Quote Of The Day

Funny Friday Quote:  Gone to sea

“Just as the preacher was about to enter the pulpit, a woman in the congregation handed him a note about her husband.  It read:  “Bill Adams having gone to sea, his wife desires the congregation’s prayers for his safety.”  The preacher, pressed for time, read the note too hastily, telling the congregation, “Bill Adams, having gone to see his wife, desires the prayers of the congregation for his safety.”

Bible verse of the day:  Psalm 71:3

“Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I just can’t believe how quickly time is flying by!  With so much to do and such little time before our big move, I just pray that You bring things in order, starting with our minds, spirit, and body.  May we find rest in You this day and continue to look forward with the plans that You have set before us.  I thank You for all that You have done in my life and I pray that You continue to change lives and that souls will be saved.  I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name  I pray,

Amen

Story of the day:  The Road of Life by Tim Hansel

   “At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited Heaven or hell when I die.  He was out there sort of like a president.

   But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

   I don’t know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.  When I had control, I knew the way.  It was rather boring, but predictable….It was the shortest distance between two points.

   But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!  Even though it looked like madness, He said, “Pedal!”

   I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?”  He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn to trust.

   I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.  And when I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.

   He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy.  They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord’s and mine.

   And we were off again.  He said, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.”  So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

   I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life.  I thought He’d wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

   And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

   And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more, He just smiles and says, “Pedal.”

Quote of the day:  E. Stanley Jones

“Jesus is not a strong man making men and women who gather around Him weak.  He is the Strong creating the strong.”

Bible verse of the day:  Psalm 37:3

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I trust in You Lord and for all the things that You are going to bring forward into my life.  Father, may I find rest in You in this day as I trust that the things that I have been praying for will be answered when the time is right.  I pray that You guard my ways in all that I do and that as I lean upon You as my Rock and Shield that You protect me from things that aren’t pleasing to You.  I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

                                                                                                                             Story of the day:  Seeing things as they are

   A leader must have compassion.  Neheimah was such a man.  Alan Redpath writes this about Nehemiah:  “You never lighten the load unless first you have felt the pressure in your own soul.  You are never used of God to bring blessing until God has opened your eyes and made you see things as they are.  Nehemiah was called to build the wall, but first he wept over ruins.

Quote of the day:  Jeremy C. Jackson

“It is a fair rule of thumb that only that love of neighbor which can also draw people to Christ is truly a reflection of that love for God which is its source.”

Bible verse of the day:  Matthew 9:36

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I just thank You that You are so compassionate.  Your way has taught me how more I want to build in this area of my life.  Father each day I pray to have the things that break Your heart break mine as well.  Father continue to teach me and give me wisdom in the areas of compassion that I may share with others.  I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

                                                                                                                           Story of the day:  Is the church dying?

   Is the church dying?  I don’t believe so, but let me ask that of you once you have finished reading this amazing story that illustrates the question.  The story was written by Lloyd Cory and he says this:  ”The ministry of church is a ministry of people.  When a church lives, it lives because the people within are vital and active.  When a church dies, it withers and dies not because the brick and mortar and carpet and pews get old and begin to crack and rip and crumble.  A church withers and dies because the people wither and die.

   I think a vivid illustration of this comes from a true story of a young minister in Oklahoma who went to this little, tough long-standing, church in hopes of really reviving the ministry of it.  He had stars in his eyes and great hopes for the future.  He thought he could turn it around.  And he gave it his best effort and his best shot week after week, to no avail.

   Finally, he had one last idea, and it seemed to work.  He announced in the local newspaper on Saturday that the church had died, and on Sunday afternoon there would be a funeral service at the church itself, and all who wished could attend.  For the first time in his years there, the place was packed.  In fact, people were standing outside on tiptoes looking through the window to see this most unusual funeral service for a church.

   To their shock, because most of them got there twenty or thirty minutes early to get a seat, there was a casket down front.  And it was smothered with flowers.  He told the people as soon as the eulogy was finished they could pass by and view the remains of the dearly beloved that they were putting to rest that day.  They could hardly wait until he finished the eulogy.  He slowly opened the casket, pushed the flowers aside, and people walked by, filed by, one by one, to look in and leave sheepishly, feeling guilty as they walked out the door, because inside the casket he had placed a large mirror.  As they walked by, they saw the church that had died.”

Quote of the day:  Mary Nelson

“The church is the glue that keeps us together when we disagree.  It is the gasoline that keeps us going during the tough times.  It is the guts that enables us to take risks when we need to.”

