Selah

“The supreme test of service is this: 'For whom am I doing this?' Much that we call service to Christ is not such at all....If we are doing this for Christ, we shall not care for human reward or even recognition. Our work must again be tested by three propositions: Is it work from God, as given us to do from Him; for God, as finding in Him its secret of power; and with God, as only a part of His work in which we engage as co-workers with Him?”

“Labor is easy to those of a cheerful spirit; success waits on cheerfulness. The ones who work while rejoicing in God and believing with all their hearts have success guaranteed.”

“When people are right with God, they are apt to be hard on themselves and easy on other people. But when they are not right with God, they are easy on themselves and hard on others.”

“I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.”

“God wants to see prayers that are filled with genuine praise and thanksgiving for what He has done in the past. He wants our hearts to be filled with awe and gratitude for His blessings. He wants us to set up memorials in our hearts testifying to the provisions He has given us.”

“God is with you right now, regardless of the storm or even the shipwreck. We may not hear an audible voice, but you may hear that “still small voice” of God’s Holy Spirit. Or He will speak to you through His Word. Then you, like Paul, can reassure others that “the Lord is in control.””

“One of the most destructive forces at work in the church today is our insistent demand for instant results. We want to have immediate conversions, immediate responses every time we speak. We tend not to allow time for the Word to take root and grow and come to harvest.”

“We can't all be Simon Peters. God is looking for people like Andrew too. The fact of the matter is, if we had more Andrews, we would have more Simon Peters.”

“Do our actions show others that we are vertically driven rather than horizontally driven? In other words, are we more concerned about what others think of us or are we more concerned with what God thinks of us?”

“Prayer is surrender–surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God.”

“When God committed to being our Father, He committed to maturing us completely. It may take trials, suffering, loss, even curses to conform us to Jesus' image, but God will settle for nothing less in our lives.”

“In the Messiah's kingdom there are no conflicts because He is the Prince of Peace. He offers peace from God (Romans 1:7) to all who are the recipients of His grace. He brings peace with God (Romans 5:1) to those who surrender to Him in faith. He brings the peace of God (Philippians 4:7) to those who walk with Him.”

“(Jeremiah 29:11)”

“When anything presents itself, think: if He were alive and in my place—would Jesus do it? Or if I were about to die—would I still do it? I must walk—as He has walked; and I must live—as I intend to die. If the thing in question is not Christ's will—it is my sin.”

“The longer I live, the more I am aware of how miraculous it is to live a godly, holy life in a world that is antithetical to the glory of God. But God's power guards us and protects us from the many things that would pull us right back into a worldly, God-denying life. God's power that guards us, however, is "through faith". It is as we trust him that the power guards us. (a thought on 1 Peter 1:5)”

“What a miserable creature is a wicked man! His very manna turns to worms; his very mercies make him miserable! Look at him in his wealthy condition, and you will find that he has not the privilege of enjoying it, only the trouble of keeping it—which tends not to his comfort. Or, if he enjoys it—he does so miserably abuse it, that he makes that which is but temporal in its use, to be for his eternal punishment! Alas! the pleasures of it are soon gone—but the pain of it will continue with him forever!”

“When will we ever learn that there are no hopeless situations, only people who have grown hopeless about them? What appears as an unsolvable problem to us is actually a rather exhilarating challenge. People who inspire others are those who see invisible bridges at the end of dead-end streets.”

“James says that you ask, but you do not receive, because you ask amiss. The word amiss here comes from the Greek root word that means to harm or to injure. His point is: God will not grant you anything that is going to harm or injure your spiritual life, whether in the short term or in the long term.”

“Every Christian will come to their own Gethsemane, a time when they grapple with the hard issues of life. It is during those times that we must say, “Lord, I want Your will to be done, not mine.” Our heavenly Father knows best.”

“When we think we've got it all figured out and we've thoughtfully made our plans and everything will be fine, but we haven't spent any time in prayer seeking God's will and consulting His Word, we'd best take a time-out and do some talkin' and some listenin' to that "still, small voice" and make sure we're headin' in the right direction!”

“Let us learn to value the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous. How careful should we be, lest we forfeit our interest in the love and prayers of God's praying people!”

“Jesus left us with the great hope and certainty that He is going to return to bring a new Heaven and a new earth where, we are told, there will be no more sorrow, trouble, or death for those who have believed and followed Him. There will be trouble, sorrow, and suffering for those who have neglected or rejected Him.”

“His father saw him ...there were eyes of mercy; he ran to meet him ...there were legs of mercy; he put his arms round his neck ...there were arms of mercy; he kissed him ...there were kisses of mercy; he said to him ...there were words of mercy; "Bring here the best robe" ...there were deeds of mercy; Wonders of mercy ...all mercy! Oh, what a God of mercy he is!”

“(ed: Rejoice! The Lord is KING and He is in total control!) He sits at God's right hand till all His foes submit, And bow to His command, and fall beneath His feet: Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!”

“Jesus ...is the good Shepherd. Why does He carry the lambs in His bosom? Because he has a tender heart, and any weakness at once melts His heart. The sighs, the ignorance, the feebleness of the little ones of His flock draw forth His compassion.”

“I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.”

“Glorify Him in life. In waking and sleeping, glorify Him. In labors and leisure, in joy, in sorrow, in suffering and healing, glorify Him. Shine with excellence in all things, and in all things you will glorify Him.”

“Just as God did not have to create the world in order to make up for some deficiency in the Godhead, even so God is in no way obligated to save people who rebel against him. Salvation like creation, is a free act of God's mercy.”

“When you engage in the duty of prayer, or come to the Lord's Supper, or attend any other duty of divine worship— come to Christ as Mary Magdalene did! Come, and cast yourself at His feet, and kiss them, and pour forth upon Him the sweet perfumed ointment of divine love, out of a pure and broken heart, as she poured the precious perfume out of her pure, broken alabaster jar!”

“If we could but show the world that being committed to Christ is no tame, humdrum, sheltered monotony, but the most thrilling, exciting adventure the human spirit could ever know, those who have been standing outside the church and looking askance at Christ would come crowding in to pay allegiance, and we might well expect the greatest revival since Pentecost.”

“As soon as we do totally surrender, abandoning ourselves to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of His joy.”

“(Editor: most folks are familiar with the hymn "How Firm a Foundation." I happened across a verse of that song that I had never seen before. I hope that it will encourage many of you as you "pause and consider" this Selah) "Even down to old age all My people shall prove My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love; And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn, Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne."”

“Participating in God's plan involves more than an initial response. Every day includes new opportunities to cooperate with His purposes. We must also follow when God leads us in unexpected directions.”

“O Lord, we believe, help our unbelief. Give us true repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and let the love of God be shed in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given us.”

“With gentle, loving touch, He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of His mercy as in the matter of it.”

“Our God is not a spectator or even a competitor in this world. He is the Ruler of it. Salvation is knowing him, the only true and living god as he is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ his Son, the God-man our Savior. He who is our God is the only God you can trust.”

“God's goodness hath been great to thee; Let never day or night unhallowed pass, But still remember what the Lord hath done.”

“We may never, this side of death, drive the invader out of our territory, but we must be in the Resistance, not in the Vichy government. And this, so far as I can yet see, must be begun again every day.”

“One of the marvels of the Bible is that it uses language that communicates with people of the most primitive and limited understanding, while at the same time it still has significance and inexhaustible meaning for the most erudite and learned scholars. It addresses itself with equal ease to all classes of humanity. That is the beauty of Bible language.”

“Hope we not in this life only, Christ himself has made it plain None who sleep in Him shall perish, And our faith is not in vain. Not in vain our glad hosannas; Since we follow where He led, Not in vain our glorious anthem: "Christ has risen from the dead!"”

