#0002603

"It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich(Psalm37:16). For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly(v17). Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever(v18). They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough(Psa37:19)."

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#0002604

"But the wicked will die. The Lord's enemies are like flowers in a field--they will disappear like smoke(Psalm37:20). The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers(v21). Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those He curses will die(v22). The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives(v23). Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand(Psa37:24)."

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#0002605

"Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread(Psalm37:25). The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing(v26).

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#0002606

"The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong(Psalm37:30). They have made God's law their own, so they will never slip from His path(v31). The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them(v32). But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial(v33). Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along His path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed(Psa37:)."

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#0002607

"I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil(Psalm37:35). But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them(v36)! Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace(v37). But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future(v38). The Lord rescues the godly; He is their fortress in times of trouble(39). The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in Him(Psa37:40)."

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#0002608

Do not look to your hope, but to Christ, the source of your hope...- Charles Spurgeon.......2Cor10,-12,-17,18 "They measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth."

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#0002609

"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over so in a series of kindness there is at last one which makes the heart run over...- Samuel Johnson.....Eph1:7 "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."

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#0002610

It is not just the negative events of your past that you must reconcile. Some people are still living in the memories of their past accomplishments. There are many people who never progress because they are embittered by their past--some because of the glory days and some because of the gory ones. You cannot move forward into significance if you are bound by your past. Paul balanced his past and his present by always pursuing a better future--a future of knowing Christ more fully...- Neil Cole, Journeys To Significance.....Philippians3:13,14 "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

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#0002611

"There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us(1Cor12:5,6).- Azmaveth . . . was in charge of the palace treasuries. Jonathan . . . was in charge of the regional treasuries. Ezri . . . was in charge of the field workers who farmed the king's lands. Shimei . . . was in charge of the king's vineyards. Zabdi . . . was responsible for the grapes and the supplies of wine. Baal-Hanan . . . was in charge of the king's olive groves and sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. Joash was responsible for the supplies of olive oil. Shitrai . . . was in charge of the cattle on the Sharon Plain. Shaphat . . . was responsible for the cattle in the valleys. Obil . . . was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah . . . was in charge of the donkeys. Jaziz . . . of the king's flock of sheep and goats. All these officials were overseers of King David's property(1Chr27:25-31)."

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#0002612

"A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing(1Chr12:7-9).- Jonathan, David's uncle, was a wise counselor to the king, a man of great insight, and a scribe. Jehiel the Hacmonite was responsible for teaching the king's sons. Ahithopel was the royal adviser. Hushai the Arkite was the king's friend. Ahithopel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king's army(1Chr27:32-34)."

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#0002613

"He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said(1Cor12:10). It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have(v11).- There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all(1Cor12:4)."

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#0002614

"There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all(1Cor12:6).- There fell some of Manasseh to David. And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour(1Chr12:19,21).- The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal(1Cor12:7).- Of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do(1Chr12:32).- To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit(1Cor12:8)."

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#0002615

"Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart(1Chr12:33).- A double minded man is unstable in all his ways(Jam1:8).- There should be no schism in the body; but . . . the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it(1Cor12:25,26).- One Lord, one faith, one baptism(Eph4:5)."

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#0002616

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me(Psa50:15).- Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God(Psa42:11).- Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear(Psa10:17).- For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee(Psa86:5)."

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#0002617

"Jacob said unto his household, . . . Let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went(Gen35:2,3).- Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits(Psa103:2).- I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I on the name of the Lord(Psa116:1-4)."

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#0002618

The Bible strictly forbids idolatry. One of the Ten Commandments declares, "You should not make for yourself a carved image; . . . you shall not bow down to them nor serve them(Exo20:4,5)." But almost anything can become an 'idol'--something we worship and serve in place of God. It might be success, or pleasure, or possessions, or money, or anything else we let control our lives. They aren't necessarily wrong in themselves, but they become 'idols' when we make them the most important things in life. Idols are false. They cannot save us or change our lives for the better. Idols cut us off from God. We substitute them for God--and as a result, we turn our backs on Him and never come to know Him and love Him as we should. Has any 'idol' taken God's rightful place in your life? Don't let it happen. God has commanded, "You shall have no other gods before Me(Exo20:3)"...- Billy Graham, Hope For Each Day.....Luke16:13 "You cannot serve God and mammon."

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#0002619

"Then the Lord said to me, 'Write My answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others(Habakkuk2:2). This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed(v3).- Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance(2Pet3:8,9)."

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#0002620

Unbeknownst to me, my father's virtual absence was creating a hunger in me for a father figure who could teach me what it means to be a man. Eventually the Lord redeemed this painful consequence by placing a desire in me for mentoring relationships with more experienced men. Over the course of my life, I have been blessed tenfold with godly mentors who have shaped my growth and development in many ways. I have also found personal motivation to become a better father to my own son...- Neil Cole, Journeys To Significance.....Hebrews13:7,8 "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

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#0002621

Finishing well is not something that you do at the end of your life--it is what you determine to do every day of your life. You do not finish well accidentally. Determine now that you will finish well or die trying--which, in the end, is really what it means to finish well...- Neil Cole, Journeys To Significance.....Phil3:13,14 "One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

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#0002622

There are two kinds of people in the world--those who live the adventure, and those who read about others' adventures. I determined a long time ago that I wasn't going to be someone who only read about the adventure of others. I would live the kind of life others would want to read about. I want a life of full-gusto, go-for-it faith that risks everything on the belief that God is indeed real and will carry me through. I want to live a life of increasing significance or die trying...- Neil Cole, Journeys To Significance.....Ephesians2:10 "For we are Gods masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."

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#0002623

One of the needs of a leader who finishes well is to have mentors and to mentor others. Paul was blessed to have good mentors, and he would grow to become one himself...- Neil Cole, Journeys To Significance.....Acts22:3b,4a ". . . in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained . . ."- 1Cor11:1 "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ."

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#0002624

"I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time. People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy(Ecc9:11,12).- We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps(Prv16:9).- Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God(Psa123:1,2).- Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee(Psa143:8)."

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#0002625

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking(James1:5). But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind(v6). Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord(v7). Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do(Jam1:5-8)."

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#0002626

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy(James1:2). For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow(v3). So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing(Jam1:4).- So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters(James1:16). Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow(v17). He chose to give birth to us by giving us His true Word. And we, out of all creation, became His prized possession(James1:18)."

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#0002627

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry(James1:19). Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires(v20). So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the Word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls(v21)."

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#0002628

To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart and a free mind...- Pearl Sydenstricker Buck...........John1:4,5 "The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

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#0002629

"He came into the very world He created, but the world didn't recognize Him(John1:10). He came to his own people, and even they rejected Him(v11). But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God(v12). They are reborn--not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God(v13). So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son(Jn1:14)."

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#0002630

Never exaggerate your faults, your friends will attend to that...- Francis Bacon......Eph4:31,32 "Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you in Christ."

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#0002631

Value your words, each one may be the last...- Stanislaw Lec......Numbers6:25,26 "May the Lord let his face shine on you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord look kindly on you and give you his peace."

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#0002632

The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action...- John Dewey......Psalm16:9-11 "No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."