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(Stanley) We are either in the process of resisting God's truth or in the process of being shaped by His truth

(Stanley)  The Bible never minimizes our difficulties or suffering; instead it magnifies the rewards that accompany our faith

(Stanley) On this side of heaven we will never understand how all things can work together for good for God's children. Certainly not all things in themselves are good but God knows how He'll do it, and in Him we trust

The humorous story is told of  a  young man taking a walk in a park and seeing an old gentleman in the park. The young man asked the older man how he was doing. The older man thought for a moment and then replied, " Pretty good , I guess, I still looking down at the grass "

( Roper) We cannot know any truth until we have begun to obey it. As someone has said, " To know and not to do is not to know at all "

( Ray Stedman) You and I can never be complete without God, nor can we ever discover or fulfill the true meaning of life without a personal relationship with the indwelling God

( Keith Miller) Sin is the ultimate addiction

(Roper) A pure heart is an individual heart in which there is but one desire- to be loved by our  Lord Jesus and to love Him in return

(Roper) How do we view our troubles? Are they driving us toward bitterness and despair or are they drawing us into deeper intimacy with God?

(Stanley) Don't leave this world as dark as you found it

( Bill Crowder) What would a documentary on your life  reveal? Selfishness or selflessness?

(Roper) I want to listen so that when I finish a conversation, others will walk away knowing there is at least one person in this care-less world who has some inkling of what they are doing or thinking or feeling or going through. I want to hear the hushed undertones of their hearts. I want them to know that I care. Listening is a lost art these days. We don't listen well and we aren't used to being listened to. Listening is hard work and most of us aren't willing to put in the necessary time

(Roper)  Without prayer, I will accomplish absolutely nothing

(Roper) It is never too late to get started; we are never to old to begin

( Roper)   Most of us, at one time or another, have been fooled by those  who glimmer and shine, but whose hearts are dark and deceitful.  Beware of those who look to good to be true-often they are

( Amy Carmichael) In acceptance lies peace

( Isaac Walton) Good company on a journey makes the way seem shorter

(Roper) There is something delightful about old folks who keep their sense of humor. They are a joy to be around

( Roper) If you let the mind grow old, the body will grow old also

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(Roper)  The hope of going Home keeps me going. I can hardly wait to get there

(Roper)   In general, as we age, there is a vast disparity between the sight that confronts us in the mirror each morning and the young person that resides within

An 80 year old gardener, when asked his age, replied, " I am an octogeranium "

A little girl described her grandfather as a  " grumppa "

(Roper) The most important thing is to cultivate a cheerful spirit, never allowing pessimism to gain the upper hand. Hold onto your sense of humor with both hands- the older you grow, the more you will  need it. It is losing the thrill and zest of life that makes a person old. They don't lose the thrill because they are old.They ae old because they lose the thrill

( G K Chesterton ) Joy is the gigantic  secret of the Christian- the dominant theme of the Christian faith

( Roper)  Regardless of the roots of my behavior, I am morally responsible for the wrong that I do

(Roper) God does not despair of us even when we despair of ourselves

(Roper)  God can take the most difficult and damaged life and gradually turn it into good. He does  not leave us in ruins

(Roper)  For most of us, in our spiritual lives, we don't make quantum leaps, only tentative steps mingled with many hard falls. It has been a gradual thing, better seen in retrospect than in prospect

(Hollie Miller)  God's will is  more important than your will
                         Your heart is more important than your appearance
                         The Holy Spirit is more powerful than human resources
                          Waiting on God is always better than rushing ahead

( Ravi Z )  Without God, how do you tell right from wrong, what is the purpose of your esistence, and where is your hope?

( Augustine) You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You

( Hollie Miller)  Using  I Sam 18-19 as text for message: If my relationship with God is not right, my relationship with others cannot be right due to walls  we buld, walls of jealousy, anger, deception, and instability

( Hollie Miller) Sometimes people get so upset they don't know whether to cuss or wind their watches

( Hollie Miller) God calls us to prove our faith, guard our mind, and take our stand

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(William Law)  If you have not chosen God, it will make no difference in the end what you have chosen for you will have missed the purpose for which you were formed and you will have forsaken the only thing that satisfies

(Roper) Isn't it good to know that it isn't too late to begin again, to put God back into your life?

(Roper) Compassion is rare in this world; few seem to know how to respond to other's pain

(Roper) Suffering  is the means by which we grow more compassionate and merciful toward others who are in distress

(Roper) It is always wrong to repay evil for evil. It is always wrong to take pleasure in another person's pain, even when that person has wronged you deeply

(Roper) We can never stop growing toward God. Holiness is a dynamic thing, a matter of motion. There is no static balance in the spiritual life. We are either moving toward God or away from Him

(Roper) We must never  let up, for our adversary does not. We must pursue God and His righteousness with hearty energy to the end of our days

( Wiersbe) Marriages don't cause problems,they reveal them

( Roper) Pain and sorrow  become the means by which God frees us from our preoccupation with earthly things and turns our hearts to unseen, eternal realities

( Roper) One of the greatest gifts we can give others is to talk less and listen more. We can do more with our ears than with our mouth

(Roper) Each morning when you awake, meditate on the thought that " I may go to God today or He may come to me "

( Roper) Without prayer, I will accomplish absolutely nothing

( Roper) No one can see God, but they can see me

(Roper) Your " neighbor" is the next needy person you meet

( Roper) I am nothing. He is everything. To Him be the glory ( not me )

(Roper) Faith is unrestricted, unreserved, and unconditional certainty

( Roper) Our faith pleases God more than anything else we can do

( Churchhill) There is nothing quite as exhillerating as being shot at without results

( Roper) Life is too uncertain and too fragile to treat it carelessly

( Roper)  From time to time it is wise to ask  " At my death, will I have  left anything behind of significance? " " Will there be any enduring evidence that I have been here? "

( George Whitefield) We are immortal until our work on earth is done

( Roper)  When we have done all God had in mind for us to do, then, and only then, will He take us Home

( St. Benedict) While there is still time we must listen and  do what will profit us for eternity

The low esteem support group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use  the back door

(Roper) We must learn to see ourselves as God sees us and know that He highly values us. You are of infinite worth in God's eyes. Imagine! The Creator of the universe thinks you are someone very special

( Roper) We are loved by Infinite Love

( Roper) If we listen to our heart and pay attention, it will murmur its discontent with this world and its desire for a better place. We are mostly homesick, yearning for our Father and our eternal Home Everything else leaves a void. Now that I am getting closer to the end of my journey, I'm thinking more like a transient

( John Bunyan) Once we've caught sight of the Celestial City, we can never be content with anything less

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(Swindoll) 80 % of the pastors in America minister in churches  with attendance of less than 200

Empathy has been defined as your pain in my heart

(Frederick Bruchner) Only  a life given away is worth living

(Roper) The greatest thing in all the world is love. It is our best gift to God and to others. Perhaps you and I can do nothing more  than to love a soul, but that is enough

(Jonathan Edwards) All that are truly godly  have a tender spirit in them

( Hannah More) A small unkindness is a great offense

(Roper) Gentleness is strength under control

(Roper) Calm,unruffled silence is often the most elegant response to another's unkind words

(Roper) The root of a gentle spirit is humility

(Roper) If I would be gentle and meek with those who disappoint me, I must know that I am as flawed and weak as they are

( Pastor Sam Polson) To  not want something is more valuable than possessing it

(Polson) A rich man is poor when his wealth increases his worries

( Stanley) Brokenness is God's requirement for maximum usefulness

(Roper) Materialism is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities. For many, enough is never enough

(Augustine) One who has God has everything and one who has everything but God has nothing

(Roper)  The greatest thing  is to know that God loves us. The second greatest is to know that we need nothing more.

