A lot of times, I don’t think to praise God because of the cares of this world – stress, strained relationships, financial difficulties, physical pain, weariness, etc.
Elsie, the cow in this picture doesn’t seem to have any cares. She has water, grass and hay; a large green pasture and lots of friends. Even in the winter, in difficult times as far as I can tell, Elsie the cow doesn’t seem to worry. Suppose all of my worries and burdens could be lifted. Then I could freely give praise to the Lord. Sounds like heaven to me.
In Psalm 146 the Psalmist gives exuberant praise to God right here on earth – “while I have my being.” Don’t worry about other things, but freely give praise to the Lord.
Dear Lord, help me to freely praise you, in all circumstances, at all times. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 146 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.
The image matched with this quote certainly shows what look like “giant walls” which fits nicely with Spurgeon’s quote. The word munitions normally implies materials used in war, but a second more general meaning is “material or equipment for carrying on any undertaking.” Lord, help us to be secure in whatever task you have planned for 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.
In this quote, Spurgeon compares us, the “jewel in the rough,” with Jesus, “the polished gem.” Looking to the example of Christ, and applying it to any situation we might face, is the best type of encouragement we can ever find.
Spurgeon mentions hoping that worldly people (worldlings [I love how Spurgeon uses these arcane words]) will admire us, will bring us no comfort. Beyond that we will find no comfort in our own strength, thoughts or things of this world.
Whenever I am confronted with a troubling situation or relationship, I ponder the life of Christ, because I know he experienced my feelings and pain. Christ’s experience was both physical and emotional, just like my experience or trial. He was fully man, and we shouldn’t forget, fully God.
When something bad happens to us, our natural instinct is to ask: ” Why is this happening to me?” The real question we should learn to ask is: “Why did this type of thing happen to Jesus?”
Do you think that your situation, as bad or difficult as it may be, was not experienced by Jesus? Honestly search the New Testament to find the answer. In Isaiah 53:3 Scripture tells us: “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…”
Are you acquainted with grief? Have you suffered betrayal by a close friend? Have your friends abandoned you? Are you poor? Have you suffered from hunger, or great physical pain. On the other side of things, Jesus was acquainted with happiness and joy that that came from sharing God’s love with his disciples and all he met.
Only if Christ experienced the full range of the human condition, my human condition, can he claim to be a savior, my savior. Worldlings won’t admire you. They won’t understand you, a jewel in the rough, just like they didn’t understand Jesus, the polished gem.
Dear Lord, Help me to look to you in any situation. Let me develop confidence that you understand, and that you can save, deliver and forgive me. 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.
Click on Image to Buy from Amazon
How could one man be gifted with so much talent and energy? Follow Will as he travels across America and the world. He worked and starred with all the performing legends of his day. He was friends with famous aviators, influential politicians, and the most wealthy people in the world. He met with Presidents. Yet through it all, he never forgot his humble Oklahoma roots and people loved him for it.
Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. The story of his life will inspire you and you’ll weep as you read of his untimely death in 1935.
There will never be another Will Rogers, but his legacy lives on through his quotes and the work of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, OK. How many of us would like to say with Will Rogers: “I never met a man I didn’t like?”
Give the gift of Will Rogers and watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.
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.
When I went to vote, I had to stand in line. I don’t like to wait, I’m pretty impatient. I did get to visit with friends, but I would rather have been on my way.
There’s no better picture of patience than the penguin. Male penguins sit atop their nest for weeks in order to protect their eggs. They can’t move or the eggs will freeze, so they sit patiently, through storm and bitter cold.
Waiting for the Lord is tough, but Psalm 27 admonishes us to take courage. God’s timetable is not our own and with patience He begins to align our timetable with His. We might think it is too late, but God is right on time with the answer.
Dear Lord, help me to be patient, let my heart take courage as I trust in you, even through storm and bitter cold. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 27 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.
Sometimes is doesn’t happen right away – turning mourning into dancing. A deep grief, difficult situations, or failure can take a while to work through.
An encouraging word from my precious wife, kids or friends helps a great deal. After time, the sackcloth is loosed and I can begin to dance, like the sea otters dancing in the water in the picture.
Helping others also works its wonders in my own heart. It helps me to be clothed with gladness, as the Psalmist says. Notice that praise and thanks are products of this change from mourning to dancing.
Dear Lord, help me to dance, and help me to be an encouragement to others, so that we may sing your praise and give thanks to you forever! Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 30 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.
I’m proud to be humble pretty much summarizes my belief that I can grow spiritually through my own efforts. Because I say it, means it is so.
Spurgeon’s quote helps me realize that all that I do, and all that I am is because of God, not me. Not that I am a bystander, but because God has given me abilities and gifts, plus God directs the outcome for His glory. This is true humility, giving God credit for everything.
For a clear picture of true humility, I think of Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2. The king had asked his wise men to interpret a dream. This wouldn’t have been a problem, except King Nebuchadnezzar wouldn’t tell them what the dream was, or perhaps he didn’t remember. If the dream couldn’t be interpreted by the wise men (including Daniel) of Babylon, the king would put them all to death.
Daniel and his friends prayed for God’s help, and in this passage, God reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel, along with the interpretation in a “night vision.” Daniel’s first response was a psalm of praise, found in verses 20-23.
Daniel’s meeting with King Nebuchadnezzar must be one of the most dramatic moments in all of history. When asked if he could tell the dream and its interpretation, Daniel acknowledged that no person could do such a thing, except “…there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…” Daniel even goes on to say that “…this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have…” This is true humility before God and man.
