No matter what you're going through today, remember, "Nevertheless the Lord." He's there to rescue you. He's there to bring you back. He's bringing people into your life to help you get back on track. He's given you His Word--the Bible--to keep you in tune with His desires and wishes for your life.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)
The difference between living by God's supply or by our own resources is a "life and death" matter. "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." Attempting to live the Christian life by our capabilities will eventually leave us exhausted, discouraged, condemned. Whereas, depending upon the Spirit of God to supply the abundant grace of God leaves us strengthened, encouraged, and comforted.
Ignorance is the mother of all mischief.
~Thomas Hall~
A true friend knows the song of your heart, and will sing it to you when you forget the words.
Believers have two responsibilities. The first is to worship God and the second is to work for His kingdom. Where and how we serve is based upon our unique talents, skills, and calling. But the one place where we are all expected to give of ourselves is the local church.
The church is more than a community. It is an interdependent body with individual members who were created by God to function in communion with one another. We Christians, like the world at large, are a diverse group, and that means we often have to strive hard for unity. But our differences are actually something to be celebrated, because each person uniquely contributes to God’s purpose.
Miracles come in all shapes and sizes. A woman chooses not to have an abortion. A pastor in Peru lives another day even though his name is first on a list of Christian pastors to be executed. An alcoholic makes it through one more day without a drink. An underground church in Cuba meets to worship God. A husband who has been unemployed for over a year gets a job. Bibles are smuggled into Mexico and distributed to remote mountain tribes. A couple seeks counseling instead of a divorce. Cancer goes into remission. The sun rises and sets. We have food to eat and water to drink. A life is changed in response to what God has done in ours. How about you?
We are valuable to God. How could he have expressed his love for us any more than to send his only Son to die so that we might have life?
Focusing on these scriptures—and others like them—can remind you who you are in Christ Jesus …
You are forgiven. 1 John 1:9
You have been made right in God's sight. Romans 5:1
You are righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 3:26
You are loved. 1 John 3:1, John 4:10
You are a member of God's family. Ephesians 2:19
You are known by God. Matthew 10:30
You are God's child. Romans 8:14
You are an over-comer. 1 John 5:3-5
You are his masterpiece—designed for a purpose. Ephesians 2:10
The church is one body—you cannot touch a toe without
affecting the whole body.
~Friedrich Tholuck~
God does not expect us to be perfect, but if we each serve in the body as the member He has called us to be, He would be able to do great things through the body of Christ.
God hears our requests. But His answer isn’t always what we’d like it to be. Because He knows more about life than we do? Don’t panic. Don’t bail out. Talk to your heavenly Father. He’s still in control!
Donald J. Trump coined the phrase ‘multilevel focusing’. I love it. Its when two ideas intersect and form a new innovation.
EVERYTHING IN LIFE DEMANDS BALANCE AND UNDERSTANDING. WHEN WE LACK WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE WE LACK UNDERSTANDING AS WELL. WHEN BALANCE IS OFF JUST A BIT THEN SO IS EVERYTHING ELLS THAT GOES WITH IT. THE BIBLE SAYS KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP BUT LOVE EDIFIES SO BOTH ARE NEEDED FOR BALANCE. IF ALL YOU HAVE IS KNOWLEDGE AND DON'T APPLY IT THE BALANCE OF UNDERSTANDING IS LOST.
SEEK BALANCE ALWAYS....
God does not owe you salvation. You deserve damnation,
but He provides salvation.
~Billy Sunday~
Have you taken the time to let people know that you have something precious and life-changing? Have you been sharing the love of Jesus with others? Jesus tells us that we have an amazing responsibility to share with the world His wonderful gift. What are you doing today to share this gift with others?
Have you been away from the family of God? Have you felt the cost of absence in your own life? The Lord is waiting. He will never force Himself upon anyone.
Righteousness is a commitment to a relationship.
~Don Garlington~
Fretting over tomorrow’s problems siphons the strength you need for today, leaving you anemic and weak. So, when you can’t sleep—don’t count sheep. Read Scripture.
Worry claims, “The world has gone crazy.” God’s Word disagrees. Mark 7:37 says, “He has done it all and done it well.”
Worry wonders if anyone is in control. Yet God’s Word calls Him “the blessed controller of all things.” (1 Tim. 6:14-15 Phillips)
Worry whispers this lie: “God doesn’t know what I need.” But God’s Word declares in Philippians 4:19, “God will take care of everything you need.”
