Wednesday, November 30, 2016

ADMITTING MISTAKES



A minister was passing a certain farm one day, when he noticed a fine rick of hay, just finished & ready for thatching.

He said to the farmer who was standing by, "That's a very fine rick of hay. Who made it?"

"I did," said the farmer. "I made it."

A few weeks later the minister had occasion to pass the farm again. To his astonishment he saw that the rick, through a heavy gale, had capsized & fallen to the ground. He went to the farmer & condoled with him on his misfortune & again asked, "Who made the rick?"

"There were several of us," was the reply.

That's it! When things go well, we are apt to say, "I did it"; but when they go wrong, we say, "There were several of us."

-Christian Herald. (moreillustrations.com)

“A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” - John C. Maxwell.

Pro 28:13 (TLB): “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.”

“God, send me a friend that will tell me of my faults.” - Thomas Fuller.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

VALUE OF CHRIST


In one of the cathedrals of England there is a beautiful window through which the sunlight streams. It displays the facts & personalities of the Old & New Testament & the glorious truths & doctrines of the Christian revelation.

This window was fabricated by the artist out of broken bits of glass which another artist had discarded

- (moreillustrations.com)              

Mark 12:10 - 11(GNT): “The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all. This was done by the Lord; what a wonderful sight it is!”

“We do not know the value of Christ, if we will not cleave to Him unto death!” -  Robert Murray McCheyne.

From the Diary of CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS…



(An Italian explorer, known as 'the man who discovered America', who realized that the world was round*, was in fact trying to find a westward sea passage when he landed in the New World in 1492. This unintentional discovery was to change the course of world history.)

"It was the Lord who put it into my mind, (I could feel His hand upon me), the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures.

I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace & mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous Presence.

For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.
It is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah had prophesied.*

No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service. The working out of all things has been assigned to each person by our Lord, but it all happens according to His sovereign will, even though He gives advice.

Oh, what a gracious Lord, who desires that people should perform for Him those things for which He holds Himself responsible! Day & night, moment by moment, everyone should express their most devoted gratitude to Him."

(Isa 40:22: "It is He who sits above the circle* of the earth…")

- (endtimepilgrim.org)

Sunday, November 27, 2016

NUTS



CURIOUS CHARLEY—"Do nuts grow on trees, father?"

FATHER—"They do, my son."

CURIOUS CHARLEY—"Then what tree does the doughnut grow on?"

FATHER—"The pantry, my son."

Pro 26:5 (GNT): “Give a silly answer to a silly question, and the one who asked it will realize that he's not as smart as he thinks.”

“There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool. -  Francis Bacon.

“A fool's paradise is a wise man's hell!” -  Thomas Fuller.

Friday, November 25, 2016

ARE YOU LIVING IN THE PAST?



But the LORD says: “Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already - you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there.” (Isa 43:18-19 GNT)

“A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God.” -  Charles Finney.

“My attitude was and still is like that of David, who was ashamed that the armies of Israel would tremble before Goliath. Without hesitation he stepped forward with complete confidence in the God who had proven Himself to be faithful. For David, the size of the giant was irrelevant.” -  Dave Hunt.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Charles Spurgeon on JOY



“There is a marvelous medicinal power in joy. Most medicines are distasteful; but this, which is the best of all medicines, is sweet to the taste & comforting to the heart.

One sorrowful spirit brings a kind of plague into the house; one person who is sad seems to stop all the birds from singing wherever he goes.

But the grace of joy is contagious. Holy joy will oil the wheels of your life’s machinery. Holy joy will strengthen you for your daily labor. Holy joy will beautify you and give you an influence over the lives of others.”

- (ministry127.com)

“The Lord gives His people continuous joy when they walk in obedience to Him.” -  D.L. Moody.

Neh 8:10 (GW): “Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the Lord is your strength.”

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

THE REAL PURPOSE



The distinguished actor had a large photograph of Wordsworth prominently displayed in his dressing-room. A friend regarded the picture with some surprise & remarked:

"I see you are an admirer of Wordsworth."