(Roper) The life we live is not our's, but His

(Roper) There is awesome power in silence

(Roper) Jesus always has the last word

(Roper) My behavior, when caught off guard, is the best evidence of the sort of person I am

( G K Chesterton) The angels fly because they take themselves lightly

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)  Every person I meet is in some way my superior in that I can learn from them

(Roper) We must not let our defeats defeat us

(Roper) We find ourselves by giving ourselves away

(Roper) Those who have had the greatest impact on us are not the brightest and the best, but those who have given themselves in love, self-surrender, and sacrifice

( Ugo Bassi) He who suffers most has the most to give

(Roper) We were put here on earth to know God and for no other reason.  If we do not know Him, no matter what else we have done our lives, we  have been a failure

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(Dave Roper) Live life with the calm assurance that grace for the next act of obedience is already there

( Roper) When we acknowledge our sins, God makes us more merciful to others in their weaknesses

( Our Daily Bread)  Teamwork divides the effort and multiplies the effect

(Roper) Appearance is greatly  overrated

(Roper) You are His special creation, designed by birth to manifest God's loveliness in a unique way

(George MacDonald) We are as God made us, but we are not as God will make us

(Roper) As we age, we get less interested in impressing others

(Roper) Love is the best gift I can give to God and others throughout the day

(Roper) Evil days are days of opportunity

(Roper) Putting on the whole armor of God is a great way to dress for success

(Roper) One of the things I'm learning as I grow older is not to expect  too much from people

It has humorously been said that blessed are those who expect nothing for they shall never be disappointed

(Stanley) We learn more in our valley experiences than our mountain top ones

(Roper) Christ's " Well done" may be the only appreciation we receive for  the good we've done on earth but, in the end, it is the only praise that will matter

(Roper) We should be gaining insight to distinguish between the temporary and the timeless, the passing and the permanent

(Roper) How do we view our troubles? Are they driving  us toward bitterness and despair or are they drawing us into deeper intimacy with God

(Roper)  Quoting from a book entitled " Letters to God from children  : " Dear pastor: I know that God loves  everybody, but I don't think He ever met my sister, Yours sincerely, Arnold ( age 8)

(Roper) One of Satan's temptations is to try to get us to dwell on other's vices instead of reflecting on their virtues. Love looks for  goodness and nobility in others

(Roper) Worship is the way we get our minds off our circumstances and ourselves and give our full attention to God

(Roper) God is and will be our companion and friend until our traveling days are over and we reach our heart's true Home

( St. Benedict) We descend by self-exaltation and ascend by humility

(Roper) The important thing is not to live long, but to live well

(Roper) As we grow older, we finally become what we've been becoming all along

(Roper) Every day can be a new beginning

(Henry Durbanville)  Oh, to go back across the years long vanished, to have the words unsaid, the deeds undone

( David Roper) Years ago in my student days, shortly after the earth's crust began to cool

(Roper) While God  may heal our handicaps, more often than not, He takes them as they are and puts them to glorious use

(Roper) Some are poor in possessions and appearance; others are poor in faith, hope, and love

(Roper) Few seem to be aware of the pain  all  around them; they go their way, inattentive and unmoved

( Roper) Perhaps we don't have much to give, but we can pay attention

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(Ray Stedman) There never was a day in which people were bombarded  with so many words, so much literature, so much spouting of words through the media, and yet so much of it is thoroughly empty, unsatisfying, and misleading in the extreme

(David Roper) Enjoy your journey to maturity as you gain perspective on the past and hope for the future. Make the most of every moment of life

(Roper)  There are many things I've forgotten, but right now I can't remember what they are

( John Greenleaf Whittier) Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are those " it might have been "

( Dave Roper) I once asked a friend who had been cruelly abused how he dealt with his grievances. He replied, " I've got a good forgetter"

(Roper) How can we forget the bitterness of our past? By seeing God's providence in every event of our lives, even in our mistakes and in others malice

(Roper) God's eternal goal is to bring us to the place where all that we have  and all that we desire is God

(Roper) Those who are unwilling to do God's will  will have no knowledge of God's ways

( Czeslaw Milosz )  High notions of oneself are annhilated by a glance in the mirror

( Dave Ropers ) Quoting a friend:" A little powder, a little paint, makes a girl seem what she ain't "

(Roper) If we would but see ourselves today as we shall be then, we would be left speechless in awe and wonder

(Roper) What I hold in my mind will, in time, show upon my face

(Roper)  If only I could live my life over again, we say, I would do better. Not likely

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(Ray Stedman) If you try to live your life without recognizing God, ultimately you will find yourself empty,dissatisfied, and restless

(StedmanO God has appointed a time when He will bring to light all the hidden things and straighten them out

(Stedman) People really do not want things. They want to be admired for the things they have. The drive to be admired is the true objective of many lives

(Ray Stedman) God is in charge of life, so let Him be in charge

(Stedman) There is no way we can understand the complexity and depth of struggles many are going through

(Stedman) God see all of life from beginning to end

(Stedman) God is a realist. He never plays games with us. He sees things the way they really are and He tells us the way they are

(Stedman)  For many successful people, having arrived at where they always wanted to be, and having everything they always wanted to have, they do  not want anything they've got and, at last, they must give it all up. A person can have abundance of possessions-- all that money can buy-- and yet lack the power to enjoy them. They are trying desparately to enjoy those things, yet their faces have a hollowness about them. Their eyes betray an emptiness inside. Enjoyment cannot be found by effort, by cleverness, nor by the pursuit of pleasure. It must be taken as a gift from God's hand

Some people live only in the past

( C S Lewis ) To argue with God is to argue with the very Power that makes it possible to argue at all

( Stedman)  There is one person in this world you do not know--- it is you. You do not understand yourself

(Stedman) One of the greatest follies of life is to try to imitate somebody else. If you succeed in that, you'll be nothing but a cheap imitation of another person



( Stedman) Death is wholly with God's hands. No man has the power to recall the spirit when God calls it home. A funeral does not permit us to escape ultimate reality. A funeral is proof that we are not in control of our own lives

( Stedman) Buried in honorable graves and remembered as great leaders are many wretches who were wicked and violent men

(Stedman) We must learn to live with mystery. We are not smart enough, we do not see enough, and we do not understand enough. The full meaning of the present experiences of life will never be known until death intervenes- then will come all the answers abundantly, satisfyingly, and fully

( Stedman) Popular rejection is no sign that something is wrong

(Stedman) Secular wisdom may look good and feel right but neverless it is foolish
                                                                                                                     ( Ray Stedman) Joy is learning how to delight in the moment

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(Wiersbe)  Jesus is the Father's gift to us and we are the Father's gift to His Son. Wonder of wonders!

(Wiersbe)  We walk one step at a time and there is always enough light to see where to take the next step

(Wiersbe) In the life of the believer, there are no accidents, only appointments. If we are prepared to bless, God is prepared to work

(Ray Stedman) Jesus died for us that He might live in us. That is the ultimate glory of the Gospel

(Ray Stedman) The more we know, the more we know we do not know

(Ray Stedman)  Whether we know it or not, all of us are engaged in a quest for something that will meet the needs of our heart

(Ray Stedman) To the man who pleases God is given the gift of joy. Joy is a gift of God, and it comes to those who take life daily, whatever it may bring, from the hand of a loving Father

( Ray Stedman) Scores of drugs are available to turn us on, turn us off, or take us out

(Ray Stedman) Doctors tell us that every seven years, all the cells in our bodies, except the brain cells, die

(Ray Stedman) There are values and standards that must never be surrendered

(J. Allen Blair)  Money has limitations. God has none

(Mart De Haan) When it becomes necessary to give attention to the wrongs of others, we should do so with care rather than conceit, and with conviction rather than condemnation

(Ray Stedman) If we were given the right to choose, we would have no unpleasantness in life. But that would ruin us.

(Ray Stedman) There are six types of people whom we can learn from in life: heroes, models, mentors, peers, friends, and enemies. Love your enemies, Jesus said, partly because they are valuable to you. They do something for you that you desparately need

(St. Augustine) Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until we learn to rest in Thee

(Ray Stedman) There is a longing for home, there is a call deep in the human spirit for more than life can provide

(Ray Stedman) In the sovereign wisdom of God, we cannot solve all mysteries.
We cannot know the answers to the conundrums and enigmas of life

(Ray Stedman)  Things in themselves give only momentary- not lasting- pleasure

(Ray Stedman) God is in charge and He will not bend His plan for anyone. God has sovereignly and independently set up the plan of life in a way that cannot be interfered with

(Ray Stednman) Riches will not survive death, but you will

(Stedman) Rejoice in the wisdom of a Father's heart, and richly enjoy what is handed to you day by day. That is the secret of life

(Ray Stedman) Prosperity may not always be good; adversity may not always be bad

(Ray Stedman ) I marvel at the jaded lives of so many wealthy people who have everything... but who cannot enjoy anything they have

(Ray Stedman) God has designed life to be full of the unexpected so we might realize that we do not control our future

(Stanley) As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances

( Will Rogers) We ought to be gratified that we don't get  as much government as we paid for

( Ray Stedman) God will judge the wicked in His own time. God is watching. An accounting will be made

(Ray Stedman) Life lived without having discovered the reason for living is vanity, empty, futile. The greatest futility is  life that has not found a reason for living. What   a waste to live and never discover why you are here! What a waste to die without learning the secret of true existence

(George Bernard Shaw) Youth is such a wonderful thing. It is a  shame  to waste it on the young

One  of the signs of aging is when your kness buckle but your belt won't

(Stedman) 95 % of all believers come to Christ before age fifty, and most of these before age thirty. It is hard to find the answer to life when you are old and not many do

( Ray Stedman) God exists, The whole of the created universe shouts this to us. The inner responses of the heart confirm it. The Bible declares it and history reveals it

( Pastor Hollie Miller)  Outline of message entitled " Overcoming giants in your life " based on  I Samuel 17: See the giant as an enemy of God, face the giant with faith in God, slay the giant in the power of God and put it to death

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(Wiersbe) Whatever glory famous men and women have in this world will not last, but the glory of the Lord will last forever . Any servants of God who take the glory themselves will regret it when they see the Lord.

