Sometimes we engage in struggles to accomplish a particular goal. I was out shoveling snow this morning. It’s a lot of work! The more I shoveled, the more tired I got. My heart was racing and my body was getting weaker. I did finish finally, and sat down in a warm room to catch my breath. The work was accomplished, my energy spent, and the struggle was over.
The image shows a fish swimming upstream in an epic battle to reach the spawning grounds. All of his energy will be spent reaching the goal. The Psalmist, in this passage is engaged in struggle as well. There are prayers, tears and earnest pleas for help. He has committed a tremendous amount of energy toward seeking God. The Psalmist also recognizes that he is a sojourner. His stay on earth is temporary, and while here, his hope is in the Lord.
Dear Lord, Help me to turn to you in earnest prayer with passion and energy, that I may find your peace. Show me your salvation in Jesus as I seek you. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 39 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
Will Rogers is a genius! In February of 1932 he issued this quote as an observation and warning to Congress. It’s so simple: don’t spend money, until you know where it’s coming from. Even a child can figure out that you can’t spend money you don’t have.
Sad thing is, Congress never got the message. With this blog post, I’ll try and send Will’s message again. Here goes:
Hey Congress! “Every time we appropriate something we got to pass another bill along with it stating where the money is coming from.”
Up until I just resent Will’s message, you would have thought that the brilliant money men in the current administration and Congress were drunken sailors throwing money at anything and everything. They call it “stimulus” spending, but the only thing that got stimulated was the federal printing presses that churn out money.
Well, the former Chairman of the Federal Reserve said the stimulus didn’t help the economy, and the current Chairman said he doesn’t know what’s going on or how to fix it. The (formerly tax avoiding) Treasury Secretary is getting ready to jump ship, and the VP said that “just because the stimulus was a monumental failure, doesn’t mean it’s not working.” The President says we need to get used to a “new normal.”
It’s said that a fool is often parted from his money, but in this case, the fools parted us from OUR money! I hope we are able to some day soon send honest folks to Washington with some good old Will Rogers’ common sense before it’s too late.
This picture of Will Rogers entering the seaplane piloted by famous aviator Wiley Post is among the last photographs taken of Rogers before the fatal crash in Alaska on August 15, 1935.
The image was taken directly from pictures at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers Daily Quotes iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.
I remember a politician who famously proclaimed: “I feel your pain.” Where are the champions of the “little guy” now. Does anybody feel our pain? Oh, I forgot! The administration told us a while back that this higher level of pain and unemployment rate is the “new normal.”
And now that gas and food prices are going through the roof, these “statesman,” according to Will Rogers, want to raise our taxes to pay for the huge deficit they created in the first place.
“Long-sighted” politicians claim that they want to raise taxes only on the rich as if that’s going to help the rest of us. It’s like the government raising the rich man’s feed price, forcing him to sell his cattle and lay off his workers to pay the increased cost. The rich man looses business, and the “little guys” loose their jobs.
Talk of raising taxes in the midst of a recession has got to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of. Common sense would tell you that, but common sense and this administration go together like rednecks and bathwater.
If the administration really did feel our pain, they would understand that we are over taxed, over regulated, over burdened and over governed. Next election, perhaps these “long-sighted” statesmen will feel some pain of their own.
Image Information: This is an image of Will Rogers on the fateful August, 1935 Alaska trip. Within just a few days he would die in a plane crash with famous aviator Wiley Post at Point Barrow, Alaska. The entire nation would mourn his loss.
The image was taken directly from pictures at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.
Will RogersIt’s impossible to add much to a Will Rogers quote like this one! Over the past couple of years, we have watched an overactive congress pass a boatload of some of the most controversial and unpopular legislation ever. Along with that, they have spent and borrowed more money than even a drunken sailor could imagine.
Now that another party controls the House, the press is squawking about legislation designed to undo what was done by the other party. Every day we hear about more legislation for cutting this, defunding that and investigating something else.
As if people weren’t concerned enough about Federal legislation, state legislatures are capturing national attention. To add to the drama, some legislators are even fleeing state capitals.
Protests, rallys, demonstrations, radio, TV, newspapers and the internet are loaded to the limit with legislative news! When will they take a break, and let us relax for a few precious moments?
Image Information: Once Will Rogers found out he could get places faster by flying, he was constantly in the air. If you read his Daily Telegram articles, you will find him hopscotching across the country on a regular basis. In this picture he is standing in front of an open seat airplane, and is holding a flying helmet. Will Rogers was a great promoter of commercial aviation and was also acquainted with many of the great aviators of the day including Lindberg, Mitchell and Post.
The image was taken directly from pictures at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.
Psalm 2 7I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
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Why do we thank people? Normally it’s because they have done something for us and we feel some debt of gratitude. We should say “thank you” much more often – to our spouse, children, friends, pastor and others for what they do for us.
It is especially true that we should thank God more often. As Psalm 109 says, we should give “great thanks” to the lord. We should also understand that we are the “needy one” and God has saved us from death.
I love this picture of “Mr. Beaver.” It looks like it came from a Disney movie. With a raised paw he seems to be admonishing us to “Give thanks to God! Give thanks!”
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 109 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
Affliction is a relative thing. For some believers it means giving up their lives under severe persecutions. For others, they may loose all their possessions or be thrown in jail. For me, it may be a more trivial affliction, such as a temporary financial problem, relationship difficulty, or health problem.
Whether the affliction is great or small, whether the faith is little or great, God grants “sufficient grace” to carry us through. The result is we find new strength to endure, and a growing faith.
One thing to realize is that this growing strength isn’t like lifting weights, it’s not the result of our own work. Our sin-stained efforts are only effective because of the work of the Holy Spirit in us. It makes grace all the more precious and gives us more reason to praise God for his mercy.
I am always drawn to he cross of Christ as an example. Here was the most extreme affliction of physical suffering a human could be subjected to. In addition to the physical affliction, Christ bore my sins as well. If Jesus did that for me, then he understands my afflictions, and can bring me aid.
Dear Lord, When I am afflicted, help me to understand that you provide sufficient grace to help increase my strength. No matter the circumstance, there is always reason to praise you. Amen
I hope you have been blessed by this quote and the accompanying image taken from the Spurgeon Daily Quotes iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
I try to run on a regular basis. Not that I particularly enjoy being out of breath and exhausted at the end of the run, but because I know it is good for my health. I also know that it takes time to build endurance, and that after time, my body will become more accustomed to the work.
As we grow in the Lord, we begin to become more accustomed to praise and thanksgiving. It seems unnatural at first, but as our faith and endurance grow we become used to it. We understand better that it is he who made us, and as we look around at all the Lord has done for us, we begin to praise God more and more.
I imagine that the lamb in the picture must be saying “thank you God for green grass and a friend at my side.” Even for the simple things we can praise the Lord.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 100 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
Will RogersThe stock market crashed on October 29, 1929, and as you can see, Will Rogers wrote this quote 2 days later. This bit of Will Rogers’ common sense would have been a solution to the wild speculation prior to the crash.
Will Rogers seemed to find humor, in just about anything. It was his ability to help people laugh, even in desperate times that endeared him to hearts of millions. The timeless quality of his wit brings a smile to our face even today!
Image Information: In the image Will Rogers gives his wife Betty a goodbye kiss. Will is outfitted for a flight in an open cockpit airplane. Once he found that he could get places faster by flying, he was constantly in the air.
The image was taken directly from pictures at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.
We use the word “great” to describe people: “He was a great baseball player,” or “She has a great voice.” It is used to describe things like: “That is a great car,” or “We saw a great movie.”
While the word “great” elevates the person or thing above the ordinary, I feel that words fail us when trying to describe the greatness of God. Nor are there words that can fully express praise due to God, as in “greatly to be praised.”