"Who's Wordsworth?" demanded the actor.

"Why, that's his picture," was the answer, as the friend pointed. "That's Wordsworth, the poet."

The actor regarded the photograph with a new interest. "Is that old file a poet?" he exclaimed in astonishment. "I got him for a study in wrinkles."

- (moreillustrations.com)              

Pro 20:5 (NIRV): “The purposes of a person’s heart are like deep water. But one who has understanding brings them out.”

“Life is about letting God use you for His purposes, not using Him for your own purpose.” -  Rick Warren.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

PUNISHMENT



A lawyer was defending a man accused of housebreaking & said to the court:

"Your Honor, I submit that my client did not break into the house at all. He found the parlor window open & merely inserted his right arm & removed a few trifling articles. Now, my client's arm is not himself & I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual for an offense committed by only one of his limbs."

"That argument," said the judge "is very well put. Following it logically, I sentence the defendant's arm to one year's imprisonment. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses."

The defendant smiled & with his lawyer's assistance unscrewed his cork arm & leaving it in the dock, walked out.

- (moreillustrations.com)

Mat 18:8 (ERV): “If your hand or your foot makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose part of your body and have eternal life than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the fire that burns forever.”

Barnes’ commentary on the above verse: “It is not meant, by this, that when the body shall be raised it will be maimed and disfigured in this manner. It will be perfect. The meaning is, it is better to go to heaven without enjoying the things that caused us to sin, than to enjoy them here and then be lost.”

Monday, November 21, 2016

THE CHARACTER OF A CHILD



After school one day, a first-grade boy said, “Mom, the teacher asked me today if I have any brothers or sisters who will be coming to school.”

The boy’s mother replied, “That’s nice of her to take such an interest, Dear. What did she say when you told her you are an only child?”

“She just said, ‘What a relief!’”

- (ministry127.com)

Pro 20:11 (TLB): “The character of even a child can be known by the way he acts - whether what he does is pure and right.”

“A well-mannered child is the parent’s best achievement.” – Meridith Nicholson.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

PATRICK HENRY’S DESIRE



The last paragraph of Patrick Henry’s will says, “I have now disposed of all my property for my family; there is one thing more I wish I could give them & that is the Christian religion.

If they had this & I had not given them one shilling, they would be rich. If they have not that & I had given them the entire world, they would be poor.”

It is better to die a pauper & have Christ than to die wealthy without Him.

Mat 16:26 (NKJV): “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

- The British Flag. (ministry127.com)        

“The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.” -  Billy Graham.

Friday, November 18, 2016

A CHRISTIAN HOME?


After the dedication of his baby brother in church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him 3 times what was wrong.

Finally the boy replied, “That pastor said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home but I want to stay with you guys!”
 
- (ministry127.com)

“It is difficult to see how Christianity can have a positive effect on society if it cannot transform its own homes.” -  John MacArthur.

“But if you don’t want to serve the Lord, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve... As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua (Josh 24:15).

“The Crown of the Home is Godliness;  
The Beauty of the Home is Order;
The Glory of the Home is Hospitality;
The Blessing of the Home is Contentment.” - Henry Van Dyke.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

WHERE TO TRUST


Trust in yourself & you are doomed to disappointment;

Trust in your friends & they will die & leave you;

Trust in money & you may have it taken from you;

Trust in reputation & some slanderous tongue may blast it;

But trust in God & you are never to be perplexed in time or eternity.

- D. L. Moody. (moreillustrations.com)

Ps 34:5 (GNT): “The oppressed look to him and are glad; they will never be disappointed.”

“If you are a child of God, know that every promise in the Bible is yours. The Bible is a gold mine, waiting for someone to take out its riches.” - Lee Roberson.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

TRUST



Strength comes to us equal to our need. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." (Deut. 33:25.)

How many promises of God's Word there are which are of a nature to deliver us from fear

D. L. Moody's favorite verse was Isaiah 12:2: "I will trust, and not be afraid."

He used to say: "You can travel first class or second class to heaven.