Worry never sleeps. But God’s children do!
"The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us." -
Billy Graham
It is dangerous to backslide in any degree,
for we know not to what it may lead.
~C. H. Spurgeon~
God delivers His people from the snare of the fowler in two senses. From and out of. First, He delivers them from the snare--He does not let them enter it; and secondly, if they should be caught in it, He delivers them out of it. The first promise is the most precious to some; the second is the best to others.
When you think the enemy is beating you up, God even has that under control.
Jesus doesn’t want you to wait until tomorrow in hopes that you will finally be heading down the right path; he wants you to say yes today and he will lead you out of where you are now.
God answers the mess of life with one word: grace!
KNOW YOUR LIMITS, AND BE WILLING TO STEP OUT IN FAITH, AND MOVE.
You can trust your unknown future in the hands of a known God.
Do you accept what you hear or do you open the Word of God to read it for yourself? I can't tell you how many times I've heard something preached and thought, "Wow, I didn't know that," and then opened my Bible only to discover a verse was either misquoted or taken out of context. Will you take responsibility to confirm the teaching you have heard?
Sadly a lot of believers don't attend church or go but that is the last time their bible is opened for the week. You know the ones that say well pastor said _______________ , and they have no insight from the Lord themselves.
New covenant living, Kingdom living, it is the same reality as "Christian discipleship," "the Spirit-filled life," and "the abundant life." Living for Jesus dying to self daily.
You can't serve two masters either you will be submissive to Christ or not.
“We can do little things for God: I turn the cake that is frying on the pan, for love of Him; and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before Him who has given me the grace to work; afterward I rise happier than a king.” —Brother Lawrence
Have you learned everything you need to know? There is never an end to the beauty, majesty, intricacy, and glory of our Lord. Every time I think I’m getting close, He always reveals a whole new dimension.
Regardless of how God draws us near, our response should be this: Lord, I am here; speak to me and show me what you want to teach me.
~Charles Stanley~
A rejoicing heart soon makes a praising tongue.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
Anxiety is a word of unbelief or unreasoning dread. We have no right to allow it. Full faith in God puts it to rest.
~Horace Bushnell~
There’s nothing in this evil world that’s a match for the supremacy of Christ.
Dustin Benge
We who follow the Lord Jesus Christ are "ministers of the new covenant." The term "minister" means servant. The phrase "new covenant" speaks of relating to God by grace. Thus, we are those who serve God by the resources of His grace.
Bob Hoekstra
You don't always have to tell your side of the story.
TIME WILL.
Jason Robinson
“God specifically chose His unremarkable evangelists so that they would never be the explanation for the work of the gospel. He doesn't want His people to get confused about who is performing the transforming work of salvation in sinners' lives”
(John MacArthur).
Waiting for God in prayer doesn’t give us an excuse to do nothing.
Dustin Benge
You see a person’s true character when you’re no longer beneficial to them.
Jason Robinson
We want the acceptance and approval of God, yet still, get to scratch that tingly “sin” itch we all have.
C. S. Lewis
Theology 101: If Scripture doesn’t have the answers to your theological questions, you may be asking the wrong ones.
Dr. Michael J. Svigel
Living as servants of the new covenant is not some exclusive, elitist religious concept, available only to an initiated few. Rather, it is just one way to describe the life that is to be experienced by all who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. For many believers, these terms involve unfamiliar language.
OSWALD CHAMBERS
God created man to be master of the life in the earth and sea and sky, and the reason he is not is because he took the law into his own hands, and became master of himself, but of nothing else.
“He who obeys the command ‘rejoice in the Lord,’ has a hallelujah in his soul every minute of the day and night.” —A. C. Dixon (1854-1925)
Think about how patience and grace are related. How have patience and grace appeared in your life? Patient love means choosing to love someone even when you don’t feel like it or it isn’t easy. When was the last time you’ve given or accepted patient love? How did love make the situation better?
Sometimes when we get away with sin, we think we’ll always get away with it. But no one ever completely gets away with sin. God sometimes will extend His grace and not discipline us right away. As a result, we might begin to misinterpret the grace of God for His permission.
There is no progressive Jesus, political Jesus, or social Jesus. There is only the Biblical Jesus. If you reject the Bible, you reject Him.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THE DEVIL, IT'S OUR OWN DELIBERATE BAD DECISIONS THAT HAVE HARMED US MOST. LET PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY BE OUR AIM.
