Monday, November 30, 2015

EATING SENSIBLY


One day a pastor was calling upon a dear old lady, one of the "pillars" of the church to which they both belonged.

As he thought of her long & useful life & looked upon her sweet, placid countenance bearing but few tokens of her 92 yrs of earthly pilgrimage, he was moved to ask her:

"My dear Mrs. S., what has been the chief source of your strength & sustenance during all these years? What has appealed to you as the real basis of your unusual vigor of mind & body? Tell me, that I may pass the secret on to others & if possible, profit by it myself."

The old lady thought a moment, then lifting her eyes, dim with age, yet kindling with sweet memories of the past, answered briefly, "Victuals" (meaning, nutritious food).

- Sarah L. Tenney (moreillustrations.com)

1Co 3:16-17 (NHEB): "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him..."


"Thou should eat to live; not live to eat." - Socrates.


AMAZING GRACE


In the 1700s, John Newton went to sea with his father on a merchant ship. Soon after his father retired, Newton was pressed into service on a warship. Facing intolerable conditions, he deserted & later requested a transfer to a slave ship that was soon to set sail for Africa.

Newton hardened himself to the trafficking of human beings & eventually he became captain of his own slave ship.

On May 10, 1748, however, his life was changed forever. His ship encountered a terrifying, violent storm. Just as it seemed that the vessel would sink, Newton cried aloud, "Lord, have mercy upon us!"

That night in his cabin, he began to reflect upon God's mercy. Through faith in Christ's sacrifice for him, he experienced God's amazing grace in a personal way.

In time, he left the slave trade & entered Christian ministry. Although he became a preacher of the gospel, he is most remembered for his much-loved hymn "Amazing Grace." It's an amazing testimony of his personal experience.

God's Spirit convicts us of sin & gives us the power to forsake it. When we receive Christ as our Savior, He does for us what we are powerless to do in our own strength. That's amazing grace.

- Dennis Fisher.

“Amazing grace-how sweet the sound –
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.” – Newton.

- (preceptaustin.org)

Ep 2:8-9: “For it is by God’s GRACE that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it.”

Friday, November 27, 2015

THE LEAST I CAN DO IS SAY, “THANKS”


A pastor stood at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and watched as a man in tears lay a wreath at the base of the memorial.

The pastor put his hand on the man’s shoulder, and the man said, “Twenty-five years ago he stepped into the line of fire for me, the least I can do is say, ‘Thanks.’”

-(ministry127.com)

Jesus said, "There were ten who were healed; where are the other nine? Why is this foreigner the only one who came back to give thanks to God?" (Lk 17:17-18 GNB)

"Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow." - H W Beecher.

When Burdens Become Bridges


The Rev. Charles Piggott tells how when he was on a holiday he came to the top of one of the high hills of Devonshire.

His attention was attracted by an ant, which he watched carrying a long straw until it came to a crack in the rock which was like a precipice to the tiny creature.

After attempting to take its burden across in several ways, the ant got to one end of the straw & pushed it in front of him over the crack till it reached the other side, crossed over on the straw & then pulled it after him.

There is no burden you & I carry faithfully but some day is going to become a bridge to carry us over.

- British Weekly (moreillustrations.com)


1Co 10:13 (BBE): "You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it."

SINGING IN THE RAIN


A saintly woman suffering for weary months in painful illness said to her pastor: "I have such a lovely robin that sings outside my window. In the early morning, as I lie here, he serenades me."

Then, as a smile brightened her thin features, she added, "I love him, because he sings in the rain."

That is the most beautiful thing about the robin. When the storm has silenced almost every other songbird, the robin sings on - sings in the rain.

Anybody can sing in the sunshine; you and I should sing on when clouds pour out their rains, for Christ is with us. We should sing in the rain.

- J. R. Miller. (moreillustrations.com)

Hab 3:17-18 (GNB): "Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the farms produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, I will still be joyful and glad, because the Lord God is my saviour..."


"Without the rain, there would be no rainbow." - G.K.Chesterton.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

TOO LATE


A bright boy heard & was deeply impressed by the text, "My son, give Me thine heart." But Satan whispered, "Time enough yet," & he put it off.

10 yrs later a brilliant college student heard the same text under the circumstances which seemed to make that the time of his salvation. Again the tempter whispered, "Time enough yet."

20 yrs later a statesman listened to the same text from the lips of an aged bishop & felt it was a message to him. This time the tempter said, "Visit foreign countries before you decide."

