Thank You, Jesus!

"O God, you are the giver of all good gifts and I desire to praise your name for all of your goodness to me. I thank you for sending your Son to die for my sins, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory, through Jesus Chris. Amen." ~ John Wesley

Who He Is?

"If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be what he gives." ~ Robert South

Final Say

"No matter how bleak the current circumstances, evil and death do not have the final say." ~ K. Brower

Lessen the Tide...

Forgive us if this day we have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show sympathy and kindly help where we had the opportunity, but missed it; and enable us so to live that we may daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and add to the sum of human happiness. ~ Frederick Brotherton (F. B.) Meyer

Biblical Gospel

The modern-day gospel says, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Therefore, follow these steps, and you can be saved.” Meanwhile, the biblical gospel says, “You are an enemy of God, dead in your sin, and in your present state of rebellion, you are not even able to see that you need life, much less to cause yourself to come to life. Therefore, you are radically dependent on God to do something in your life that you could never do.” The former sells books and draws crowds. The latter saves souls."

~ Radical, David Platt

Willing to die for the Bible?

‎"If you are not willing to die for what is in the Bible, you should not give money for Bibles. Because if you give, we will smuggle more Bibles. And if we smuggle more Bibles, there will be more martyrs." ~ Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, VOM Founder

Admit Your Mistakes...

‎"A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them." ~ John C. Maxwell

Can I Get a Witness?

"Being a witness—sharing the gospel and spreading scriptural holiness—requires prayer. It requires faith. It requires the Word." ~ D. Graves 2012 BGS Annual Report

True Form

"Nothing is yet in its true form." ~ C. S. Lewis

Mentor and Disciple

"People have mentored and discipled me, sometimes without realizing their impact. I am eternally grateful to those who, in spite of my flaws, sought to see the best in me for His sake." ~ M. Ellen

Prayer Is...

Prayer is not a way of making use of God; prayer is a way of offering ourselves to God in order that He should be able to make use of us. ~ Barclay

Ears to Hear and Eyes to See

Lord, give me ears to hear Your voice and eyes to see You working in my life. I have stilled and quieted my heart, and I desire to hear You speaking to me throughout this day. Speak Lord, I am listening! ~ D. Graves (Repost from Facebook)
*** See Psalm 139 and allow Him to search your heart.

Love God & His People ~ All of Them

Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people he has made? ~ Chan *** Check out the Joshua Project and pray for the unreached.

Stealth Prayer

"Stealth prayer. It is extremely powerful. I was on staff at a youth retreat many years ago as a part of a secret team, working behind the scenes. Part of my task was to pray for the participants throughout the entire weekend as they strove to get closer to God. I sat in this upper room, praying and working, undistracted by the actions and movement of anyone else. Because I was shut away from the action, I focused on prayer, on talking to God, on praying for God’s presence. And I felt it. This behind-closed-doors stealth prayer was seen and felt way beyond the reaches of that upper room. Prayer is about being with God, and it is really difficult to do that when you are showing others how hard you are praying, or you are distracted by the world around you." ~ Shannon Kelly

Sanctify Me

"O God, you instruct me with your laws, you redeem me by the blood of your Son, and you sanctify me by the grace of your Holy Spirit. For these and all other mercies, how can I ever worthily love you or magnify your great and glorious name? Forever, I will bless you and adore your goodness. Amen." ~ John Wesley

Climbing a Hill of Ice

‎"The Christian life is very much like climbing a hill of ice. You cannot slide up. You have to cut every step with an ice axe. Only with incessant labor in cutting and chipping can you make any progress. If you want to know how to backslide, leave off going forward. Cease going upward and you will go downward of necessity. You can never stand still." ~ C.H. Spurgeon

The Answer: The Gospel

"The only answer is the Gospel. Not the gospel of accommodation, not the gospel of syncretism, not the gospel of compromise, not the gospel of pandering, not the gospel of wanting to be accepted at any price. No! But the Gospel...the truth that Jesus, and Jesus alone, can save men and women, boys and girls." ~ Dr. Michael Youssef - Leading the Way

Unique Opportunity ~ Fasting

"Fasting is a unique opportunity to know God in a deeper way and to hear His voice more clearly. When you fast, you deny yourself food, or certain foods, for a specified period of time as an act of surrender and worship. Those who have participated in this spiritual discipline can testify to experiencing an increased sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, greater awareness of their dependence on the Lord, and a stronger compulsion to intercede for others." ~ Kristen Feola

The Difference with Prayer

"What a difference it would make if we spent designated time praying for those who have hurt us rather than fretting over and fearing them." ~ Repost from Holiness Today

Dad, How Is Your Grip?