Bible verse of the day:  Ephesians 3:21

“to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to You right now and I continue to pray for the church as a whole.  Father, I pray that You would raise up some mighty men and women that will lead our nation into revival and that together we can bring unity amongst each other striving for the same purpose in this life and that is to bring lost souls to the knowledge of Your Saving Grace.  Father, there is an outpouring of lives that need to be touched.  I pray that they hear that still small voice that only one can hear when You are speaking to them.  Father, I get excited to know that You are moving across this nation and doing so in a way that is changing lives.  I thank You for all that You do and I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

                                                                                                       Story of the day:  Habits

   The following story was me to a T due to the fact that I was an avid nail biter ever since I began to walk.  I would chew them down to the nubs as some would say.  I tried just about everything to stop.  Put hot sauce on them, which did nothing more than burn my eyes when I rubbed them. The flavor of the hot sauce actually grew on me and gave me a little snack to have as I chewed on my nails.  I know, gross, but it was who I was.  I even went as far as having my nails scraped and their contents put underneath a microscope to see all that lurked on top and underneath them.  But nothing truly was working to get me to stop this life long habit, until God began to change my heart about it and show me what I was missing out on because of this habit.

   I was reading Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, by Chuck Swindoll, and came across this excerpt that lit up my nail biting habit.  He writes, “Research has shown that it takes only about three or four weeks for an activity to become a habit.  That is wonderfully comforting if it’s a good habit we’re trying to promote, like more prayer or Bible study.  But for most of us it’s the destructive habits, like my nail-biting, that get a hold of us until we are enslaved–mastered and manipulated by the beast of habit.  We become a living contradiction of the liberating truth of 1 Corinthians 6:12:  “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”  A close look reveals that this isn’t a verse talking about something lawless or wicked, but something that is actually lawful, but not profitable.  My first encounter with this verse was not my final encounter with this painful habit.  But it was certainly a turning point toward change, thank God.

   The backwash of this nail-biting testimony has far-reaching effects.  Not a person who reads this is completely free from bad habits, whether lawless or lawful.  It’s the price we pay for being human.  Habits are as numerous as every detail of life; the list is endless.  But let’s focus on five suggestions that will help us blend 1 corinthians 6:12 into our lives.

   Stop rationalizing.  Refuse to make comments like:  “Oh, that’s just me.  I’m just like that–always have been, always will be.  After all, nobody’s perfect.”  Such excuses take the edge off disobedience and encourage you to diminish or completely ignore the Spirit’s work of conviction.

   Apply strategy.  Approach your target with a rifle, not a shotgun.  Take on each habit one at a time, not all at once.

  Be realistic.  It may not happen fast and it won’t be easy.  Nor will your resolve be permanent overnight.  Periodic failures, however, are still better than habitual slavery.

   Be encouraged.  Realize you’re on the road to ultimate triumph, for the first time in years!  Enthusiasm strengths self-discipline and prompts an attitude of stick-to-it-iveness.

   Start today.  This is the best moment thus far in your life.  To put if off is an admission of defeat and will only intensify and prolong the self-confidence battle.

   Extracting the hurtful thorns of habit enables the pilgrim to focus less attention on himself and more attention on the One Who is worthy.  And the most exciting thought of all is that He will be right there in the morning ready to help you through the day with all the power you will need, one moment at a time.”

   Need proof?  How about ten fingernails” that have now grown out and have a spot reserved for  fingernail polish.

Quote of the day:  Lloyd Cory

“The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are to strong to be broken.”

Bible verse of the day:  1 Corinthians 6:12

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.  All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You have helped me with this habit that I have had my entire life.  It has taken me so long to realize that this habit had enslaved me and was keeping from other things that You had prepared for me.  Now, when I look at my nails everyday and the growth that has come from me not biting them anymore, has spilled over into the growth for my life.  Thank You for all that You do and have done for me.  I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen 

Funny Friday Quote:  Jeff Rovin

   “The doctor decided to put his patient on a diet.   “I want you to eat regularly for two days,”  the physician directed.   “Then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for two more weeks.  The next time I see you, you should have lost at least five pounds.”

   When the man returned, he had lost twenty pounds.  “You did this just by following my instructions?”  the doctor asked.

   The fellow nodded.  “I’ll tell you, though, I thought I was going to drop dead that third day.”

   “From hunger?”

   “No, from skipping!”

Bible verse of the day:  Psalm 8:1

“O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for such an awesome day!  Today as I venture out into what Your day holds for me, I pray that You show me Your ways and lead me in Your truth.  Examine me Father that I may  walk in integrity.  Lord, I wish to only seek and serve You the rest of my days here on this earth.  I love You Father and I pray for a weekend of continued service and worship to You in the hopes that lives may be changed.  Father, those that don’t know You and don’t have a personal relationship with You, may You stir in them the love that You have so blessed me with that their only desire will be to seek You out.