(Rogers) I have seen some joyless Christians who look they have have been marinated in formaldehide

092511

( Norman Cousins ) Never underestimate the power of words. For every word in Hitler's Mein Kampf, 125 people died in WW II

( Wiersbe) What we say either  enriches people or cheapens them

( Wiersbe) Behind a smiling face is often a broken heart

( Wiersbe) God is more than able to handle all challenges that come our way and that assurance is the source of our peace, The peace the world offers is a temporary distraction, not a permanent possession. It is usually based on deception, not reality, and never really solves the problems in the heart. Until we are right with God and have His peace within, we can never be right with ourselves, our circumstances, or with other people. Before we can enjoy the peace of God, we must first have peace with God

( Wiersbe) God promises to bless His Word, not ours

( Ray Stedman) Life can never be fully understood nor fully lived except through a relationship with God

( Ray Stedman) Choices are the hinges of eternity

( Ray Stedman) Reading a proverb takes seconds, memorizing a proverb takes minutes, applying a proverb takes a lifetime

( Ray Stedman) The fear of the Lord is not the fear that God might hurt us but rather the fear we might hurt Him

April 30 each year is National Honesty Day

( Our Daily Bread) People who trust God's Word should be people whose word can be trusted

( Ray Stedman) One of the greatest principles that runs through the Bible from beginning to end is that God never wins His battles by majority vote

( Ray Stedman) Over the great doors  of the cathedral in Milan, Italy is this inscription: " All that pleases is but for a moment; all that troubles is but for a moment; Nothing is important save that which is eternal "

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(Wiersbe)  Every challenge we face is an opportunity for us to discover the wealth of God's grace and the blessings of glorifying God in our weakness

(Wiersbe) Forget about what you don't have and give thanks for what you do have. Maintain a continuous attitude of thanksgiving and a continuous attitude of praise

( Wiersbe) Our words mean nothing if our lives don't glorify God

(Wiersbe) Busy people are usually happy people

(Wiersbe) Never underestimate  the power of words spoken from  a heart of love, backed by a life of service

092311

(Wiersbe) Human nature is such that people find it easier to believe lies than to face the truth

(Wiersbe) The one thing this world is seeking-peace- is available only in the one way the world will not accept-grace

(Wiersbe) Whatever begins with God's grace will end up revealing God's glory. God gives His grace to those who want to glorify Him

( Stanley) God's Word always bears fruit in its time

( Stanley) God always gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want

( Wiersbe) What a tragic thing it is to be without hope

(Wiersbe) The test of our lives isn't what we think about ourselves or what others think about us,  but what God says when we stand before Him

( Wiersbe) When we go through trials, the important thing isn't that we get out of them, but what we get out of them

( Wiersbe) God does not work in spite of us or instead of us: He works in us and through us

( Wiersbe) Discouragement has probably weakened and destroyed more ministries than any other enemy of the faith

(Wiersbe) The Holy Spirit is to believers today what Jesus was to His desciples when He was with them on earth

(Wiersbe) Believers carry within themselves a power greater than anything the world can produce. What an encouragement!

(Wiersbe) No matter how uncomfortable or threatening the circumstances around us or the distress within us, our Father sill is in control and our Savior will never forsake us

We live in a parallel world of the temporal and the eternal, the material and the spiritual, the horizontal and the vertical the seen and the unseen

J esus
O thers
Y ourself

( Wiersbe) The Return of Christ is our blessed hope, good hope,joyful hope, and living hope

( Phillip Brooks) Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks

( Wiersbe) When discouragement begins to infect your spiritual life, pause and take inventory of the wealth God has given you

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( Wiersbe) Undying love for Christ leads to unchanging love for one another, unwavering faith in the promies of God, unfailing grace to meet every need, amd unbelievable peace among God's children

( Wiersbe) Everything that we are, have, and do that pleases and honors the Lord is the result of His grace in our lives. Grace is the alpha and omega

( Wiersbe) Truth reveals the need and grace supplies the need

092111

( Spurgeon, comment made over a hundred years ago)   There are some in the apostate church who think the church can do no better than to come down to the world to learn her ways, follow her maxims, and acquire her culture

It has often and well been said that the  ground is level at the foot of the cross

( Wiersbe) As the finance committee prepares the church budget, the big question is not " What  can we afford to do? " but " What does the Lord command us to do?"

(Wiersbe) God's ability and our availability can do great things

( Wiersbe) God's people  need to remember that what we do is not for our praise, but for the glory of God

( Rogers) If we seek our own glory, nothing much will happen, and what does happen won't last

It has well been said that there are four kinds of people in churches: those that make things happen, those that watch things happen, those that criticize what's happening and those who don't know anything is happening

092011

(Wiersbe) What comes out of the mouth is what has been stored in the heart

( Ambrose Bierce)  Speak when you are angry and you  will make the best speech you will ever regret

( Wiersbe) If people go away from church saying " What a beautiful choir " or    " What an eloquent speaker" or " What a magnificent sanctuary", then they are missing the mark. They should go away saying " What a wonderful Lord they worship. " This means God alone is receiving the glory

( Stanley) The very power that enabled Jesus to resist all temptation dwells in every Christian.

( Stanley) To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us

( Stanley) We should  never imagine that our sin affects only ourselves and no one else

( V. Raymond Edman)   It's always too soon to quit

(Wiersbe) Faith - look up and have confidence; love- look around and encourage; hope-look ahead with assurance

( Alexander Pope) Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed

( H L Mencken)  Defined hope as a " pathological belief in the occurrence of the impossible "

( Wiersbe) The past is a rudder to guide us, not an anchor to hold us back

It has well been said that we should learn from the past, but not live in it

( Wiersbe) True hope enables us to look at earth from a  heaven's point of view
and see the present in the light of the future

( Wiersbe) God arranged that our eyes be in front of our heads. He wants us to look forward

( Hollie Miller) How do churches die( based on Rev 3:1-6) ?  Unnoticeably, gradually, carelessly, and sinfully

( Wiersbe) How tragic it is when churches abandon preaching the Gospel and substitute entertainment, pop psychology. lectures, and religious pep talks

091911

 (Wiersbe) 1+1+1=1 ( The Trinity)

(Wiersbe) There are truths known in the heart that cannot  easily be defined in the mind or expressed by the lips. Theology often ends in silence and prayer

(Wiersbe) Law brings out the worst in us while grace brings out the best in us

(Wiersbe) When you start thinking like the  world, you start living like the world

( A W Tozer) If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of the world, most of what the church is doing would go right on and nobody would know the difference

(Wiersbe) A church that is successful in the eyes of men may be a failure in the eyes of God. If you doubt that, read Reverlation chapters  2 and 3. No matter how large or affluent a ministry may be, if the leaders are not searching the Scriptures for God's wisdom, praying for God's guidance and power, and seeking to glorify God's Son, their work is in vain

( Ray Stedman) Instead of living, many settle for existing

( Stanley ) Never run ahead of God's timing

( Julie Link) Every day is a gift from God to be used for His glory. The challenge for each of us every day is to find something to rejoice about and some good to do-- and then do both

( Our Daily Bread) Every season brings a reason to rejoice

( Wiersbe) God may change His workers but His work goes right on

( Spurgeon) There will no crown-wearers in heaven that were not cross-bearers on earth

( Wiersbe) You cannot receive your reward twice. If you get your reward here, you won't et it in heaven

(Wiersbe) Unity is not uniformity. Unity is diversity held together by love and truth

( Eugene Peters) Get along with others as well as Jesus Christ gets along with us

( Wiersbe) The major minisry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ

( Stanley) It is no wonder that so many non-Christians want nothing to do with Christ or His church. They know too many Christians

( Stanley) Pardon the cliche, but we are the only Jesus many people will ever know

( Micah 6:8) What does the Lord  require of you but to do justly, to  love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

( Our Daily Bread) Beware of spending too much time on matters of too little importance

( Wiersbe) Once we begin to focus on human leaders and magnify them, we lose access to everything we have in Christ and we get only what fallen humanity can give us

( Wiersbe) The only thing the Bible says is " great "  about the human family is its wickedness

( Wiersbe) Too often people use the gift of speech to promote themselves instead of to glorify God

( Wiersbe) The proper response to Christian singing should be hearts moved to worship God and not hands moved to applaud the performer

Sept 17,2011

(Sandra Wilson)  Of all hopes, this is the greatest-- the[promise of God's everlasting love

( Stanley) God knows you perfectly and still loves you completely

( Stanley)  Every frustration, every disappointment, and every joy has a person

(Stanley) When God sees your life, He sees a person of worth and great promise

( Stanley) God is patiently molding and shaping your life into the image of His Son