Some fathers exasperate their children by being overly strict and controlling. They need to remember that rearing children is like holding a wet bar of soap – too firm a grasp and it shoots from your hand, too loose a grip and it slides away. A gentle but firm hold keeps you in control… We ought to begin our fatherhood by holding the tiny helpless bar snugly, but as it grows, gradually and wisely loosen our grip. ~ Kent Hughes

Couples, Pray Together!

"Couples who pray together more days than not—say, 4 or 5 days out of seven—almost never get divorced. Much has been said about how Christians get divorced as often as non-Christians, but that’s not true of praying Christians." ~ Gary Thomas Read the whole article, "Affair Proof and Divorce Proof Your Marriage in 2 Hours a Week" by clicking on the author's name.

Spread It Around

"Jesus was preaching about alms, which are charitable donations, gifts given to others. In this we are reminded today that when we give a gift - whether it be money, time, a listening ear, a voice, or food - it should be about the giving and not about the recognition that may go with it. Giving is about sharing what God has given you with others. It is about taking what you have and spreading that around." ~ Shannon Kelly

Discourses on the Psalms

“Because the promise of God that, from mortality and corruption, from this weak and abject state, from dust and ashes, we could become equal to the angels of God seemed incredible to men, he not only made a written covenant…but also gave them a Mediator as a pledge of his promise.” ~ St. Augustine (Discourses on the Psalms)

In essence God says, “If I cannot have the best of you, the best from you, then please do not bring anything to me.” According to God's system, something is not better than nothing. ~ Eric Geiger, Thom S. Rainer (Simple Church)

Read All of the Bible

"Read all of the Bible — and read it in an orderly way. I fear there are many parts of the Word which some people never read at all. This is to say at the least, a very presumptuous habit. “All Scripture is profitable.” [2 Timothy 3:16]. To this habit may be traced that lack of well-proportioned views of truth, which is so common in this day. Some people’s Bible-reading is a system of perpetual ‘dipping and picking’. They do not seem to have an idea of regularly going through the whole book." ~ J.C. Ryle

"Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." ~ Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

Perfect Repentance

"Father, grant me the forgiveness of what is past, and a perfect repentance of all my failings that in the days to come I may with a pure spirit, do your will -- walking humbly with you, showing love to all, keeping my soul in holiness, and my body in sanctification and honor, in Jesus' name. Amen." ~ John Wesley

Self-Interest

My Lord and my God, I turn to you in sincerity of heart and, renouncing all self interest, give myself up entirely to you. I desire to be... yours forever. O my Savior and Sanctifier, turn your face to this poor soul... and accept the gift of myself. Amen. ~ John Wesley

Progressive...

‎"We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive." ~ C.S. Lewis

Love Them

‎"We may not be patient and kind, but Jesus is...This is the love that I need for the people I disagree with, and who disagree with me. In fact, it is the love I need for everyone." ~ Phil Ryken

He's Watching...

"Maybe it doesn't seem like anyone ever watches or appreciates you. Maybe no one on earth understands you. But your King is always watching you. Do it all for Him." ~ K.P. Yohannan

Phony Web of Secrecy

"One of Satan’s oldest tactics is to weave a phony web of secrecy, casting an illusion of privacy over our sinful choices. He says, “No one is watching. No one will know.” But he’s lying. Someone IS watching—the Audience of One. Someone already knows. And in time, many will know. We never get away with anything. Jesus warned His disciples: “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed” ~ Randy Alcorn

Faith that Grows

"Our faith today cannot be the faith that animated us when we were six years old. Our faith has to grow as we go on our journey. We are part of an ongoing revelation. The Word of God is not fixed, but alive." ~ Perry

Interest in Heaven

“When the followers of Christ lose their interest in heaven they will no longer be happy Christians, and when they are no longer happy Christians they cannot be a powerful force in a sad and sinful world. It may be said with certainty that Christians who have lost their enthusiasm about the Savior’s promises of heaven-to-come have also stopped being effective in Christian life and witness in this world.” ~ A.W. Tozer

Lenten Fast

"A Lenten fast may take different forms, but I believe there is value in taking such an extended period of time to clear out the clutter that accumulates in our hearts, to say “no” to things that may have become too important to us, and to cultivate greater love for Christ." ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Why Observe Lent?