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

                                                                                                        Story of the day:  Entertaining Angels

   I have told the following story before and I thought that it would be appropriate to share it with Quote of the day.  Some of you may have heard it before, but to some of you, it may be new.

  At the age of 16, my brother had to have an emergency appendectomy.  This emergency surgery led to him having other serious health issues, which in turn caused him to have to be on medication or this illness could have killed him.  The drugs were very strong and ranked high up there with chemotherapy.  He lost his hair and a lot of weight.  

   Needless to say, it was a very scary and heart wrenching time in our life.  As a family, me and Jeff, having 2 children at the time, decided along side my mom, dad, and brother that it would be best to move in all together.  We helped in every way possible and more importantly just loved him and prayed him through his situation.  We took turns giving him shots, reading Scripture, and just praying for him.

   He became very ill and weak because of all the medications that he was taking, which in turn discouraged him in many ways that only one can imagine.  Well, throughout this trial in his life,  he still managed to live as normal a life as possible and always managed to hold his head high.  

   One day, he decided to go to the mall.  He was hanging out and decided to sit on a bench that was so appropriately placed next to the mall entrance.  As he was sitting on this bench, a little boy around 12 years of age approached my brother, and began to speak to him.  They talked about life, they talked about school, and they talked about God. 

   What was unusual about this situation is that my brother had never met this little boy, but became intrigued by the conversation that was taking place.  The little boy then said these few statements that shook my brother to his core and grew his faith in God even more than it already it had.  The little boy said, “I know that you are sick.  Don’t worry, it’s going to be okay!  God’s going to take care of you and you will get better!”  The reason these statements are so different from what they were previously talking about, is because that little boy knew nothing about my brother being sick.  My brother never even mentioned what he was going through as far as his illness.

  It started getting late and the little boy left out of the doors that were right next to the bench that my brother was sitting on.  Still amazed that the little boy knew of my brother’s illness, my brother decided to follow this little boy because he wanted to thank him again for talking with him and to find out his name.  As he followed the little boy outside the doors of the mall, the ray’s from the sun’s bright light caught his eye, causing my brother to no longer see the little boy.  Now, I’m not saying that the little boy didn’t get into a car at this point and drive away.  What I am saying is that this little boy came along and spoke to my brother at a time that he needed it the most, and for that moment, in the right place, my brother entertained an angel and didn’t even know it.

   God can use anyone to be our angel.  They are sent to let us know that God is so real and that He is there to take care of us.  To let you know about my brother, he is completely healed and because of his faith and trust in God, he is now a living testimony for our Heavenly Father, in more ways than just one.

Quote of the day:  George Elliot

“The golden moment in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone.”

Bible verse of the day:  Hebrews 13:2

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Throughout Scripture there have been so many accounts of Your angels and the work that they do here in this world.  Father, I don’t know how, and my tiny mind couldn’t even possibly come to understand why sometimes, but I do know that my faith and trust in You is so great, that I believe it when you say ”when I entertain strangers,  I may just have entertained an angel.”  I love You Lord and I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

Story of the day:  Your actions carry far more weight.

   “Major Osipovich, an air force pilot for the former USSR, planned to give a talk at his children’s school about peace.  He would need time off during the day to give his talk, so he volunteered for night duty.  That’s how Major Osipovich found himself patrolling the skies over the eastern regions of the Soviet Union on September 1, 1983–the night Korean Airlines Flight KE007, strayed into Soviet air space.

   Soon the Soviet pilot was caught in a series of blunders and misinformation.  In the end, Major Osipovich followed orders and shot down the unidentified aircraft.  The actions of an air force major preparing to talk about peace plunged 240 passengers to their deaths and sparked an international incident that pushed world powers to a stand-off.

   Our talk is important.  But our actions carry far more weight.”

Quote of the day:  Author Unknown

“Our actions speak louder than words.”

Bible verse of the day:  Psalm 143:10

“Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God; Your Spirit is good.  Lead me in the land of uprightness.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

The words that I speak as the story above has said,  are important, but carry little weight when it comes to my actions.  Father, teach me how to guard my heart, my tongue, and my mind to the things that are only pleasing to You.  May I speak when the need arises, and be quiet if I don’t need to talk.   Father, I wish to only do Your will and so I ask that You continue to teach me how to, because just as the Psalms say, “You are my God; Your Spirit is good”, and in You I put my trust.  I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray

Amen

                                                                                                                 Story of the day:  The art of forgiveness

   Forgiveness is such an important part of our Christian walk.  It represents what God is all about and shows just how much He loves us by doing it Himself.  So many times, we get into the moment of what someone may have done to us, that we forget how easy it is to make mistakes, and with that grudges are held, hardening of hearts takes place, and forgiveness becomes harder to do. 

