Faithfulness to Your Spouse is a Testimony to the World

Merely being faithful to your spouse is quite a testimony in this society. But as you go beyond that to communicate love for your spouse in a consistent, creative, and uninhibited way, the world can’t help but notice. God will be honored.

~ Gary and Betsy Ricucci (taken from Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas)

Give What You Have to Jesus

The point Jesus got across to His disciples was that it didn’t matter if they only had a little bit – a little bit… of time, of money, of education, of ability, of knowledge, of strength, of resources…what mattered was that they gave all that they had to Jesus. Then He would make it enough.

~ Anne Graham Lotz (Life is Just Better with Jesus)

What is Abiding in Jesus?

To abide in Christ means to remain connected to Him so completely that the “sap” of His Spirit flows through every part of your being, including your mind, will, and emotions as well as your words and deeds. The “fruit” that you then bear is actually produced by His Spirit in you through no conscious effort of your own. If you and I want to be fruitful, we do not concentrate on fruit-bearing’ we concentrate on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

~ Anne Graham Lotz (Life is Just Better with Jesus)

Its about the Worthiness of Jesus - Nothing Else

Our entrance into God’s presence is not based on our own worthiness but on the worthiness of Jesus Christ! When we enter God’s presence in Jesus’ name, we are accepted by God as Jesus is, because God counts us as His own dear children!

~ Anne Graham Lotz (Life is Just Better with Jesus)

Do we play games with sin?

You and I often play games with the names we call sin to make it seem less like sin. For example,

We call the sin of unbelief, worry.
We call the sin of lying, exaggeration.
We call the sin of fornication, safe sex.
We call the sin of homosexuality, gay.
We call the sin of murder, the right to choose.

As long as we switch the labels on sin to make it seem less serious, we’re being dishonest with ourselves and with God, and we remain unforgiven. But, if we say the same thing about our sin that God says – if we say, “God, it’s lying. It’s jealous. It’s lust. It’s revenge. It’s hate. It’s adultery. It’s unforgiveness” – God will forgive us!

~ Anne Graham Lotz (Life is Just Better with Jesus)

The Way Out

But for those of us who know we have been lost, our overwhelming gratitude for the Guide is enough to compel us to tell others about Him – about the truth of their lost condition and the truth about the Way out.

~ Anne Graham Lotz (Life is Just Better with Jesus)

My Life has Value

How can I feel depressed by the smallness of my life when the most important Man in the universe died for me, rules over me now, and will one day return for me? In the eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am important. My life has value.

~ Anne Graham Lotz (Life is Just Better with Jesus)

Temptation and Sin are Our Greatest Enemies

Our explosion of joy will coincide with the flowering of our righteousness. In that day, we will be amazed that people once imagined temptation and sin were the allies of excitement and fulfillment, when in fact they were their greatest enemies.

~ Randy Alcorn (In Light of Eternity)

What Brings Fulfillment?

But sin is not what brings us fulfillment – it’s what robs us of fulfillment. Sin isn’t what makes life interesting; it’s what makes life empty. This emptiness inevitably leads to boredom. When there’s fulfillment, when there’s beauty, when we see God as he truly is, boredom becomes an impossibility. In heaven we will be filled as Psalm 16:11 describes, “with joy” and “with eternal pleasures.” Why? Because God is infinitely rich and pleasure-giving.

~ Randy Alcorn (In Light of Eternity)

Life's Greatest Certainty

Death is life’s greatest certainty. Death will come whether or not you’re prepared. But death is not an end; it’s a transition that will bring us face to face with our Creator.

~ Randy Alcorn (In Light of Eternity)

Ambassador for Christ

How are you doing as an ambassador for Christ? How are you doing representing your true country, heaven, as you live in this world that’s not yours? Have you adopted values and customs of this culture that are contrary to those of the culture of heaven? Have you compromised your allegiance to your true country and your true King?

~ Randy Alcorn (In Light of Eternity)

Success

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."

~ Booker T. Washington

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

What did you do with Jesus?

God did not invent denominations, man did. When we go to His home, He will invite us in, but will not ask us for our church or Sunday school credentials. Only one question will be asked: "What did you do on earth with My Son, Jesus?" It will make no difference whether we were Catholic or Protestant, Jew or Gentile. What matters is whether we believe in Him or reject Him. Attending a particular church does not guarantee anyone admission to heaven.

~ Billy Graham (Death and the Life After)

Sectarian Worship?

"In heaven there will be no sectarian worship, no denominational differences, no church creeds. There will be no temple worship, for God and His Son, Jesus Christ, will be the centers of worship (Revelation 21:22)

~ Billy Graham (Death and the Life After)