A traveler in Paris was stricken with cholera. But his greatest suffering was agony of soul because he was not prepared to die. His last words were, "Too late."

The boy, the college student, the statesman, the traveler were all one.

—tcDawn. (moreillustrations.com)

This is what the Scripture says: "If you hear God's voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God." (Heb 3:15).

"It's time to righting the story of your life." - David Jeremiah.

"THINK ON THESE THINGS"


A college girl who was a fine scholar & had a noble spirit volunteered to be a counselor at a girl's camp. Despite her abilities, she was required to peel potatoes in the kitchen.

The head mistress of the camp, realizing that this was quite a menial task for such a talented & highly intellectual girl, exclaimed, "It's too bad that a young woman of your education should have to peel potatoes."

The girl who was a splendid Christian looked up brightly & replied, "But, Miss Baldwin, remember, I don't have to think about potatoes while I'm peeling them."

The application is obvious. You can keep your soul out of the dust no matter what your task. Let the Holy Spirit discipline your mind by dismissing suspicion & replacing it with hope & trust.

Bible says: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things." (Phi 4:8 NET).


—H. Bonar (preceptaustin.org)

YOU CAN DO IT!


A young boy was at the barbershop for a haircut. The room was filled with cigar smoke. The boy pinched his nose and exclaimed, "Who's been smoking in here!"

The barber sheepishly confessed, "I have." The boy responded, "Don't you know it's not good for you?"
"I know," the barber replied. "I've tried to quit a thousand times but I just can't."

The boy commented, "I understand. I've tried to stop sucking my thumb, but I can't quit either!"

Those two remind me of the way believers sometimes feel about their struggle with sins of the flesh.

Paul summed it up well by crying out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24).

His spiritual battle might have left him in despair if he had not found the solution.

Following his agonizing question, he declared with triumph, "I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom 7:25).

Are you struggling to break some stubborn habit?

Like Paul, you can be an over comer. If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, victory is possible through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Confidently affirm with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phi 4:13)
You can do it!

- Richard De Haan (preceptaustin.org)

Saturday, November 21, 2015

CRAFTINESS


"I was in an awkward predicament yesterday morning," said a husband to another.

"How was that?"

"Why, I came home late, and my wife heard me and said, 'John, what time is it?' and I said, 'Only twelve, my dear,' and just then that cuckoo clock of ours sang out three times."

"What did you do?"

"Why, I just had to stand there and cuckoo nine times more."

- (moreillustrations.com)

"The crafty person is always in danger; and when they think they walk in the dark, all their pretenses are transparent." - John Tillotson.


1Co 3:19 (KJV): 'For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."

Never "All By Myself"


A Methodist minister tells a pretty story of his little girl, who, wishing to speak to him one day when he was in his study, came up the stairs, & finding the door closed, put her small hand on the doorknob.

The child's hand was too tiny to grasp the handle firmly enough to turn it. To her delight, however, the handle turned, the door opened & she ran into the study, exclaiming:

"Oh, Daddy, I have opened the door all by myself!"

She was all unaware that her father, hearing her trying to open the door, had quietly got up from his chair & turned the handle from the inside.

Thus God helps us when we do our best & he makes the impossible possible.

"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." - Paul (Phi 4:13)

- Christian Herald (moreillustrations.com)


Jesus said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing." (Jn 15:5)

BIRTHDAY PRESENTS


Dr. W. Graham Scroggie told a story of a boy who received on his birthday three gifts, a box of chocolates, a silver watch & a beautiful Bible.

Asked some weeks later what had become of his birthday gifts, he replied: "The box of chocolates-well! it's gone. The silver watch is going. But the Bible is the Word of the Lord & it endures forever."

1Pe 1:24-25 (NET): "... the grass withers and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you."

- (moreillustrations.com)


"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian." -  A.W. Tozer.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

KEEP GOD FIRST


Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), the famous Italian painter, took a friend to criticize his masterpiece of the 'Last Supper,' and the remark of the friend was, "The most striking thing in the picture is the cup!"

The artist took his brush & wiped out the cup, as he said, "Nothing in my painting shall attract more attention than the face of my Master!"

- (moreillustrations.com)

“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.” - Ezra Taft Benson.


Bible says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mar 12:30 NET).

COMPASSION


Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) during the Civil War frequently visited the hospitals & addressed cheering words to the wounded warriors.

On one occasion he found a young soldier whose legs had been amputated & who was evidently sinking rapidly.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked Lincoln.