Second class is, 'What time I am afraid, I will trust.'

First class is, 'I will trust, and not be afraid.'”

That is the better way. Why not buy a first-class ticket?

- (moreillustrations.com)

“Truth is not what I say it is, and not what you think it is. Truth is what God's Word says it is.” -  John Hagee.

Monday, November 14, 2016

MEET THE NEEDS



During a financial panic, a German farmer went to a bank for some money. He was told that the bank was not paying out money, but was using cashier's cheques. He could not understand this & insisted on money.

The officer tried his hand & after long & minute explanation, some inkling of the situation seemed to be dawning on the farmer's mind.

Much encouraged, the officer said: "You understand now how it is, don't you?”

"I think, I do," admitted the farmer. "It's like this, isn’t it?  When my baby wakes up at night & wants some milk, I give her a milk ticket."

- (moreillustrations.com)

Js 2:16 (CEV): You shouldn’t just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help?

“God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.” -  Billy Graham.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

WISDOM



A college professor once said of a particularly poor student, "The trouble with him is that he does not know that he does not know."

That is true ignorance. It is real wisdom to know when we do not know.

- H. Pleune.  (moreillustrations.com)

Pro 3:13 (NIV): “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.”

“There is nothing more foolish than an act of wickedness; there is no wisdom equal to that of obeying God.” -  Albert Barnes.
  

Friday, November 11, 2016

ATTITUDE TOWARDS MONEY



A lady’s husband had heart surgery & she received a letter saying her husband inherited one million dollars.

She was worried about her husband’s health, so she called their pastor & asked him to tell the good news to her husband.

The pastor said to the husband, “Joe, if you were to have one million dollars, what would you do?”

Joe responded, “Why Pastor, I’d give half of it to you!”

The pastor died of a heart attack.

- (ministry127.com)

“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” - Billy Graham.

Heb 13:5 (NLT): Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

“Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way into my heart.” - John Wesley.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

CONTENTMENT



So many people think if they just had money, everything would be different. What many who do get money suddenly find is that things are different - it gets worse.

When Jack Whittaker won the Powerball lottery prize jackpot of over $314 million in 2002, it was at the time the largest prize won by a single winner in US history. Whittaker was already a successful businessman, but the sudden windfall proved to be anything but a blessing for his family.

Over the next decade, his granddaughter died from apparent drug overdoses, his daughter passed away, he was robbed on more than one occasion, arrested for driving under the influence & he has been sued by a number of people, including a Casino for $1.5 million in bounced checks to cover gambling losses.

The devil knows we are often susceptible to the temptation to take shortcuts to try to get rich, but that path always leads to ruin.

- (ministry127.com)

1 Tim 6:9 (GNT): “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction.”

“Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.” - Benjamin Franklin.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

BANK ACCOUNT



Hudson Taylor, founder of China Inland Mission, used to hang in his home a display with two Hebrew words on it:

EBENEZER & JEHOVAH JIREH.

The first word means "Until now the Lord has helped us."

The second word means, "The Lord will see to it or provide."

One looked back while the other looked forward. 

One reminds us of God's faithfulness & the other of God's assurances.

- (ministry127.com)

“God doesn't promise to overflow your bank account, but promises to provide for your every need.” - Paul Chappell.

Ps 34:10 (NLT): “Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.”

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

POWER IN PRAYER



"I have not been able to find a single & useful institution in America which has not been founded by either an intensely religious man or by the son of a praying father or a praying mother.

I have made this statement before the Chambers of Commerce of all the largest cities of the country & have asked them to bring forward a case that is an exception to this rule.

Thus far, I have not heard of a single one."

- Roger Babson. (moreillustrations.com)

Js 5:16 (NIV): “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

“No man's prayer is acceptable with God whose life is not well pleasing before God.” -  Alexander Whyte.

Monday, November 7, 2016

TRUE WEALTH



"How does it feel to be a millionaire?" George M. Pullman was asked.