In the Scriptures, mountains are frequently associated with the worship of God, such as Mount Zion in this Psalm. When we look at a mountain, such as the one in this picture, we think about massive, immovable, tall, and “great.”
However, give me the tallest mountain, and God is greater. Give me the greatest man alive today, and God is greater. Let me praise God with all my strength, and I can scarcely express my thanks for the “great” salvation God has given me.
Dear Lord, Help me understand your greatness that I may praise you more and more each day. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 48 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
How could Rogers know the consequences of cutting back on our defense in 1933? He had lived through WWI, peace conferences, and disarmament talks, and he had an amazing insight into human nature.
Today we have many of the same issues. We look to the UN for peace talks. We talk about nuclear disarmament. Some administrations cut back on defense technologies, support and strength. Additionally reducing our military strength are social engineering projects among military personnel.
The bad guys are still the bad guys. Weakness is their signal for action and aggression. Laying down our weapons doesn’t mean they will lay down their weapons or like us.
We have a department of defense, not offense. Our weapons protect and defend our citizens and interest. Will Rogers knew what would happen if the US cut back her defense. We should know as well.
Image Information: The image of Rogers is from his 1921 silent film Guile of Women. Rogers plays a Swede named Yal who travels with a friend to America to seek his fortune. After misfortunes in love and business, his girlfriend finally arrives from Sweden.
I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.
I saw an interesting quote the other day:
Nietzsche is dead. – God
Of course Nietzsche is the 19th century philosopher who famously proclaimed that “God is dead.” His life was a sad life, and those who embraced his philosophy left hope behind. Those who lose hope will be “overwhelmed by dread,” as the Psalmist says.
If I ever saw an arrogant look, it is Mr. Seal in the picture! Nose in the air, looking down on everyone else as less than himself. He believes his ideas are superior, but in fact, he is a fool.
Sometimes I am a fool, when I become proud and feel superior to others around me. As the song says: “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” A former pastor would remind me: “But for the grace of God, go I.”
It is God’s grace that saves us from corruption. Grace leaves no room for pride, because it is God’s work, not mine.
Dear Lord, If I have said in my heart: “There is no God,” help me to lay aside these foolish thoughts and turn to you with my whole heart. I need your saving grace, and I need Christ as my Savior. Amen.
If you were blessed by Psalm 14 and the image of Mr. Seal, look below for an extra treat. The Sons of Korah have put Psalm 14 to music. Listen to the sample and get your own copy at the iTunes store.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 14 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes NIV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
The Sons of Korah have put Psalm 14 to music. Listen to a sample below and purchase your own copy at the iTunes store by clicking on the button.
| Psalm 14a – Rain Album |  |
A refuge is a place of safety and shelter. It is a place that offers protection from any dangers that may affect us from outside. It is a place where we can find rest.
An example of refuge for many of us, would be the arms of our parents when we were young. They were arms that would comfort us when upset, and protect us when threatened. It is the instinct of a parent to protect a child from harm by wrapping their arms around the child, in times of trouble.
To a young child, the arms of the parent are strong. To the child, a father’s arms are the strongest in the whole world. The same arms that can lift heavy weights and wield hammer and tong, can gently lay a sleeping child to rest.
In this picture, there is power to destroy in the waves and rocks. No ship would dare to venture there. On our TV sets, we can witness first-hand the power of nature in natural disasters. We can see and feel the fear from events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, tsunamis, and great storms.
Yet even in the midst of such violent natural disasters, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” If God cares about us in the midst of big events, perhaps He even cares about all the little things that happen to us.
Dear Lord, Wrap me in your arms, not only during the times of turmoil, but also during the little trials that come during each day. Be my refuge during them all. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 46 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
Hurry up, God! I need this, I need that – right now! Perhaps we are far too impatient, which is why we can identify with the plea in Psalm 70 – “make haste to help me, O Lord!”
I have trouble waiting for paychecks. They never seem to come in time. Yet our needs have been met every time. Unexpected income and help from friends have taught us to “rejoice and be glad” as we see God’s provision for us time and again.
