QUOTES

To rejoice in temporal comforts is dangerous, to rejoice in self is foolish, to rejoice in sin is fatal, but to rejoice in God is heavenly. Charles Spurgeon

Fits of depression come over the most of us. Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down. The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy. Charles Spurgeon

Since Christ is the Father‘s eternal wisdom, his unchanging truth, his steadfast counsel, we ought not to think that what he tells us with his own lips can differ in any way from the Father’s will John Calvin

“The beginning of men's rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart.” — Francis Schaeffer

“Oh impress this gospel upon my soul, till its saving virtue be diffused over every faculty! Let it not only be heard, and acknowledged, and professed, but felt!” — Philip Doddridge

“Oh then study Christ, study to know him more extensively. There be many excellent things in Christ, that the most eagle-eyed believer hath not yet seen.” — John Flavel

Q: 39. Is it significant that he was "crucified" instead of dying some other way? A. Yes. By this death I am convinced that he shouldered the curse which lay on me since death by crucifixion was cursed by God. — Heidelberg Catechism

“In the mystery of His incarnation the only-begotten of the Father increased what was ours, but diminished not what was His.” — Gregory the Great

Q.40. Why did Christ have to suffer death? A. Because God's justice and truth require it: nothing else could pay for our sins except the death of the Son of God. — Heidelberg Catechism

“That soul never perished, that felt itself to be vile and Jesus to be precious!” — Octavius Winslow

"The Son of God first had to be personally united to the human nature before sinful man could be restored into friendship and union with God. Behold, how great a work it is to save a sinner! What manifold wisdom was required to conceive such a remedy!" - a Brakel TCRS, 1:511.

"If all the Bible-believing Christians throughout history are in agreement with regard to a certain interpretation of the Bible but our personal interpretation or that of our generation differs from them, it should be a red flag to warn us that we may be in error..." Paul Washer

“Study God in Christ, and Christ on the cross!” — Octavius Winslow

Pope Francis formally permits Roman Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples. The Holy Bible still doesn’t.

Don’t just attend church. Love the church. Serve the church. Give through the church. Invite people to church. Worship Jesus with the church. Share about the church. Participate in the church. Enjoy the church. Encourage the church. Pray for the church. Be the church!

Some people would sooner dispute about faith than live by faith, or talk more about heavenly-mindedness than being heavenly-minded. — Puritan Anthony Burgess

"Jesus is infinitely superior to you, and presents himself as your Master and Lord." — Charles Spurgeon

For the believer, forgiveness isn’t an option—it is a requirement. But God will enable you to do whatever He requires. If you lack the strength to forgive, all you have to do is ask the Holy Spirit to work that forgiveness through you. Chuck Smith

"Faith is not a blind thing; for faith begins with knowledge." — Charles Spurgeon

"You may sooner drain the sea of its water than diminish the great mercy of God." — Charles Spurgeon

“We shall never perform a more important task than preaching. If we are not willing to give time to sermon preparation, we are not fit to preach, and have no business in the ministry at all.” - J.I. Packer

"God has not forgotten us. The very breath in our nostrils is proof of his goodness to us." — Charles Spurgeon

“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” - C.S. Lewis

"Duty means the thing that is due." -Horatius Bonar.

"At all times, in all trials, for all our needs, to the throne we fly in prayer." — Charles Spurgeon

#Sin is naturally exceeding dear to us; to part with it is compared to plucking out our right eyes -Jonathan Edwards -

A church that can't worship must be entertained; and people who can't lead a church to worship must provide entertainment. -A.W. Tozer -

"Carried away by his lovingkindness, we cannot help trusting him." — Charles Spurgeon

"If Jesus' blood be yours, you owe him much more than others." — Charles Spurgeon

Overwhelming situations can cause us to take our eyes off of Jesus. When we do that, we often sink in despair. But if we are wise, like Peter, we remember to cry out to the only One with the power to help us, “Lord, save me!” Chuck Smith

"He loves us too well to let us perish or suffer a single needless pang." — Charles Spurgeon

He is the same now, as he was yesterday, full of love and condescension to self-condemned sinners. - George Whitefield

"Blessing you will not impoverish God." — Charles Spurgeon

In the beginning #God, the uncaused Cause of matter, mind, and law. There we must begin. -A.W. Tozer -

If you embrace all creation with goodwill, but do not embrace #Christ, you are infinitely narrow -Jonathan Edwards -

"Be encouraged, JESUS is always CLOSEST when your CROSS is HEAVIEST."