"...many Christians observe Lent as a meaningful way of meditating on the sufferings of Christ on our behalf. They choose to deny their flesh as a daily reminder that Christ died and rose again to deliver us from slavery to sin and self." ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss

‎"Lent gives me this gift: the deeper I know the pit of my sin, the deeper I’ll drink from the draughts of joy." ~ Ann Voskamp (One Thousand Gifts)

The Christian Faith Is Not...

“The Christian faith is not a mere collection of doctrines—a bag of truths. Christianity is a comprehensive truth claim that encompasses every aspect of revealed doctrine, but is centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, as the apostolic preaching makes clear, the gospel is the priority.” ~ Albert Mohler “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). (Repost from Randy Alcorn)

Insatiable Hunger

‎"Most Christians are satisfied living as common Christians, without an insatiable hunger for the deeper things of God." ~ A.W. Tozer

Instill Values...

"Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built." ~ James Dobson

Read the Bible Daily

"Make it a part of every day’s business to read and meditate on some portion of God’s Word. Private means of grace are just as needful every day for our souls — as food and clothing are for our bodies. Yesterday’s food will not feed the laborer today; and today’s food will not feed the laborer tomorrow. Do as the Israelites did in the wilderness. Gather your manna fresh every morning. Choose your own seasons and hours. Do not scramble over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible the best, and not the worst part of your time! But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and God’s Word every day." ~ J.C. Ryle

Begin Reading Your Bible This Very Day.

"The way to do a thing — is to do it; and the way to read the Bible — is actually to read it! It is not merely meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or intending, or thinking about it — which will advance you one step. You must positively read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more than in the matter of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must persuade somebody else to read it to you. But one way or another, through eyes or ears — the words of Scripture must actually pass before your mind." ~ J.C. Ryle

Give Your Children God's Word

Check out some neat J.C. Ryle quotes about sharing all of God's Word with your children while they are young.

"If you pray for someone long enough, your heart toward him will change. You will gain vested interests in his welfare and will want God to work in his life. If it’s someone who hurt you, pray for him. If you find yourself resenting your parent, spouse, employer, or pastor, faithfully pray for them. Over time, watch what happens." ~ Randy Alcorn “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions… be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1).

Led in the Wilderness

‎"Soar back through all your own experiences. Think of how the Lord has led you in the wilderness and has fed and clothed you every day. How God has borne with your ill manners, and put up with all your murmurings and all your longings after the 'sensual pleasures of Egypt!' Think of how the Lord's grace has been sufficient for you in all your troubles." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Do Your Best

"Any man's life will be filled with constant and unexpected encouragement if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day." ~ Booker T. Washington

On Becoming Civilized

"Children are rude because they are so naturally egocentric. It’s their needs, their comforts, their feelings that they demand be met- usually at the expense of weary parents. Of course, self-centeredness is natural, expected behavior in infancy and tolerable in toddlers, but it becomes downright unbearable in school-age children. Proper manners can be a most effective tool in teaching children that they are not the center of the universe. And as the realization grows, they will be well on their way to becoming civilized rather than savage." ~ Kent & Barbara Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Family

Future Happiness

“Every day, Christian men and women forfeit future happiness for the sake of temporary sexual stimulation.” ~ Randy Alcorn (The Purity Principle - God’s Safeguards for Life’s Dangerous Trails)

President's Day

"It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors." ~ George Washington

In Difficult Times...