The beautiful dolphins in the image convey speed, power and grace as they glide through the water. Perhaps we can believe that God comes to our aid with speed, power and grace. Make haste, O God! For God’s provision let us say with the Psalmist “Let God be magnified!”
Dear Lord, When I am poor and needy, come quickly and deliver me. Let me love your salvation and magnify you continually. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 70 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ASV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
Years ago, when I was a teenager, I had no interest in God. I certainly didn’t want to follow Him or be accountable for the wrongdoing and sin in my life. I was in a downward spiral toward destruction. In this Psalm, it says God will destroy the wicked, but I am so thankful for God’s mercy. I think of Romans 5:8 where it says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Now that I have the benefit of God’s mercy and grace, I have a desire to love and serve the Lord. I have the opportunity to cry out to Him for my needs and praise him for answered prayer.
Dear Lord, If I am numbered among the wicked, as the Psalmist says, show me your mercy and grace in Christ Jesus. Rescue me and give me the desire to follow you that I may come to praise you with my whole heart. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 145 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes NASB iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
Will RogersIn 1932 Will Rogers predicted that it would take taxpayers 50 years to pay for all the massive appropriations of his day. How could he have been so wrong? It’s 75 years later now and we are still paying for massive social programs put into place during the Roosevelt years. Not only that, but …
Will RogersHow is it that in 1929 Will Rogers could see through all the fancy rhetoric to the reality of what they called “disarmament” in those days, and today we are doing the same thing, but with different names? We call it SALT and START, but it’s all the same. I guess it gives the …
Timeless Bible Wisdom from the Psalms for your iPhone -Click buttons below to buy at Apple iTunes Store- You can also gift one to an iPhone friend! Brought to you by Systems of Merritt, Inc. Get your daily dose of Bible encouragement and inspiration. Share Psalm Daily Quotes and images with your friends. . Psalm Daily …
When I am ill, or under some sort of affliction, it’s not really a time that I would normally think of as a faith-building experience. My instinct is to focus on myself and complain to anyone who will listen. In Judges 14 we find the story of Samson that Spurgeon mentions in the quote. One …
Will RogersBoy, were some people surprised to find out what the current administration had planned for the country. After two years, and poll numbers falling off the charts, people have started catching on. After the election, poll number were high and everybody was looking for hope and change. Hope left a long time ago, and …
Gentle Reader, I have a special treat for you today. Below is an article from the Will Rogers Memorial Museum website about Will Rogers and his passion for Christmas. Here is the original link for the article: Will Rogers Christmas. Enjoy! Will Never Outgrew Passion for Christmas CLAREMORE — Will Rogers never outgrew the child’s passion …
The saying: “Mister can you spare a dime?” typified the poverty and despair during the depression years. My Grandmother told me that young, out of work, men would travel from place to place looking for jobs. Many times they would come to her back door to ask for a bite to eat. Those were difficult …
Timeless Spurgeon Bible Wisdom for your iPhone -Click button to buy at Apple iTunes Store- You can also gift one to an iPhone friend! Brought to you by Systems of Merritt, Inc. Get your daily dose of Bible encouragement and inspiration. Share Spurgeon quotes and images with your friends. . Spurgeon Daily Quotes iPhone App More …
As I have been reading the Psalms, I have noticed that the Psalmist regularly encourages us to remember, remember, remember. Remember what the Lord has done for us. Remember God’s many blessings in our lives. Remember answered prayers. Remember his salvation. Remember his deliverance. Remember his mercy. Remember, remember, remember! In this quote, Spurgeon also …
![[Congressional] Investigations are held just for photographers. BEVERLY HILLS, Cal., April 4, 1934](https://systemsofmerritt.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/wr49-200x300.jpg)
At all these fancy investigations, the action seems to be in the photographers’ pit. The noise from shutters clicking is almost deafening. Thousands of pictures are taken of every move made by whoever is testifying. The perfect shot is one that captures an absurd grimace or a finger brushing by the nose. This requires the most …
