“I have never
heard about the resolutions of the apostles, but a great
deal about their ACTS.”
---Horace Mann, (1796-1859), Best known as “The Father of
American Education”
Put into action God’s saving work in your lives.
---Philippians 2:12
January 2, 2007
“If we take
human life in little chunks, like today, like tomorrow, and
pack them absolutely full of meaning and faith and love and
goodness, then the distant, far-off tomorrows will very
likely take care of themselves.”
---Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993), Christian preacher and
author
Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own
worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
---Matthew 6:34
January 3, 2007
“We pray when
there’s nothing else we can do, but Jesus wants us to pray
before we do anything at all.”
---Oswald Chambers (1874-1917), Christian teacher and author
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
---Philippians 4:6
January 4, 2007
“Sometimes in
an attempt to improve our relationships, we create a list of
all the things our spouse could and should do better. This
strategy rarely works. The only thing it does is make us
more frustrated and discontented. I suggest you start with
yourself. As you become more polite and kindhearted, sooner
or later your spouse will notice. In time, it will start to
rub off on (him) her…and if you are persistent and
consistent, things will improve.”
---Dr. Steven Stephens in 20 Surprisingly Simple Rules and
Tools for a Great Marriage
Love is patient and kind. Love is not…rude.
---I Corinthians 13:4-5
January 5, 2007
“Work hard,
stay focused, and surround yourself with good people.”
---Tom Osborne, former head football coach of the Nebraska
Cornhuskers
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before
you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to
the path and stay safe. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your
feet from following evil.
---Proverbs 4:25-27
January 6, 2007
“All my life
I’ve looked at words as though I were seeing them for the
first time.”
---Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), American writer
Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach.
---Proverbs 18:20
January 7, 2007
“Worship is
meant to be an encounter, an exciting meeting place where
love is given and received in an unscripted manner.”
---Matt Redman in The Unquenchable Worshipper, Coming Back
to the Heart of Worship
I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in
the Lord.
---II Samuel 6:21
January 8, 2007
“The question
that must guide all organizing activity in a parish is not
how to keep people busy, but how to keep them from being so
busy that they can no longer hear the voice of God who
speaks in silence.”
---Henri J.M. Nouwen (1932-1996), Dutch Catholic priest and
writer, in The Way of the Heart
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for
him to act.
---Psalm 37:7
January 9, 2007
Jesus is with
us---in our pain, in our suffering, in our ghoulish
encounters with abuse, and in our injustices. When we face
debilitating diseases, when we see that our path leads into
a dark valley, when we know that our days are running out,
we can join Jesus---he’s been there and he suffers with us.
---Scot McKnight in The Jesus Creed
Don’t be troubled. You trust in God, now trust in me.
---John 14:1
January 10,
2007
“God doesn’t
want a part of your life. He asks for all your life. He asks
for all your heart, all your soul, all your strength. God is
not interested in halfhearted commitment, partial obedience,
and the leftovers of your time and money. He desires your
full devotion, not little bits of your life.
---Rick Warren, in The Purpose Driven Life
You must love the Lord you God with all your heart, all your
soul, and all your mind.
---Matthew 22:37
January 11,
2007
“My mother
taught me very early to believe I could achieve any
accomplishment I wanted to. The first was to walk without
braces.”
---Wilma Rudolph, 1940-1994, Olympic Gold Medalist
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
---Philippians 4:13
January 12,
2007
“Don’t bother
about genius. Don’t worry about being clever. Trust to hard
work, perseverance and determination.
---Sir Frederick Treves (1853-1923), English physician and
author of the book, The Elephant Man
We pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious
power so that you will have all the patience and endurance
you need.
---Colossians 1:11
January 13,
2007
“Remember the
fruit we grow in the valleys of despair is the food we will
eat on the mountaintop.”
---Fred Smith, founder of FedEx
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
---Psalm 23:5
January 14,
2007
“You have to
believe in yourself when no one else does.”
---Venus Williams, Olympic gold medalist and professional
tennis champion
The leaders of the church who were there had nothing to add
to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as
great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no
favorites.) They saw that God had given me the
responsibility of preaching the Good News to the Gentiles,
just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching
to the Jews.
---Galatians 2:6-7
January 15,
2007
“Darkness
cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate
cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
---Martin Luther King, Jr., (1929-1968), Baptist minister,
leader of the American Civil Rights Movement
In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not
understood it.