“On this Good Friday, ...Let us clasp that cross, let us look into those languid eyes, let us bathe in that fountain filled with blood-this will bring back to us our first love; this will restore the simplicity of our faith, and the tenderness of our heart.”

“Don’t let circumstances detour you from faith. Just because it looks like things might not work out, don’t stop trusting God. Don’t let doubt detour you. When doubt is holding you back, take it to Jesus, just like the man who told Jesus: “I do believe; help my unbelief." And Jesus healed his son.”

“Take the opportunity to dwell on the truth that “the LORD is in his holy temple.” This simple truth offers both comfort and chastening. Its reality is affirmed in many places in the Old Testament. When you have a few moments, consider Psalm 11 (it's just 7 verses)!”

“People like to say that all roads lead to God. It really concerns me when I hear Christians parrot statements to that effect. There is only one path. There is only one way. If that were not true, then why did Jesus have to die? If all roads lead to God, then why did Jesus go through the anguish, torture, and pain of the cross? The primary reason Jesus came to this earth was to die for our sins.”

“Loving Heavenly Father, you said, "Before they call on me, I will answer them." This is your promise to me and so I come calling on you to: • Guide me with Thy eye! • Build me up into Your likeness! • Feed me on Your love! • Keep me pure in life and in love! • Be patient with me in my ignorance! • Be my knowledge and wisdom for there is none else to whom I can go! • Forgive me of my faults and foolishness! • Help me to forgive others as you forgave me! • Help me to faithfully "work out" what You have so graciously "worked in!" Thank you for hearing my cry. I await your wisdom in applying the answers that you have already given to me! My heart belongs to You!”

“Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.”

“When God wants to make a man He puts him into some storm. The history of manhood is always rough and rugged. No man is made until he has been out into the surge of the storm and found the sublime fulfillment of the prayer: 'O God, take me, break me, make me.'”

“Our Gracious Father God: We thank Thee that it's possible for us to approach Thy Mercy Seat. We come not in our own name, and not with any merit in ourselves. Our hope is in Jesus Christ who bore our sins in His own body as He was on the cross, and by His stripes we are healed. Help us to know that nothing can be hid from You, and may there be nothing that we should want to hide! May we walk in the knowledge that you see, hear, and understand us in all ways. Remember in Thy mercy our church, our country, and our loved ones in their particular needs. Comfort and heal the afflicted and give strength and encouragement to all who labor for Thee. May your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven! In the name of Jesus we ask these things! Amen!”

“Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. The question is whether we are letting the Spirit grow that fruit in our lives. Ask yourself these questions regarding patience: • Are you able to suffer without complaining? • Are you able to be misunderstood without explaining? • Are you able to give without receiving? • Are you able to be ignored without any grieving? • Are you able to ask without commanding? • Are you able to love despite misunderstanding? • Are you able to turn to the Lord for guarding? • Are you able to wait for His own rewarding? Patience - It's a necessary fruit - and the Spirit longs to see it grow in you... and me!”

“What is Christian Perfection? It's not a perfect body and it's not a perfect brain. But it is a perfect commitment to the will of God and a restful reliance upon the Spirit of God.”

“In a world of darkness and demands, rules and regulations, requirements and expectations demanded by hypocritical religious leaders, Jesus came and ministered in a new and different way—He alone, full of grace and full of truth, introduced a revolutionary, different way of life.”

“As believers, we have to reach a point where we no longer rely upon our strength, fully trust in God’s power, and believe He is able to work in and through us to do things that are supernatural. Live life by the Spirit by surrendering control and living under the power of God.”

““Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.””

“Online access to churches is helpful at times. It’s good for trying out a new church, checking out someone else’s sermon, or tuning in when you are sick or traveling. But online church should never replace in-person attendance if possible. The screen is not a substitute for a handshake, and Facebook comments don’t replace actual conversation. It’s time to return to the building and gather with the church family God made just for you.”

“As members of the Church, we are accountable to one another. Our Christian lives were never meant to be lived with God alone. When we cross “church” off our weekly to-do list after watching a sermon online, we mock the beautiful community God intends for us to have within it. If being part of a church doesn’t cost you something, doesn’t allow your authentic self to be seen, or doesn’t inconvenience you in any way, you’re doing it wrong.”

“God is in the business of getting glory for Himself, and the reason many of our prayers are not answered is that we are not interested in the glory of God. We’re interested in our own personal gain. When you get interested in the glory of God, you’re going to see prayers start being answered.”

“Have you ever stopped and wondered why God has preserved you up to this point? Maybe you have had a close brush with death or an illness that you weren’t supposed to survive. Yet here you are right now. ... God has a plan for you!”

“"What is God's nature?" you might ask. It is the answer to everything you need! His nature is life, it is health, it is peace, it is wisdom, it is abundance. There is an answer in God's nature for every one of mankind's needs.”

“Materialism carries with it a heavy curse. It began when Adam and Eve wanted to satisfy their own appetites, and the whole world fell under the curse of sin. Materialism causes people to forget about God, and where God is not the focus, life will be pointless.”

“On a Sunday afternoon just nine days ago, my wife and I were out taking our daily walk on a quiet sidewalk next to a two lane divided road. We had just started walking when we hear a loud "bang" and then a screech and looked over our shoulders and witnessed a car traveling at a very fast speed, that lost control. After swerving to regain control, the car hit the curb on the side of the road, partially climbed a steep embankment, then was airborne and rolled at least twice in the air to come crashing down to the road totally destroying the car. We quickly called 911 and the emergency crews were there in about 2-3 minutes. It was a "shock" to us to see this happen before our eyes. We thought the 16 year old driver was most likely dead. The thought struck us, "how quickly a tragedy can happen! We know not when our lives will be over." We are thankful that God spared his life ...and he wasn't even hurt! We prayed for that young man with the prayer that if he were not a child of God, that the accident would be before his eyes to realize that every one of us will one day leave this earth, whether violently or peacefully, and we will have to stand before a Holy God who will take us either to heaven or send us to Hell. Are we ready for that day? Are the members of our family ready to meet God? Are our friends and neighbors ready to meet the Lord of the Universe? Are the rulers of our state and country ready to stand before Jesus? Are we praying for all of these to know the Truth and be a part of God's family? It could only be a moment and our time on this earth will be finished!”

“How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none. Eternal years lie in His heart. For Him time does not pass, it remains; and those who are in Christ share with Him all the riches of limitless time and endless years. God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.”

“America needs a spiritual awakening, but the church needs a revival. “Revival” and “awakening” are often used interchangeably, but there’s a distinction. An awakening is when God sovereignly pours out his Spirit, and it impacts a culture. ...A revival, on the other hand, is what the church must experience. It’s when the church comes back to life, when it becomes what it was always meant to be. It’s a returning to passion.”

“Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches." Can you tell where the branch ends and the vine starts? No! They are one plant, sharing one life together. So from here on our identity is no longer in Adam but it is in Christ. We are no longer just ordinary human beings. We are new creations, begun again, linked with the life of Jesus Christ.”

“God will not compromise and He need not be coaxed. He cannot be persuaded to alter His Word nor talked into answering selfish prayer. In all our efforts to find God, to please Him, to commune with Him, we should remember that all change must be on our part.”

“A Christian, though you may impoverish him, banish him, and deprive him of all—yet he is able to say, "I carry all my treasure with me, I have my Christ, in whom all fullness dwells."”

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself…. (Romans 15:1-3a NASB2020 )”

“One of the most dangerous and harmful detriments to your spiritual growth is passivity–putting your mind in neutral and coasting. ...Sitting back and waiting for God to do everything is not God's way to spiritual maturity.”

“God would say to us: "We may sit silently during part of this life; we may shed abundant tears of sadness as we watch and wait. But just remember that Christ is preparing a place for us in His Father's house . . . and then comes the good part!"”

“We may sit silently during part of this life; we may shed abundant tears of sadness as we watch and wait. But just remember that Christ is preparing a place for us in His Father's house . . . and then comes the good part!”

“I urge you to include in your schedule time to be alone with God. You do have places where you can get away for a long walk, don't you? I hope it's in a wooded area. The gentle breeze blowing through the forest is therapeutic. (ed: Maybe the weather isn't right for an outdoor walk. The important truth in this selah is to "take time to 'be alone' with God each day.")”

“If we’re right with God, then we will be excited about and looking forward to the return of Jesus. We want to be ready. We want to be watching. (ed: are you honestly excited about Jesus coming back?)”

“There is a reason why so many well-intentioned believers are falling short of God’s best in their lives. This is because without the password called “priority,” they cannot access all that God has in store for them. The way that you express priority is through surrender.”

“The greatest insight we get for how someone will handle big things is to watch how they handle little things — the smaller responsibilities they’ve been given.”

“Satan’s strategy is to distort the truth. He did it with Eve in the Garden of Eden, where he asked, “Indeed, has God said...?” and he even tried to do it with Jesus in the desert. The enemy wants to make you question God. He attacks you through your reason. So, fill your mind with the truth of His word if you want to be able to combat the lies of the enemy.”

“Every time we see Jesus in the Gospels, He is working hand in hand with the Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus even said He wouldn't initiate anything by Himself, indicating His total dependence on the Spirit of God. Well, if Jesus needed this kind of ongoing partnership with the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish His divine role in the earth, we certainly have to have it as well!”

“When you think of God’s blessings, are you tempted to think in terms of “wish fulfillment”? What blessings have all of us received in Christ? What blessings have you personally received? Thank God for two or three of these.”

“God loves each and every person who has ever been born into the human race! God loves: ...the Eskimo living in an ice hut, ...the Chinese living in a bamboo lodge, ...the African living in a mud hut, ...the homeless living in a cardboard box, ...the Bedouin living in a tent, ...the Indian living in a teepee, ...the royals living in a palace, ...the slum dweller living in a housing project, God loves the whole world! God loves you! And God loves even me!”

“Never look ahead to the changes and challenges of this life in fear. Instead, as they arise look at them with the full assurance that God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. Hasn't He kept you safe up to now? So hold His loving hand tightly, and He will lead you safely through all things. And when you cannot stand, He will carry you in His arms.”

“Missionary William Carey said, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” That’s what we need to do. Could God send another spiritual awakening to America? I believe that He could. I believe that He can. And I pray that He will.”

“Today is Valentine's Day. So hear God's word on what real love is like: "Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NASB2020 )”

“Weak may be our feet, but almighty is God's right hand. Rough may be the road, but Omnipotence is our upholding. We may boldly go forward. We shall not fall. Let us lean continually where all things lean. God will not withdraw His strength, for His righteousness is there as well. He will be faithful to His promise, and faithful to His Son, and therefore faithful to us. How happy we ought to be!”

“God’s got your back when you put Him first. He has you covered when you place His will and His kingdom as the first priority in all that you do, say, and think.”

“I can’t change yesterday, nor can I control tomorrow. But I do have a say in what happens today—what I think, what I choose, what I do. Today, I put You first. Thank You for today!”

“[ed: Howard B. Grose wrote this hymn and some of you may be able to sing the hymn. But the question should be asked, "Have we?"] 1) Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth. Throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor Into the battle for truth. Jesus has set the example, Dauntless was He, young and brave. Give Him your loyal devotion; Give Him the best that you have. Chorus: Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth. Clad in salvation's full armor, Join in the battle for truth. 2) Give of your best to the Master; Give Him first place in your heart. Give Him first place in your service; Consecrate every part. Give, and to you will be given; God His beloved Son gave. Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have. Chorus: 3) Give of your best to the Master; Naught else is worthy His love. He gave Himself for your ransom, Gave up His glory above. Laid down His life without murmur, You from sin's ruin to save. Give Him your heart's adoration; Give Him the best that you have. Chorus:”

“Is "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" found in the Bible? Well …it is …in a way, but not like my parents or grandparents might have told me. Our Lord is concerned more about inward cleanliness than outward. Read Psalm 51:7ff and then ask yourself, "Do I measure up? Am I more concerned about bacteria on my skin than I am about sin in my heart? Do I concentrate on presenting a good outward appearance and forget about Matthew 23:25ff?"”