NO ONE WALKS INTO A GYM FOR THE FIRST TIME AND JUMPS INTO BENCH-PRESSING 300 POUNDS. NOBODY JUMPS HEADFIRST INTO THE DEEP END OF A POOL FOR THE FIRST TIME AND EXPECTS TO PERFORM LIKE AN OLYMPIC SWIMMER. RESPECT EVERY PROCESS, AND PROGRESS. YOU'LL GET THERE...IN TIME!

Living by the Spirit and living by resurrection power are two ways to relate rightly to the God of all grace. They both are experienced through humble dependence. They both result in the grace of God becoming our daily resource from the Lord.

The greatest investment in the world is investing in children and there future.

energy "the fuel of excellence." What would you be able to achieve with more energy in your day-to-day life?

Becoming a Christian doesn't mean that obedience to the Lord is automatic. It's a lifelong process of growing in our trust and patiently waiting on Him before we act. This requires a steadfast commitment to obey so that we can say no to ungodly choices and yes to God.

Every man who is wise in the kingdom of heaven will cry, "Search me, O God . . . Try me" and he will frequently set apart special seasons for self-examination, to discover whether things are right between God and his soul.

The Lord knows every one of us, and He sees us with all of our uniqueness. He is able to use your special gifts and abilities to accomplish amazing things. But you say, "I'm not a preacher. I'm not a pastor, a teacher, or a miracle worker. I don't know what I could do!" Do you know that one kind act on behalf of Jesus Christ can change the world? Do it for the Lord and see mountains move.

God is more concerned with the state of people’s hearts than

with the state of their feelings.

~A. W. Tozer~

When we come before the Lord, God does not look on our heads to see if we have a head covering or not. He looks at the condition of our hearts. Are we coming before the Lord with honor and respect, in submission to Him? It is so important we examine our hearts before we come into the presence of God, because we cannot hide from Him. He knows our hearts and He sees our intentions.

Make up your mind today that no matter what comes your way, nothing is going to steal your joy.

Better be pruned to grow than cut up to burn.

~John Trapp~

May the Lord give us all the strength, wisdom, and encouragement to be about His work, not letting our flesh get in the way of what He wants to accomplish in and through us. And may we do this each day with a sense of urgency and immediacy as we wait eagerly for His soon return!

I spend a lot of time studying, teaching, one-on-one discipleship of young men, and writing about the Word of God. Guess what I'm full of most of the time? That's right -- joy, excitement, passion, enthusiasm, and love. If lately you've been feeling a little depressed, discouraged, or bored, it's almost a sure thing you haven't been sharing the Gospel. Unfortunately when we are not sharing the Gospel we have a tendency to be selfish -- self-absorbed, self-focused, or self-conscious. How do you feel? What needs to change? Where have your feet been lately? In what activities have you become more involved? Where do you spend your time? Do your passions include sharing your faith? Is it time to change your focus? With whom can you share the Gospel? Resolve to do so today

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." -Yoda

“Miss a meal if you have to, but don't miss a book.”

— Jim Rohn

“Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors.”

— John F. Kennedy

“A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas-a place where history comes to life.”

— Norman Cousins

“Read something positive every night and listen to something helpful every morning.”

— Tom Hopkins

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island... and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life.”

— Walt Disney

It is a sad thing to be clickish as believers. We are a body united in Christ, not in the name on your building you fellowship at.

By obeying Christ’s Commands you will gain more

than you can give.

~Thomas Brooks~

if you are not faithful in the small things, God will never give you the bigger things, because He knows He cannot trust you with the bigger things.

Living daily by God's grace depends upon getting to know Him and then walking in the humility and faith that result from fellowship with Him. We have reflected upon four ways to relate rightly to the Lord in humility and faith: living by the Spirit, living by resurrection power, living by the sufficiency of God, and living by the promises of God. Another example is following Jesus as a disciple.

It's rare that God is ever early, but He is absolutely never late.

Let Him rule man who said, “Let us make man.”

~Matthew Henry~

If we do not honor God’s Word, we do not honor God. If we do not honor the order God has established, we do not honor God. God’s word tells us the man has to be the leader of his wife, the leader of his children. He has to be the spiritual leader of his home. All of this is done in submission to Christ—letting Him rule. That is such an important thing to remember. When we submit to the lordship of Christ, we will be right with man.