‎"In difficult times, the world taps into our fears and sells us a false message: Look out for number one. The more tumultuous life becomes, the easier it is to be self-centered. We focus on things the world tells us we should worry about, and our thoughts are consumed with me, myself, and I--my opinions, what I feel, and what the uncertain future means for me. But God wants us to get our minds off ourselves and to focus on what He has in mind for our lives... He didn't put us here to retreat in fear from the world. Instead, He entrusted us with a mission: to make a difference in people's lives through His Spirit. When we lose our self-centeredness, others will be drawn to His love, joy, and peace in us." ~ Charles Stanley

What do you put before prayer?

"Faced with a pile of problems, we may say with our lips that only prayer can solve them, yet we talk more than pray, worry more than pray, and scheme more than pray. In sum, we put everything before prayer; other things are placed in prominent positions while prayer is relegated to last place; it is the only thing which is not so important." ~ Watchman Nee

Never in Eternity...

"Tuck this thought away: Never in eternity will we want to walk up to Jesus and say, I surely wish you had answered my prayer differently." ~ Blaine Allen

He Knows...

"He knows your pain, He hears your cry, and He is on the move to act on your behalf. He is longing to be your Comforter. He is the Healer of your broken heart." ~ J. Beiler

Grow Up...

Seriously Church, let's remember today to put childish ways behind us, to grow up, and in St. Paul's words, experience the '”glorious freedom of the children of God.” ~ Whitaker

Why Don't You Pray?

"A great many people do not pray because they do not feel any sense of need. The sign that the Holy Spirit is in us is that we realize that we are empty, not that we are full. We have a sense of absolute need. We come across people who try us, circumstances that are difficult, conditions that are perplexing, and all these things awaken a dumb sense of need, which is a sign that the Holy Spirit is there. If we are ever free from the sense of need, it is not because the Holy Spirit has satisfied us, but because we have been satisfied with as much as we have. "A man's reach should exceed his grasp." A sense of need is one of the greatest benedictions because it keeps our life rightly related to Jesus Christ." Oswald Chambers

Life of Service to God

"My life of service to God is the way I say "thank you" to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation." ~ Oswald Chambers

Take a Walk

"A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world." ~ Paul Dudley White

Worship

"I don't believe God is impressed with our sermons, well trained bands or choirs, time scripted services, updated children's ministries and relevant youth pastors, etc. Those things are for us and not for God. --- God only comes to our churches and to our meetings in response to one thing; our worship and our hunger for His presence!" ~ Pastor Kevin Seymour

Worship

"I don't believe God is impressed with our sermons, well trained bands or choirs, time scripted services, updated children's ministries and relevant youth pastors, etc. Those things are for us and not for God. --- God only comes to our churches and to our meetings in response to one thing; our worship and our hunger for His presence!" ~ Pastor Kevin Seymour

Worship

"I don't believe God is impressed with our sermons, well trained bands or choirs, time scripted services, updated children's ministries and relevant youth pastors, etc. Those things are for us and not for God. --- God only comes to our churches and to our meetings in response to one thing; our worship and our hunger for His presence!" ~ Pastor Kevin Seymour

John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress Published February 18, 1678

John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress was published on this day, February 18, 1678. “Wherever I have seen the print of His shoe on the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too.” Mr. Standfast, in Pilgrim’s Progress

Allegiance Demanded

"Jesus demands greater allegiance than any dictator that ever lived. The difference is that Jesus has a right to it!" ~ Vance Havner

Practice of Prayer

"Should it not be recognized that the practice of prayer and intercession needs to be taught to young believers, or rather developed in young believers, quite as much, if not more so than other branches of the curriculum? Unless, however, we ourselves are, through constant persevering practice, truly alive unto God in this holy warfare, we shall be ineffective in influencing others. I am quite sure the rule holds that the more we pray the more we want to pray; the converse also being true." ~ Dixon D. E. Hoste

Cast Away

"Today we are invited to get off the worry treadmill and cast all our anxiety on Christ." ~ J. Porter

The Lord's Work

‎"Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you." ~ C.T. Boom

Don't Just Give Money

‎"Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go." ~ Mother Teresa

Judgments

"None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves." ~ Spurgeon

Peace with Inadequacy

"If I want to make peace with inadequacy, I must first face those things that trigger these feelings head on, stop looking at others for my validation and learn to truly depend on God." ~ Lysa TerKeurst

Obstacles

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~ Clark

Gratitude is...

