BIG ENOUGH TO PRAY

The interesting volume of reminiscences, "Forty-two Years in the White House," by the late "Ike" Hoover, who was chief usher in the Executive Mansion for that long period of time, gives an interesting glimpse of President Harrison's term in the early nineties.

"Immediately after breakfast the family would retire to the upper floor & be closeted in one of the upper rooms for a half-hour of prayer. The entire atmosphere of the household would be surcharged with spiritual feeling during that time. Until the prayer had been completed, one could not go about one's daily duties without a feeling that prayer was disturbed."

Benjamin Harrison was big enough to be humble; he was big enough to pray. Could any nation have a better sense of its safety, peace & prosperity, both temporal & spiritual, than comes with the realization that its earthly ruler joins with his own family circle, in his home, in prayer to the God to whom all earthly rulers owe their exalted position?

- Sunday School Times. (moreillustrations.com)

Mark 1:35 (ISV): “In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went to a deserted place and prayed there.”

“The prayer offered to God in the morning during your quiet time is the key that unlocks the door of the day. Any athlete knows that it is the start that ensures a good finish.” - Adrian Rogers.

NO NEED TO READ THEM

"A great many people say, you must hear both sides; but if a man should write me a most slanderous letter about my wife, I don’t think I would have to read it; I should tear it up & throw it to the winds.

Have I to read all the infidel books that are written, to hear both sides?

Have I to take up a book that is a slander on my Lord & Master, who has redeemed me with His blood?

Ten thousand times no! I will not touch it."

- D.L.Moody (ministry127.com)

2 Tim 3:16 (NLT): "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong is our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right."

"God gave me this great book to preach from, and if He has put anything in it you think is not fit, go and complain to Him, not to me. I am simply his servant, and if His errand that I am to tell is objectionable, I cannot help it." - Charles Spurgeon.

ATTENTION-SEEKING

There are those who find it hard to keep themselves from craving for limelight in whatever environment they may be in. They do everything possible to somehow catch the attention of people.

Such self-exalters cannot digest if anyone else is seen in the limelight. They look down on others and try to show that they are much better. Sadly, many are trapped in this web. They are actually pampering jealously and it’s as dangerous as playing with a snake.

A sincere believer will be content and satisfied in the Lord with no need to seek for any kind of attention from anyone.

Mat 23:12 (KJV): “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

“Some people go to church and shout "amen" louder than everyone else, thinking it proves how spiritual they are. In reality, it only proves they have a loud mouth and the disposition of an exhibitionist. They make themselves the center of attention instead of Jesus.” - John Hagee.

“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining - they just shine. - D.L. Moody.

A YOUNG MAN’S QUESTION

A young man of twenty wrote to the ‘Question and Answer’ column of a newspaper as follows:

"I'm puzzled about life & I wonder if you could help me? Am I different from everyone else of my age? Or do they wear false masks as I do? I go to parties & dances & act as if I were enjoying myself like everyone else I know. But I am not enjoying myself at all. I always feel that there is something missing & I don't know what it is. . .”

This young man was asking someone what the matter with him was, but got no help. He was not asking the right One. The Word of God would have put him on the right track.

- Young People's Delight. - (moreillustrations.com)

1 John 5:11-12 (WEB): "The testimony is this: God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life."

“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.” - Blaise Pascal (French Mathematician, Philosopher & Physicist, 1623-1662).

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS

A visitor to the White House during the days of the Civil War said:

"I had been spending three weeks in the White House with Mr. Lincoln as his guest. One night - it was just after the battle of Bull Run - I was restless & could not sleep. It was coming near to the dawn of the day, when I heard low tones proceeding from a private room where the President slept. The door was partly open. Instinctively I walked in & there I saw a sight which I shall never forget.

It was the President kneeling before an open Bible. The light was turned low in the room. His back was toward me. I shall never forget his tones so piteous & so sorrowful:

'O Thou God, that heard Solomon in the night when he prayed & cried for wisdom, hear me! I cannot lead this people; I cannot guide the affairs of this nation without Thy help. I am poor & weak & sinful. O God, thou didst hear Solomon when he cried for wisdom - hear me & save this nation.'

