When I visited Pompeii years ago I was struck by the suddenness and completeness of the destruction of the city by the Vesuvius volcano. People were found frozen in position. Artifacts were preserved by the covering ash.
Some volcanoes move more slowly, as in Hawaii. The hot lava spews from vents as in the picture and moves slowly down the mountain to the sea.
Intense heat, pressure, explosive power and widespread destruction describe some of the physical effects of a powerful volcano. I imagine these effects in a spiritual sense when I think of fiery trials.
The severity of the trial can become so intense that we may fear for our very lives. We can’t imagine any escape from the pain, or can we? The fiery furnace in Daniel 3 is a great illustration of God’s power to override even the forces of nature to protect his children.
Spurgeon reminds us in this quote that God’s presence is both our comfort and safety. “Fear not, for I am with you” is God’s promise to us.
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.
Will RogersWill RogersHow come we’re in such an economic mess with a “sea of [government] economists” and a Treasury Secretary who runs the IRS, but can’t get his own taxes right? These guys just stimulated the economy into oblivion, and now are printing money and raising taxes to make up the difference. Every market that comes to their attention, they have managed to throw into chaos – oil, health care, auto, private aircraft, travel, airline, and the list goes on. It’s like pulling legs off a crawdad! Each missing leg slows it down, until finally it can’t move at all.
Now, Will Rogers was a man of common sense, and I think most of us regular people are as well. We know that you can’t continually spend more than you make and have a stable economy. We know that you shouldn’t overburden industry with regulations that are ineffective and useless. We know that you can’t overtax people and expect economic growth.
And by the way, don’t try to push the class envy, “tax the rich” argument. Can you argue that their money does more good taken by the government in taxes, or spent in the economy? Let them spend! Let them spend extravagantly if they want. That money goes directly into jobs, services and possessions that benefit the economy. Or perhaps you argue that it is better that a bloated government “invest” that money in bureaucrats and bailouts.
So here’s the message to the ivory tower economists, arrogant administration officials and elitist legislators: “Keep your fingers out of my grits [oatmeal for northerners], or you’ll get a fork in the back of your hand!” I think they felt a “poke” in the last election, but they seem to keep coming back for more.
It gets personal when they mess with MY grits. Mess with my job, mess with my salary, mess with my company, mess with my industry, or touch my junk, and suffer the consequences in the next election.
What can we do? For now, just laugh at them, keep spirits up, hope they don’t do much more damage, and vote them out in the next election. Meanwhile, watch your grits!
Image Information: The picture is a movie still from the 1935 Will Rogers movie The County Chairman. Will plays Jim Hackler, a local party-boss in a Wyoming county, who has to decide to do what’s right and lose the election, or what’s wrong and win.
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 RogersI was shocked when I came across this Will Rogers quote. He was referring to an industry convention of motion picture producers at the time. I normally think of Shirley Temple movies from this time period, not movies with sexual content.
Can you imagine stepping through a time warp from 1934 to today to witness the filth that saturates every broadcast medium today? It seems that Hollywood is always pressing the limits of decency, portraying all manners of social and sexual deviancy as justifiable and even normal.
Somewhere along the way however, movie makers discovered that consumers wanted to see “an old fashioned movie,” as Will Rogers says.
Image Information: This image is a Will Rogers’ publicity shot from the late 1920s or early 1930s.
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.
Some people are under the impression that it is possible to be fully sanctified this side of heaven. Is it really possible to be without sin in our daily lives here on earth?
Perhaps when I am older I could isolate myself from the cares of this world. I could live without sin and temptation and simply commune with Jesus until he returns or I die. In the past, monks and nuns separated themselves from the world in order to live a more perfect life before God.
Experience, common sense, the Scriptures, and Spurgeon tell us that in this life there will always be temptation and sin. There will always be a struggle with the flesh for the christian, even after a lifetime of serving God.
Spurgeon’s imagery in this quote drives home the point! “The great dog of hell will bark at you still.” The christian cannot avoid temptation, even through seclusion. Spurgeon points out that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness while alone.
What can we do? We can pray “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” We can trust God to not let us be tempted above our ability to endure it. (I Corinthians 10:13) If we do fall, we can repent and ask for forgiveness: “forgive us our debts.” (Matthew 6:12)
Dear Lord, Help me to draw closer to you each day, so that when the “great dog of hell” barks, I may resist temptation, and if I do sin that I may find forgiveness through Jesus. Amen.
If you are struggling with sin, and don’t have a relationship with Jesus as your savior, take a moment and pray for his forgiveness and help. Begin reading the Bible. I suggest starting with the gospel of John in the New Testament. Also, ask God to lead you to other christians for fellowship.
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.
Every day, in so many ways, God displays His wonders and power. They are all about us, in nature, in relationships, in events, protection, blessings, etc.
The wonders of nature are always stunning, if we take a moment to ponder them. From atomic structure to distant stars, as pictured in this beautiful NASA photograph. We can touch, smell, see, taste and hear these wonders of God. All our senses can be used to observe and delight in God’s glory.
Scientists spend entire careers examining just one tiny facet of creation. Collecting all the brilliant scientific minds in the world doesn’t even begin to answer all the questions, or explain natural phenomena. Like a drop in the ocean, compared to the vastness of creation.
Yet as insignificant as we may be, “He heals the brokenhearted” according to the Psalmist in this quote. He binds up our wounds. The great creator cares about His people. He even cares about me.
Jesus stepped across His created stars, He entered the realm of time, to become one of us. To feel the joys and suffering of life on earth, he truly understands our needs. As creator, he can truly bind our wounds.
We can only respond with the Psalmist: “Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!”
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 147 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.
Will RogersMost of us “little fellows,” as Will Rogers says, get along just fine. We struggle from time-to-time with job loss, keeping food on the table, and other hardships, but overall, we are confident that we can make a better life and enjoy some of life’s simple pleasures. We assume that the government will be helpful and not stand in the way of hard-working folks.
Well, it just “dills my pickle” that some of these big Washington liberals, who have never missed a meal, think they know what is best for the “little fellow.” They don’t seem to have any confidence in the foundational principles laid down in the Constitution.
The problem is that the changes they are making or want to make, make life more difficult for the “little fellow.” Jobs are lost in the auto industry, private aircraft industry, oil industry, insurance industry, travel industry, etc. Gas prices are going up along with everything else, and all they can say is that we should get used to the “new normal.”
Will Rogers always talked about common sense and I believe Washington needs a big dose of it about now. If they don’t wise up soon, some of them will be replaced in the next election.
The image was taken directly from movie stills 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.
How hard is it to seek God? How hard is it to praise God? It takes some effort, but that effort is pleasing to God. Plus, the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
Anyone can seek God. No matter the situation. Start by prayer, reading the Scriptures, look for Christian fellowship, listen to the preaching of God’s word and other activities that will encourage you in your faith. As you seek the Lord, you will want to praise Him for the grace He has given you.
When I exercise, even these old, tired muscles of mine get stronger. However, the exercise must be regular, and it must challenge the muscles to grow. Allowing my faith to grow is similar, and the result is a healthy, strong and vibrant faith.
According to the psalm, the results are significant: “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,” and “The poor will eat and be satisfied.” As I get stronger, I can encourage my family to get stronger, and together we can encourage other families, and so on, God helping us along the way.
Have you never sought God before. Then let’s pray together.
Dear Lord, Help me to seek you, that I might praise you for your saving grace, through Jesus. No matter what my sin, it can be forgiven. I want to believe, Lord, help my unbelief. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 22 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.
![Psalm 143:4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart is [Or desolate] appalled within me. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to You; My soul longs for You, as a parched land. Selah.](https://systemsofmerritt.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/nasb8i.jpg "Daily Psalm NASB")
There have been a few times in my life where I’ve been really thirsty. You know how it feels – throat parched, tongue thick, mouth feels like cotton. Fortunately in our modern world, water is usually nearby at a fountain or faucet.
I’ve seen movies and read books about people who have suffered from severe dehydration and thirst. Perhaps the person is lost in the desert, like the one pictured on the left. There’s nothing but barren rock and scrub brush. No streams, no ponds, no springs, no water anywhere.
I think the Psalmist captures the feelings of a thirsty wanderer in Psalm 143. The spirit is overwhelmed with the thought of finding water. All thoughts are consumed with the search. The mind drifts back to times when the glass was full, thirst was quenched, water was flowing in abundance. Then there is the mirage, the pool of water just ahead of us. We stretch out our hands and stumble toward the illusion.
Can I thirst for God, like the body thirst for water? Does it consume me, does it move me to long for Him and meditate on his blessings in my life?
Dear Lord, let me thirst for you and long for you in all I do. Help me to find the water of life in your scriptures and in the preaching of the gospel, in prayer, in worship, and in service to your people. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 143 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.
![O redemption, how wondrously resplendent dost thou shine when we think how black we are! O Holy Spirit, give us henceforth the hearing ear, the understanding heart! E12-16</p> <p>[resplendent – Splendid or dazzling in appearance; brilliant.]](https://systemsofmerritt.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/spur015i.jpg "Spurgeon Daily Quote")
In today’s world, redemption seems so bland and colorless. The reason is because sin is only seen as a light shade of gray. It is barely mentioned these days, even from the pulpit. Sin is rationalized, in order to avoid personal responsibility. Sin is made comfortable in order not to offend the sinner. It is our very nature to avoid dealing with sin in our lives.
Now consider the difference between turning on a light in the middle of the day, verses turning on the same light in the blackness of the night. In one case there is little or no effect from the light, but at night we have to shade our eyes and turn our head from the brilliance of the light.
Only when we begin to understand the deep blackness of our sin can we fully understand the “resplendent” redemption of God. We must shade our eyes, turn our head and give deep heart-felt praise to God for such great grace.
Dear Lord, As I consider the terrible suffering of Christ on the cross, help me understand that it was because of my terrible sins. It is then that my redemption does resplendently shine. 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.
The concept of eternity is something that we just can’t comprehend as time-bound human beings. Whether the most ignorant or brilliant, everyone must ponder what happened before the ages began and what will happen after the ages to come.
Are the mountains pictured in the image eternal? As unchangeable as the mountains might seem, we can’t bring ourselves to say they are eternal.
The passage from Psalm 90 works with that thought – “before the mountains were brought forth” and continues with “or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world.” When we consider eternity we should take great comfort that “from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 90 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.
There’s just something about the word “duty” that bugs me. It conjures up endless drudgery and work, that takes me away from other things I would rather be doing.
Yet there is something important that comes of duty. John Quincy Adams said: “Duty is ours, results are God’s.” What we do in service to God, be it caring for children, providing for our families, serving others, and many other things, is important. In God’s providence, He has knit all these things together for His purpose and glory.
In Spurgeon’s quote, he sharpens our sense of duty, by using a military example. A soldier endlessly trains and prepares for combat against the enemy. His duty is to train and fight, in order to serve and protect his country against a great evil.
The soldier must take classes on dragon scales, teeth, claws, fire and tails. He must learn how to use the weapons needed to defeat dragons, and when the training is complete, the soldier must face the dragon.
It is the soldier’s duty to train and fight. He understands that if he puts forth any less than all his heart, soul and strength he will not prevail. A soldier also understands that he is not alone. His comrades-in-arms, NCOs, officers, and generals are all working together to fight the battles and win the war.
When the battles are over, there is rejoicing, and when the war is won, there will be a great prize: life eternal. With the end in mind, duty is not so much a burden as a pleasure, because we know it pleases God.
I’ve fought battles with finances, relationships, work situations, anxiety, sinful thoughts and many other challenges. When my heart and soul and strength are not in the battle, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to prevail. If I haven’t done my duty, to train and prepare, I may get singed by the fire, or receive a terrible wound.
Dear Lord, Help me to do my duty, and fight with all my heart, soul and strength against the enemy. 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.
One of several reoccurring themes through the Psalms is God’s concern for the poor and oppressed. In Psalm 41, the Lord promises blessings and protection for those who consider the poor.
The Church and God’s people have always had a roll in ministering to the poor. Not only do they look after the needs for health care, clothing, food, and shelter, spiritual needs are considered important as well.
Why should I care about the poor? Because I was once destitute and without hope before someone shared the gospel with me. Because the church and God’s people have helped me with physical needs during difficult times. Because “Blessed is the one who considers the poor!”
Dear Lord, Help me to consider the poor, because I once was poor. Let my gratitude be my motivation, and my Your Spirit give me the strength. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 41 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.
Watching various posts, tweets and other social media messages, I see quite a few motivational quotes. They come in the form of “follow your dreams,” “strive to be the best,” “never give up,” “achieve your goals,” “be a winner” and so on.
These pieces of advice can be helpful, but take quite a bit of energy and determination. I have to ask myself, “Do I put as much energy into seeking the Lord as I do other things?”
The Psalmist speaks of rejoicing and praise coming from those who seek Him. The Psalmist also says that God takes thought for the poor and needy.
I admit, it’s easy to quit seeking God and pour my energy into something else. But I need to learn to love His salvation and praise the Lord more and more.
Dear Lord, Please honor my feeble attempts to seek you, and take thought for me. Give me strength and determination to seek you, rejoice and be glad in you, and love your salvation. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 40 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 RogersJust about the time you think you’ve won the “big contest” as Will Rogers says, something else pops up. It’s like that “hit the gopher” game. No matter how many times you knock the gophers back into their holes, more keep popping up.
We thought we had health care knocked down, and at the last minute it popped up and passed. Now there are “health gophers” popping up all over the place; in the congress, courts, radio, TV, doctors offices, insurance agencies, internet blogs, etc.
In the last election, lots of gophers got whacked, but then all those whacked lame gophers popped back up for one last bit of mischief. Now the budget gophers, tax cut gophers, clean air gophers, deficit gophers, and a hundred others are showing up. You can’t walk a straight line across the lawn in D.C. without stepping in a hole.
The people are trying to win, but nowadays, even when Congress adjourns, gophers still play their games.
I have faith that the American people will overcome this gopher challenge, and pound those rascals permanently into the ground. Unless, of course, gophers are declared an endangered species by the Department of the Interior.
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.
This Will Rogers quote must be true. How else do you explain how legislators get reelected after scandalous behavior or legislating against the will of the people. It’s just astonishing that some of these politicians have any credibility left, but they keep getting elected. It’s as regular and predictable as the milking schedule on a farm.
Strange thing seems to be happening these days however. If the last election is any indication, people do seem to be remembering. People turned out to vote and sent a large number of legislators packing. Several legislators resigned or didn’t run in order to avoid defeat.
I recall that these defeated legislators, along with the current administration passed legislation that was extremely unpopular. Not only that, but people understood that the unpopular legislation was passed through manipulation and trickery, without review and accountability. Anyone remember the Speaker of the House’s famous proclamation that: “We have to pass this bill to find out what is in it.”
Don’t know about you, but I don’t take kindly to being manipulated, tricked or lied to by legislators or the media. I expect something better; something more honest; someone with integrity; someone accountable to the people they serve. People and businesses can’t conduct commerce by lying to each other. We don’t do business with people that lack integrity. So why is politics any different.
There’s a movement underway, where people seem to be remembering more than two months. They are holding politicians accountable. They are looking for some integrity and common sense coming from Washington.
The next election is more than two months away. We’ll see if this Will Rogers quote still holds true.
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.
There is perhaps no more beautiful expression of a desire to seek God than “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” Once the image is in your mind, you can never forget it. Musicians have crafted it into their melodies (see Sons of Korah below) so …
Will RogersIn 1930 Will Rogers comments that we might starve to death in a land of plenty. How can that happen? Today, I want to share Bushrod Johnston’s (The name has been changed to protect the innocent.) story with you, sort of a parable if you will. Here is “Bushy’s” story. I’ve been farmin’ all …
Will RogersHere’s a story for you. Farmer Jones down the road is a strange bird. Somewhere he got the idea that spending all his money and borrowing like there’s no tomorrow is a way to improve his farm. Papa always taught me to be thrifty and Mama would tan my hide if I wasted a …
Timeless Will Rogers Humor & Wisdom -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 common sense, humor, encouragement and inspiration. Share Will Rogers quotes and images with your friends. . Will Rogers Daily Quotes …
Will RogersThe “bog hole of financial misery” a couple of years ago was at an unemployment rate one half of what it is now. After the election, people were asking the former candidate for new kitchens, jobs, chickens in every pot and better healthcare. Farmer Jones wanted a new barn and more hogs to slop.Will …
For many people, gazing at the heavens brings questions about the existence of a Creator to their mind. The distances are so vast that travel between planets can take multiple lifetimes at the speed of light. Looking at the stars, it becomes possible to imagine infinity – eternity. But a vague belief in God isn’t …
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 …
Will RogersSome of the ideas coming out of Washington these days just don’t seem to exhibit any common sense. My first mistake is probably using the words “Washington” and “common sense” in the same sentence. Folks have been debating disarmament since WWI and Will Rogers has a lot to say about it. I’ll sum up …
People in Alaska and across the country have been completely baffled by the outcome of the recent Senate election there. I was too, until I came across this Will Rogers quote. You see, the only thing worse than having this particular Senator in Washington, is having the Senator in Alaska. It all makes sense now. Alaskans …