( Stanley) God's Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm

(Stanley) God blesses us not because of our merit but because of His goodness

( Stanley)  God created you to enjoy an intimate relationship with Himself

( Cindy Kasper) Don't let Satan trick you by giving you a false hope

( Wiersbe) We are blessed that we  might be a blessing;we are channels of God's blessing, not reservoirs

( Wiersbe) Weakness + faith + grace= power

( Wiersbe) At times, events in our lives don't seem like blessings, but they turn out to be the best things that ever happened to us

( Wiersbe) When our blessings are more meaningful to us than the God who gives them, we have taken the first step toward idolatry

( Wiersbe)  Victory comes from submitting, not struggling

( Wiersbe) The victorious Christian life is  a series of new beginnings

( Wiersbe)  What the sun is to the universe, Christ is to His people- the source of light and life

091611

(Rogers) Sin is a clinched fist in the face of God

It has well and often been said that the problem of the heart is the heart of the problem

( Sandra Wilson) For many people, only when they are at the end of themselves will they reach for something beyond themselves

091511

Statistical Rates of Divorce in America:

1800-one in thirty-two
1900-one in twelve
1928-one in six
1935-one in five
1966-one in three
2009- one in two

It has well been said that when we cannot trace His hand we can still trust His heart

Five of the greatest lies about marriage:

Marriage will bring fulfillment in my life
Love is primarily a feeling
There are no struggles in a really good marriage
A marraige can be maintained on physical attraction alone
You can have a good marriage without Jesus

( From  the Westminster Confession ) The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever

( Pastor Sam Polson) Think biblically, live honestly, spend wisely, save faithfully, and give generously

  The principles  shown below using the acrostic  GUIDE were taken from a Radio Bible Class booklet  entitled " Finding the Will of God "

G o to God
U understand His princinples
I  investigate your options
D iscuss it with godly counselors
E enjoy your freedom

(Outline of 2 Tim 3:14-15)  Think biblically,stand courageously,speak lovingly,live hopefully

( Our Daily Bread) Righteousness in the heart produces beauty in character

While vacationing in Charleston, SC a few years ago, we saw a lady wearing a tea shirt that said " A fool and his money-my kind of guy "

(Rogers) We are to blessed to be stressed

It has well been said that we  are to love people who don't deserve it because God loved and loves us when we  didn't  and don't deserve it

(Rogers) Satan gives the best first, the worst last

(Rogers) Make the rest of your life the best of your life

( C S Lewis )  In dealing with the devil, many go  to one of two extremes- they completely ignore him or develop an un healthy interest in him

( Ravi Z )  God's presence is far nearer than we can ever imagine

( Evangelist Tony Nolan) If there is no change in your life then there is no Christ in your life. If you don't reveal it then it's not real

( John MacArthur)  Some people are all talk and no walk

( Rogers) Calvary: Evil's greatest tragedy, God's greatest triumph

091411

 It has well been said that many people sow their wild oats and then hope for a crop failure

(Tim Miller)  In the end, nothing we do really matters  but that which is done to  glorify and please God

( Dustin George)  Message of why would a good God allow suffering? :
    God still loves you
    Suffering can bring glory to God
    God knows what He is doing
    Nothing has ever occurred to God
    God has never failed
    Glory will follow suffering
    Full restoration will come

( Hollie Miller) The incredible blessings of a life in Christ:
   A blessed assurance
   The incredible power of the indwelling Holy Spirit
   Answered prayers
   Intimate fellowship with Christ
   Personal peace with God and  the peace of God

091311

(Sammy Tippett) Prayer is a conversation with your Father who loves you.  The best atmosphere for prayer includes:  a personal relationship with God, a definite commitment, a quiet place, a sincere heart, a worshipful attitude, a surrendered will, a simple faith, a humble heart, an alert mind, and a forgiving spirit

(Sammy Tippett)  The greatest gift you can give to your family is to pray for them

( Tippett) The more you love God, the greater your capacity we have to love others

( Tippett) There is incredible power in prayer. Prayer's basic purpose  is to get to know God better

091211

(Sandra Wilson) Forgiveness can be accomplished by one person; reconciliation requires two

(Sandra Wilson) We can learn what we don't know, but not what we refuse to admit that we don't know

(Sandra Wilson) Some of us have spent our lives trying to unlock our parents hearts

( Sandra Wislon) Often we labor under the illusion of being  stronger or weaker than we really are

( Zig Zigler)  I have a BA ( Born again ) and a PHD ( Past having doubts)

It has well been said that the next time you are tempted to criticize your wife's judgment, remind yourself that she married you

( Lutzer) We are more evil than we imagine; we are more loved than we can imagine

( Mark Twain) Man is  the only creature that  blushes, or needs to

It has well been said that God forgives sins  us but He doesn't grant immunity from  their consequences

There are at least four significant ways to measure intelligence: intellectual,emotional,relational, and spiritual

(Evangelist Jay Lowder) The most important spiritual decisions you will ever make:
Accept Christ as Savior and be baptized
Surrender your life to Christ to be used by Him
Commitment to study God's Word daily
Decide to  regularly memorize God's Word
Decision to talk to God daily in prayer
Share your faith with your friends, relatives, associates, neighbors, and others as the opportunities present themselves
Have Christian friends and accountability partners
Marry a Christian
Actively participate by attending, giving,  and exercising your gifts in a local church
Be filled with the Holy Spirit daily

091111

(Mart De Haan)  The Bible is not so much like a  priceless picture on a wall but like a window through which we view all else

Over a third of a billion people were killed during the twentieth century

(Mart De Haan)  Our message needs to be marked by both urgency and patience; by conviction without condemnation; by care without compromise. We need to communicate with truth and grace. We need to attack ideas and not people

(Sandra Wilson) Many have an inordinate desire for the affirmation of others. When our personal identity and sense of worth depends on other people's  approval, we will listen to their words more than to God's Word. Addiction to the approval of authority figures breeds a love for human approval that surpasses the love for God's approval

(Sandra Wilson) Pedestals are precarious places for himan beings to inhabit because God never designed us to live there

Sandra Wilson)  We live in a society where tolerance has become our highest value-- more prized than truth

( Sandra Wilson) Being in an intimate, loving relationship with God is the source of our highest joy

( Sandra Wilson)  Oh that we would get it straight once for all. God loves us because of who He is, not because of who we are                                         

 ( Sandra Wilson) Leaders must develop a circle of accountability. It is an absolute non-negotiable must for everyone in ministry of any kind at any level. Period.

( Hollie Miller)  Commenting on the Ascension of Christ: (1) His position was restored(2) His promise was fulfilled (3) His priesthood began

( Poem in Our Daily Bread)

           The comfort God has given us
           He wants us all to share
           With others who with broken hearts
           Are caught in deep despair

( Sandra Wilson) We must forgive those who have hurt us before we can live in the freedom God intends for us. Genuine forgivenss forces us to relinquish our fantasy of having a past that never was so we can see the truth of what is and what can be

( Charles Stanley) God created us  for deep fellowship with Him but we make the choice whether we will fulfill our purpose

( Our Daily Bread) A good example preaches the most powerful sermon

( Sandra Wilson) Only the forgiven can truly forgive

( Sandra Wilson) Forgiving is not denying the wrong done to us; it is releasing the right to wrong them in return

( Sandra Wilson) No one ever gets away with sin

(Sandra Wolson) Resentment and bitterness are like being tied with barbed wire to people who hurt us

090911

( Our Daily Bread) As  the love of Christ grows in us, His love flows from us

( Sandra Wilson) God knows us far better than we know ourselves and He still loves us

( Wilson) People who are loved become people who can love

( F B Meyers) Be willing to be made willing

( Wiersbe) The victorious Christian life is a series of news beginnings

( Sandra Wilson) Many people expect to keep sowing the same seed in the same soil and yet reap a different  crop

( Wilson) Some people's philosophy  is  " Don't rock the boat with truth even if it is the Titanic

( Wilson) Jesus portrayed Himself as the Great Physician, not the great magician

( Stanley) Anything you hold too tightly you will lose

( Wilson) Perfectionists fear failure, yet one makes the other inevitable

(Wilson)  One way to view the range of  interpersonal relationships  is to view a porcupine at one end of the spectrum and an octapus at the other end

( Wilson) In relating to others, do you tend to build walls or bridges?

( Wilson) Many people give more thought to purchasing a car than to selecting a mate

( Wilson) Before getting married, ask yourself : Am I willing to spend my life with this person if he or she never  changes one bit?

( Wilson) I am the only person I can change

( Wilson) Look behind you because someone is following you

( Wilson) The question about our spiritual and emotional wounds  is not if we have them, but what are they, where did we get them, and how deep are the scars?