God heard & He answered him then & there. Will He not answer today?"

- Christian Beacon. - (moreillustrations.com)

“To preserve our blessed land we must look to God….It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us….We also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, that ‘If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’’’ (2 Chro 7:14) - Ronald Reagan.

PRAY FOR INDIA …

Pro 29:2 (BBE): "When the upright have power, the people are glad; when an evil man is ruler, grief comes on the people."

George H. W. Bush - Inaugural address (January 20, 1989):

“My first act as President is a prayer. I ask you to bow your heads. Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank you for your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do your work, willing to heed and hear your will, and write on our hearts these words: ‘Use power to help people.’

For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord.”

2 Tim 2:1-3 (NLT): “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make our requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior.”

MORE REMARKABLE PROVIDENCE

Dr. John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence & president of the College of New Jersey, which became Princeton University, lived at Tusculum, a country seat at Rocky Hill, about two miles from the college, and drove every day to his duties as teacher & president.

One day a neighbor came excitedly into his study at the college and said, "Dr. Witherspoon, you must join me in giving thanks to God for his extraordinary providence in saving my life, for as I was driving from Rocky Hill the horse ran away & the buggy was smashed to pieces on the rocks, but I escaped unharmed!"

"Why," answered Dr. Widierspoon, "I can tell you a far more remarkable providence than that. I have driven over that road hundreds of times. My horse never ran away, my buggy never was smashed, I was never hurt."

-(moreillustrations.com)                                                                          

Ps 103:2 (NHEB): “Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.”

“It is comforting to know that not only the steps but also the stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”  -  George Mueller.

CHRISTIANS AND CHAMELEONS

The chameleon takes the color of his background and environment - tree or bush.

Many Christians are chameleon-like in the facility with which they can take on the color of the world about them; and, just as it is difficult to distinguish the chameleon from the background, the color of which he has taken, so it is very difficult to distinguish many Christians from the background of the world in which they live.

- (moreillustrations.com)

Rom 12:2 (GNB): “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind…”

“We had long known the Lord without realizing that meekness and lowliness of heart should be the distinguishing feature of the disciple. -  Andrew Murray.

“… Your presence with us will distinguish us from any other people on earth.” – Moses. (Exodus 33:16 GNB)

PROVIDENCE

In December, 1852, the president-elect of the United States, Franklin Pierce, traveling with his family on a train, was wrecked at Concord, New Hampshire.

Several of the passengers were killed, among them the young son of the president-elect, a fine lad of ten years, who died in his mother's arms.

The accident was thought to be due to dereliction of duty on the part of an intoxicated brake-man; and some of those who had received injuries, or those whose relatives had been killed in the disaster, brought suit against the railroad company.

But Mrs. Pierce, a devout Christian, would not permit the president-elect to become a party to the suit; on the contrary, she had him secure the services of the famous lawyer Benjamin Butler to defend the railroad, on the ground that she regarded the disaster and the great personal sorrow that it had brought to them as a special providence to prepare the president-elect better for the high office to which he was shortly to be inaugurated.

- (moreillustrations.com)

“Providence is shaping our ends; a plan is developing in our lives; a supreme and loving Being is making all things work together for good.” - F.B. Meyer.

Js 1: 2 – 4 (GNB): “My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. “

FAITH AND WORKS

Two men were once earnestly disputing the relative importance of faith & works when they came to a ferry over a river. As they started across they asked the ferryman his opinion on the subject. Was it faith by itself, or works by themselves that was the Christian duty & the Christian hope?

For answer the godly ferryman pointed to his two oars. "One," he said, "I will call faith, the other, works. If I pull only on this one oar, the right oar, I get nowhere, but go round in a circle. So is the case if I pull only on the left oar. But when I pull on both oars, then the ferry moves across the river."

- (moreillustrations.com)

“Faith and works are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God trusts God; and he that trusts God obeys God. He that is without faith is without works; and he that is without works is without faith.” - Charles Spurgeon.

Js 2:26 (GNB): “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

THE SWEETEST VERSE IN THE BIBLE

A young Christian, at the deathbed of an aged saint, said to him, "Shall I read to you the sweetest verse in the Bible?"

