Monthly Archives: October 2017

“Love the truth before all, while feeling lively comprehension of the contemporary society in which we live.”  —Pope John Paul II in Fear Not: Thoughts on Living in Today’s World. From Christianity Today, “Reflections” (9/6/99). John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No … Continue reading →

It is not what men eat, but what they digest that makes them strong; not what we gain, but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned; not what we preach or pray, but what we practice and believe … Continue reading →

When we discern that people are not going on spiritually and allow the discernment to turn to criticism, we block our way to God. God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede. —Oswald Chambers Deuteronomy 4:6 (NIV) Observe them carefully, for this will … Continue reading →

John 6:29 (NIV) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Life is deep and simple, and what our society gives us is shallow and complicated.—Fred Rogers   Today’s Best Illustrations – Volume 5, (Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, 1997), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, … Continue reading →

Eternal Father of my soul, let my first thought today be of You, let my first impulse be to worship You, let my first speech be Your name, let my first action be to kneel in prayer. Amen. —John Baillie Psalm 5:3 (NIV) In the morning, O LORD, you hear my … Continue reading →

As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray. —Martin Luther, 16th century reformer Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV) 9  “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 … Continue reading →

Going to bat in the ninth is nothing compared to praying in an intensive care unit.—Richard Doebler James 5:13 (NIV) Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Elesha Hodge, comp., Today’s Best Illustrations – Volumes 1-4, (Carol Stream, IL: … Continue reading →

Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large that God in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches but for wings!—Phillips Brooks Matthew 7:7 (NIV) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the … Continue reading →

It is better to pray over the Bible than to brood over the self.—P.T. Forsyth Luke 18:1 (NIV) Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Elesha Hodge, comp., Today’s Best Illustrations – Volumes 1-4, (Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, … Continue reading →

Never use a gallon of words to express a spoonful of thought.—Anonymous Matthew 6:7 (NIV) 7  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Elesha Hodge, comp., Today’s Best Illustrations – Volumes 1-4, (Carol Stream, … Continue reading →