RICHES RIGHT BENEATH OUR FEET!

The Mount Morgan gold mine in Queensland, Australia, is one of the richest in the world. For many years, though, the original landowners lived in deep poverty on the mountain's barren surface. Even though the vast wealth was out-of-sight, it was beneath their feet all the time.

Many Christians live in a similar situation. They toil along and struggle through their spiritual lives, laboring every step of the way. They are unaware of the vast riches God has promised them, and therefore they do not claim them.

Grace, forgiveness, strength, wisdom, direction, the power to resist temptation, reconciliation, protection, lightened burdens - all these riches and many more are ours. But how do we become aware of them and claim them?

The answer is: Prayerfully read the Bible and pay close attention when the Word of God is preached or taught. When you discover a truth or a promise that clearly applies to you, say to yourself, "That's for me!" As you do, you'll be tapping into the riches of God that lie right beneath your feet.

- David C. Egner (preceptaustin.org)

"Know the promises of God. The great and mighty promises of our Father mean nothing to most people because they do not know what they are."  - Lee Roberson.

Jos 1:8 (GNB): "Be sure that the book of the Law is always read in your worship. Study it day and night, and make sure that you obey everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

LOOK OVER & LOOK UP TO GOD

John Wesley was one day walking along the road with a friend who, sore vexed and troubled, expressed his doubts of God's goodness.

'I don't know what I shall do with all my worries and troubles,' said he.

Wesley noticed a cow looking over a stone wall, and put the question, 'Why does a cow look over the wall?'

`Because it can't see through it, I suppose,' replied his friend.

`Precisely!' said Wesley. 'So, if you can't see through your troubles, try looking over them: and look up to God.'

(moreillustrations.com)

Psa 121:1-2 (ESV): "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

"Some people have the power but not the willingness to help. Others have the willingness but not the power. God has both." - Lee Roberson.

MISSING GOD'S PLAN

A gentleman captured two baby eagles & raised them with great care. They grew to be fine specimens of this noble bird, until one day the door of their cage was left open by accident & the birds escaped.

One flew to a nearby tree, where it settled on a low branch, for it could not use its wings, never having learned to fly except in the close confinement of its cage. It was not long until it met an untimely death by the gun of a hunter.

The other eagle fell or was knocked into a swift flowing river & was drowned.

Both of these eagles missed God's plan for their lives by being taken captive by man. They were created to live in high places & to soar aloft in the sky, but instead they were doomed to live on the ground & to meet an early death.

God created you & me to live on a high plane & to carry out the great plans He has for our life. May we have wisdom to yield our lives to Him so that the forces of sin may not take us captive & cause us to miss His plan for our life.

- Gospel Herald (moreillustrations.com)

Jer 29:11 (GNB): "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for."

"There is always death at the end of your plan and life at the end of God's plan." - Rod Parsley.

Luke 7:30 (ISV): "But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected God's plan for themselves by refusing to be baptized by John."

GIVING

A $100 bill, a $20 bill, and a $1 bill met up with each other at the shredder at the end of their natural lives.

The $100 said, “Well, I’ve had a good life. I’ve seen the whole world. I’ve been on cruises in Caribbean, safaris in Africa, and vacations in Europe.”

The $20 said, “Well, I’ve not done quite as well, but I have been to Atlantic City, Disneyland, and Starbucks.”

They both turned to $1 bill and asked, “How about you?” He said, “Oh, I’ve seen the whole nation from coast to coast. I’ve been from church to church to church...”

The $100 bill asked, “What’s a church?”

- Robert Morgan (preceptaustin.org)

"Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your income." - Unknown author.

2Co 9:6-7 (GNB): "Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop. You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly."

"After giving something to God, you are no longer accountable for it. Your blessing is based on your giving, not on what others do with the gift." - Ed Cole.

DENYING CHRIST

A boy in Sunday school unmercifully denounced Peter as a coward for denying his Lord & said that he knew he would have been faithful.

Several weeks later his teacher noticed that he was much depressed & in a private interview asked the reason.

Then he told how he was present when some boys talked against Christians & the Bible in a mean & irreverent way & he had not said a word in reply.

He felt that by his silence he had denied his Lord & was as bad as Peter.

How many older people have been guilty of similar denials!

- (moreillustrations.com)

Tit 1:16 (ISV): "They claim to know God, but they deny him by their actions…."

(Jesus said): "But whoever denies me before people I, too, will deny before my Father in heaven." (Mat 10:33 ISV)

"All men will be Peters in their bragging tongue, and most men will be Peters in their base denial; but few men will be Peters in their quick repentance." - Owen Feltham.

LOWER…

I used to think that God's gifts were on shelves one above the other; and that the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them.

I now find that God's gifts are on shelves one beneath the other; and that it is not a question of growing taller but of stooping lower; and that we have to go down, always down, to get His best gifts.

- F. B. Meyer. (moreillustrations.com)

Phi 2:7-9 (BBE): " But he (Jesus)  made himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made like men; And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross. For this reason God has put him in the highest place and has given to him the name which is greater than every name."

Jas 4:10 (BBE): "Make yourselves low in the eyes of the Lord and you will be lifted up by him."

"He that is down, needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride. He that is humble, ever shall have God to be his Guide."  - John Bunyan.

The MOST HUMBLE button

A church realized the importance of humility, so it formed a committee to find the most humble person in the church.

Many names were submitted and numerous candidates evaluated. Finally, the committee came to a unanimous decision.

They selected a quiet little man who always lived in the background and had never taken credit for anything he had done. 

They awarded him the "Most Humble" button for his faithful service.

However, the next day they had to take it away from him because he pinned it on.

-  Kent Crockett (kentcrockett.com)

"It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low; but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment." - Bernard of Clairvaux.

 Psalms 18:27 (GNB): "You save those who are humble, but you humble those who are proud."