‎"Gratitude truly is the foremost quality of a believing disciple precisely because thanks to God is what births trust in God … the true belief. It’s only when you live the prayer of thanksgiving to God that you live the power of trusting God." ~One Thousand Gifts Day 46 of the Joy Dare: {Count 1000gifts in 2012/3 gifts a day} #140 a gift in losing something: what the scale read #141 in finding something: my sense of humor tonight, right there in the laundry room, right when I needed it! #142 in make something: him grin when I winked at him from the stove Thanks to God is what births trusts in God -- Count your blessings tonight? (One Thousand Gifts)

Temptation is...

"Temptation is Satan's invitation to get our needs met his way instead of God's way." ~ Lysa TerKeurst (Made to Crave )

Helpful Criticism

"Hang on to the helpful criticism and let go of the rest. Don’t be burdened by the ignorant and unkind critique of others." ~ C. Hosher

Change Is Used to...

‎"God uses change to change us. He doesn’t use it to destroy us or to distract us, but to coax us to the next level of character, experience, compassion and destiny!" ~ Beth Moore

Affirming Words

“Affirming words from moms and dads are like light switches. Speak a word of affirmation at the right moment in a child’s life and it’s like lighting up a whole roomful of possibilities.” ~ Gary Smalley

If you have children home with you today...

“If I had my child to raise all over again, I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later. I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less. I would do less correcting and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I’d take more hikes and fly more kites. I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars. I’d do more hugging and less tugging.” ~ Diane Loomans

What does your attitude breed?

"Bad attitudes breed bad attitudes. Grumpy hearts breed more grumpy hearts. Ungratefulness breeds ungratefulness. On the flip side, praising God breeds more reasons to praise God. Thankfulness breeds more thankfulness. And a person who daily practices both praising and thanking has a rare joy that very few people possess." ~ Lysa TerKeurst, Pres. Proverbs 31 Ministries

Power of Love

"May the power of your love, Lord Christ, fiery and sweet as honey, so absorb our hearts as to withdraw them from all that is under heaven. Grant that we may be ready to die for love of your love, as you died for love of our love." ~ Francis of Assisi

Truly Love

"If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this will lead us to prayer: Intercession is a way of loving others." ~ Richard J. Foster

Love Despite

"We need to learn how to keep people through love. Despite imperfections, sins, and irritating habits of other Christians, they belong to Jesus and they need our love as a healthy climate for growth." ~ John Wimber

Called to Serve

"If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting "Who made thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou hast not received?" then I know nothing of Calvary love." ~ Amy Carmichael

Person to be Loved

Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. ~ Barbara Johnson

Endless Love = Endless Forgiveness

"Love is an act of endless forgiveness." ~ Jean Vanier

Love Hunger

"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread" ~ Mother Teresa

The Church Cannot...

"The Church cannot save, it cannot heal, it cannot baptize with the Holy Spirit, it cannot lead us into all truth. Only the Lord can do these things. When our emphasis becomes the Church more than the Lord, we have been reduced to worshipping the creation instead of the blessed Creator, and our faith has been reduced to a form of godliness which denies the very power of the gospel. We are not changed by beholding the Church; we are changed as we behold the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:18). ~ Rick Joyner

Final Instructions

One of the final instructions He gives to His disciples is: “A new command I give you: Love one another.” He didn’t say, "Do it if it’s easy or convenient." Do it—it’s a command. ~ B. Brown

Loved

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved." ~ Victor Hugo

Train Them

“Don’t just teach your children external self-control; train them to understand temptation and resist it. Don’t just teach them manners; teach them why pride is sinful and why greed, lust, selfishness, and covetousness dishonor God. Punish them for external offenses, but teach them that the root issue is always a deeper problem – corruption in their hearts. When you correct them, don’t do it merely to satisfy you as the offended, irritated, frustrated parent. That’s anger; it’s vengeance. But when you correct them help them to see that it is first of all God who has been offended and that He offers reconciliation through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).” ~ John MacArthur

Don't Submit

"If we exalt money, status, or sex above the Word of God, we are living in idolatry. Every time we inwardly submit to the strongholds of fear, bitterness, and pride, we are bowing to the rulers of darkness. Each of these idols must be smashed, splintered, and obliterated from the landscape of our hearts." ~ Francis Frangipane

Key Role of Leaders

"A key role of leaders is celebrating our past and present while helping people say, “Let us turn to God and discern that next chapter and that next step.” ~ L. H. Weems Jr.

Don't Be Afraid...

‎'Preachers: don't be afraid to address real pain. Life isn't a sitcom with a nice resolution. Life is brutal and God is mighty.' ~ Mark Brown

Holiness Requires...

"Holiness requires that I love my neighbors and be reconciled to them." ~ D. Ward (Repost from Holiness Today)

Jesus Prays...

‎"If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me." ~ Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Forgive the Inexcusable

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Be Kind!

"Be kind. What a difference it would make if Christians would just be kind." ~ Repost from the Holiness Today Facebook page

Petty Differences

Oh God, we need help in setting aside our petty differences so that we can move forward in faith, rather than retreating in anger and fear. ~ C. Hosher (repost from Holiness Today)

We Are Not Consumed

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." ~ Lamentations 3:22-24

Family Worship and Prayer

"Brethren, I wish it were more common, I wish it were universal, with all [Christians] to have family prayer. We sometimes hear of children of Christian parents who do not grow up in the fear of God, and we are asked how it is that they turn out so badly. In many, very many cases, I fear there is such a neglect of family worship that it's not probable that the children are at all impressed by any piety supposed to be possessed by their parents." ~ Charles Spurgeon

The Secret...

"The secret of the Christian is not that he is always in the right and puts other people in the right, but that he is a forgiven man. This is the secret of a Christian's humility, and his liberation to love God and his fellows with a new impulse. So the strength of the Church is not the strength of its members, but the strength of Christ who forgives them, humbles them, and can do something with them. So no one is excluded who is ready to say, 'I am sorry. God help me, a sinner.' In the final crisis all that Peter could say was 'I am sorry," and Christ made him the rock man of the Church." ~ A. Michael Ramsey

Live Better

“True godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.” ~ William Penn “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives (2 Pet 3:11)~ Repost from Randy Alcorn's Facebook page.

Do It Anyway...

‎"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be good enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway." ~ Mother Teresa

Do It Anyway...

‎"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be good enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway." ~ Mother Teresa

Are You Called?

'Not called!' did you say? Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face... whose mercy you have professed to obey... and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world. ~ William Booth

What Happened?

We should not ask, "What is wrong with the world?" for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather, we should ask, "What has happened to the salt and light?" ~ Stott

Fasting and Prayer

"Fasting, when accompanied by fervent prayer, will help you develop intimacy with the Lord like nothing else can. Something supernatural happens when you humble yourself before God and pursue him with genuine passion." ~ Kristen Feola (The Daniel Fast)

Being Christlike ~ Social Media

Let's not forget that being Christlike includes what we Tweet, how we react on-line, what we say about others on FB, and how we reveal ourselves in the world of social media. ~ C. Hosher (repost from Holiness Today)

You Are Made to be a Comforter

"God does not comfort us to make us comfortable only, but to make us comforters." ~ Dr. John Henry J. H. Jowett 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Call on the Lord

"I learned as never before that persistent calling upon the Lord breaks through every stronghold of the devil, for nothing is impossible with God. For Christians in these troubled times, there is simply no other way." ~ Jim Cymbala

Don't Pray...

"Don't pray to escape trouble. Don't pray to be comfortable in your emotions. Pray to do the will of God in every situation. Nothing else is worth praying for." ~ Samuel M. Shoemaker

Words Are Powerful

"Be careful what you say or type because words are powerful and can destroy people. Use your words to build others up." ~ Me **************************************************** Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ****************** So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:12 ****************** Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ~ Ephesians 4:29

What???

