December 2005

You’ll become closer to God not by presenting God with your troubles,But by thanking God for your blessings.

“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth,

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

“If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer

Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of God; All the danger is of saying too little.– Matthew Henry

The 18th century hymn writer, Isaac Watts, penned these words.“Come, we that love the Lord,And let our joys be known;Join in a song with sweet accord,And thus surround the throne.” Think about how much you truly love the Lord. Today, right now, pull all of that love into sharp focus. Then eject it out in

Jesus went about doing good; Many just go about.

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (NAU) Joe sat in his

Before God we are all equally wise –And equally foolish.– Albert Einstein

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that

God’s gifts put our best dreams to shame.– Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.”Ephesians 1:3 (NLT) As I write, there is a chorus lying before me. “I am blessed, I am blessedEveryday that I live, I am blessed.When I wake up

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”St. Luke 2:11 (KJV) When Augustus, the Roman Caesar, decreed that all his empire should be taxed, he had no idea that it would be a part of God’s plan. Cyrenius, the Roman governor, never thought about

Faith enables persons to be persons, Because it lets God be God.– Carter Lindberg

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (v. 6)When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.” (v. 17) Genesis 15 (NIV)[For the complete story read Genesis 15:1-17] It was a nice day in Canaan. Abram was

I discovered I always have choices,And sometimes it’s only a matter of choice of attitude.– Judith M. Knowlton [adapted]

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” Isaiah 40:28-29 (ESV) Is it possible that

We can have no greater sign of a confirmed prideThan when we think we’re humble enough.– William Law [adapted]

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you in your latter end a hope. And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you; and ye shall seek me and find

“Why sayest thou, O Jacob? and speakest thou, O Israel? ‘My way hath been hid from Jehovah, And from my God my judgment passeth over.’”Isaiah 40:27 (YLT) For me to think, much less say, that God has forgotten me is an insult to God. Thinking that my ways are hidden from him should be a

Christ has made all our sunsets into dawns.– Clement of Alexandria

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” Colossians 3:16 (NRS) The eleven year old boy got to his feet. Convicted by the preaching of the word of Christ, he had raced

A belief is something you hold.A conviction is something that holds you.

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them