Many live with a deep-seated anxiety about eternity. They think they’re saved, but they still doubt, wondering, “Am I really saved?” Jesus promised a new life that could not be forfeited or terminated. He says “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned.” God stakes his claim on us. Bridges are burned, and the transfer is accomplished. Ups and downs may mark our days, but they will never ban us from his kingdom. Jesus bottom-lines our lives with His grace!

*Whenever you feel distant from God, remember God is never distant from you.

Whenever you feel distant from God,

you are not seeking Him.

If we do not honor God’s Word, we do not honor God. If we do not honor the order God has established, we do not honor God.

"The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us." — Voltaire

Investing is like driving a car. If you have no drivers education or driving experience, driving a car is very, very risky. Get educated.

Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value: Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, "I love you." Give something away -- anonymously. Forgive someone who has treated you wrong. Turn away wrath with a soft answer. Visit someone in a nursing home. Apologize if you were wrong. Be especially kind to someone with whom you work. Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy.

-- Charles Swindoll (from Growing Strong)

Living daily by God's grace depends upon getting to know Him and then walking in the humility and faith that result from fellowship with Him. We have reflected upon four ways to relate rightly to the Lord in humility and faith: living by the Spirit, living by resurrection power, living by the sufficiency of God, and living by the promises of God. Another example is following Jesus as a disciple.

Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it.

~Harold S. Hulbert~

The learning of the Christian man ought to begin

with the fear of God.

~Thomas Cranmer

He that fears God fears nothing else.

~Edmund Burke~

"Deal with people where they are, until they begin to realize their true need."—Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

True repentance does not substitute sacrifice for obedience.

~Vance Havner~

God wants faithful servants who will come before Him in repentance when we fail. He is always faithful to forgive a repentant sinner.

The great thing about the gospel is that it's for everyone. We don't have to envy our neighbor's forgiveness, because God offers us our own! Let's share that message of forgiveness—along with salvation, meaning, and eternal life.

EVERYDAY

Love is not fleeting, feelings are. Love is many things but fleeting is not one of them.

Love says "I will stay by your side when no one else will." Love says "I will walk with you through any circumstance, even when the outcome is uncertain." That's love.

“The chief means of resisting manipulation is humility – knowing who we really are and facing it. You can only serve by love. You can only love by choice. True love cannot be the result of decree, force or manipulation. Jesus always kept his strength to make loving choices. He calls us to make loving choices necessary to be the servant of all." Gayle D. Erwin

God calls us to make loving choices necessary to be the servant of all." "Humility permits me to own my feelings – and to admit them. Now I'm free to say, ‘I'm angry’. I'm free to admit what I am reacting to. I am free to ask if anger is what the person wanted to produce in me, and to ask for help in changing if my reaction is inappropriate.”

― Gayle D. Erwin, The Jesus Style

“The moment a structure begins to promote itself, it has violated the nature of Christ and has drunk the poison of its death.”

― Gayle D. Erwin, The Jesus Style

“Love is written in our instincts, yet erased by our actions.”

― Gayle D. Erwin, The Yhwh Style

“Many confuse the United States with the Church or the Constitution with the Bible. They feel that the good of the United States is the same as the good of the Kingdom of God. Some feel that the Constitution of the United States is as infallible as the Bible. However, one with wisdom notice that some things are Kingdom principles and some are not.”

― Gayle D. Erwin, Spirit Style

“Gentleness is not apathy but is an aggressive expression of how we view people. We see people as so valuable that we deal with them in gentleness, fearing the slightest damage to one for whom Christ died. To be apathetic is to turn people over to mean and destructive elements, to truly love people cause for us to be aggressively gentle.”

― Gayle D. Erwin, Spirit Style

“I still find my corrupt heart longing for tomorrow's bread. I can make a good argument to the Lord about how effective I can be if He would supply me with enough advance funds. It's a little frightening to pray for TODAY's bread. That means I must pray again for tomorrow and believe again for tomorrow. My greedy heart is willing to be corrupted by a little bit of riches so that I see my warehouse full of loaves. I can make a good argument about how God won’t have to be bothered with me every day if He would only advance me about ten years worth of bread.”

― Gayle Erwin, The Yhwh Style

“When the mouth cries, I want to see God, the heart has reached its finest moment. Once we have sought and seen God, all other things have a way of finding us.”