"I have never thought of that," replied the maker of Pullman cars & owner of Pullman city; "but, now that you mention it, I believe that I am no better off - certainly not happier, than when I did not have a dollar to my name & had to work from daylight till dark.

I wore a good suit of clothes then & I only wear one suit now. I relished three meals a day then a good deal more than I do three meals a day now. I had fewer cares; I slept better & may add generally, that I believe I was far happier in those days than I have been many times since I became a millionaire.”

True wealth is found in the knowledge of Christ & of His great salvation & in the possession of the real abiding riches which He bestows on all who believe in Him.

- Scattered Seed. (moreillustrations.com)

2 Cor 8:9 (ERV): “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that he gave up his heavenly riches for you. He gave up everything so that you could be richly blessed.”

Rev 2:9 (GNT): “I know your troubles; I know that you are poor—but really you are rich!”

“There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.” - Billy Graham.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

UNUSED



There is a story told of Paganini's famous violin, which was left to his native city of Genoa, Italy, on condition it should not be played upon.

It was a most unfortunate policy, for as a result "this magic violin, which might have thrilled the world for hundreds of years to come… is becoming worm-eaten in its grand glass case, and will soon be a little bit of worthless dust.

- Gospel Herald. (moreillustrations.com)               

“If you have a Bible that's falling apart, you'll have a life that's not.” -  Adrian Rogers.

Heb 4:12 (NIV): “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

TESTING YOUR LOVE FOR GOD



In an engine-room it is impossible to look into the great boiler & see how much water it contains.

But running up beside it is a tiny glass tube, which serves as a gauge. As the water stands in the little tube, so it stands in the great boiler. When the tube is half full, the boiler is half full; when the tube is empty, the boiler is empty.

Do you ask, "How do I know I love God? I believe I love Him, but I want to know." Look at the gauge. 
Your love for your brother is the measure of your love for God.

- S. S. Chronicle. (moreillustrations.com)

1 Jn 4:21 (NIRV): “Here is the command God has given us. Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

“When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.” -  C.S. Lewis.
 

Friday, November 4, 2016

MOTION WITHOUT PROGRESS



Rowland Hill once visited a home & saw a child riding a rocking-horse.

After watching the little boy for some time, he wittily remarked, "He reminds me of some Christians. There is plenty of motion but no progress."

- Gospel Herald. (moreillustrations.com)

“We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.” - C.S. Lewis.

1 Tim 4:14-15 (GNT): “Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you, which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all.”


Wednesday, November 2, 2016

AGNOSTICISM



Ps 14:1 (ISV): “Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.”

Henry Ward Beecher pastored in Brooklyn, NY, beginning in 1847. Abraham Lincoln said of Beecher that no one in history had ‘so productive a mind’.

He was invited to attend a meeting of an atheist club where the famous agnostic Robert Ingersoll was speaking. He attended the meeting & watched as Ingersoll ridiculed the Christian faith.

When Ingersoll finished his speech he said, "Beecher, do you have anything to say in defense of Christianity?"

Mr. Beecher responded, "Ladies & gentlemen, you will forgive me if I seem just a little bit shaken. On the way over to the meeting today I saw something that really shook me up. 

I saw a blind man standing & a little boy who was getting ready to lead him across the street. About that time a man came along. He shoved the boy aside & took the poor blind man’s crutches & tore them to pieces. Then he beat the blind crippled man to the ground."

Ingersoll asked, “Do you know who he is, Mr. Beecher?"

Beecher replied, "It is you, Ingersoll. Man is a poor, blind beggar. He has few supports in life & fewer indeed who are willing to give him any help at all. What do you do, Ingersoll? You take what few props man has away from him & those who would try to help & encourage him you push them away.

You are the man, Ingersoll. I would say to every infidel & every unbeliever that you are the man who would rip hope out of the hearts of poor people who want something better than what this old world will ever have to offer."

The most encouraging truth is that God loves you. He has made a way for you to obtain eternal life. He offers it to you. Do you know Christ as your personal Saviour?

- (ministry127.com)