More Witnessing Helps

Since my post on witnessing to unsaved family had so many reads, I thought I'd share some more information about one of my favorites, Living Waters.  The evangelism methods taught here stress the importance of using the Ten Commandments to build conviction of sin, thus showing the sinner the practicality of Hell and his need of a Savior.

Ray Comfort wrote the book "Hell's Best Kept Secret" which expounds on this principle and why it is almost unheard of in personal evangelism today.  Hell's Best Kept Secret is sold on Amazon for anywhere from $7 to $10 including shipping, and eBay  from $5 to $7, including shipping.  I highly recommend this book to ANY believer with a burden for the lost; I promise it is a worthy investment.

For all the penny pinchers out there who stubbornly refuse to buy one, as a penny pincher myself, I completely understand.  You can listen to the audio for free on the Living Waters home page.  It's not the complete book, but it's a general overview.  Just go to the home page and on the right side you'll see a tab titled "Foundational Messages" with "Listen Now!" right below it.  Hell's Best Kept Secret is the first message listed.

Using the Law to build conviction is very effective.  I use this method every time I witness, simply because it gives positive results every time.  It even works on believers!  Consider the following scenario:

Bob:  So, Fred, do you consider yourself to be a "good" person?
Fred: Good?  Yeah, I'm a pretty good person!
Bob:  Well, have you ever told a lie?
Fred:  Uh... sure, haven't we all?
Bob:  Sure!  But what does that make you?
Fred:  A liar.
Bob:  Have you ever stolen anything?  Even if it's really small?
Fred:  Maybe once, when I was a kid.  A pack of gum or something.  You know... no big deal.
Bob:  So what does that make you?
Fred:  Um... a thief?
Bob:  Exactly.  Have you ever taken God's name in vain?
Fred:  Well, yeah!
Bob:  Have you ever lusted?  Jesus said that lust is adultery of the heart.
Fred:  I've done that.
Bob:  Buddy, I've got bad news for you.  By your own admission , you're a lying, thieving, blasphemous adulterer at heart."

Feel guilty yet?  Whether you're saved or lost, the Law of God has a huge impact on your conscience.  In this imaginary situation, Bob used only four of the Ten Commandments on Fred; just think of how using all ten could effect your lost friends and family!  The point is to lead them to the realization of their sinfulness, which will in turn explain why they deserve to go to Hell and the reason they need a Savior.

If you're frustrated with running into a brick wall every time you witness to family or just curious about a new way to present the Old Story, give this book a try.  It's short and sweet, but full of enlightening truth that you will be glad you found.  I use this method every time I witness, and I see the Holy Spirit work time and time again.  Even Jesus used the Ten Commandments to witness!

Why We Celebrate Christmas

"It's About the Cross"


It's not just about the manger
Where the baby lay
It's not all about the angels
Who sang for him that day

It's not just about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star
It's not all about the wisemen
Who travelled from afar

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday

It's about the cross.

It's not just about the presents
Underneath the tree
It's not all about the feeling
That the season brings to me

It's not just about coming home
To be with those you love
It's not all about the beauty
In the snow I'm dreaming of

The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
But it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate

It's about the cross
It's about my sin
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It's about God's love
Nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me

It's about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday

It's about the cross.



****(To read more about what Jesus did for you, click here.)****

Witnessing to Unsaved Family Members

The holidays are a perfect time to bring up salvation to extended family.  Loved ones are near, conversation is generally encouraged, they can't hang up on you, and everyone is in a relatively good mood.  The problem is... how are you supposed to bring it up this time?  Perhaps this is the first time some of us will attempt to reach out to lost family members, but most of us do this every year and need all the creative ideas we can get!

