our love expressed through works of mercy and justice. At Christmas we are invited to receive Christ’s light, but not only to receive it. We are invited to bear the light, to walk in the light, and to take the light into the world. ~ Adam Hamilton

Light into Darkness

Jesus has come to bring light into our darkness, hope to our moments of despair, and salvation and deliverance to all who are burdened, bound, and oppressed. ~ Adam Hamilton

Under the Tree?

What we really hunger for will not be found under the tree on Christmas morning. We hunger for meaning, for joy, for hope in the face of despair. We hunger to know that we can be forgiven and start anew after things we regret. We hunger for a love that will not let us go and for a life and triumph in the face of death. These come through a baby born in a stable, laid to sleep in a feeding trough, visited by night-shift shepherds. He is for us the bread of life. And we must come to the stable to satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts. ~ Adam Hamilton

Gifts...

Mike Slaughter, pastor of the Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, reminds his congregation each year that “Christmas is not your birthday!” Consider giving a special offering this Christmas for people in need. If you have children teach them this tradition, and help them learn that Christmas is not primarily about what is under the tree but about God’s gift of Jesus Christ, and, in turn, Christ’s call upon our lives to give ourselves for others.

~ Adam Hamilton (The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem)

Religious Activity Vs. Adventure

Here is a quote from Simple Church Revolution: "In fact, we often replace the miraculous adventure of following Jesus with religious activity. Did I go to church this week? Check it off the list. Did I read my Bible? Check it. Did I pray? Check it. Done! I have completed my Christian activities and am, therefore, a “good Christian.” Religion itself becomes an easy replacement for a daring life lived in partnership with Jesus." ~ Roger Thoman

Download a free copy of Roger's book Simple House Church Revolution

A Christian...

"You are a Christian 24/7, not because you participate in a two-hour worship service, but because Christ lives in you every minute of every day." (taken from Roger Thoman's book Simple Church Revolution)

~ Molong Nacua

Church Is...

"Church is where Christ lives, not the place where we meet. It is
Christ-empowered people, a kingdom of priests for the purpose
of winning against the works of the devil and establishing God's
Kingdom (1 Cor. 3:17; Matt. 18:19; Ex. 19:6)… Christianity is not
about doing church, but being the church. Church is not some
place to go to participate in, but it is about being who you are in
Christ and thus experiencing His real life in you." (taken from Roger Thoman's book Simple Church Resolution)

~ Molong Nacua

What the Church Is Not...

“Church is not a building. Church is not an event that takes place on Sundays.” ~ John Eldredge

(taken from Roger Thoman's book Simple Church Revolution)

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas

♥ 1 Corinthians 13 Christmas ♥
♥ If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
♥ If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family,... I’m just another cook..........
♥ If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
♥ If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
♥ Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
♥ Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
♥ Love is kind, though harried and tired.
♥ Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
♥ Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
♥ Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
♥ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.
~Author Unknown

Grace...Cheap Grace...?

“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession.... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Difficult Situation

‎"When a Christian finds himself in a difficult situation, he should immediately give thanks to the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Spirit, to keep his heart from complaining and fretting. The devil moves in when a Christian starts to complain, but thanksgiving in the Spirit defeats the devil and glorifies the Lord." ~ Warren Wiersbe

Charitable Giving

"There ought to be things we'd like to do and cannot because our charitable expenditure excludes them." ~ C.S. Lewis

What is a Blessing?

"Sometimes we think God's blessing involves gaining money, power, and prestige. Blessedness is often associated with a life of comfort and ease. When we describe our blessings, they often include our homes, our jobs, our health and wealth. But Mary's blessedness wasn't material. It wasn't born of security or physical well-being. Mary's blessedness came from being a part of God's plan to be used by God for God's kingdom. Her blessedness was in the fact that she was chosen by God to bear the Messiah." ~ Adam Hamilton (The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem)

Life Is...

"Your life on earth is a dot. From that dot extends a line that goes on for all eternity. Right now you’re living in the dot. But what are you living for? Are you living for the dot or for the line? Are you living for earth or for heaven? Are you living for the short today or the long tomorrow?" ~ Randy Alcorn (from his book "In Light of Eternity")

Christmas Gift Suggestions

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. ~ Arnold

The Point of Trials

‎"The point is not just getting through trials. It's loving, valuing, & trusting Jesus more as a result of them." ~ Bob Kauflin

Courage Is...

"Courage is fear that has said its prayers." ~ Dorothy Bernard

Prayer Is...

"Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God." ~ Saint Teresa of Avila

Truth...

"Truth is eternal, knowledge is changeable. It is disastrous to confuse them." ~ Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007)

Worth More than a College Education

"A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education." ~ Theodore Roosevelt (1958-1919)

I Believe in...

"I believe in prayer. It's the best way we have to draw strength from heaven." ~ Josephine Baker

Prayers Must...

"Our prayers must mean something to us if they are to mean anything to God." ~ Maltbie D. Babcock

Prayer Is Not...

"Prayer is not eloquence, but earnestness; not the definition of helplessness, but the feeling of it; not figures of speech, but earnestness of soul." ~ Hannah More

Prayer is...

"Prayer is translation. A man translates himself into a child asking for all there is in a language he has barely mastered." ~ Leonard Cohen

Are You Rich?

"Rich is the person who has a praying friend." ~ Janice Hughes

What Does Prayer Change?

"Prayer changes people, and people change things." ~ Burton Hills

The Brotherhood

Whoever in prayer can say, "Our Father," acknowledges and should feel the brotherhood of the whole race of mankind. ~ Tryon Edwards

Prayer

He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. ~ Psalm 102:17

Prayer

"Prayer moves the hand that moves the world." ~ John Aikman Wallace

Tragedy

"The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer." ~F. B. Meyer