"You might write a letter to my mother," was the faint reply.

The President wrote at the youth's dictation:

"My dearest mother: I have been shot bad, but am bearing up. I tried to do my duty. They tell me I cannot recover. God bless you & father; kiss Mary & John for me."

At the end were these words: "Written by Abraham Lincoln."

When the boy saw these added words, he looked with astonishment at the visitor & asked, "Are you our President?"

"Yes," was the quiet answer.

- The Illustrator (moreillustrations.com)

"Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world." -  Francis Schaeffer.


Psa 145:8 (KJV): "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy."

WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END


One day a 6 yr old boy came to his mother with this question: "Mother, who made God?"
Instantly the mother's face expressed astonishment. She said curtly, "What an awful question to ask. You had better run along & play."

In that same community another boy approached his mother & asked, "Did God make Himself?"
His mother presently left her work & breathed a silent prayer. Taking off her wedding ring, she gave it to her son & asked, "Where does this ring begin & where does it end?"

Before long the boy answered, "There is no starting place & stopping place to a ring."

The mother remarked, "Just so is God. There is no beginning & no end to God. He always has been & always will be."

- Gospel Herald. (moreillustrations.com)                                       

Rev 1:8 (ISV): “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” declares the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”


"When it is a question of God's Almighty Spirit, never say, "I can't". - Oswald Chambers.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

THE TRUTH


The devil was once walking along with one of his companions. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny.

“What did he find?” asked the companion.

“A piece of the truth,” the devil replied.

“Doesn’t it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?” asked the companion.

“No,” said the devil, “I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it.”

Truth taken out of context and twisted is the basis for many false religions.

- Kyle Snodgrass (ministry127.com)

"We are drifting toward a religion which consciously or unconsciously has its eye on humanity rather than on God." - Alistair Begg.


The Bible says: "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist..." (1Jn 4:2-3 KJV).

Thursday, November 12, 2015

`THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD'


is the title of a famous picture by Holman Hunt, the artist. It portrays the Lord Jesus Christ, thorn-crowned, and carrying a lantern in his left hand, knocking at a closed door.

It is said that the artist, after completing the picture, showed it to some friends who praised the merit of the painting. One of them pointed out what he considered an omission on the part of the artist.

"You have put no handle on the door," he said to Holman Hunt, who replied immediately, "You forget - the handle is on the inside."

-(moreillustrations.com)

Rev 3:20 (ISV): "Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me."


"God will not force Himself upon us against our will. If we want His love, we need to believe in Him. We need to make a definite, positive act of commitment and surrender to the love of God. No one can do it for us." - Billy Graham.

TIT-FOR-TAT


The prize bull-dog attacked a farmer, who defended himself with a pitchfork, and in doing so killed the dog.
The owner was greatly distressed, and reproached the farmer.

"Why didn't you use the other end of the fork," he demanded, "and just beat him off, without killing him?"

"I would have," the farmer answered, "if he had come at me with the other end."

- (moreillustrations.com)

Jesus said: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you... Love your enemies and pray for those who prosecute you." (Mat 5:38,39&44 GNB).

DON’T FORGET YOUR PURPOSE


A preacher was in Atlanta, several years ago & noticed in the restaurants section of the Yellow Pages, an entry for a place called Church of God Grill. The peculiar name aroused his curiosity & he dialed the number.

A man answered with a cheery, “Hello! Church of God Grill!”

The preacher asked how that restaurant had been given such an unusual name & the man said:

“Well, we had a little mission down here & we started selling chicken dinners after church on Sunday to help pay the bills. Well, people liked the chicken & we did such a good business, that eventually we cut back on the church service.

After a while we just closed down the church altogether & kept on serving chicken dinners. We kept the name we started with & that’s Church of God Grill.”

- Charles Paul Conn (ministry127.com)

Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (Mat 6:24 NET)


"There is nothing quite as potent as a focused life - one lived on purpose." - Rick Warren.

SELF MADE PRISONER OF FEAR


A Japanese soldier by the name of Shoichi Yokoi lived in a cave on the island of Guam to which he fled in 1944 when the tides of war began to change.

Fearing for his life, this man stayed hidden for 28 yrs in the jungle cave, coming out only at night.
During this long period of time, this self-imposed hermit lived on frogs, rats, snails, shrimp, nuts & mangoes. He had carried a pair of trousers & a jacket from a burlap-like cloth made from tree bark.

