a grateful heart...

a grateful heart

"I would maintain that thanks
are the highest form of thought,
and that gratitude is happiness
doubled by wonder."

- G.K. Chesterton

"Thou who hast given so much to me,
give me one more thing...
a grateful heart!"

- George Herbert

 "It is necessary, then,
to cultivate the habit of being grateful
for every good thing that comes to you,
and to give thanks continuously.
And because all things have
contributed to your advancement,
you should include all things in your gratitude."

- Wallace D. Wattles

tolerance...

tolerance

Yesterday, the devotional was about loving
each other (as Christ loved us).

Loving the person, however, is different
than loving each others sinful behavior.

It is imperative that you know the difference.

Some things must remain black or white...
not shades of gray... hot or cold...
not lukewarm. There is truth
and there is untruth. Anything
that is not true is untrue.

And wouldn't you, as an act of love
(because you love them)

not tolerate harmful or improper
behavior from a child...
even an adult child and at least
not make an attempt to help them
turn from or overcome such behavior?

You don't love them any less...
actually you love them a lot
or you wouldn't care.

"A new Decalogue has been
adopted by some of our day,
the first words of which reads,
'Thou shalt not disagree,'
and a new set of Beatitudes too,
which begins,
'Blessed are they that tolerate everything,
for they shall not be made
accountable for anything.'
It is now the accepted thing
to talk over religious differences in public
with the understanding that no one
will try to convert another
or point out errors in his belief.
Imagine Moses agreeing to take part
in a panel discussion with Israel
over the golden calf;
or Elijah engaging in a gentlemanly dialogue
with the prophets of Baal.
Or try to picture Jesus seeking
a meeting of minds with the Pharisees
to iron out differences.
The blessing of God is
promised to the peacemaker,
but the religious negotiator
had better watch his step.
Darkness and light can never
be brought together by talk.
Some things are not negotiable.”

- A.W. Tozer

Some things are just not to be tolerated.

What race are you?

What race are you?

We all belong to the human race...
I don't care what color you are,
who you are, what you do,
or where you live.

We are all God's creation and
He loves each of us.

We are commanded to love each other.

May God bless...
each and every one of us.

I pray we all will grow to love Him
with all our heart, our mind,
our soul and spirit and will
love our neighbor as our self.

take flight...

soar on wings

Don't remain forever grounded...
hope in the Lord and take flight.

"...but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles."
- Isaiah 40:31 NIV

about to reign...

about to reign

photo by Patrick Frey

"Does it not seem strange that Satan
has been allowed for six thousand years
to wrap and twist his coils around the world,
to work evil, and spoil, and mar the work of God?
Is it not a mystery why God,
the God of righteousness and holiness,
allows evil to go unpunished
and His own people to be
crushed and broken on every hand?
Truly this is the mystery of God...
God bears with evil till the hour of Judgment arrives,
when He will avenge the cry of His elect,
and come out of His place to punish the wicked...
evil, now tolerated and allowed,
will be openly punished.
The mystery is at an end.
Christ is about to reign."
- Walter Scott

bravely face...

bravely face

"On the wings of death and sorrow
God sends us new hope for tomorrow,
And in His mercy and His grace
He gives us strength to bravely face
The lonely days that stretch ahead
And to know our loved one is not dead
But only sleeping out of our sight,
And we'll meet in that land
Where there is no night."
- Helen Steiner Rice

How deep is your valley?

How deep in your valley?
photo by Patrick Frey

Half the battle is make the decision to climb...
but that is the easy part.

Now the work begins... it will test
your fortitude... it will test your strength...
it will test your perseverance.

In climbing you must really want to go higher and
you must avoid looking down and back.
You must cling to the rock as you climb.

You must have faith.

With Jesus Christ,
anything is possible...
no matter how deep is your valley.

"While a little faith
may bring your soul to heaven,
a lot of faith
– clinging to God despite your circumstances -
will bring heaven to your soul."
- Skip Heitzig

paths of sorrow...

paths of sorrow

"The heart knoweth its own sorrow
and there are times when, like David,
it is comforting to think that
our tears are put in a bottle
and not one of them forgotten
by the one who leads us in paths of sorrow."
- Hannah Hurnard

Can you not read?

cannot read?

"Man is a strange animal.
He generally cannot read
the handwriting on the wall
until his back is up against it."
- Adlai E. Stevenson

pedestal of pride...

pedestal of pride

original photo by Patrick Frey

We are to encourage one another,
but all for the glory of God,
not for our own glorification...
and not to be used as a license

to put on display what we

or what others have done.

Seek not the applause of
accomplishment for yourself.

"How sadly easy it is to make
of the very service God entrusts us with
a pedestal on which to display ourselves."
- A. W. Pink

His will, not ours...

His will, not ours

"In golden youth when seems the earth
A Summer-land of singing mirth,
When souls are glad and hearts are light,
And not a shadow lurks in sight,
We do not know it, but there lies
Somewhere veiled under evening skies
A garden which we all must see --
The garden of Gethsemane.

With joyous steps we go our ways,
Love lends a halo to our days;
Light sorrows sail like clouds afar,
We laugh and say how strong we are.
We hurry on; and hurrying, go
Close to the border-land of woe,
That waits for you, and waits for me --
For ever waits Gethsemane.

Down shadowy lanes, across strange streams,
Bridged over by our broken dreams;
Behind the misty caps of years,
Beyond the great salt fount of tears,
The garden lies. Strive as you may,
You cannot miss it in your way.
All paths that have been, or shall be,
Pass somewhere through Gethsemane.

All those who journey, soon or late,
Must pass within the garden's gate;
Must kneel alone in darkness there,
And battle with some fierce despair.
God pity those who cannot say,
Not mine but thine, who only pray,

Let this cup pass, and cannot see
The purpose in Gethsemane."
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(“Gethsemane”)