"Yes," was the reply. The young man read the verse in John 14: "In My Father's House are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

"No," said the dying saint, "that is not the sweetest verse. Read on." The young man read on: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

"That is the sweetest," said the dying man. "It is not the mansions - it is Himself I want."

- Messenger of Peace (moreillustrations.com)

“Death may be the king of terrors... but Jesus is the King of kings!” - D.L. Moody.

REASON FOR ALARM

Thomas Guthrie (1803–1873; one of the most popular Scottish preachers of his day) used to say:

“If you find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any house better than the house of God, any table better than the Lord's table, any persons better than Christ, any indulgence better than the hope of Heaven - take ALARM.”

- (moreillustrations.com)

“Preachers must have a passion to produce people whose satisfaction in God is so solid, so deep, and so unshakable that suffering and death - losing everything this world can give - will not make people murmur or curse God, but rest in the promise:
"In His presence is fullness of joy, at His right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Ps 16:11). - John Piper.

Bible says: “After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.” (Ecc 12:13-14 GNB).

BE CONTENT WHERE YOU ARE

The story is told about a pilot who always looked down intently on a certain valley in the Appalachians when the plane passed overhead.

One day his co-pilot asked, “What’s so interesting about that spot?”

The pilot replied, “See that stream? Well, when I was a kid I used to sit down there on a log & fish. Every time an airplane flew over, I would look up & wish I were flying... Now I look down & wish I were fishing.”

It is always tempting to think that others have it better than we do, and that if we just had “a little more” everything would be fine.

But contentment cannot be achieved by increasing possessions. Nothing will ever be enough.

- (ministry127.com)

“We do not content ourselves with the life we have in ourselves; we desire to live an imaginary life in the minds of others, and for this purpose we try to shine.” - Blaise Pascal.

The Bible says: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1Tim 6:6 KJV)

ONE SMALL SIN

The story is told of a man who sold his house for an incredible bargain with just one condition: he would retain ownership of one small nail protruding over the door.

After several years, he wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell it. So the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the single nail he still owned.

Soon the house became unlivable and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.

If we leave even one small sin in our life satan will hang his rotting garbage on it.

- (ministry127.com)

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Eph 4:27 (NET): “Do not give the devil an opportunity.”

“Temptation is the devil looking through the keyhole. Yielding is opening the door and inviting him in.” - Billy Sunday.

Pro 18:3 (GNB): “Sin and shame go together…”

THE TESTIMONY SHE LEFT BEHIND

Lauren McCain was one of the students killed at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. The freshman from Shawnee, Oklahoma, left a powerful statement about her faith on her personal web site. The 20-year-old had written:

“The purpose and love of my life is Jesus Christ. I don’t have to argue religion, philosophy, or historical evidence because I KNOW Him.”

-The New York Times (ministry127.com)

Jas 2:23 (ISV): “And so the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” And so he was called God’s friend.

Sadly, about some people, the Bible says: “They claim to know God, but they deny him by their actions…” Tit 1:16 (ISV).

Some know God, some know about God; what about you?

SATISFACTION IN CHRIST

A Christian asked another how he was getting along. Dolefully his friend replied, "Oh, fairly well, under the circumstances."

"I am sorry," exclaimed the other, "that you are under the circumstances. The Lord would have us living above all circumstances, where He Himself can satisfy our hearts and meet our every need for time and eternity."

Christ is enough to satisfy the hearts of all who confide in Him and who leave everything in His hands. Such need never be cast down by seeming misfortunes.

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" - Paul (Phil. 4:11).

- (moreillustrations.com)

“Those who leave everything in God’s hands will eventually see God’s hand in everything.” – (Author Unknown)

CONQUERING JEALOUSY

F. B. Meyer held meetings in Northfield, Massachusetts & large crowds thronged to hear him. Then G. Campbell Morgan came to Northfield & people flocked to hear his brilliant expositions of Scripture.

Meyer confessed that at first he was envious. He said, “The only way I can conquer my feelings is to pray for Morgan daily, which I do.”

- Lou Nicholes (ministry127.com)

“If someone is leaving you behind, and you are becoming jealous and embittered, keep praying that he may have success in the very matter where he is awakening your envy; and whether he is helped or not, one thing is sure, that your own soul will be cleansed and ennobled.” - William Law.