   Family Christian Press, wrote in a short story entitled The Wisdom to Forgive, ”that even the most mile-mannered people will, on occasion, have reason to become angry with the inevitable shortcomings of other people.  But wise individuals are quick to forgive others, just as God has forgiven them.

   Some, having been placed in positions of leadership, serve as important role models.  As such, they must be role models of forgiveness to others.

   Are you easily frustrated by the inevitable shortcomings of people?  Are you a prisoner of bitterness or regret?  If so, perhaps you need a refresher course in the art of forgiveness.

   So, if there exists even one person, alive or dead, whom you have not forgiven (and that includes yourself), follow God’s commandment and His will for your life: forgive.  Hatred and bitterness and regret are not part of God’s plan for your life.  Forgiveness is.”  Don’t let too much time go by without forgiveness.  Being angry, holding grudges, and not forgiving others is not a part of God’s plan and to not let go of these things will only do you more harm by allowing it to fester inside of you.

Quote of the day:  Author Anonymous 

“Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging an injury makes you even with him; forgiving an injury sets you above him!”

Bible verse of the day:  Colossians 3:13

“bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today as I go on with my day, I will seek and pray about people whom I still need to forgive.  Father, I have to remember that even when I may feel tempted to get angry and lose my cool at those who have hurt me, that I must remember what Your commandment clearly says about forgiveness.  Father, just as You have forgiven me for all that I have done, let me also offer this up to You when I forgive others.  Father life is so short and the time that we have to do Your will here on Earth holds no time for not forgiving.  Instead, to not forgive others, does nothing more but keeps me from freely doing what You have called me to do.  I love You Father and I thank You for this day and for the forgiveness that You have bestowed upon me. 

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

                                                                                                                     Story of the day:  Keep things humorous

   Chuck Swindoll wrote an interesting piece in his book titled Finishing Touch.  He touches on an important topic that I just love.  He asks in this book, “How is your sense of humor?  Are the times in which we live beginning to be reflected in your attitude, your face, your outlook?  Solomon talks straight, friend.  He (under the Holy Spirit’s direction) says three things will occur when we have lost our sense of humor:  a broken spirit, a lack of inner healing, and dried-up-bones (Prov. 15:13, 15; 17:22).  What a barren portrait!

   Have you begun to shrivel into a bitter, impatient, critical Christian?  The Lord tells us that the solution is simple:  “A joyful heart” is what we need…and if we ever needed it, it is now.

   By a sense of humor I am not referring to distasteful or vulgar jesting, nor to foolish and silly talk that is ill-timed, offensive, and tactless.  I mean that necessary ingredient of wit:  those humorous, enjoyable, and delightful expressions or thoughts that lift our spirits and lighten our day.  When we lose our ability to laugh–I mean really laugh–life’s oppressive assaults confine us to the dark dungeon of defeat. 

    Humor is not a sin.  It is a God-given escape hatch, a safety valve.  Being able to see the lighter side of life is rare, vital virtue.  Personally, I think a healthy sense of humor is determined by at least four abilities:

   The ability to laugh at our own mistakes.  The ability to accept justified criticism–and get over it!  The ability to interject (or at least enjoy) wholesome humor when surrounded by a tense heated situation.  The ability to control those statements that would be unfit–even though they may be funny.

   James M. Gray and William Houghton were two great, godly men of the Word.  Dr.  Houghton writes of an occasion when he and Dr. Gray were praying together.  Dr. Grey, though getting up in years, was still interested in being an effective witness and expositor.  He concluded his prayer by saying:  “And, Lord, keep me cheerful.  Keep me from becoming a cranky, old man!”

   You and I should pray the same prayer.”

Quote of the day:  Fred Allen

“It is bad to suppress your laughter because when you do, it goes back down and spreads to your hips.”

Bible verse of the day:  Proverbs 15:13

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that You continue to teach me how to laugh!!  I want to enjoy life in every way possible and do so in a way that honors You.  Father, joy and laughter is something that is dear to my heart and at times, I may tend to lose sight of that funny side of me.  Father, I don’t want to be cranky the older I get.  Instead, I want to embrace all the moments of life that have made me smile and laugh and share them with others.  I pray for wisdom in knowing when to be funny and when not to be.  I don’t want the portrait of my life to be portrayed as a life that was a broken spirit to all that I came across.   Instead may I be remembered as one that always laughed and enjoyed the life that You have blessed me with!  I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen