Me: Sometimes we need to look at what is truth instead of how we feel.
Prodigal: Even though that can be difficult.
This is from the book The Quest for Character by Charles R. Swindoll
Rare indeed are those folk who give of themselves with little regard for recognition, personal benefit, or monetary returns.
I find more encouragement from God’s Word than any other source of information when it comes to the importance of personal dedication. The Lord assures me that His glory is my goal ( 1 Corinthians 10:31), not man’s approval. Furthermore, when He tells me to love, He tells me to do it fervently ( 1 Peter 4:8). When maintaining a friendship, it is to be devotedly (Romans 12:10). When steering clear of evil, I am told to stay away from even the appearance of it ( 1 Thessalonians 5:22). When seeing a brother or sister in need, we are to bear his or her burden sacrificially (Galatians 6:1-2), not stay at a safe distance. When it comes to work, we are to be disciplined (2 Thessalonians 3:7-8) and diligent (1 Thessalonians 2:9). The Scriptures are replete with exhortations to go above and beyond the required call of duty–to a dedication of life that thrives on the challenge of doing a quality piece of work.
We were raised to think of ourselves and put us first. God is calling us to something else. We want to fight it, but the time is about obedience. Take a step toward obedience. Take a step toward walking with the Lord.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
The very triumphs of His foes He used for their defeat. He compelled their dark achievements to subserve His ends, not theirs. They nailed Him to the tree, not knowing that by that very act they were bringing the world to His feet. They gave Him a cross, not guessing that He would make it a throne.
They flung Him outside the gates to die, not knowing that at that very moment they were lifting up all the gates of the universe to let the King of Glory come in. They thought to root out His doctrines, not understanding that they were implanting imperishable in the hearts of men the very name they intended to destroy.
They thought they had God with His back to the wall, pinned and helpless and defeated. They did not know it was God Himself who had dragged them down to that point. He did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery evil, He conquered through it.
by James Stewart
Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
This is from the book The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
I do not want to leave the impression that the ordinary means of grace have no value. They most assuredly have. Private prayer should be practiced by every Christian. Long periods of Bible meditation will purify our gaze and direct it; church attendance will enlarge our outlook and increase our love for others. Service and work and activity; all are good and should be engaged in by every Christian. But at the bottom of all these things, giving meaning to them, will be the inward habit of beholding God. A new set of eyes (so to speak) will develop within us enabling us to be looking at God while our outward eyes are seeing the scenes of this passing world.
Behold what the Lord is showing you and it is good. You do not have to fear. You do not have to have anxiety. The Lord has developed this plan and from it will come joy and peace.
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Love is not just looking at each other and saying, “You’re wonderful.” There are times when we are anything but wonderful….
Love is looking outward together in the same direction. It is linking our strength to pull a common load. It is pushing together towards the far horizons, hand in hand.
Love is knowing that when our strength falters, we can borrow the strength of someone who cares.
Love is a strange awareness that our sorrows will be shared and made lighter by sharing; that joys will be enriched and multiplied by the joy of another.
Love is knowing someone else cares, that we are not alone in life.
Love is God, for God is love. When we love, we touch the hem of the garment of God.
Patrick Scanlon
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This is from the book Stories of the Heart and Home by Dr. James Dobson.
Our daughter is growing up in the wickedest section of a world much farther gone into moral decline than the world into which you were born. I have observed that the greatest delusion is to suppose that our children will be devout Christians simply because their parents have been, or that any of them will enter into the Christian faith in any other way than through their parent’s deep travail of prayer and faith. But this prayer demands time, time that cannot be given it it is all signed and conscripted and laid on the altar of career ambition. Failure for you at this point would make mere success in your occupation a very pale and washed-out affair, indeed.
How did you make spouse and children a priority today. With out putting them first some days, then all days mean they will remain at the bottom. Your job is to train them and this can only be done in their presence.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.