Here are links to some of my favorite personal evangelism methods:

Living Waters
Summary: This method stresses the sinner's responsibility for their actions by using the Ten Commandments to show how they have personally fallen short of the glory of God.  Using this method not only reveals what makes us sinners, but explains the practicality of Hell.  Only after the sinner comes to grips with his total hopelessness will he see his need of a Savior.
Most Effective On: Anyone; this method transcends all religious and cultural backgrounds simply because you will be quickening their God-given conscience -- something everyone has.
Get Equipped Now: Click on the link above.  On the right side of the page, about halfway down (you will have to scroll down), you will see two audio buttons labeled "Hell's Best Kept Secret" and "True and False Conversion."  Both of these free audios have great tips on how to deal with the unsaved.

Answers in Genesis
Summary: This site is bursting at the seams with help for anyone interested in defending the Creation account and the first eleven chapters of Genesis.  Evolutionists everywhere are giving their lives to disprove the first few chapters of the Bible, but the answers to their challenging questions are just a click away.
Most Effective On: Humanists, evolutionists, atheists, agnostics, and family members who are just plain confused.
Get Equipped Now: Click here to receive a free digital copy of the Answers magazine.  Also, you can find numerous articles, access to the free e-newsletter, devotions, and lists of scientists who believed in Creation by placing your cursor over "Get Answers" (found near the top of the page, between the buttons "Home" and "Store").

4Witness
Summary: This site is entirely dedicated to equipping Christians with a burden for Latter-Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses.  The team is made up of ex-Mormons and ex-Jehovah's Witnesses who seek to share the truth in love with those involved in these religious circles.
Most Effective On: Latter-Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Get Equipped Now: 4Witness features articles such as "How to Witness Effectively to Mormons", "Is Water Baptism Essential for Salvation?" and "Why Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are Not Christians."  You will find this site to be an endless supply of free witnessing information.

Jack Chick's Information on Islam
Summary: Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world; no doubt your family has been affected by it, as well.  Although it is hard to find tips on how to witness to Muslims, this site has several helpful hints.
Most Effective On: Those involved in Islam or anyone showing an interest in Islam.  Click here to read an article explaining how Jesus' own claim to be the Son of God can impact Muslims.
Get Equipped Now: The links provided give ample help on witnessing to those affected by Islam.  For an entertaining way to learn more about "just the right thing to say" to Muslims, read the Chick Tracts Allah Had No Son, Is Allah Like You? and Men of Peace.

These are just a few of the religions that you may be confronting this weekend.  Don't forget to pray for wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you share the truth with your family.  If you're blessed to be among those in like faith this Christmas, pray for those who will have the opportunity to plant a seed of truth in a family member's heart in the next few days.

Babel Fish

What could be better than knowing your blog is readily available to anyone who speaks your language?  Perhaps, knowing your blog is readily available in any language!  The problem is, I can't write in German, French, Greek, or Portuguese.  Luckily, Yahoo! made Babel Fish to help out bloggers like me.  It is located directly to the right hand side of this post and translates any of my pages into the language of your choice.

I would like to share my life lessons on this blog with as many young ladies as possible, and Babel Fish looked like a helpful tool.  If you know anyone "across the language barrier" who would benefit from this site, I would be most encouraged if this blog aided in being a spiritual help to them.  If my dear readers around the world would like to see a language Babel Fish does not list, please tell me and I will do my best to find another widget that translates into the needed language.

Some Thoughts on the Value of Friends

The most important things in life are not things!

Most of you have probably already seen something kind of like this, but it never hurts to be reminded! =)

Grammy Blick's Bible Reading: A Small Quiz

Some Thoughts About Dating and Relationships

I found this post on the blog "Micki Harjo Memoirs" and thought it was excellent advice for ladies considering a relationship or marriage.  A lot of thoughts run through a girl's mind when she meets a prospect; unfortunately, these questions almost never do.  This is because we don't think objectively when we're head-over-heels in love.  If you have a "special someone" in mind, read Advice to Young Women.

Nails in the Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.  His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.  The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.  Over the next  few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered 20 daily  gradually dwindled down.

 He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.  Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.  He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. 
 
  The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.  The fence will never be the same.  When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.  But It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there.  A verbal wound is just as bad as, and often worse than, a physical one."


Author Unknown 

Psalm 46

¹ God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

³ [Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

⁴ [There is] a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High.

⁵ God [is] in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, [and that] right early.

⁶ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

⁷ The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.

⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

⁹ He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

¹¹ The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.

Real Pearls

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. 

"Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" 

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. 

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma." 

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. 

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green. 

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny , "Do you love me?" 

"Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you." 

"Then give me your pearls." 
"Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection , the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite." 

"That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. 

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny 's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" 

"Daddy, you know I love you." 

"Then give me your pearls." 
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll.. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." 

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." 

And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. 

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. 

As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. 
"What is it, Jenny ? What's the matter?" 

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, daddy; this is for you." 

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny ... 

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. 

God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place. 

Changed Into His Image

Do you have bad habits that keep tripping you up spiritually?  Is your "besetting sin," whether it be a bad attitude, suffering prayer life or sharp tongue, mercilessly beating you down?  All of us have areas that can be improved on, and I can't think of a better book to help guide you along than Changed Into His Image.

This book is full of examples, illustrations, and step-by-step principles to overcome spiritual stagnancy.  Because there is always room for improvement, I recommend this book to any believer.  We should always be looking for ways to become more Christlike, and Jim Berg clearly shows us how we can, no matter what our "weak spot" may be.

For more information on this and other devotional books by the same author, click here.  You may also find it in my aStore (under the tab "May I Recommend" at the top of the page, directly below the header).  Find spiritual victory as you become more and more Changed Into His Image!

Keep Your Fork

I know most of us have already heard this story, but I like it so much I thought I'd share it.  The Harjo family are the ones to give credit to for posting it on their blog, so I just put the link to their site at the end of this post.  Keep the Harjo family in your prayers as they are missionaries to the Native American Indians.  Now, without any further ado, "Keep your fork!"

Don't Lock Yourself Back Up

Gal 4:8  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 
Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?


Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

Remember playing cops and robbers?  I always liked being the bad guy -- maybe I'm just weird, but I thought they always had it made.  You got to run and hide, escape traps, and finally let the cops get you... on purpose, of course.  There was something exhilarating about letting someone tie your hands behind your back.    

It is one thing to play around with handcuffs, but putting yourself back under the bondage of sin is an entirely different matter.  It is so easy to fall into a besetting sin, enjoy it for a moment, regret it, and get back out again, only to slip right back into it.  So the cycle goes... you know (fill in the blank) is just as wicked as can be, yet you find yourself entangled in it time and time again.

In verse 8 Paul explains that a lost person can be expected to act in a sinful manner because they are still a slave to sin.  However, verse 9 goes on to say that it is absolutely ludicrous for a child of God to put themselves under sin's bondage.

Remember how miserable it was to be Satan's servant?  He made sin look so good, but it brought you more heartache, guilt, and pain than you ever bargained for.  Not only did you sin, but you had no choice.  Each transgression was a chain, weighing heavier and heavier as Satan piled them upon you.  But then you got saved.  Your burden was lifted and no longer did Satan have control of you.  You live and breathe in freedom, without a single obligation to your former master.  After a while, sin started looking good again.  Sure, you are saved, but that gives you a license to do whatever you want, right?  Before long, you find yourself falling into the same old stuff over and over.  You might be saved, but sin has once again locked you into its grip.

"How turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" (verse 9)  It seems ridiculous, but it's exactly what we do!  Why would we ever desire the chains that once held us fast?   How could we look at sin and think, "I want that instead of freedom!  It looks so much better than being free!"  Why?!?! 

Through Christ you are able to have victory.  Don't lock yourself back up into the mess from which you were delivered.  You don't have to be tangled up in bondage anymore!  Accepting spiritual defeat as a way of life is just as silly as grabbing the chains in the picture above and wrapping them around you.  Instead, decide that whatever your personal vice is, you will let the Lord change your heart and help you overcome it.

Another great thing about your freedom in Christ is you don't have to lift a finger for it.  "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (verse 1).  He's already gained the victory; all you have to do is ask Him for it.  In fact, trying to fight your own sinfulness in your own strength will end in utter failure.  The Lord is your strength and your shield -- live in the liberty you already have in Him!

Make My Blog Your Playlist!

Need some uplifting music while you're about your daily tasks?  Here's an idea: play my complete list of My Favorite Songs!

1.  Find "Categories" on the side bar and click on "My Favorite Songs."

2.  From there, click on the first song listed (which is, as of today, "A Place Called Hope").  Don't click on the title of the post, but the song name that has the play button beside it.  That will expand the Media Player.

3.  Now that A Place Called Hope is playing, click the part of the player that says "Playlist" and you'll see a whole bunch of songs!  Ta-da!  Now you can enjoy all of my personal favorites while you organize and clean.

A Place Called Hope

I love this song! It's the beautiful story of the prodigal in all of us experiencing God's amazing love and forgiveness.  God wants to restore fellowship with you, no matter how far you've wandered.  There is A Place Called Hope!

I Have Been Blessed

This simple song gets better and better with each verse.  My favorite is verse 6, but don't cheat... you have to read the first 5 verses first! =)  As we celebrate Thanksgiving, don't forget to slow down and consider how richly you have been blessed.


Verse 1:
When He moves among us all that He does
all of His mercy and all of His love
and the pen of the writer could write everyday
even this world could never contain
how I've been blessed

Verse 2:
The warmth in winter the flowers in spring
the laughter in summer and the changing of leaves
the food on my table a good place to sleep
clothes on my back and shoes on my feet
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed

Verse 3:
Arms that will raise a voice that can talk
hands that can touch and legs that can walk
ears that can listen eyes that can see
oh I've got to praise Him as long as I breathe
I have been blessed

Verse 4:
A father and mother who nurtured and raised
a brother and sister memories made
our pastor to lead us the altar to pray
stripes that can heal the blood that can save
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed

Verse 5:
We live in a country the greatest on earth
our flag stands for freedom and what it is worth
she stands in the harbor Miss Liberty calls
all have gave some but some have gave all
for me to be blessed

Verse 6:
He's my shoulder to lean on when I am down
the rock where He leads me when I'm overwhelmed
the place where He hides me under His wings
He's not just a song He's the reason I sing
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed

5 Most Popular Posts

5.  Dare to be a Daniel

4.  A Word to Weary Bible College Students

3. 17 Amazing Quotes

2.  Psalm 4:5

1.  Where Emotions Come From

Don't Hang Yourself... Hang Around

³ Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

⁴ Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that].

⁵ And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

-Matthew 27:3-5

Consider for a moment the similarity between Peter and Judas.  Peter denied Christ, Judas betrayed him, but both of them were guilty of basically the same offense.  Peter did it to avoid embarrassment and possible persecution, and Judas did it for money.  Both men did despicable wrong against their Savior.

Now consider what makes them so different from each other.  When Judas saw that he had made a horrible mistake, he committed suicide.  The End.  Peter, on the other hand, had a talk with Jesus about it and received forgiveness, restored fellowship with the Lord, and the chance to preach at Pentecost.

There comes a time in every young person's life when you feel like you've really blown it.  At some point after you mess up, you ask yourself, "What was I thinking?!"  No doubt both Peter and Judas thought the same thing.  Now you have two options.  You can go out and ruin the rest of your life (Judas) or you can hang on long enough to get it straightened out with the Lord (Peter).

If you've had a "Peter moment," hang on a second!  Jesus is there for you, ready to help you out of that sin.  Just be humble enough to repent, submit and move on with life.  Even though Peter's denial must have hurt Jesus deeply, He looked past Peter's faults and saw Pentecost.  When we screw up, He doesn't say, "Look what you did!"  He says, "Serve Me!"

Judas didn't have to hang himself.  He could have talked it out with the Lord like Peter did in John 21.  Just think, we could have a book of Judas!  He could have lived the dream that Peter did!  But no... 

When the time comes that you feel like you've made the biggest mistake of your life, do what Peter did. Repent, submit, obey, press on, and move on.  You don't have to live a defeated Christian life just because of one mess up.  God has a future planned out for you.  Get back up, get it straight and keep on serving the Lord!

The Most Incredible Thing You'll Ever Do

You take your seat across from the counselor with whom you've planned all week to have a meeting.  You've carefully organized exactly what you're going to say; your thoughts are in perfect outline form.  In a matter of minutes you will have poured out all that is troubling you and she will respond with some deep, otherworldly wisdom.  


You begin to feel emotional as you recall everything that's been building up.  Nothing has gone right, and you have reacted to your circumstances in the only reasonable manner, which has actually made things worse.  You are on an emotional roller coaster ride, and you want off...now.  You finally begin to speak, but your counselor pops a question that stops you in your tracks.


"So, how have your personal devotions been going lately?"


Are you serious?  You're really asking me this? you think, the confusion showing vividly on your face.  She didn't even let me explain myself!  How does she expect to be able to help me if she doesn't even know my problem?


"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5


Many souls in despair have been caught off guard by this same question.  With all the different possible variables going into your specific problem, what could personal devotions have anything to do with it?  Actually, they have everything to do with it.


So, how is your relationship with the Lord, for real?  Do you give Him the best part of your day (which for many is the first few minutes, since there's minimal distractions)?  Do you confess your sin and begin each day with a clean slate?  Do you ask Him to speak to you through His Word?  Do you give Him your undivided attention in prayer?  If not, then it's no wonder you have problems accumulating in your life.  God desires to have fellowship with you, and neglecting this privilege is not only grievous to the Lord, but it makes for a stagnant spiritual life.  


God is always ready, willing and able to guide us through whatever a day may bring.  He is a real person, and wants to talk to you.  However, we can't expect Him to guide us through every thought and action if we don't ask Him.  Developing a personal relationship with the Lord is immensely important for the sake of our reactions to circumstances, relations to others, and our standing with God.  Besides that, it's the most incredible thing you'll ever do.  There is nothing more awesome than talking one-on-one with the Creator of the universe, and feeling Him speak back.


So if you had to answer the question something like, "You know, it hasn't been what it could be," then you don't have to wait another minute.  If you could restore fellowship with your Heavenly Father and continue to deepen your friendship day by day, why wouldn't you?  He is the vine, you and I are the branches, and we are so dependent on Him that without His Hand guiding us daily, we're as helpless as can be.


If you're somewhat confused about how to start a daily walk with God, consider some of the following helps.  Biblos.com has several daily Bible reading schedules, a few of which I will list below.


-Evening and Morning
-Bible in a Year Reading Plan
-Chronological Bible Reading Plan


One of the easiest ways to get into a habit of personal devotions is to start out with Seven Minutes with God.  As you continue, you'll soon find it's impossible to spend only seven minutes with the Lord.


1.  Take the first half-minute to prepare your heart and mind for this encounter with God. Relax. Think about who God really is. Clear up any matters that are bothering your conscience. Confess sin.
2.  Then take four minutes for reading the Bible. Remember, this is God actually speaking. Just read a little bit and think on what you've read. Think how you can apply the verses to your actions this day.
3.  Now you have two and half minutes left to speak to God in prayer. Let this be spontaneous. Unburden some things, thank Him, praise Him, share your innermost thoughts with Him.  (from Seven Minutes Every Morning.)

Selfishness

I just found an eye-opening blog post on how self-centered our society really is, and how it infiltrates our thinking.  It is very convicting, so read if you dare!  Click here to read "We are living in a ME world."

This post is written by the Bobby Harjo Family, missionaries to the Native American Indians.  Here is a link to their blog: http://kjvindian.blogspot.com/

Plato Quote

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something."  -Plato


(I don't agree with everything Plato came up with because human philosophy directly contradicts the Bible, but I thought he was right on when he said this!)

