GROWING CONTINUALLY

Pablo Casals was considered the greatest cellist to ever live. When he was 95 years old he was asked why he continued to practice 6 hours a day.

He answered, “Because I think I’m making progress.”

-Your Road Map for Success, John Maxwell (ministry127.com)

“Gradual growth in grace, growth in knowledge, growth in faith, growth in love, growth in holiness, growth in humility, growth in spiritual-mindedness - all this I see clearly taught and urged in Scripture, and clearly exemplified in the lives of many of God's saints. But sudden, instantaneous leaps from conversion to consecration I fail to see in the Bible.” -  J.C. Ryle.

Pro 19:8 (TPT): “Do yourself a favor and love wisdom. Learn all you can, then watch your life flourish and prosper!”

“While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow.” -  Rick Warren.

TROUBLE TELLS

Dr. W. M. Taylor in his book, ‘David, King of Israel,’ says:

"Traveling once on a train, among my fellow passengers was a little child who made merry & was at home with everybody. Had anyone looked at her while she was amusing thus, he would not have been able to tell to whom she belonged - she seemed to be the property of everyone.

But soon the engine gave a loud noise as we plunged into a dark tunnel & in a moment the child flew like a bird to comfort herself in a lady's lap. I knew then who was her mother.

So in the day of prosperity the good man may go hither & thither & there may not be very much to tell whose he is; but let him be sent through some dark tunnel of affliction & you will see at once to whom he belongs."

- (moreillustrations.com)

“Where do you run for help? When you are in trouble, what is your first instinct? Do you run to others or to God? Is it usually the counsel of another rather than the counsel found in waiting upon God in prayer? Why is this the way it is? Why do we run to man before we run to God?” -  Kay Arthur.

Ps 91:1-2 (ICB): Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by God All-Powerful. I will say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety and protection. You are my God, and I trust you.”

GIVING GLORY TO GOD!

Queen Elizabeth - known as Good Queen Bess - had as her motto, graven on some of her coins, the words in Latin, 'A Domino factum est istud et mirabile oculis noris'.

The English translation is: “This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Ps 118: 23)

When she, at 25, was told that she had become Queen of England, these were the words she uttered.

- (moreillustrations.com)

“Your greatest fulfillment in life will come when you discover your unique gifts and abilities and use them to edify others and glorify the LORD.” -  Neil T. Anderson.

2 Thes 1:12 (GNT): “In this way the name of our Lord Jesus will receive glory from you, and you from him, by the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."

WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE?

A very sick man, visiting a small-town clinic, turned to his doctor, as he was leaving the room after paying a visit & said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know?" the man said. "You, a Christian, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door, on the other side of which came a sound of scratching & whining. As he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room & leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here & when the door opened, he sprang in without fear."

"I know little of what is on the other side of death," the doctor continued, "but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there & that is enough. And when the door opens, I shall pass through with no fear, but with gladness.

- (aksermonillustrations.blogspot.com)

1 Cor 2:9 (NET): But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

“We talk about heaven being so far away. It is within speaking distance to those who belong there. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.” -  D.L. Moody.

WORK

 “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” - Helen Keller.

“The highest reward for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it.” - John Ruskin.

“The local church is espoused to Christ, but there is always the danger of that love growing cold. Like Martha, we can be so busy working for Christ that we have no time to love Him. Christ is more concerned about what we do with Him than for Him. Labor is no substitute for love.” - Warren Wiersbe.

“If a man's business requires so much of his time that he cannot attend the services of his church, then that man has more business than God intended him to have.” - J. C. Penney.

Col 3:23 (GNT): “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”

LIFE

Have you ever watched a grower irrigate his grove, or a farmer his land?
 
When he opens little gates to irrigation furrows there rushes in a life-giving flow of water which, in time, will result in beautiful trees & flourishing plants.
 
Our lives are like that. Each of us is given a furrow into which flow power, wisdom, energy & health from a divine source. Like the trees & plants, we thrive - or dry up - according to the degree to which our gates are opened.
 
But there is this tremendous difference. God lets every man be the keeper of his own gate!
 
- R and R Magazine (moreillustrations.com)
 
“If a spring has not been opened in a soul, a spring of living water from God's own Son, no waters can flow and there is no life in you.” -  G.V. Wigram.
 
“If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from that person’s heart, as the Scripture says.” – Lord Jesus. (Jn 7:38 NCV)

ONE AND ONLY MEDIATOR!

The story is told of a king who was in his throne room, holding a council with his advisers, noblemen & high ministers of state. Suddenly there was a bang & a clatter at the door of the throne room. All eyes turned as the door burst open & a young boy ran into the room.

One of the king’s royal guardsmen tried to stop the boy. “Hold there, lad!” he shouted. “Don’t you know you’re disturbing the council of the king?”

“He’s your king,” laughed the boy, “but he’s my Daddy!” And the boy bounced into the open arms of his father, the king.

A child of the king always outranks any nobleman, adviser, minister, ambassador, or dignitary. That is the position we have with God. That is the access we have to His throne room.

- (ministry127.com)

1 Tim 2:5 (WEB): “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

“Don't ever think that there are many ways to the Divine. Jesus is the one qualified mediator, the only qualified sacrifice, and the only qualified savior.” -  Erwin Lutzer.