---John 1:4-5
January 16,
2007
“Someone has
said that despair has three heads; agnosticism, which makes
one lose courage in the search for knowledge; pessimism,
which makes one lose courage in the search for progress, and
cynicism, which makes one lose courage in the search for
virtue.”
---Donald Macleod, Minister
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my
voice.
---Psalm 130:1-2 Hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there
is unfailing love and an overflowing supply of salvation.
(Psalm 130:7)
January 17,
2007
“Resolved…that
I will live so as I shall wish I had when I come to die.”
---Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), American preacher,
theologian
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I
have kept the faith.
---II Timothy 4:7
January 18,
2007
“God has too
much integrity and too much holiness to be taken lightly, so
he hides as much for our protection as for his honor and
worth.”
---John Fisher, in Finding God Where You Least Expect Him
Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and glory of the Lord
filled the Tabernacle. Moses could no longer enter the
temple because the cloud had settled down over it, and the
glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.
---Exodus 40: 34-35
January 19,
2007
But it ain't
how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and
keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving
forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what
you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you
gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers
saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or
anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better
than that!
---Sylvester Stallone in Rocky Balboa
That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the
insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer
for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
---II Corinthians 12:10
January 20,
2007
“I made this my
business, as much all the day long as at the appointed times
of prayer; for at all times, every hour, every minute, even
in the height of my business, I drove away from my mind
everything that was capable of interrupting my thought of
God.”
---Brother Lawrence, (1614-1691), lay Carmelite brother, in
The Practice of the Presence of God
Pray at all times and on every occasion.
---Ephesians 6:18
January 21,
2007
“Whatever you
are afraid of, fear makes it come true.”
---Victor Frankl (1905-1997), Austrian neurologist and
psychiatrist
The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the
godly will be granted.
---Proverbs 10:24
January 22,
2007
“The people and
circumstances around me do not MAKE me what I am, they
REVEAL who I am.”
---Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his
special favor on me---and not without results. For I have
worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not
I but God who was working through me by his grace.
---I Corinthians 15:10-11
January 23,
2007
“Every time you
win, it diminishes the fear a little bit. You never really
cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.”
---Arthur Ashe (1943-1993), tennis player
The Lord is my light and my salvation---so why should I be
afraid? The Lord is my fortress protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
---Psalm 27:1-2
January 24,
2007
“When you make
up your mind to take a stand, forces from out of nowhere
will appear to support you.”
---Iyanla Vanzant, author
Then it came about that when the ark set out that Moses
said, “Rise up, O Lord! And let Thine enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate Thee flee before Thee.”
---Numbers 10:35
January 25,
2007
I sought the
Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Savior true,
No, I was found of Thee.
---George MacDonald (1824-1905), Scottish author, poet,
minister
Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be
saved.
---Psalm 80: 19
January 26,
2007
“Believe in
what you do, and when what you do is from God, you are
guaranteed true success.”
---David B. Whitlock, Ph. D.
May the Lord our God show us his approval and make our
efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful.
---Psalm 90:17
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s
desires.
---Psalm 37:4
January 27,
2007
“Even from our
sin, God draws good.”
---St. Augustine, (340-430), early church father
We know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love him.
---Romans 8:28
January 28,
2007
“Moral collapse
is seldom a blowout. It’s more like a slow leak, the result
of a thousand small indulgences, the consequence of which
are not immediately apparent. We are seduced by sin’s
attraction and led on by subtle degrees. We transition into
failure.”
---David Roper, author and minister
Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep
your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over
me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great
transgression.
---Psalm 19:12-13
January 29,
2007
“I’ve never
lost a match. But I have run out of time before I figured
out a way to win.”
---Jimmy Connors, tennis player
These were all condemned for their faith, yet none of them
received what had been promised. God had planned something
better for us so that only together with us would they be
made perfect.
---Hebrews 11:39-40
January 30,
2007
“It is in the
small things that our resolve for victory must be repeatedly
declared.”
---David B. Whitlock, Ph.D.
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in
every detail of their lives.
---Psalm 37:23
January 31,
2007
“Faith is the
courage to accept acceptance.”
---Paul Tillich (1886-1965), American theologian
You were cleansed from your sins when you accepted the truth
of the Good News, so now you must show sincere love to each
other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with
all your heart.
---I Peter 1:22
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,