“Jeremiah knew only too well that dreamers who profess to have a message from the Lord should not necessarily be accepted at face value. There are some who claim to have a message from God who, in actuality, have no such thing. Instead, they are seeking to authenticate their own imaginations and investing their own ideas with divine sanction. If we believe the fabrications, it can result in profound spiritual confusion when it is later discovered that they were lies.”

“{Our Father God says to us}... I am just as real as the air you breathe or the food you eat. When you're feeling alone or unsure of what you should do, My Spirit is there with you—a constant companion and wise counselor. Just like the disciples, you wish for My physical presence, but remember, if I had never died and risen again to heaven, My Spirit could never live in you now. This way, My presence is with you always.”

“What is the will of God? God's will for those who believe in Him is to be alive in Christ for the purpose of establishing His kingdom by overcoming the evil one and becoming fully the people He has called us to be.”

“Everybody bases their hope on something . Let us base ours on the enduring strength and authority of God’s word. When we want to run away from troubling thoughts and crippling fears, let us run to the foot of the cross!”

“The Bible is not the Word of God emeritus. It is the manual of authority in God’s kingdom, the book from which our kingdom agenda is drawn. To the degree that you honor, respect, and obey the Word, you will live the abundant life Christ came to give. To the degree that you don’t, you won’t.”

“Obey your leaders and submit to them — for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you. (Hebrews 13:17 NASB2020)”

“The world scarcely knows what we Christians are: —for did they realize that we are... ...God's jewels, ...the favorites of heaven, ...the excellency of the creation, ...and the beloved bride of Christ —they would not mock and persecute us as they do! Or, if we did only consider... ...that we shall be glorified together with Christ; ...that His happiness shall be our happiness; ...that His joy shall be our joy, ...and His glories shall be our glories! —truly, we would not be so much dejected as we are!”

“What can satisfy you, O my immortal soul? Nothing but the immortal God, in whom all fullness dwells. He alone can fill the soul—who fills heaven and earth. The insufficient creature—may fill the soul with vexation; none but the all-sufficient God—can fill the soul with satisfaction.”

“God has given us many promises in the Bible! When things come that we can't figure out, we tend to despair, or discard, or disbelieve the promise is for us. When God said through Peter that we are to "cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you," that is a promise: He DOES care about you! And we should… must… toss our despair and disbelief on Him, rather than discard the very promise that He has spoken through His servant for our lives!”

“Today's test will be tomorrow's trial and… tomorrow's FAILED test will be repeated.”

“All of us have a number of hurtful, traumatic experiences in our past which have scarred us emotionally.... As a Christian, you are primarily the product of the work of Christ on the cross. You are literally a new creature in Christ. The "old you" is gone; the "new you" is here.”

“Because you are God’s child, his heart is tender toward you. He pursues you. He breaks through your hardness. He gets your attention. He reminds you that he loves you. He kindles a longing in your heart for the days when you walked with him. And he revives you.”

“By faith, we are absolutely certain of what we cannot see—that God is real, and His promises are true. Therefore, we can rejoice, even when our whole world is falling apart, because in Christ our future is gloriously bright.”

“Keep running [the Christian faith], because you’re going to leave a legacy. Paul wanted to join the ranks of those who had crossed the finish line. He wanted to be in the company of those in God’s winner’s circle, men like Joshua and Caleb in the Old Testament who finished their races well. This is a long-distance run. So, if you have been slowing down, it’s time to speed up.”

“Love without discipline or accountability is not love at all. The definition of love is righteously and passionately pursuing the well-being of another. To allow someone whom you care about to continue in a lifestyle that is personally destructive to themselves is to not exercise love.”