17 Amazing Quotes

Helping One Another


1. "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for anyone else."  -Charles Dickens


Contentment


2.  "All our discontents about what we want appear to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have."  -Daniel Defoe


3.  "All our discontents about what we want appear to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have."  -Martin Luther


4.  "The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right."  -Unknown


Things


5.  "I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of Christ." -David Livingstone


6.  "I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."  -Martin Luther


Sold Out for Christ


7.  "My dear Jesus, my Savior, is so deeply written in my heart, that I feel confident, that if my heart were to be cut open and chopped to pieces, the name of Jesus would be found written on every piece."  -St. Ignatius of Antioch


8.  "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."  -Jim Elliot


Encouragement


9.  "It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent."  -Jeremy Taylor


Forgiveness


10.  "He who cannot forgive others destroys the bridge over which he himself must pass."  -George Herbert


Friends


11.  "A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend; one human soul whom we can trust utterly; who knows the best and the worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults; who will speak the honest truth to us, while the world flatters us to our face, and laughs at us behind our back."  -Charles Kingsley


Complete in Christ


12.  "None but God can satisfy the longing of the immortal soul; as the heart was made for Him, He only can fill it."  -Richard Trench


Hard Times


13.  "You are never to complain of your birth, your training, your employments, your hardships; never to fancy that you could be something if only you had a different lot and sphere assigned you. God understands His own plan, and He knows what you want a great deal better than you do. The very things that you most deprecate, as fatal limitations or obstructions, are probably what you most want. What you call hindrances, obstacles, discouragements, are probably God's opportunities. Bring down your soul, or rather, bring it up to receive God's will and do His work, in your lot, in your sphere, under your cloud of obscurity, against your temptations, and then you shall find that your condition is never opposed to your good, but really consistent with it."  -Horace Bushnell


Relationship with God


14.  "He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day."  -John Bunyan


Pride


15.  "You can have no greater sign of confirmed pride than when you think you are humble enough."  -William Law


The Tongue


16.  "One of the first things which a physician says to his patient is, 'Let me see your tongue.' A spiritual advisor might often do the same."  -Nehemiah Adams


17.  "When I want to speak let me think first. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If not, let it be left unsaid."  Maltbie Davenport Babcock




Note:  All quotes are from Christian Quotes.

What to Do This Halloween

I can count on one hand the number of times my family has been at the house on Halloween.  Usually we turn all the lights off, lock up, and head to Grandma's or take part in our church's Fall Festival in place of being obligated to buy and give away candy to the trick-or-treaters.  However, one Halloween we actually stayed home, but candy wasn't the only treat the children got.

Why not make this otherwise pagan night into an opportunity to take the gospel into dozens of homes you will never have the chance to personally visit?  With every piece of candy you drop into their bag, include a gospel tract or two.  Who knows the impact your efforts will make in the life of a little kid, his friends, and parents?  Take advantage of the one night all year that children will come knocking at your door, asking for a treat.  Plus, the parents will think it's cool that they're getting something other than straight sugar.

I like to use eye-catching tracts like the "Ticket to Heaven," "Million Dollar Bill," and cartoon tracts.  Here are my favorite places online to get gospel tracts:

Living Waters

Chick Publications

Yes, it's an evil holiday and I don't personally celebrate it.  However, how neat would it be if someone came to Christ through a tract you gave out while kids were out trick-or-treating?

Psalm 103

I found a beautiful picture that illustrates Psalm 103:8-12 while getting ready to copy and paste the entire Psalm.  Try out the link for a picture, or if that doesn't work, just go to www.kingjamesbibleonline.org and search for Psalm 103... the picture is down near verse 15.


¹Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
 ²Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
 ³Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
 ⁴Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
 ⁵Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
 ⁶The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
 ⁷He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
 ⁸The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
 ⁹He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
 ¹⁰He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
 ¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
 ¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
 ¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
 ¹⁴For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
 ¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
 ¹⁶For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
 ¹⁷But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
 ¹⁸To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
 ¹⁹The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
 ²⁰Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
 ²¹Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
 ²²Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.