Js 3:16 (NLT): “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.”

THINKING PATTERN

As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.

He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.

 “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

- Stephen  (academictips.org)

Pro 4:23 (GNB): “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”

“You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure.” - Zig Ziglar.

Phil 4:8 (GNB): “In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honourable.”

CRITICAL TIMES

During one of the most critical times of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln wrote to his friend Joshua Speed:

"I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take this entire book upon reason that you can & the balance upon faith & you will live & die a better man."

The intimation might be that most of the Bible you can take on reason & only a small portion will require the exercise of faith. But if you are to receive the Bible as a revelation from God, you must take it all upon faith.

- (moreillustrations.com)

Psa 119:92 (NET): "If I had not found encouragement in your law, I would have died in my sorrow."

“An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly.” - A.W. Tozer.

CHRISTIANS!

John Wesley once was much troubled in regard to the disposition of various sects & the chances of each in reference to future happiness or punishment.

A dream one night transported him in its uncertain wanderings to the gates of hell.

"Are there any Roman Catholics here?" asked thoughtful Wesley.

"Yes," was the reply.

"Any Presbyterians?"

"Yes," was again the answer.

"Any Congregationalists?"

"Yes."

"Any Methodists?" by way of a clincher, asked the pious Wesley.

"Yes," was the answer, to his great indignation.

In the mystic way of dreams, there was a sudden transition & he stood at the gates of heaven. Improving his opportunity, he again inquired:

"Are there any Roman Catholics here?"

"No," we replied.

"Any Presbyterians?"

"Any Congregationalists?" "Any Methodists?"

"No," was again the answer.

"Well, then," he asked, lost in wonder, "who are they inside?"

"Christians!" was the jubilant answer.

- Light and Liberty. (moreillustrations.com)

Gal 3:26-28 (WEB): “For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

“The Christian that is bound by his own horizon, the church that lives simply for itself, is bound to die a spiritual death and sink into stagnancy and corruption. We never can thank God enough for giving us not only a whole Gospel to believe, but a whole world to give it to.” -  A.B. Simpson.

GOD’S LOVE

I remember, when I was a boy, going to a missionary meeting. A missionary was there from Africa & was showing us a whole lot of curious things & then he said, "Now, boys, I want to tell you the kind of Gospel we preach to the people of Africa. How many good boys have we here?"

A lot of us thought we were good, but our mothers were there & so not one of us dared hold up his hand.

"Well," said he, "not one good boy here; then I have the same message for you that we have for the heathen in Africa; God loves naughty boys.”

"My," I thought, "he is getting all mixed up," for you see I had heard people say, "If you are good God will love you."

But, dear friends, that is not true. God is not waiting for you to be good so He can love you; God loves sinners. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8)

- H. A. Ironside. (moreillustrations.com)

“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’" - Billy Graham.

“Whom should we love, if not Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us?” - Augustus Toplady.

Lord Jesus said: “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” (John 14:15)

THE SINKING OF THE DORCHESTER

On February 3, 1943, a troop ship named The Dorchester was carrying more than 900 soldiers & military personnel across the North Atlantic. A German U-boat spotted the convoy & fired three torpedoes at the ship.

Only one struck the target, but the blast below the waterline fatally damaged the ship. In the cold darkness, the crew was ordered to abandon ship. There were not enough lifeboats for all the men, nor were there enough life jackets.

Four chaplains aboard the ship that night helped comfort those injured in the explosion & those who feared the coming of death. When the ship was ready to sink, the chaplains took off their life jackets & handed them to four young soldiers who had none. They gave up their own lives in order to save others.

The heroic gesture inspired the nation & Congress voted a special posthumous medal in their honor.

Most of us are not called upon to physically lay down our lives, but there are many people who need our help. People all around us who don’t know the Lord need us to give them the Gospel.

- Congressional Record. (ministry127.com)

And Jesus said unto them, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mar 16:15).

“We know exactly what needs to be done to advance the Gospel and fulfill the Great Commission. The question is: Will we do it?” - David Jeremiah.