Yokoi said that he knew the war was over because of leaflets that were scattered throughout the jungles of Guam. But he was afraid that if he came out of hiding, he would be executed.

Finally, two hunters came upon him & told him that he need not hide any longer. At last he was free & with new clothes to wear & food to eat, he was taken by plane to his home.

2 Timothy 1:7 says that God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind; yet many live as a prisoner of fear.

- Paul Tan (ministry127.com)


"Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable." - H E Fosdick.

REAL HAPPINESS


Prentice Henderson lived to be 100. He lived through the Great Depression, fought in World War II & buried his wife.

He did not retire until he was in his 70s & he taught Sunday School to 7th-grade boys for over 30 years at First Baptist Church.

He had a simple little philosophy: “I chose to be happy.”

His daughter testified that, “He was always positive regardless of the situation.”

This man influenced generations because he “chose to be happy.”

- Houston Chronicle (ministry127.com)

Bible says: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!" (Phi 4:4).

"The most obvious lesson in Christ's teaching is that there is no happiness in having or getting anything, but only in giving." - Henry Drummond.

FORGIVENESS


The Duke of Wellington was about to pronounce the death sentence on a confirmed deserter.

Deeply moved, the great General said, "I am extremely sorry to pass this severe sentence, but we have tried everything & all the discipline & penalties have failed to improve this man who is otherwise a brave & good soldier."

Then he gave the man's comrades an opportunity to speak for him.

"Please, your Excellency," said one of the men, "there is one thing you have never tried. You have not tried forgiving him."

The General forgave him & it worked: the soldier never again deserted & ever showed his gratitude to the Iron Duke.

-(moreillustrations.com)                      

1Jn 1:9 (KJV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."


The Lord says: "... for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer 31:34)

ADVERSITY & JESUS CHRIST


A young woman named Anne Steele had encountered one trial & disappointment after another.
Her mother died when she was 3 & when she was 19 she suffered a severe hip injury that left her an invalid.
Eventually she fell in love & was engaged to be married, but the day before the wedding her fiance drowned.

Later, Anne Steele penned the following song:

"Father, whate’er of earthly bliss Thy sovereign will denies,
Accepted at Thy throne of grace, let this petition rise:
Give me a calm, a thankful heart, from every murmur free!
The blessings of Thy grace impart, and make me live for Thee."

- Robert J. Morgan (ministry127.com)

“Adversity and Jesus Christ.” -  J. C. Penney (when asked the reason for his success)

Jas 1:2-4 (ISV): "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But you must let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

AN ATHEIST


Sir Isaac Newton had a friend who was an atheist. The friend did not believe in God, but preferred to take the position that the universe just happened.

One day the friend was visiting his learned colleague and Newton showed him a model of the solar system.
The sun, the planets, and the moons were all in place. The sizes of the spheres were in proportion and the planets and the satellites revolved around the sun at their relative speeds.

The friend admired the model. “It's intriguing,” he said, “who made it?”

“Nobody,” said Newton, “It just happened.”


Psa 14:1 (NET): Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.” They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.


"An atheist can't find God for the same reason that a thief can't find a police officer." - Author unknown.

WORSHIPING A HOUSE


Janice is very proud of her home. She spends hours each day cleaning, vacuuming & dusting. It makes her feel good when visitors comment what a beautiful home she has.

But her children resent her compulsive cleanliness. They never invite their friends to come over because she is so paranoid about messing up the carpet.

Janice has distorted the home that God has provided as a place of shelter & comfort & has made it a shrine unto itself.

She spends far more time working on her home than she does on Bible study, prayer, etc.


"If Jesus didn't come here to save us from our sins, what did he come for? I don't believe that he came to give us cars & Cadillacs & big houses & rings & diamonds & gold & silver." - T.D. Jakes.


Col 3:1-2 (NHEB): "If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth."

THE MIRROR


Somewhere in the beginning of each day, you probably find yourself looking at your reflection in the mirror.
Many of us never give a second thought as to how that reflection is produced.

In 1835 German chemist Justis von Liebig devised a process for coating plates of glass with metallic silver.
This was the beginning of the mirror as we know it today and helped it become a common household item.

We see that God likens His Word to a mirror in James 1:23-24 (ISV):

"For if anyone hears the word but is not obedient to it, he is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like."

As we look into God’s Word, it reveals who we really are in the light of His holiness.

- Clark Graham (ministry127.com)


“Therefore, everyone who listens to these messages of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the rock." - Lord Jesus Christ (Mat 7:24-25 ISV).