( Wilson) The more affirmation deprivation children experience, the more intense their approval addictions as adults

( Wilson) If we serve others primarily, we will look to others primarily for approval instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus

090911

(Cymbala) For too many of us, prayer has become a monologue instead of a dialogue

(Cymbala) There is a place for human logic and judgment--but not if these things undermine the plans for our lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit

( R C Sproul) Every person born is DOA spiritually

(  2 Cor 4:18/J B Phillips) The visible things  are transitory; it is the invisible things that are really permanent

( 2 Cor 4:18/ The Living Bible) The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever

( Ray Stedman) Christianity is not a grim determination to clinch your fists and set your teeth and try to do what God demands

( Stanley) God allows us to be weak in some areas so that all can see that He accomplished the work, not us

( Stanley,  commenting on 2 Cor 4:17)   Any sacrifice we make or hardship we endure for His sake will be amply rewarded by God out of all proportion to what we suffer

( Our Daily Bread) Christ is seen most clearly when we  remain in the background

( Sandra Wilson ) Our deepest wounds come at the hands of those we love and trust the most

( Sandra Wilson) We don't stop being human when we become a Christians

(Wilson) Jesus Christ is the only sufficient and perfect Healer for hurting people

(Wilson ) Shame is the soul's deep belief that something is horribly wrong with me that is not wrong with anyone else in the entire world. Shame not only binds us; it blinds us

(Stanely) Our intimacy with God--- His highest priority for our lives--- determines the impact of our lives

090611

( Our Daily Bread) The One who upholds the universe will never let you down

(Cymbala) We simply need to take God at His Word, trusting and obeying regardless of the what-if's and regardless of our fears

( Merle d'Aubigne)  God prepares His work through the ages and accomplishes it by the weakest instruments when His time is come so that the results may be seen to be of God and not of man

(Cymbala) God's strength  is far greater than your weakness; God's grace is much stronger than your fears

It has well been said that it is amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit

(Cymbala) The deepest experience of joy comes from being in the center of God's will, no matter how precarious that may seem

(Cymbala) What the world calls great is often an abomination to God and what the world laughs at is often  what God calls great

(Cymbala) Ordinary people can make an extraordinary impact when they yield themselves to the purposes of God

(Cymbala) What God has in mind for those who love Him wholeheartedly is more than you would ever dream

( Rom 12:2/ The Message) Be what you were made to be

(Rogers) God did not create Satan as an evil person. He created a perfect angel and  gave him the freedom of choice

It has well been said: Be what you are and not what you ain't because
                                  if you ain't what you are then you are what you ain't

(Ray Stedman) The most reasonable, intelligent, thoughtful, purposeful, and spiritual thing you can do with your life is to give yourself to God and to live for Him

( Julie Link)  God sees what others do not and will reward those  whose work is unseen by others

No service for Christ goes unnoticed by Him

(Cymbala) Peace is that deep sense that God is in charge of my life and that He is working out the best for me, whether I understand it at the moment or not

( Ray Stedman) When I try, I fail; when I trust, He succeeds

( Ray Stedman) Dedication,discipline,diligence--- the keys to spiitual strength

( Joe Stowell) God uses the most unlikely people in the most unlikely places to teach us some of life's most difficult lessons

(Cymbala) God has called every single Christian to do something that only he or she can do

( Cymbala) We cannot live in known disobedience and expect God to bless us

090511

( Cymbala) If we forget past victories, we succomb to a kind of spiritual amnesia

(Cymbala) You cannot have sin and God's blessing at the same time

( Cymbala) Too many want Jesus but on their own terms

(Cymbala) Sins causes a loss of peace and a loss of power

(Cymbala) Rejoice in the same things that bring joy to the heart of God

(Cymbala) When we look at people the way God looks at them, we see people of value and potential

(Cymbala) Whenever we elevate ourselves above any group of God's people, we remove ourselves from the stream of God's blessing

(Cymbala)  One of the greatest spiritual deceptions is the idea that we are living close to God even though we care little about the people around us

(Cymbala) The only measure of our vertical relationship with God is the loving quality of our horizontal relationship with others, If we want to see the fulness of God's victory in our lives, we must embrace every brother and sister whom He embraces. God wants us to value every human being the way He does

( Business columnist David Moon) People incorrectly believe there is safety in numbers. There is only numbers in numbers

( Ray Stedman) Jesus Christ is the only ultimate reality

(Stanley) Willing obedience to God  leads to our ultimate relationship with God

(Cymbala) Our first priority must always be to learn and do the will of God

(Cymbala) True greatness is found in simple surrender to God's plan for our lives

(Cymbala) The deepest joy is found in living in the center of God's will

(Cymbala) Too many people today pledge to be married  " for as long as we both shall love"

( Cymbala) God's timing is sure, and He will not disappoint you in the end

090411

(Swindoll) Focus fully on Christ. Imagine Him as He  is thinking about you, praying for you, standing with you, and living in you

(Swindoll) We can learn a great deal from children about simple faith and simple hope

(Swindoll)  Contrary to popular opinion, God doesn't sit in heaven with His arms folded in disapproval and a deep frown on His brow

(Swindoll) Never forget: we are being watched

(Our Daily Bread)  If you have everything but Christ, you have nothing. If you have nothing but Christ, you have everything

( J. Allen Blair) Empty your heart of self and fill it with Himself

(Blair) The quality of our talk for God depends on  the quality of our walk with God

(Swindoll) Life doesn't revolve around me, my comfort, my desires, my dreams,  or my plans. Clearly, it is all about Him

(Swindoll) Many see faith as something your exercise only when  all your backup plans  have failed  and you have exhausted all other options

(Swindoll) Most of us are so programmed to sin that we wait for it to happen. Most Christians have been better trained to expect and handle sin than to expect to enjoy their freedom. How much better to begin each day thinking victory, not defeat; to awake to grace, not shame. Beware of becoming victim to the fall-failure-shame-confession syndrome

(Jim Cymbala) God's plans for us are greater than we can ever imagine

Are you changing the world or is the world changing you?

( Cymbala) God has called every single Christian to do something special, mighty and unique that only he or she  can do

(Cymbala ) It has well been said that it is always too soon to quit. It is  also never too late to get started again

(Ray Stedman) Pride has a way of working out its own destruction. Pride sets a trap-- and then proceeds to spring the trap on itself

( Stanley) Whatever you acquire outside of God's will will eventually turn to ashes

(Stanley) You reap what you sew, more than you sew, and later than you sew

( Our Daily Bread) Love for God can be measured by the love we show for our worst enemy

It has well been said that when fears knocks at the door, send faith to answer and no one will be there

090311

A hiking friend of ours, Mike Maples,  was telling us the story of a fella who met another man while on a flight and struck up a conversation with him. During the course of the conversation, the second man mentioned he was twice-widowed. The first man expressed his  condolences . The second man explained that his first wife had died after  having eaten poison mushrooms and that his second wife had died from a blow on the head  . The first man inquired as to how that happened and the second man said that occurred as a result of her refusing eat  some mushrooms

(Eph 4:12/The Living Bible) Gifts are God-given special abilities to do certain things best

(Eph 4:23/The Living Bible) Your attitudes and thoughts must always be constantly changing for the better

(Eph 4:29/ The Living Bible)  Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing

(Eph 4:30/ The Living Bible) Don't cause the Holy Spirit sorrow by the way you live

(Ray Stedman) Put  on the new self moment by moment, day by day

(Ray Stedman) When our Lord returns, His judgment will be based on what you did with the gifts He gave you

(Stanley) God blesses us so that we  might bless others

( Stanley) God's purpose for saving us is that we will bring Him glory

( Stanley) We are  most like Jesus when we are serving others

(Stanley) Our ungodly behavior breaks the heart of God

(Stanley) Unforgivenss lies at the root of many physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual problems we see today

(Stanley) We are going to be hurt. Everyone of us has been hurt, are hurting now, or are going to be hurt by somebody.That is not even the issue. The issue is how we respond to being hurt

(Stanley) Every day  we are conformed a little more to the image of Christ

(Stanley) Make a conscious moment-by-moment choice to depend on the Spirit's power to transform us into the likeness of Christ

(Swindoll) The power of pessimism creates  an atmosphere of wholesale negativism where nothing but the bad side of everything is emphasized

Do people see  their relationship with you aas a burden or a blessing?

(Our Daily Bread) Help stamp out pollution. Clean up your speech.

( Swindoll) The battle with the world is a battle within the mind                                                                                                            

(Swindoll) No person sudden falls

( Swindoll) Pay close attention to what you look at. Give greater thought to the consequences of sin rather then its pleasure

090211

(Swindoll) Justice is the consistent, unwavering decision to do what is right

(Swindoll) As obedience grows, opposition will grow in direct proportion

(Swindoll) When the going gets tough, remind yourself you are not alone

(Swindoll) When you find yourself suffering for doing what is right, you have joined the ranks of a very distinguished league

(Sammie Salyer) God has for each of us His purpose, plan. provision, and power as we obey Rom 12:1-2

(Swindoll) God can bring us through whatever we face in this world, no matter how deep the pit  might seem at the time

( H.L. Mencken )  Cynically described faith as a pathological belief in the occurrence of the impossible

(Swindoll) Remind yourself that what you are going through isn't the end of the story; it's simply the rough rowing that leads to the right destination

(Swindoll) Real joy is unconditional and does not depend of the circumstances surrounding us

(Swindoll) In a world where the majority are going the wrong way, we are like spiritual salmon swimming upstream

090111

(Swindoll) Decide now that when the crisis rises you will transform the worry into prayer

(Swindoll) If you tend to worry a lot, pray a lot

(Swindoll) Divine intervention and human involvement often work hand in hand

(Swindoll) Do your prayers reflect an awesome, sovereign God or merely a kind, old man?