― Gayle D. Erwin, The Yhwh Style

“Infinite and yet an Infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet nursing at a woman’s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet carried in a mother’s arms…”

~C.H. Spurgeon~

Today, if you find your soul vexed by what seems to be happening on the world stage or in your own life, ask yourself this question: “How dedicated am I to being part of God’s providential plan, done in His way and in His timing?

Living daily by God's grace depends upon getting to know Him and then walking in the humility and faith that result from fellowship with Him.

Bob Hoekstra

Let this season be a joyful one, but also one in which you remember to give thanks and praise for God’s love and faithfulness to those who believe in Jesus.

Judgment comes in different ways – consequences from parents for disobeying children or declared guilt or innocence of a crime from a court. In some cases, the effects of judgment are long-lasting and visible.

In a few days, Christians around the world will celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus, the Son of God. He humbled Himself by being born of a woman; He came because of His love for His people. He came as the perfect Lamb whose sole purpose was to die to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Were it not for sin, death had never had a beginning, and were it not for death sin would never have had an ending.

~William Dyer~

May God use your life to point people to Christ this Christmas! “We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.”

~Oswald J. Smith~

Scripture reveals to us the unsurpassed glory of God, which we see in the natural world and most of all in Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. We keep Christmas well by celebrating God’s glory even as, by his Spirit, we are being transformed into the glorious image of Christ.

Sometimes the Lord’s delay brings a greater demonstration of His power.

Don't give up. Keep praying!

Dustin Benge

As long as God keeps you here, Earth is exactly where He wants you. He’s preparing you for another world. He knows precisely what He’s doing. Through suffering, difficulty, and depression He’s expanding your capacity for eternal joy

Randy Alcorn

The more of Jesus you have

the more joy you have as a result

Jason Robinson

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. ~C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Jesus said yes to asking for help (Mark 14:32–34).

Jesus said yes to choosing friends carefully (Luke 6:12–16).

Jesus said yes to honoring His emotions (John 11:35; Mark 3:5; Luke 22:44).

Jesus said yes to developing His potential (Luke 2:46).

Jesus said yes to sticking to His convictions (Luke 4:1–13).

Jesus said no to being “on” all the time (Matthew 14:23–24).

Jesus said no to pleasing and performing (Mark 15:1–5).

Jesus said no to toxic behavior (Matthew 23:13–36; Luke 11:37–54).

Jesus said no to manipulation (Matthew 4:1–11).

Jesus said no to bullies and abusers (Matthew 18:6; John 8:1–11)

Jesus Christ is the great blessing of the world, the greatest that ever the world was blessed with. He is a family blessing, by Him salvation is brought to the house….

~Matthew Henry~

With the birth of Jesus, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). God’s children needed redemption. God, the Father, sent God the Son, Jesus, as the vessel for that redemption. Through that redemption, God provided a way for His children to fulfill the longings we need.

Times are tough but is anything too hard for the Lord?

This is the meaning of Christmas. Oh, that God would waken your heart to your deep need for mercy as a sinner! And then ravish your heart with a great Savior, Jesus Christ. And then release your tongue to praise him….

~John Piper~

"One man with God on his side is in the majority."

— Charles Spurgeon

"The history of the Church ought properly to be called the history of truth." -

Blaise Pascal.

"Ah, when a soul is full of itself, and of the world, and of the pleasures of sin, I do not wonder that it sees no sweetness in Christ, for it has no appetite!"

- Charles Spurgeon

If you have room for Christ, then from this day forth remember, the world has no room for you.

Charles Spurgeon

We should celebrate the birth of Christ every day.

Holiness isn’t pursued by following a list of rules but by enjoying God, obeying His Word, and imitating Christ.

When asked, 'What is more important: Prayer or Reading the Bible?' I ask, 'What is more important: Breathing in or Breathing out?' - C.H. Spurgeon

"When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life."

If you’ve never asked Christ to come into your life, if you’ve never asked Him to forgive your sins, if you’ve tried to find fulfillment in things, relationships, or even in Christmas itself and always come up short, then it’s time to come to the God whom Christmas is all about.

Have you ever received an indescribable gift? Probably not. You might be able to describe an unusual gift, or perhaps you saw it somewhere before. But this gift from God is indescribable. It is inexpressible. And it is eternal.

When we hear God’s voice, it changes our life.

Are you listening to God? Do you hear His voice? He created you for relationship so that you might know Him, and love Him, and hear Him, and be known, loved, and heard by Him!