Trust

"Live trusting God, don't die trusting man."

~Dr. David Platt~

The Difference Between Romance and Love

Romance is flying.
Love is safe landing.

Romance is seeking perfection.
Love is forgiving faults.

Romance is fleeting.
Love is long.

Romance is the anguish of waiting for the phone to ring to bring you words of endearment.
Love is anguish of waiting for a call that will assure you that someone else is happy and safe.

Romance is eager-striving always to appear attractive to each other.
Love is two people who find beauty in each other-no matter how they look.

Romance is dancing in the moonlight, gazing deep into desired eyes across a candlelit table.
Love says, "You're tired, honey. I'll get up this time," as you stumble through the darkness to warm a bottle or comfort a frightened child.

Romance is flattering attention.
Love is genuine thoughtfulness.

Romance is suspense, anticipation, surprise.
Love is dependability.

Romance is tingling excitement.
Love is tenderness, constancy, being cherished.

Romance is delicious.
Love nourishes.

Romance can't last.
Love can't help it.

~Marjorie Holmes~

Discipleship

There are no crown wearers in heaven, who were not cross bearers on earth.

~C.H. Spurgeon~

Adversity

Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with.

~Robert Leighton~

Spiritual Warfare

God has appointed this whole life to be all as a race or a battle; the state of rest, wherein we shall be so out of danger as to have no need of watching and fighting, is for another world.

~Jonathan Edwards~

Perseverance

Your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and heaven shall make amends for all.

~Thomas Brooks~

No Man Is An Island

No man is an island. ~John Donne~

I've been thinking about this a lot recently. God has made relationships because they are so very important. In Nathan Zacharias' article on Boundless Webzine, he says this,

We're not meant to go through this life alone. As Marcus states at the end of the movie, "you need backup." God uses friendships to help bring happiness when all seems right, and to help hold us up when all seems wrong. Certainly, there are risks involved. Will was right; if you open yourself up enough to where people can make you happy, then they can make you unhappy too.

None of us is perfect, and friends are likely to let you down from time to time. And sometimes a person you thought was your friend may even betray you in a very painful way. Yes, letting someone in to your life can open the door to heartache. But Marcus was right too; living a life where you keep everyone at arm's length and avoid caring about anyone other than yourself causes you to miss out on one of the greatest sources of happiness.

(Read the whole article here- it'll probably make a little more sense :) )

The American lifestyle is not extremely conducive to close and open relationships inside families and much less outside of families. We don't like to rely on others, ask for help, reach out of our comfort zones, or sacrifice our precious time, but relationships are the entire reason we weren't zapped up to Heaven the moment we placed our trust in Jesus Christ. Relationships are the only way we can reach the lost, hurting world. Religiousness doesn't endear us to anyone, but when we take time and energy and invest ourselves in others' lives, that is when the opportunities present themselves to talk about the One we are here to glorify. Let's not live by rules and regulations, but by relationships (which by the way, gives us the desire to honor with obedience to rules and regulations) with the pain filled world and with our God. Show your care. Show your love. Show the world who Christ is.

Yes, Lord

I can't remember where I originally got this, but I have had it posted on my bulletin board for years. It's funny how when you see something so often, you eventually don't pay very much attention to it anymore. But I saw it today and reread it. It was absolutely a wonderful reminder. I, for one, am going to try to say "Yes, Lord" a whole lot more often than "No, Lord, I have a better idea," or, "No, Lord, really you can't be serious." I encourage you to do the same. No matter what the circumstances, I am so glad that God never, ever, ever changes.

Yes, Lord, I will trust in You even in the dark.
Yes, Lord, I will believe Your Word even when I feel confused.
Yes, Lord, I will obey what I know You are asking me to do.
Yes, Lord, I will continue to commit my every step to You.
Yes, Lord, I will continue to grow in spiritual understanding.

Education

Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.

~C. S. Lewis~

Caring For the World

The world doesn’t care what you know until they know that you care.

~David Havard~

Dependence on the Lord

How shall I depend on Him for raising my body from the dust; and saving my soul at last; if I distrust Him for a crust of bread, towards my preservation?

~Joseph Hall~

Love of Money

All the evils in the world come not because our desires for happiness are too strong but because they are so weak that we settle for fleeting pleasures that do not satisfy our deepest souls but in the end destroy them. The root of all evil is that we are the kind of people who settle for the love of money instead of the love of God.

~John Piper~

Chastisement

God would not rub so hard if it were not to fetch out the dirt that is ingrained in our natures. God loves purity so well He had rather see a hole than a spot in His child's garments.

~William Gurnall~

Affliction

To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that all things which fall out shall cooperate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish ore; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over.

~Thomas Watson~

Prayer

A saint is to put forth his faith in prayer, and afterwards follow his prayer with faith.

~Vavasor Powell~

God's Mercy

His father saw him - there were eyes of mercy;
He ran to meet him - there were legs of mercy;
He put his arms round his neck - there were arms of mercy;
He kissed him - there were kisses of mercy;
He said to him - there were words of mercy;
'Bring here the best robe' - there were deeds of mercy;
Wonders of mercy - all mercy!
Oh, what a God of mercy he is!

~Matthew Henry~

Evangelism

The command to evangelize is a part of God's law. It belongs to God's revealed will for His people. It could not, then, in principle be affected in the slightest degree by anything that we might believe about God's sovereignty in election and calling.

~J. I. Packer~

Platforms for His Manifestations

All our difficulties are only platforms for the manifestation of His grace, power, and love.

~Hudson Taylor~

Bible Study

The longer you read the Bible, the more you will like it; it will grow sweeter and sweeter; and the more you get into the spirit of it, the more you will get into the spirit of Christ.

~William Romaine~

Wisdom

If you lack knowledge, go to school. If you lack wisdom, get on your knees! Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge.

~Vance Havner~