( Swindoll) God isn't a vending machine

(Swindoll) Never forget that an answer to prayer doesn't mean that He will solve our problems the way we want them solved

(Swindoll) God may choose to deny our request for one blessing if the refusal paves the way for a greater one

(Swindoll) God may deny what we want in favor of what we need

(Swindoll)  God's goal for us is increasing intimacy with Him, Seek that first and you will have everything you have longed for in life, including all the things you never knew you needed

(Swindoll) We appreciate humility in others but rarely want it ourselves

(Swindoll) Humility is not the result of having low self-esteem. Genuinely humble people don't even think of themselves as being humble

(Swindoll) I wish being around humble people would automatically make us humble. The desciples provide abundant proof  that it doesn't

(Swindoll) In God's kingdom, suffering brings reward and positions of authority come at the expense of selfless sacrifice


(Swindoll) You want to be like Christ? Find  the least desired position, the task no one else wants, the worst seat in the house, and claim it. Make it yours

(Rogers) The devil wants converts or casualities

(Swindoll) The more I understand the price Christ paid, the less room I have for pride

(Swindoll) A heart filled with gratitude cannot be anything but humble

(Swindoll) Humility is the discipline of putting others ahead of self

(Swindoll)  Look for the opportunities to meet the needs of others, especially those whom many would consider the least deserving. Think of the least liked or most obnoxious person, the one who has made a royal mess of their life

(Swindoll) The path to greatness in the kingdom of God will lead you through the valley of selflessness

( Rogers) There was a time when you were not, but there will never be a time when you will not be

( Rogers) The devil is not against religion

Are you past, present, or future-oriented?

Ruthlessly eliminate hurry in your life

Appreciate , respect, and be thankful for friends who care enough to lovingly confront you when needed

( MacArthur)  It is God's will that we be saved, Spirit-filled, and sanctified

( Ray Stedman) Perfection in Christ--- our continuous goal

( Stanley) The Christian life is not  a non-stop parade of miracles, astonishing answers to prayers,  and extraordinary visions and angelic visitations.
Much of it is low - key, tame, and ordinary

( Swindoll) Focusing intently on Christ naturally results in a lifestyle of greater and greater selflessness

( Swindoll) Always keep Jesus as your standard

(Swindoll) God honors those who pay the price to be like Him

( Swindoll) If you don't hold the possessions you own loosely, they will own you

(Swindoll) Deliberately refuse to allow any position or title to determine who you are. Find your security, your identity and your contentment in Christ alone

(Swindoll)  Enjoy the time you have with your loved ones, but avoid the temptation to cling

(Swindoll) Failure to exercise the discipline of self-control is an open invitation to Satan to rob us of all the good things we receive from God

(Swindoll) We live in a world filled with twisted truth and distorted ethics

( Swindoll) The flesh never takes a holiday

( Swindoll) The problem with a works-based  religion is that you never sacrifice enough, work hard enough, pray long enough, or bow low enough to earn God's approval

(Swindoll) God looks beneath and beyond all our outward expressions of religious devotion to examine our character

C haracter
C ompassion
C ommon sense
C ompetence

083111

(Swindoll) God will not be manipulated

(Swindoll) Prayer is not a laborious painful marathon of monotonous misery entered into for hours each day to prove one's piety to God. Prayer is an authentic seeking of His plan as we willingly adjust our will to match His. It is amazing what effect prayer has on our relationships with others

(Swindoll) Chances are good  you awoke this morning, stepped out of bed, and before doing anything,  strapped on your wellworn  backpack of anxiety

( Swindoll) Worry solves nothing. The stress from worry drains our energy and preoccupies our minds, stripping us of our peace

083111

(Swindoll) God does not want us to substitute the good for the very best

(Swindoll) The real issue is not so much " What does the Lord want me to do?" as much as " Am I willing to do it once He makes it clear?"

(Eugene Peterson) Everyone one of us needs to be stretched to live at our very best

(Swindoll) God will never adjust His agenda to fit ours

(Swindoll) It is so easy to get religious instead of godly

(Swindoll) God is willing to give wisdom, but not on our terms

(Swindoll) If intimacy with God is your goal, discipline is the means to that end

(Swindoll) A primary purpose of prayer is connecting with God in order to transfer His will into your life

083011

(Rogers) The happiest people are rarely the richest, the most beautiful, or the most talented people

(Swindoll) One of life's greatest tragedies is that so few choose to live joyfully

(Swindoll)  There are some things that  God will not due and/or  cannot due because they do not confrom to His nature.  Christian, can the same be said of you?

(Swindoll) In the final analysis, God will have His way

(Swindoll) Choose your counselors very carefully

Below is  a summary of  reasons  people who have been  deceived by Satan give either verbally or in their own hearts for not having trusted  in Christ alone  by faith alone through grace alone for their salvation:

They don't see the need to be saved

They don't think they can be saved

They don't know how to be saved

Pharisees ( legalist or hypocrites)

Pleasure

Possessions

Pride

Procrastintion

Refusal to think about, be confronted by,  or come to the right  conclusion about the Three Greatest Questions: Who was the most important person who ever lived? What was the most important event in history? What is the  most important decision they will ever make?

Fear of losing power , prestige,  prominence, popularity

Peer pressure

Anger or bitterness toward God

Fear of God

"Intellectual " problems , questions, or reservations about Jesus  Christ  and/or the Bible

 Wrong answers to  one or more of the following questions: Is man basically good or evil ?  Is there life after death? Is there a heaven and a hell?  " What  is a Christian? How to become a Christian?                                                  Whether a person knows it or not, Satan relentlessly and tenanciously deceives,
misleads, and spiritually blinds unsaved people by one or more( usually  more) of the above strategies.

083011

(Swindoll) The most convincing defense is the silent integrity of our character. The world is watching to see if what we say we believe is true in our lives

(Rogers) If  that doesn't light your fire, then you have wet wood

(Wiersbe) The word desciple is used at least  270 times  the the first five books of the New Testament

The most frequent command of Christ was " fear not"

(Swindoll) Shame is a relentless, accusing voice that whispers  " you are worthless "

(Swindoll) Christ reads our motives like an open book

(Swindoll) Life doesn't revolve around me-- my comfort, my desires, my dreams, my plans. Instead, it is all about Him

(Swindoll) We naturally serve what we trust

(Swindoll) Sacrifice is worship

( A W Tozer) Everything is safe which we commit to Him; nothing is really safe which is not so committed

(Swindoll)  Why we  give is of far greater importance to God than what we give

(Swindoll) First and foremost, we are to give ourselves to the Lord. When we do, our treasure will follow the leading of our heart

(Swindoll) How easy to take, be blessed, instructed, encouraged, exhorted,affirmed,strengthened... yet fail to balance the receiving with our giving

(Swindoll) If every  professing Christian  gave 10 %, we would have such an enormous surplus in God's work we would not know what to do with the extra

( Rogers) For many years, it never ceased to amaze me what people would not believe. Now , it never ceases to amaze me what people will believe

(Hollie Miller) As surely as you have a birthday, you will have a deathday unless Christ returns. Christ has taken the sting, loneliness, mystery, and fear out of death

(Swindoll) When will we start living like those who are free? What in the world has happened to grace?

(Swindoll) Christian liberty is freedom from Satan's intimidation and sin's domination

(Swindoll) It is never too late to start doing what is right

( Swindoll) Are others better off as a result of having spent time with you?

