#0002969

Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it...- Confucius.....1Corinthians13:11,12 "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely."

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#0002970

The irons of sorrow and loss, the burdens carried as a youth, and the soul's struggle against sin all contribute to developing an iron tenacity and strength of purpose, as well as endurance and fortitude. And these traits make up the indispensable foundation and framework of noble character. . . Never run from suffering, but bear it silently, patiently, and submissively, with the assurance that it is God's way of instilling iron into your spiritual life. Your iron crown of suffering precedes your golden crown of glory, and iron is entering your soul to make it strong and brave...- FBMeyer, Streams In The Desert.....Psa105:18 "They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph's character."

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#0002971

We need to have appropriating faith when it comes to God's promises and should make His Word our own personal possession. It is taking a pencil and underlining every 'me,' 'my,' and 'mine' in the Bible. . . Pick any word you want that He has spoken and say, 'That word is my word.' Put your finger on a promise and say, 'It is mine.' How much of God's Word have you received and endorsed, and of how much have you been able to say, 'This has been done in my life?' By how many of His promises have you signed your name and said, 'This has been fulfilled to me?' When faith goes to market, it always takes a basket...- Cowman-Reimann, Streams.....Judges18:9,10 "Come on . . . ! We have seen that the land is very good. Aren't you going to do something? Don't hesitate to go there and take it over. . . . God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing whatever."

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#0002972

Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee(Job22:21).- This is life eternal, that they may know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent(Jn17:3).- We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life(1Jn5:20)."

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#0002973

"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(Prv3:6)."

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#0002974

"Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil(Prv3:7). Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones(Prv3:8).

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#0002975

Distinguish people of words from people of deeds. Discrimination is important, as in the case of friends, persons, and employments, which all have many varieties. Bad words even without bad deeds are bad enough; good words with bad deeds are worse. One cannot dine off words, which are wind, nor off politeness, which is but polite deceit. To catch birds with a mirror is the ideal snare. It is the vain alone who take their wages in windy words. Words should be the pledges of work, and, like pawn tickets, have their market price. Trees that bear leaves but not fruit usually have no core--know them for what they are, of no use except for shade...- Gracian Aphorism166, Worldly Wisdom by JJacobs.....Psa103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

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#0002976

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed(Amos3:3).- The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him: and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you: but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you(2 Chr15:2).- When they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found of them(2Chr15:4).- Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world(James4:8).- Those who desert Him will perish, for You destroy those who abandon You. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do(Psa73:27,28)."

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#0002977

One of the fascinating things about being in heaven someday is that we will be able to look back and see some rhyme and reason to circumstances which we thought had made absolutely no sense at the time. There are times in life when you come to the crossroads, and which path you take dramatically affects the rest of your life. . . God stands at the crossroads, sovereignly directing traffic when we think we are alone and abandoned. What happens to you as God's child is not a matter of indifference to your Heavenly Father. When you get to the crossroads and you are uncertain which path to take, ask Him to guide you. I can assure you that whether God sends an angel as He did for Balaam, or quietly moves your heart to go one way or the other, when you move the direction you think God would have you, He will direct your path...- Sala, Refuge And Strength.....Psa32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."

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#0002978

Never let matters come to a breaking point. For our reputation always comes out injured. Everyone may be of importance as an enemy if not as a friend. Few can do us good, almost any can do us harm. In Jove's bosom itself even his eagle never nestles securely from the day he has quarreled with a beetle. Hidden foes use the paw of the declared enemy to stir up the fire, and meanwhile they lie in ambush for such an occasion. Friends provoked become the bitterest of enemies. They cover their own failings with the fault of others. Everyone speaks as things seem to him, and things seem as he wishes them to appear. Everyone will blame us at the beginning for want of foresight, at the end for lack of patience, at all times for imprudence. If, however, a breach is inevitable, let it be rather excused as a slackening of friendship than by an outburst of wrath. This is a good application of the saying about a good retreat...- Gracian, Aphorism257, Worldly Wisdom.....1Sam2:9 "He will keep the feet of His saints."

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#0002979

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us(1Sam7:12).- And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you travelled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now He has brought you to this place(Deut1:31).- I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself(Ex19:4).- In all their suffering He also suffered, and He personally rescued them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years(Isa63:9).- Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so He spread His wings to take them up and carried them safely on His pinions. The Lord alone guided them; they followed no foreign gods(Deut32:11,12)."

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#0002980

"I will be your God throughout your lifetime--until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you(Isa46:4).- This God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death(Psa48:14).- Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee(Psa55:22)."

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#0002981

Don't live in the past, but 'be patient and stand firm, bacause the Lord's coming is near'(James5:8). Many year's ago as I was visiting the US Senate, one of the Senators said, 'Billy, we're having a discussion about pessimism and optimism. Are you a pessimist or an optimist? I smiled and said, 'I'm an optimist.' He asked, 'Why?' I replied, 'I've read the last page of the Bible.' . . The Bible speaks about a heavenly city whose builder and maker is God, where those who have been redeemed will be superior to angels. It speaks of a pure river and water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb(Rev22:1). It says, "There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light...- Billy Graham, Hope For Each Day.....Rev22:5b "And they shall reign forever and ever."

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#0002982

Do not be burdensome. Then you will not be slighted. Respect yourself if you would have others respect you. Be sooner sparing than lavish with your presence. You will thus become desired and so well received. Never come unasked and only go when sent for. If you undertake a thing of your own accord you get all the blame if it fails, none of the thanks if it succeeds. Those who do not mind their own business are always the butt of blame, and because they thrust themselves in without shame they are thrust out with it...- Gracian Aphorism284, Worldly Wisdom by JJacobs.....1Jn1:6,7 "If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."

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#0002983

"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence(2Pet1:3). And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires(v4). In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge(v5), and knowledge with self-control, and self control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness(v6), and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone(2Pet1:7)."

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#0002984

When we live apart from God, our lives get out of tune--out of harmony with others and with God. But if we live in tune with the Master, we, too, will find ourselves surrounded by His beautiful music. . . Ask God to help you tune your life everyday to His Word, so you can bring harmony and joy to those around you...- Billy Graham, Hope For Each Day.....Psalm32:7 "You shall surround me with songs of deliverance."

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#0002985

Nothing will happen to us this year that is unknown to our Heavenly Father. Nothing will come as a surprise to God--whether it is about nations at war or the personal struggles we face. He knows! . . Have you ever seen a young child and his father go for an early evening walk? As long as there was light, the son ran ahead of his father, playing and not thinking of him. Yet as soon as the darkness closed in, he would run back and reach for his daddy's big hand. . . Just like the young child trusting his father, yield your future to Him who holds the future. Instead of stubbornly holding out for what you want, start praying, 'Lord, have Your way in my life.'. . God's grace is ladled out on a daily basis--just for each day. He knows what you need far better than you do. You can count on the faithfulness of the Lord no matter what life brings...- Sala, Refuge And Strength.....Deut31:8 "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

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#0002986

Open your eyes early. Not all who see have their eyes open, nor do all those see who look. To come up to things too late is more worry than help. Some just begin to see when there is nothing more to see: they pull their houses down about their heads before they come to themselves. It is difficult to give understanding to those who have no power of will, still more difficult to give power of will to those who have no understanding. Those who surround them play a game of blind man's buff with them, making them the butts of jokes. Because they are hard of hearing, they do not open their eyes to see. There are often those who encourage such insensibility because their very existence depends on it. It is an unhappy steed whose rider is blind: it will never grow sleek...- Gracian Aphorism230, Worldly Wisdom by JJacobs.....Jer10:23 "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."

