“I love the man that can smile in
trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow
brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to
shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience
approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto
death.”
---Thomas Paine (1737-1809), American revolutionary
If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.
---Proverbs 24:10
December 2,
2007
“God will help
us when we cannot walk, and He will help us when we find it
hard to walk, but He cannot help us if we will not walk.”
---George MacDonald (1804-1925), Scottish poet, novelist,
and Christian minister
I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms.
---Hosea 11:3
December 3,
2007
“Pretend that
every single person you meet has a sign around his or her
neck that says, ‘Make Me Feel Important.’ Not only will you
succeed in sales, you will succeed in life.”
---Mary Kay Ash (1918-2001), founder of Mary Kay cosmetics
To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish
understanding will prosper.
---Proverbs 19:8
December 4,
2007
“Believe that
life is worth living and your belief will help create the
fact.”
---William James (1842-1910), psychologist
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be
glad in it.
---Psalm 118:24
December 5,
2007
“There are no
real interruptions. There is only the real life God brings
us every day.”
---C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), author, scholar, Christian
apologist
When Jesus heard him he stopped and said, “Tell him to come
here.”
---Mark 10:49
December 6,
2007
“There comes a
time in a man’s life when to get where he has to go---if
there are no doors or windows---he walks through a wall.”
---Bernard Malamud (1914-1986), American writer
With my God I can scale any wall.
---Psalm 18:29
December 7,
2007
“If you’ve been
wrestling with big questions of ultimate truth, don’t be
alarmed. If you feel at times like you’re inching your way
through a murky night in search of home, you’re not alone.
The journey to God can often feel like an awkward groping
for someone our eyes cannot see. That’s why it’s comforting
to know God is seeking you, too.”
---Louie Giglio, Christian pastor
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For
those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will
shine.
---Isaiah 9:2
December 8,
2007
“Riches adorn
the dwelling; virtue adorns the person.”
---Chinese Proverb
Charm is deceptive and beauty does not last.
---Proverbs 31:30
December 9,
2007
“Prayer is a
virtue that prevaileth against all temptations.”
---St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153) French abbot of
Clairvaux and the primary builder of the reforming
Cistercian order
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to
temptation.
---Mark 14:38
December 10,
2007
“A smooth sea
never makes a skillful sailor.”
---English proverb
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is
being tested as fire tests and purifies gold…
---I Peter 1:7
December 11,
2007
“Success is the
child of audacity.”
---Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) British statesman
Our only power and success come from God.
---II Corinthians 3:5
December 12,
2007
“Before you can
inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself.
Before you can move their tears, you own must flow. To
convince them, you must yourself believe.”
---Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British Prime Minister
We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.
---John 6:69
December 13,
2007
“I am still
learning.”
---Michelangelo (1475-1564) Italian painter, sculptor,
architect
A wise person makes learning a joy.
---Proverbs 15:2
December 14,
2007
“If we would
all do the things we are capable of doing, we would
literally astound ourselves.”
---Thomas Edison (1847-1931), Inventor
If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could
say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it
would move. Nothing would be impossible.
---Luke 17:6
December 15,
2007
“When the
morning’s freshness has been replaced by the weariness of
midday, when the leg muscles quiver under the strain, the
climb seems endless, and, suddenly, nothing will go quite as
you wish---it is then that you must not hesitate.”
---Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961), Swedish diplomat and second
Secretary General of the United Nations
Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We
do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who
initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy
awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.
Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people,
then you won’t become weary and give up.
---Hebrews 12:1-4
December 16,
2007
“A leader, once
convinced that a particular course of action is the right
one, must…be undaunted when the going gets tough.”
---Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), 40th President of the United
States
They were on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking
ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the
people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking
the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to
describe everything that was about to happen to him.
---Mark 10:32
December 17,
2007
“The happiness
of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in
the mastery of his passions.”
---Alfred Lord Tennyson (1808-1892), English poet
Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil
desires.
---Romans 13:14
December 18,
2007
“Security is
mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature nor do
the children of man as a whole experience it. Avoiding
danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”
---Helen Keller, (1880-1968), Blind/Deaf author and lecturer
Though he (Jesus Christ) was God, he did not ink of equality
with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his
divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human
form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a
criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to
the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all
other names…
---Philippians 2:5-10
December 19,
2007
“Even the fear
of death is nothing compared to the fear of not having lived
authentically and fully.”
---Frances Moore Lappe, social activist
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and
I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me---the
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not
just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his
appearing.
---II Timothy 4:7-8
December 20,
2007
“The most
important need in the Christian world today is this inner
truth nourished by this Spirit of contemplation: the praise
and love of God, the longing for the coming of Christ, the
thirst for the manifestation of God’s glory, his truth, his
justice, his Kingdom in the world…Without this contemplative
orientation we are building churches not to praise him but
to establish more firmly the social structures, values and
benefits that we presently enjoy. Without this contemplative
basis to our preaching, our apostolate is no apostolate at
all, but mere proselytizing to insure universal conformity
with our own national way of life.”
---Thomas Merton (1915-1968), Trappist monk, author, peace
activist
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
---Matthew 6:10
December 21,
2007
“The manner of
giving shows the character of the giver, more than the gift
itself.”
---John Caspar Lavater (1741-1801), clergyman
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly.
---II Corinthians 8:12
December 22,
2007
“Christmas is
not truly Christmas until we have claimed our Christmas gift
from God, the gift he has prepared for us from the
foundation of the world: Christ the Savior.”
---David B. Whitlock, Ph.D.
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed
before anything was created and is supreme over all
creation.
---Colossians 1:15
December 23,
2007
“It is said
that there are only two tragedies in life: not getting what
one wants, and getting it.”
---Bhanta Henepola Gunaratana, “Eight Mindful Steps to
Happiness.”
Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human
desire is never satisfied.
---Proverbs 27:20
December 24,
2007
“The most
important part of Christmas is the first six letters.”
---Unknown
For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but
have everlasting life.
---John 3:16
December 25,
2007
“Hark! The
herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild---
God and sinners reconciled!’
---Charles Wesley (1707-1788), hymn writer, evangelist,
brother of John Wesley
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill
toward men!
---Luke 2:14
December 26,
2007
“Christmas
isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.”
---Edna Ferber (1885-1968), American writer
Through Christ, God has give us the privilege and authority
as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done
for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing
glory to his name. And you are included among those Gentiles
who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.
---Romans 1:5-6
December 27,
2007
“Don’t fight a
problem, solve it!”
---Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity
International
Then I called a public meeting to solve the problem.
---Nehemiah 5:7
December 28,
2007
“I’m gonna do
better than learn to walk, I’m gonna learn to run.”
---Kunta Kinta, the slave in Roots, stated after his foot
was cut off as punishment for trying to escape.
Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before
us.
---Hebrews 12:2
December 29,
2007
“The enemies of
Freedom do not argue; they shout and they shoot.”
--- William Ralph Inge (1860-1954), Anglican priest, author,
professor of Divinity, Cambridge University
God has purchased our freedom with his blood.
---Colossians 1:14
December 30,
2007
“Don’t ask
yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you
come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world
needs is people who have come alive.”
---Howard Thurman
Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
---John 11:44
December 31,
2007
“Cheers to a
new year and another chance for us to get it right.”
---Oprah Winfrey
It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our
salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith.
The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off
deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
---Romans 13: 11-12
Please
look at my new blog,
"Life Matters". Special messages are added
every Thursday. I look forward to viewing your
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Please
look at my new blog,