"FAITH DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING WILL TURN OUT OKAY. INSTEAD, IT'S KNOWING YOU WILL BE OKAY NO MATTER HOW THINGS TURN OUT."
"WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH MAY HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE YOU OUT, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE GOD'S PERMISSION!"
COMPARISON IS THE WOMB THAT GIVES BIRTH TO JEALOUSY, ENVY, GOSSIP, JUDGMENT, AND A CRITICAL SPIRIT!
When you put God first, He takes care of all the rest. Chuck Smith
When God does anything marked and special for our souls, or bodies, He intends it as a sacred trust for us to communicate to others. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” AB Simpson
It is a high privilege to rest in God when danger or pain strikes. Spurgeon
Those who are readiest to trust God without other evidence than His Word always receive the greatest number of visible evidences of His love. C. G. Trumbull.
The Lord can “restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25), “heal the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1) and turn evil into saving grace. Ray Bentley
“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” - C.S. Lewis
Times are bad, God is good. Richard Sibbes
Satan gives Adam an apple, and takes away paradise. Therefore in all temptations consider not what he offers, but what we shall lose. Richard Sibbes
There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us. Richard Sibbes
It is better to go bruised to Heaven than sound to Hell. Richard Sibbes
Whatsoever is good for God's children they shall have it, for all is theirs to further them to Heaven; therefore, if poverty be good, they shall have it; if disgrace be good, they shall have it; for all is ours, to serve for our greatest good. Richard Sibbes
What the heart likes best, the mind studies most. Richard Sibbes
The life of a Christian is wondrously ruled in this world, by the consideration and meditation of the life of another world. Richard Sibbes
“… so that we today might boast that we are righteous and blameless before God— however much our consciences accuse and condemn us — knowing that God has received us in mercy, and that all our faults have been removed by the perfection found in Jesus Christ.” — John Calvin
“Every heresy is due to an overemphasis upon some truth, without allowing other truths to qualify and balance it.” ― John Stott
Be not only cast down under the consideration of the curses and threatenings of the law, but be raised by the promises of the gospel, and the standing office of Christ in heaven. —Puritan Stephen Charnock, Works 5:97
“Although a man cannot by the presence of them (good works) gather a cause of his salvation; yet by the absence of them he may conclude his damnation.” —Anthony Burgess, A Vindication of the Law, from the errors of the Papists…and more especially the Antinomians, Pg. 37
"Grace makes no man proud." — Charles Spurgeon
"David said of his foes, 'They were too strong for me,' but they were not too strong for the Lord to overthrow." — Charles Spurgeon
"If God has given you an anxiety for the souls of others, with faith get to work in all your feebleness." — Charles Spurgeon
“The preacher does not make the gospel. If he makes it, it is not worth your having. Originality in preaching, if it be originality in the statement of doctrine, is falsehood. We are not makers and inventors; we are repeaters, we tell the message we have received.” -C.H. Spurgeon
Steven Lawson
Five seconds after you die, where will your soul be? Only by faith in Christ will you be in heaven.
No human being is justified before God or has a right standing before God based upon his own virtue and merit. It is only by faith in the virtue and merit of Christ. Paul Washer
"Hold on to God's Word by faith, and you will be strong. God will vindicate his own cause." — Charles Spurgeon
The Christian is the most contented man in the world but the least contented with the world. -C.H. Spurgeon -
Any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven. -A.W. Tozer -
"I don't have an original bone in my body. Everything I've ever said came from somewhere else." -Timothy Keller.
"You must find joy in God, or you will not find joy at all." — Charles Spurgeon
"God does not need your strength; he has more than enough on his own. He asks your weakness, he has none of that." — Charles Spurgeon
"My dear friend, when grief presses you to the dust, worship there." — Charles Spurgeon
I read of George Whitefield, preaching, and as he was preaching about the glories of grace and of salvation, the tears were pouring down his cheeks, and those who listened to him were weeping too. - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
"The most important daily habit we can possess is to remind ourselves of the gospel." — Charles Spurgeon
"Refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty." -Apocrypha.
"The more money you have, the more troubles you will have." — Charles Spurgeon
Self-examination is a spiritual inquisition set up in the soul -Thomas Watson -
All who do not submit themselves to the authority of Christ make war against God. -John Calvin -
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