( Swindoll) In false religions, enough is never enough

(Swindoll) Grace is the bedrock truth upon which all of Christian belief and practice stands

(Swindoll) Legalists are "  grace killers "  who promote a system that is so demanding  that there is no room left for joy

(Swindoll) Grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn't deserve it and  could never earn it

(Rogers)  A few years go, he quoted Bill Bright as saying ,  at that time , that 98 %  of  the known world's people groups  had some access to the Gospel

(Swindoll) Every day millions who should be free, productive people are living with shame, fear, and intimidation

(Swindoll) Cultivate a desire for authentic faith rather than endure a religion based on superficial performance

(Swindoll) There will always be those who give us more and more to live up to

(Swindoll)  For there to be true maturity, people must be given some room to grow, which includes room to think on their own, to fail, to disagree, and to make mistakes

(Swindoll) When grace is in your heart, your desire is to release others from fear, not create it

082911

(Rom 6?23/ The Message) Work hard for sin all your life and your pension is death
(Rom 6:11/ J B Phillips)Look upon yourself as dead to the appeal and power of sin
(Rom 6:16/JB Phillips) You belong to the power which you choose to obey

( Rom 6:6/ Living Bible)  That part of you that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded

(Ray Stedman) His death for us produced our justification; our death with Him produces our sanctification

(Ray Stedman) Feelings change, but our relationship to Christ doesn't change with our moods

(Stedman) Day by day, remind yourself  that what God says is true and act upon it, even though you don't feel like it

(Swindoll)  Keep reminding yourself that, as a Christian, what you're going through now isn't the end of the story. It's simply the rough journey that leads to the right destination

(Swindoll)  God offers a special grace to match every shade of sorrow

(Swindoll) We live in a world where the majority are going the wrong way

(Swindoll) Conduct yourself as one who knows that you will have to account to Him for your life

(Swindoll) The battle with this world is a battle within the mind

(Swindoll) Imagine Christ as He is thinking about you, praying for you, standing with you, and living in you

(Swindoll) We can learn a great deal from children about simple faith and sinple hope

(Swindoll) Our Lord understands our limits, realizes our struggles,knows how much pressure we can take, what measures of grace and mercy  we'll require. He knows how we are put together

082711

C ontinuous                                                                                                        C onformity  to
C hrist in
C haracter
C onduct and
C onversation

(Swindoll) It is so easy to get religious instead  of godly

(Swindoll) People who are close to God cultivate a personal intimacy with Him

(Swindoll) Prayer is connecting with God in order to transfer His will into our life

(Swindoll) Worry is the most  acceptable, yet energy-draining,  sin in the Christian family

(Swindoll) Worry about nothing. Pray about everything.

(Swindoll)  Your view of God will shape every aspect of your life

(Swindoll) God may choose  to deny our request for one blessing if the refusal paves the way for a greater one

(Swindoll) God  may deny what we want in favor of giving us what we need

( Swindoll) God's unchanging goal for  us is increasing intimacy with Him

The average marriage lasts seven years

( Our Daily Bread) When God forvgives, He removes the sin and restores the soul

(Swindoll) As soon as  we think we're humble, we're not


(Swindoll) The world doesn't need more primadonas; the world needs more servants

(Swindoll) The more I understand the price Charist paid, the less room I have for pride

(Swindoll) A heart  filled with gratitude cannot  be anything but humble

(Swindoll) Humility is the discipline of putting others ahead of yourself

(Spurgeon)  To comprehend the meaning of Telestai, you would need all the other words ever spoken. It is altogether immeasurable. It is high. I cannot attain to it. It is deep. I cannot fathom it

( Swindoll) Self-interest is the mortal enemy of surrender. Focusing intently on Jesus naturally results in a lifestyle of increasingly greater selflessness

(Swindoll) God honors those who pay the price to be like Him: selfless,sacrifice,  servant, suffering, surrender

( Swindoll) If you don't hold the possessions loosely, they will own you. Enjoy them, but refuse to idolize them

(Swindoll) Deliberately refuse to allow any position or title to determine who you are. Let it go.

( Swindoll) Nothing this side of heaven is permanent, including relationships

(Swindoll) Surrender results in surprises we would never otherwise experience and the greater the struggle to surrender, the greater the surprise

(Swindoll) Mastery of self is an incredibly difficult discipline, but it is  the path to freedom

082611

(Rogers) God prefers to use ordinary people

It has well been said that God will not share His glory with another
(Rogers) God will use a  person as long as that person continues giving glory to God

The question has often been repeated because it is such a heart-searching one: If it were to become a crime to be a Christian in America and you were arrested and brought to trial, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

(Rogers) Living without assurance is like driving with your parking brake on

( 1 John 4:17/ the Message) Our life in this world is actually His life lived in us

(Rogers) There are many professors of salvation  who are not possessors of salvation

(Rogers) Alka-Seltzer Christians- you drop them in water, they fizzle a little bit, but then they disappear

(Rogers) The Holy Spirit is the convicter, converter, and completer

(Rogers) Unsaved people do what comes naturally; spiritual Christians do  what comes supernaturally, carnal Chjristians do what comes unnaturally

(Stanley) Whomever God uses greatly, He first tests thoroughly

(Swindoll) Those who struggle the least with the will of God are those who know the Word of God the best

(Swindoll)  Tells humorous story of the father who told his son if he  would improve his grades, develop  regular practice of having a quiet time, and get his hair cut, he would  get him a used car. The son improved his grades, had daily devotions, but did not  get his hair cut.  His dad commeneded him for  the improved grades and  for having a quiet time, but inquired as to why he had not gotten his hair cut. His son responded that , as he studied the Bible, he has noticed that  some of the  Old Testament  leaders, John the Baptist, and Jesus had long hair. His father replied by asking his son if he had noticed that all these men walked wherever they went

082511

 ( Lutzer) Spiritual erosion will eventually  lead to spiritual implosion

(Rogers) What is called pluralism is really synchronism-- a dumbing down and melting together of all religions

(Rogers) Satan sneers at religion without reality

( Rogers) Beware of false teachers who use Bible words but their own dictionary

(Rogers) We don't have to get rich. We are already rich

(Rogers ) I am convinced that there are no problems in churches too big to be solved, only people to small to solve them

(Will Rogers) Everyone is ignorant, just on different subjects

(Swindoll) Discernment will keep you from being deceived, duped , and disillusioned

Bluegrass is what you have when you run over a smurf picnic with your lawnmower

( Rogers) Every kick has a kickback

The story is told of two wicked brothers  who had terrorized a town for many years. One of the  brothers died and the other brother offered  a large amount of money to any pastor who would call his deceased brother a saint at the funeral service. He was turned down  by several pastors until finally he found a pastor who agreed. When the  funeral service was held, the pastor, after reviewing the sinful life the man had lived, added, " But compared to his brother, he was a saint"

(Wiersbe) God is not impressed with our money

(Mark Twain) Civilization is a limitless accumulation of unnecessary necessities

( Carrie Ten Boom) Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength

(Wiersbe)  Worry is  disobedient,destructive, deceptive, and deformative

( Wiersbe) God's pleasures and our treasures must go together

( Henry Bosch)  I walked life's path with worry,
                          Disturbed  and quite unblessed,
                          Until I trusted Jesus
                          Now faith has given rest

( 1 Cor 11:29/The Message)  When someone gets to the end of the rope, I feel their desperation in my bones

( 2 Cor 12:7/ The Message)  So I wouldn't get the big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. No danger then of walking around high and mighty

(  2 Cor 12:5/Living Bible)  I am going to boast only about how weak I am and how great God is to use such weakness for His glory

(2 Cor 12:9/ Living Bible)  Each time He said no. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people

( 2 Cor 12:10/ Living Bible) When I am weak, then I am strong. The less I have, the more I depend on Him

( Lutzer)  Your legacy consists of what  you believed, what you did, and what you became

Paul's great prayers for the spiritual growth of believers:  Eph 3:14-19;Phil 1:9-12; Col 1:9-12

( Our Daily Bread) Prayer should be as natural as breathing

People won't see or hear Christ if we are standing in the way

(Les Fleetwood)  A leader worth following is a leader who is following Christ

( Stanley) The purpose of discipline is always restoration and renewal, not retribution and rejection

( Julie Link) What do people think about God as a result of being around you?

( Rogers) In the Old Testament, God had a temple for His people; in the New Testament, He has people for His temple

( Stanley)  God is sovereign, even when  in the face of life's worst trials. He will not allow us to be tested beyond our ability to withstand whatever the adversity is. God works in and through adversity to bring an end according to His timetable

( Dennis Fisher) What we dread most can be used to test our character and make us stronger. God will provide the strength and comfort to see us through

It has weell been said that a politician thinks  of the next election while the statesman  thinks of the next generation

(Rogers) In order for a person to have the ability to truly love God, they have to have the opportunity to choose not to love God

(Rogers)  Some people are like a " prison singer"-- always behind a few bars and unable to find the right key

082411

(Rogers) We've come a long way but we have gone the wrong way

It has well been said that a sorrow shared is  halved and a joy shared is doubled

(Joanie Yoder)  Fruitfulness for Christ depends on fellowship with Christ

(Yoder)  Our needs can never exhaust God's supply

(Ray Stedman)  We will never begin to learn until we learn that we do not know anything

( Pastor Dustin George) The Bible begins with  creation and ends with the new creation

( Our Daily Bread) God tests our faith so that we may trust His faithfulness

( Joe Stowell)  Question for the workaholic: If what you do is who you are, who will you be when you stop doing what you're doing?

( Pastor Ron Stewart) Those who know you the best should respect you the most

( Rogers) Behind every command of God is the omnipotent power of God to carry it out

( Rogers) It will be a great day when we learn that Jesus does not want us to do anything for Him. He wants to do much through us

( Rogers) God wants to multiply us while the devil wants to divide us

(Rogers)   Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge

( Rogers) You are what you think

( Rogers) There is no such thing as Lone Ranger Christianity

(Rogers) Strength comes from surrendering

(Rogers) To be strong is to admit you are weak

(Rogers) The glorious truth of Christian liberty is not to be refused, confused, or abused

(Rogers) Man had to have the ability to choose evil in order  to have the freedom to choose good

( Rogers) When it comes to sharing their faith, some Christians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity

(Rogers) Satan has been defeated but he has not surrendered

(Rogers) Man is free to choose as he wishes but he is not free to choose the consequences of the choices he makes

( Winston Churchill)  Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never give in

( Douglas MacArthur ) In war, there is no substitute for victory

( Rogers) Satan is not opposed  to religion. It is a major weapon in his arsenel

( Rogers) Hope is a certain and glad expectancy

(Rogers) Every nine seconds, a woman or child is battered or abused

(Rogers) The church is neither  the state's servant nor its master. It is the state's conscience

(Rogers) Government is  for the purpose of restraining evil, not restraining good

(Rogers) You do not belong to yourself  if you are a Christian. You are a purchased possession

082311

(Dan Shaeffer) The church is  a hospital where people are in various stages of healing

( A W Tozer)  A good personality and shrewd knowledge of human nature are all that is needed to succeed in  many religious circles today

( Edward George Bulwer-Lytton )  The easiest person to deceive is one's own self

( Dan Shaeffer)  We are not fooling as many people as we think we are

( Shaeffer)  The very problems we seek to avoid are God's very means of growing us in Christ. Painful situations are often God's way of developing character

( Shaeffer) One day in heaven all our disagreements and differences will be forgotten

( Shaeffer) Someone can be saying all the right things and doing all the right things, yet be  doing them for the wrong reasons

(Shaeffer) When we see people as a means to our own ends, we do not seek what is best for them, only how they can be used to help us

( Shaeffer)  There is a fine line between trying to get people involved in ministry and using people to promote your own ministry

082311

(Dan Shaeffer)  Many of life's most difficult choices are not a choice between a good thing and a bad thing, but between a good thing, a better thing, and the best thing

(Swindoll) It is never too late to start doing the right thing

( Sydney Harris)  Honesty is the unwillingness to lie to others; integrity is the unwillingness to  lie to yourself

(Shaeffer)  Other than Christ, there are no perfect people with perfect motives. They don't exist. They never have

(Jerome)  Every day we are changing, everyday we are dying; we are changing into someone we weren't before and dying to someone we were before

082211

It has well been said that it is amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit

(Dan Shaeffer) True descipleship is not imitating the personality of someone  we admire spiritually; it is imitating Christ

( Mother Theresa) God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful

(Shaeffer) Each time we portray ourselves as something we are not or  as believing  something we do not, our integrity takes a hit

 (Pastor Wilson) Humility attracts God's grace as surely as pride drives it away

Too many churches are comfortable, content, complacent. compromising, and conforming

082211

( E R Beadle ) Half the work that is done in the world is to make things appear to be what they are not

(Dan Shaeffer) The value of any service in God's eyes is the love for Him that prompted it and continues to power it

(Shaeffer) Scripture makes it clear that God is just as concerned about our motivation as He is with our actions

(Shaeffer) Each of us struggles with things no one else but God knows about

(David Roper)  Critics need to lighten up;those being criticized need to toughen up

It has been well said that we need to pray for tougher hides and more tender hearts

(Rogers) Everything we do or say or think honors or dishonors the Lord

(Stanley) Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees

(Our Daily Bread)  Jesus never makes a mistake!

( Dan Shaeffer)   Our best friendships are temporary if our friends are not Christians

(Shaeffer)  Each Christian has something unique and special to offer other Christians

It has well been said that Christians never say goodbye to other Christians for the last time

(Phyllis Diller)  Always be nice to your children because they are the ones who will choose your rest home

It has well been said that Satan tries to get us to remember what we should forget and to forget what we should remember

( Bill Crowder)  From the expanses of the universe to the hidden places of the heart, God is to be given the honor and worship that He deserves-- not only for what He has done, but for who He is

( John R W Stott )  Personal ambition and empire building are greatly hindering the spread of the Gospel

( Dan Shaeffer) Everyone looks for affirmation that they are worthwhile, capable, important,effective, admired, and respected. It is simply a matter of where and to whom  they are looking for it

082111

( J. Allen Blair)  When it comes to evaluating ourselves and others,  it is as though we use two pair of glasses, one to look at the faults of others and the other pair to overlook our own

(Rogers)  If you want to know what a person is made of, watch how he handles the small issues of life

(Rogers) When we start taking the glory, God will stop giving the victory

(Rogers) To see the creation and deny the Creator is foolishness

(Rogers ) The Truth-  know it,  believe it , love it, live it, tell it

(Rogers) Jesus is the  divisive Person and His teachings are the most divisive force that ever hit planet Earth

(Rogers) The predominant " religion " of today in America is " get-alongism"

(Rogers)  They say it's lonely at the top; well, it's lonely with the truth too

(Rogers) It's not a matter of right or left; it's a matter of right or wrong

(Swindoll)  Temptation: expect it, detect it, reject it

(F. Shaffer)  God is more interested in why we are doing something than in what we are doing

( Ray Stedman)  Live for today may seem like a great idea until tomorrow comes

( Charles Stanley)  The next time you find yourself  wishing you had more, ask God to show you how rich you really are in Him

(Stanley) Without God, life can't help but disappoint

(Stanley)  God desires a close, abiding relationship with you

(Stanley) God calls you to reverence His holiness, but never to be afraid of Him

(Stanley) Sin not only blocks God's best for us, it eliminates joy

(Stanley) Let the realization that God enjoys being with you motivate you to spend time with Him

( Our Daily Bread)  To know happiness, get to know Jesus

( Thomas a Kempis) Man sees your actions but God sees your motives

( Dan Shaeffer )   God continues to attempt to break through our self deceptions  through conscience, other people, His Spirit , and His Word

( Shaeffer)   When we fake church, we create a personna, craft it, carefully come to enjoy it, and even to need it

( Shaeffer) We do not often sturggle with what is right or wrong, but with  the price we associate with doing what is right or wrong

( Our Daily Bread) Death is not a period--it is only a comma

The chance of saying the wrong thing is directly proportional to the frequency of opening the mouth. The goal should always be to say the right thing to the right person at the right time  in the best right way

082011

( Rogers) Outline of  his message about the question of what about those who have never heard?
The revelation factor
The refusal factor
The reception factor
The reckoning factor

 How would you spend today if you knew you were going to die tomorrow or that Christ would rapture the church tomorrow?

(Rogers) There are two days that can steal the joy from today-- yesterday and tomorrow. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift from God. That's what we call it the present . Today is the most important day of the rest of your life                                                                     

(Rogers)  Four problems with the past: guilt, glory,grief, and grudges

(Alvin Reed) Some churches favorite  song is" I shall not be moved"

(Wiersbe) People don't need critics, they need examples

A man was telling his buddy that his wife treated him like a god. His buddy  asked  how and he responded that  everyday when he got home she  served him a burnt offering

(Alvin Reed) There are three kinds of folks we need to reach- the churched, the unchurches, and the dechurched.

(Rogers) The art of living is using  time wisely

(Rogers) We ought to say " no "  to  at least  one thing each day so we can say to something more important

(Rogers) If you want to develop character, do something you don't feel like doing when you don't feel like doing it

(Robert Moffat) We shall have all eternity in which to celebrate our victories, but only one short  hour before  before the sun sets to win them

( Rogers) Happiness is like a thermometer that registers our conditions; joy is like a thermostat that controls how  we respond to them

Pain is inevitable; misery is optional

(Rogers)  Jesus is the Son of the living God-- the most important truth any man or woman could ever learn

(Rogers) Only Jesus has the answers to the questions  that matter the most; only Jesus can meet the deepest hunger of the human heart

(Rogers) Five proofs of the Bible: fulfilled prophecy, unity of themes and message,  its preservation and longevity, scientific and historical accuracy, and its undeniable,  transforming power

(Rogers) Anything you can talk a person into someone else can talk them out of

A tourist said to an old mountain man, "It's great to be alive, isn't it?" The old man replied, " I don't know. I ain't never been no other way"

(Our Daily Bread) When we truly love God, we will serve people

We either grow in grace or disgrace

(Rogers) I wouldn't trust the best  fifteen minutes I ever lived to get me into heaven

(Rogers) No amount of public opinion or judicial bullying can turn darkness into light or a lie into the truth

(Rogers) It is better to be divided by truth than it is to be united by error

(Rogers) It is better to speak the truth that hurts , then heals, than to tell a lie that comforts, then kills

(Rogers) It is better to be hated for telling the truth than to be loved for telling a lie

( David Jeremiah)  What you believe about the future determines how you live today