“We have passed
through one more year. One long stage in the journey of
life, with its ascents and descents and dust and mud and
rocks and thorns and burdens that wear the shoulders, is
done. The old year is dead. Roll it away. Let it go. God, in
His providence, has brought us out of it. It is gone…And now
we stand at the beginning of the next, the new.”
----Henry Ward Beecher, Congregationalist preacher
(1813-1887)
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the
things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it will
spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way
in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43: 18-19
January 2, 2006
“Resolutions
are futile efforts for temporary self improvements unless
they are accompanied by a permanent revolution of the mind.”
---David B. Whitlock, Ph.D.
Let God transform you by changing the way you think. Romans
12:2
January 3, 2006
“‘Always’ and
‘never’ are two words you should always remember never to
use.”
---Wendell Johnson (1927-1990)
But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No, “No.” Matthew
5:37
January 4, 2006
“Take one giant
step at a time. Military strategists teach their armies to
fight on one front at a time. Settle on one attitude you
want to tackle at this time.”
--- John Maxwell, in The Winning Attitude
But I am focusing all my energies on this one thing.
Philippians 3:13
January 5, 2006
“Every man
would like to be God, if it were possible; some few find it
difficult to admit the impossibility.”
---Bertrand Russell (1870-1972)
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your
fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are
people that you should care for them, mere mortals that you
should think about them? Psalm 8:3-4
January 6, 2006
“Lord, let me
never, never outlive my love to Thee.”
---Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), found in his hymn, “O
Sacred Head”
I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to
you in prayer. Psalm 63:4
January 7, 2006
“Often the
opportunity to rise to the occasion comes because we got up
one more time.”
---David B.Whitlock, Ph. D.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not
crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are
hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked
down, but not destroyed. II Corinthians 4:8-9
January 8, 2006
“To gather with
God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as
necessary to the Christian life as prayer.”
---Martin Luther (1483-1546)
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand
elsewhere! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my
God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
Psalm 84:10
January 9, 2006
“It is not the
blowouts that will destroy your marriage, but the slow
leaks.”
---Jay Kesler, President Emeritus and Chancellor, Taylor
University
Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another
in marriage. Hebrews 13:4
January 10,
2006
“Keep your face
to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.”
---Helen Keller (1880-1968)
Make your face shine down upon us. Psalm 80:7
January 11,
2006
“The vision
must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare
up the steps; we must step up the stairs.”
---Vance Havner, (1901-1986), Bible teacher
I was not disobedient to that vision from heaven. Acts 26:19
January 12,
2006
“Put some good
thoughts in your head and you’ll discover that when you
change your thinker, life isn’t such a stinker.”
---Charles Lowery, inspirational speaker
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be
glad in it. Psalm 118:24
January 13,
2006
“Sorrow looks
back, worry looks around, but faith looks up.”
---Daily Bread, October 3, 1997
My eyes are always looking to the Lord for help.” Psalm
25:15
January 14,
2006
“I can never
think of the victories my teams have attained without also
considering the difficulties we had to overcome.”
---Lou Holtz, football coach and television commentator
You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out
of the thundercloud and tested your faith…Psalm 81:7
January 15,
2006
“Things turn
out best for the people who make the best of the way things
turn out.”
---Art Linkletter (1912--)
Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in
the Lord. Philippians 3:1
January 16,
2006
“Like anybody I
would like to live—a long life—longevity has its place. But
I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s
will.”
---Martin Luther King, Jr. (1921-1968), speaking in Memphis,
TN, at a rally the night before he was killed on April 4,
1968
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind
me that my days are numbered, and that my life if fleeing
away…And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is
in you.” ---Psalm 39:4, 7
January 17,
2006
“Every man who
ever became somebody for God has this at the core of his
priorities: time alone with God!”
---Richard Foster, Quaker writer on Christian spirituality
The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went
out alone into the wilderness to pray. –Mark 1:35
January 18,
2006
“A loving
Personality dominates the Bible, walking among the trees of
the garden and breathing fragrance over every scene. Always
a living Person is present, speaking, pleading, loving,
working, and manifesting Himself whenever and wherever His
people have the receptivity necessary to receive the
manifestation.”
---A.W.Tozer (1897-1963), in The Pursuit of God
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those
who take refuge in him! ---Psalm 34:8
January 19,
2006
“My parents
always told me that people will never know how long it takes
you to do something. They will only know how well it is
done.”
---Nancy Hanks (1783-1818), Mother of Abraham Lincoln
“Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what
you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who
wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it.
Now you should finish what you started.”---I Corinthians
8:10-11
January 20,
2006
“Seek the
truth; listen to the truth; teach the truth; love the truth;
abide by the truth; and defend the truth unto death.”
---John Hus (1370-1415), Christian martyr
“And you shall know the truth and the truth will set you
free.”---John 8: 32
January 21,
2006
“It is often
from life’s most tragic defeats that life’s sweetest
victories are born.”
---David B.Whitlock, Ph.D.
Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours
through Christ, who loved us. ---Romans 8:37
January 22,
2006
“Worship is not
about filling God’s unmet ego needs. God has made us so that
when we experience something transcendentally great, we have
a need to praise it.”
---John Ortberg, in If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got
to Get out of the Boat
“Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the
Lord our maker.”---Psalm 95:6
January 23,
2006
“It is the
willingness of people to give of themselves over and above
the demands of the job that distinguishes the great from the
merely adequate organization.”
---Peter Drucker
Though they have been going through much trouble and hard
times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed
in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not
only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of
their own free will.—I Corinthians 8:2-3.
January 24,
2006
“There is less
fear from outside competition than from inside inefficiency,
discourtesy and bad service.”
---Anonymous
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady,
always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that
nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. ---I
Corinthians 15:58
January 25,
2006
“Show me a man
who is a good loser and I’ll show you a man who is playing
golf with his boss.”
---Anonymous
Remember in a race everyone runs, but only one person get
the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will
win. ---I Corinthians 9: 24
January 26,
2006
“Nothing
splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared
believe that something inside them was superior to
circumstance.”
---Bruce Barton (1886-1967), popular religious author
“What do you mean, ‘If I can?’” Jesus asked. “Anything is
possible if a person believes.”---Mark 9:23
January 27,
2006
“I have seen
the moment of my greatness flicker,
And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat,
And snicker,
And in short, I was afraid.”
---T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), in The Love Song of J. Alfred
Prufrock
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good
cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”---Matthew 14: 27
January 28,
2006
“Sometimes the
most spiritual thing we can do is take a nap!”
---Warren Wiersbe, Bible teacher
“Sirs,” he (Abraham) said, “please don’t go any further.
Stop awhile and rest in the shade of this tree…”---Genesis
18:1
January 29,
2006
“I have one
passion only: it is He! It is He!”
---Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf (1700-1760)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,
and all your mind.”---Matthew 22:37
January 30,
2006
“Instead of
chasing the dollar, we should live in such a way that true
riches chase us.”
---David B. Whitlock, Ph.D.
The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh
others will themselves be refreshed. ---Proverbs 11: 25
If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you
search for evil, it will find you! ---Proverbs 11: 27
January 31,
2006
“God didn’t
have time to make a nobody, only a somebody. I believe that
each of us has God-given talents within us waiting to be
brought to fruition.”
---Mary Kay Ash, (1918-2001) founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics
You are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s
holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can
show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of
the darkness into his wonderful light. ---I Peter 2:9
Please
look at my new blog,
"Life Matters". Special messages are added
every Thursday. I look forward to viewing your
comments.
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Please
look at my new blog,