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#0002987

What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd,

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I would bring him a lamb,

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If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

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Yet what can I give Him? I give my heart...- Christina Rossetti.....Psalm133:1-3 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

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#0002988

Avoid incurring obligations. This is one of the chief aims of prudence. People of great ability keep extremes far apart, so that there is a long distance between them. They always keep in the middle of their caution, so they take time to act. It is easier to avoid committing yourself to something than it is to come out of it well. Such affairs test our judgment--it is better to avoid them than to conquer in them. One obligation leads to another and may lead to an affair of dishonor. There are people so constituted by nature or by nation that they easily enter upon such obligations. But for those who walk by the light of reason, such matters require long thinking over. There is more valor needed not to take up the affair than in conquering in it. When there is one fool ready for the occasion, one may excuse oneself from being the second...- Gracian Aphorism47, Worldly Wisdom by JJacobs.....Prv11:28 "Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring."

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#0002989

Do not turn one blunder into two. It is quite usual to commit four blunders in order to remedy one, or to excuse one piece of impertinence by still another. Folly is either related to or identical with the family of lies, for in both cases it needs many to support one. The worst of a bad case is having to fight it, and worse than the ill itself is not being able to conceal it. The annuity of one failing serves to support many others. A wise person may make one slip but never two, and that only in running not while standing still...- Baltasar Gracian, The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Joseph Jacobs.....Psalm37:23,-25,26 "The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.- The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord upholds them by the hand."

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#0002990

Do not vacillate. Do not let your actions be abnormal either from disposition or affectation. A wise person is always consistent in his best qualities, and because of this he gets the credit of trustworthiness. If he changes, he does so for good reason and after good consideration. In matters of conduct change is hateful. There are some who are different every day--their intelligence varies, still more their will, and with this their fortune. Yesterday's white is today's black; today's no was yesterday's yes. They always give the lie to their own credit and destroy their credit with others...- Gracian Aphorism71, Worldly Wisdom by JJacobs.......Psalm37:39,40 "The Lord rescues the godly; He is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in Him."

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#0002991

Know how to say "no." One ought not to give way in everything nor to everybody. To know how to refuse is therefore as important as to know how to consent. This is especially the case with people of power. Everything depends on how you do it. Some people's 'no' is thought more of than the 'yes' of others; for a gilded 'no' is more satisfactory than a dry 'yes.' There are some who always have 'no' on their lips, whereby they make everything distasteful. 'No' always comes first with them, and when they sometimes give way after all, it does them no good on account of the unpleasant beginning. Your refusal need not be point-blank; let the disappointment come by degrees. Let politeness compensate and fine words supply the place of deeds. 'Yes' and 'No' are soon said, but give much to think over...- Gracian, Worldy Wisdom by JJacobs.......Psalm37:32,33 "The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them. But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial."

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#0002992

What a joy it is to wake up in the morning and know He is with me, no matter what the day has in store. What a joy it is to look back in the evening and be able to thank Him for His faithfulness and to experience His peace. What a joy it is to know that some day soon the burdens of this life will be over and I will awaken in His presence! . . When I think about God's love I tend to dwell upon all the good things He has done for me. But then I must stop and realize that even when circumstances have been hard or the way unclear, God has still surrounded me with His love. God's love is just as real and just as powerful in the darkness as it is in the light. And that is why we can have hope! . . Every day I turn to the Bible to give me strength and wisdom for the day and hope for the future. Its words have seen me through good times and bad--through times of happiness and grief, health and sickness, victory and disappointment. God's Word can do the same for you, to live more fully for Christ each day and to trust His great love--no matter what comes your way...- Billy Graham, Hope For Each Day(Prayread Psalm1:3,4).

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#0002993

Would you dare to believe that God, who called you to Himself and equipped you with His Spirit, could work mightily through you? Have you made the connection between the time and place in which you live and God's call upon you? World events never catch God by surprise. He placed you precisely where you are for a purpose. . . Daniel did not let the temptations of his day interfere with His relationship to the Lord. He knew that to make his life useful to God he must be obedient in all things. Regardless of what the most powerful king in the world commanded. Daniel refused to compromise what he knew God required of him...- HBlackaby, Experiencing God.....Daniel1:8 "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies."