#0002199

Beware Of entrance to a quarrel but being in, Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice. Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not express'd in fancy rich, not gaudy For the apparel oft proclaims the man...- William Shakespeare.....1Tim4:16 "Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you."

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#0002200

"The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense(Prv10:21). The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and He adds no sorrow with it(v22). Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible(v23). The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted(v24). When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation(v25)."

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#0002201

"I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day(2Tim1:12).- O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land(Psa63:1).- Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me(Psa23:4).- My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever(Psa73:26).- The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup(Psa16:5)."

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#0002202

Any time you hear a Word from God, whether through bible reading, prayer, or worship, the way you respond will depend on how you have cultivated your heart. How do you develop a heart that is like good soil? Repent of any bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness that is hardening your heart. Meditate on God's Word until it enters deep into your heart and not just your mind. Apply it to your life and let God bring His Word into reality in your life. Protect your lifestyle. See that you don't devote all of your energy to worldly concerns, rather than to pursuing your relationship with God. The condition of your heart will vary, depending on how you cultivate it. If it was receptive yesterday, this does not guarantee it is receptive today. Daily prepare your heart for the Word God has for you!...- HBlackaby, Experiencing God.....Luke8:15 "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."

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#0002203

We are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world...- Mother Teresa.....Psa115:13-15 "He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly. May the Lord richly bless both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The dead cannot sing praises to the Lord, for they have gone into the silence of the grave. But we can praise the Lord both now and forever! Praise the Lord!

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#0002204

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands... - Anne Frank, Diary.....Psa115:1-8 "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. Why let the nations say, 'Where is their God?' Our God is in the heavens, and He does as He wishes. Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them."

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#0002205

The Never-Failing God. What line does my thought take? Does it turn to what God says or to what I fear? Am I learning to say not what God says, but to say something after I have heard what He says? God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?' "I will in no wise fail thee"--not for all my sin and selfishness and stubbornness and waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never fail me? If I listened to this say-so of God's, then let me listen again...- Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest.....Heb13:5 "Because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

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#0002206

"Can we boast then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith(Rom3:27). So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law(v28).- There is only one God, and He makes people right with Himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles(Rom3:30). Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law(v31).".....Tyndale NLV, Life Application bible...- Why does God save us by faith alone?: Faith eliminates the pride of human effort, because faith is not a deed that we do. Faith exalts what God has done, not what we do. Faith admits that we can't keep the law or measure up to God's standards--we need help. Faith is based on our relationship with God, not our performance for God...

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#0002207

"As the Scriptures say, 'No one is righteous--not even one(Rom3:10). No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God(v11). All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one(v12). Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies. Snake venom drips from their lips(v13). Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness(v14). They rush to commit murder(v15). Destruction and misery always follow them(v16). They don't know where to find peace(v18). They have no fear of God at all(v18).' Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God(v19). For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are(v20)."

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#0002208

"But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago(Rom3:21). We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are(v22). For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard(v23). Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins(v24). For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past(v25), for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sin…

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#0002209

"What hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it(1Cor4:7)?- By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them(Eph2:8-10).- By the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me(1Cor15:10).- For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things(Rom11:36).- All things come of Thee, and of Thine Own have we given Thee(1Chr29:14).- Enter not into judgement with Thy servant: for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified(Psa143:2)."

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#0002210

"Have we not all one Father? hath not one God created us? Then why do we betray each other, violating the covenant of our ancestors(Mal2:10)?- In Him we live, and move, and have our being(Acts17:28).- Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him(Psa103:13).- He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again(Psa78:38,39)."

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#0002211

Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws...-Plato.....Ecc7:7 "Extortion turns wise people into fools, and bribes corrupt the heart."

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#0002212

If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children...- Mohandas Gandhi..............Ecc7:9 "Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool."

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#0002213

In my belief, you cannot deal with the most serious things in the world unless you also understand the most amusing...- Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill...........Ecc7:3 "Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us."

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#0002214

Live your life while you have it. Life is a splendid gift; there is nothing small about it...- Florence Nightingale.....Ecc7:10 "Don't long for 'the good old days.' This is not wise."

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#0002215

"A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born(Ecc7:1). Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies--so the living should take this to heart(v2). Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us(v3). A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time(v4)."...-Tyndale, NLT Life Application bible.....We are to enjoy what we have while we can but realize that adversity also strikes. Adversity reminds that life is short, teaches us to live wisely, and refines our character. Many people avoid thinking about death, refuse to face it, and are reluctant to attend funerals. Solomon is not encouraging us to think morbidly, but he knows that it is helpful to think clearly about death. It reminds us that we still have time to change, time to examine the direction of our lives, and time to confess our sins and find forgiveness from God.

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#0002216

Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow...-Plato.....Ecc7:8 "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride."

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#0002217

We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and by, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God's say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways...-Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.....Heb13:5 "Because God has said, ' Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'."

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#0002218

"He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit(Titus3:5). He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior(v6). Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life(v7). This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone(v8). Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to laws. These things are useless and a waste of time(v9). If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them(v10). For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them(v11)."

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#0002219

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you(Mat6:33).- As long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper(2Chr26:5).- Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgements, and His statutes, which I command thee this day: and thou say in thine heart, 'My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth'(Deut8:11,17).- Is not the Lord your God with you? And hath He not given you rest on every side(1Chr22:18)?"

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#0002220

"The Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand(Gen39:3).- Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee(Psa128:1,2).- Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart(Psa37:3,4).- Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest(Jos1:9)."

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#0002221

In the years before the 2008 crisis[which caused the collapse of the USA housing market and subsequently the banks exposed to them], laws were passed that made it possible for people to do within the law a lot of bad things. Many of the abusive practices with credit cards, predatory lending, were clearly immoral. They went beyond the point of decency, but they didn't go beyond what was legal. They justify it by a set of defenses--'We made loans available to poor people'--that is absolutely unpersuasive in my mind...-Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize-winning economist, Time Magazine interview................Ecc7:11 "Wisdom is even better when you have money. Both are a benefit as you go through life. Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life."

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0002222

There are certain weights in life you simply cannot carry. Your Lord is asking you to set them down and trust Him...- Max Lucado.....1Peter5:7 "Give all your worries to Him, because He cares about you."

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#0002223

Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't...- Margaret Thatcher.....Luke18:1 "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

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#0002224

"If it is not seemly, do it not; if it is not true, speak it not...- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus......Psalm25:21 "May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you."

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#0002225

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end...- Scott Adams.........Prv3:3,4 "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation."

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#0002226

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding(Prv3:5). Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take(v6). Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil(v7). Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones(v8). Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce(v9). Then He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine(v10)."

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#0002227

"My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when He corrects you(Prv3:11). For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a Father corrects a child in whom he delights(v12). Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding(v13). For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold(v14). Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her(v15). She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left (v16). She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying(v17). Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly(v18). By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding He created the heavens(v19). By His knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky(v20)."

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#0002228

"My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them(Prv3:21), for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace(v22). They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble(v23). You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly(v24). You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked(v25), for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap(v26). Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them(v27). If you can help your neighbor now, don't say, 'Come back tomorrow, and then I'll help you'(v28). Don't plot harm against your neighbor, for those who live nearby trust you(v29). Don't pick a fight without reason, when no one has done you harm(v30)."