"I know you believe you understand what you think I said, But I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." ~ Author Unknown

You Are NOT the Judge or the Jury

‎"It is not for us to say who, in the deepest sense, is or is not close to the spirit of Christ. We do not see into men's hearts. We cannot judge, and indeed are forbidden to judge. It would be wicked arrogance for us to say any man is, or is not, a Christian in this refined sense." ~ C.S. Lewis 'Mere Christianity'

Social Responsibility

"Social responsibility becomes an aspect not of Christian mission only, but also of Christian conversion. It is impossible to be truly converted to God without being thereby converted to our neighbour." ~ John R. W. Stott

Light of the World

Look at the candle. What is it used for? It is not for giving light? If it is to give light, it must burn and make itself less and less. But if the candle were to protest and say, "I will not burn an become less and less; I cannot suffer hurt, neither can my form be changed," then what would be its value? In the same way, those who determine not to put self to death will never see the will of God fulfilled in their lives. Those who ought to become the light of the world must necessarily burn and become less and less. By dening self, we are able to win others. ~ Sadhu Sundar Singh

The Poorest

"The poorest of the poor are those who feel that they are unloved." ~ Mother Teresa

Prayer

"Bibles read without prayer; sermons heard without prayer; marriages contracted without prayer; journeys undertaken without prayer; residences chosen without prayer; friendships formed without prayer; the daily act of prayer itself hurried over, or gone through without heart: these are the kind of downward steps by which many a Christian descends to a condition of spiritual palsy, or reaches the point where God allows them to have a tremendous fall." ~ James Charles J. C. Ryle

Compassion

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men." ~ Francis

Darkness vs. Light

For those who say and/or believe "The darkness is just going to get darker" ... Understand, that is an indictment on the LIGHT because darkness does not have any power over light!!!! Erase the thought of just being "a little light" that shines and remember Daniel 12:3 - Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars. For those of us who believe we should SHINE brightly, we also believe that this world is on the verge of CONSTRUCTION not destruction. ~ Pastor Kevin Seymour

Wake Up, Christians!

"So maybe you're clergy. Maybe you're a longtime church member. You know who the fight was between. But you've battled it out. And maybe you've won. You're still standing, smug in your victory. Everyone knows you were right and the other person was dead wrong. Congratulations. What were they thinking? But did you catch that vapor drifting through your foyer and out into the parking lot? That was someone just considering faith. Now they're confused. Someone told them Jesus makes you new. Now they arent sure." ~Eric Folk ********************************************************** "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." ~ John 13:34-35

Actions Speak Loudest

"God used actions, not just words, to describe His love. ~ Jesse Middendorf

Keep On...

"It may seem easy to serve God when we receive accolades for doing so. But the daily grind isn’t so glamorous—being long-suffering with the coworker, showing patience with an aging parent, giving a teen a second chance. Do your best in all situations." ~ Crama (Repost from Holiness Today's Facebook Status Update)

Discouragement

"I don’t know what you are walking through right now. I don’t know the pain or the loneliness you face. There are many things in this life that are not okay but one day, one day because of Jesus it will be alright." “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” ~ Revelation 21:1-4 ~ Shelia Walsh

I Was Hungry

I was hungry and you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger. I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release. I was naked and in your mind debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health. I was homeless and you preached to me the spiritual love of God. I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me. You seem so holy, so close to God, But I am still very hungry—and lonely – and cold. ~ Author Unknown - Found at the Oak Street House Exhibit See Matthew 25:31-46

Bold in Prayer

"Nothing makes us so bold in prayer as when we can look into the eye of God and say to Him, "Thou knowest that I am not praying for personal advantage, nor to avoid hardship, nor that my own will in any way should be done, but only for this, that Thy name might be glorified" ~ Ole Kristian O. Hallesby

Sinning or Praying?

"A sinning man will stop praying. A praying man will stop sinning." ~ Leonard Ravenhill

Secret Place of Prayer

"Prayer is self-discipline. The effort to realize the presence and power of God stretches the sinews of the soul and hardens its muscles. To pray is to grow in grace. To tarry in the presence of the King leads to new loyalty and devotion on the part of the faithful subjects. Christian character grows in the secret-place of prayer." ~ Samuel M. Zwemer

Pray with All Your Might

"You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God...This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame." ~ William Booth

Filing for Bankruptcy?

"If we do not at least try to manifest something of Creative Charity in our dealings with life, whether by action, thought, or prayer, and do it at our own cost - if we roll up the talent of love in the nice white napkin of piety and put it safely out of the way, sorry that the world is so hungry and thirsty, so sick and so fettered, and leave it at that: thou, even that little talent may be taken from us. We may discover at the crucial moment that we are spiritually bankrupt." ~ Evelyn Underhill