The beautiful flower in the picture points to the glory of it’s Creator. When we look at it, we know it didn’t create itself, and the flower contains no power in itself, except what was given to it by God. May we always direct others to our great savior and creator.
Dear Lord, Help me to acknowledge you first and always, in all that I am, and in all that I do. 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 was at a conference earlier this year near Rochester, NY, and during one of the morning sessions we felt the room start moving. It took a minute for it to register, but we had just felt the effects of an earthquake. There was no damage, but the moving and rolling feelings were unmistakable and quite startling.
In Psalm 114, the Psalmist recounts the parting of the Red Sea and Jordan river for the Israelites. These were real live physical events. Don’t you love the wonderful imagery used? “The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.”
Skeptics have come along and proposed various physical phenomenon that would account for these “miracles.” Let’s say we give them their non-miracle explanation for a moment. In that case they will then have to explain how their “non-miracle” event miraculously happened at precisely the time it did and that the duration was precisely the amount of time required to accomplish its purpose.
The Psalmist wants us to understand that the Great Creator can do as he wills with his creation. He can stop the flow of water, make the earth tremble, or turn the “hard rock into springs of water.”
If the earth trembles at the presence of the Lord, we should too. If God can move mountains, He can move us too. For these remembrances we should be filled with praise that God accomplishes His purpose for His people.
Dear Lord, When the earth moves, the wind blows, the rain falls or snow blankets the ground, let my mind be drawn to the Great Creator, our Savior and our God. Amen.
Look below for a musical treat! The Sons of Korah have put Psalm 114 to music. Listen and be blessed!
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 114 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.
Below is an extra treat! The Sons of Korah have put Psalm 114 to music. Listen to a sample below and purchase your own copy at the iTunes store by clicking on the button.
| Psalm 114 – Rain Album |  |
Will RogersHave you noticed that Congress seems to live in the land of “good intentions?” Some call it an “alternate universe.” It’s a place of love, happiness and prosperity.
How many times have you heard our legislators proudly proclaim that their legislation will bring world peace, end poverty, end hunger, end unemployment, put a chicken in every pot, cure cancer, clean up the environment, stop terrorism, and leave no child behind.
Noble goals indeed, but without fail there are always unintended consequences which create the opposite effect. The “War on Poverty” hasn’t ended poverty despite spending untold billions of dollars. Treaties never seem to bring peace, extending unemployment benefits seems to correlate with more unemployment, and cleaning up the environment seems to mean that nobody can live, work on, or enjoy the land any more.
The fact that the programs don’t accomplish their original goal, by any measurement, and cause more trouble that good, doesn’t seem to make any difference. In fact, the more colossal the failure, the more money is demanded to finish the work. Just the other day a high administration official remarked that the stimulus spending did what it was supposed to, and that we needed even more money to finish the job!
Will Rogers was concerned about an ineffective gathering of “our boys [and girls]” in Congress in 1931. I’m even more concerned about them gathering today! Not only are they ineffective, they are killing us with “good intentions,” because people are still hungry and unemployed.
Well, the Capitol grounds may be a place of love, happiness and prosperity, but if you wander down the wrong street a couple of miles away, you better be packin’ heat and be wearing a bullet-proof vest.
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.
Do you remember Marley from the movie “A Christmas Carol?” He was weighted down forever with terrible chains, forged during his life by his sins.
In this Spurgeon quote, we find another type of chain. This chain is made of God’s blessings, linked together in your life. This chain is light and uplifting, as you count the links and ponder each blessing. Spurgeon also talks of “showers of blessing,” that rain down upon the believer. Have you ever seen a parched plant after a spring shower? Almost immediately you can see the change as the plant revives and takes on new beauty. In this image of the leaf, you can almost feel the refreshment of the water upon its surface.
Do you have the converting grace from God? Salvation through Jesus and the forgiveness of our sins is the greatest blessing of all. With that Spurgeon says comes comforting grace and blessings undeserved. This gives us hope during the difficult times and helps us share an encouraging word with others who are in need.
Dear Lord, I give you thanks and praise for your “showers of blessing,” for undeserved grace and refreshing water from heaven. 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.
Wouldn’t it make you proud to see a procession of young men and women who are all dedicated to the service of their country. Each uniform is perfectly pressed and worn with pride. Row upon row, they march in unison. Each step is directed by the leader’s commands. For love and defense of country, some may even be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.
So marches the Church, down through the ages. Each Christian in the procession is clothed with the perfect robe of salvation, given by our Savior, Jesus. He has saved us from condemnation. He was at our right hand when we needed help. We can only praise and give thanks to the Lord in the midst of the great throng of believers.
Dear Lord, grant me your salvation, that I may praise you each day, even in the midst of the throng! Amen.
Psalm 109:30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. 31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.
Image info: PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 12, 2009) Midshipmen take the field during the march on at the 110th Army-Navy college football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (U.S. Navy photo by Damon J. Moritz/Released)
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 109:30 and the accompanying image taken from the Navy 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 RogersAfter WWI numerous peace [disarmament] conferences were held. Will Rogers attended for the humor value and sent dispatches back to the U.S. newspapers. He saw the futility in such agreements that tried to limit arms, as if that would bring world peace.
In this Will Rogers quote, he points out that even if we try to limit arms, it still won’t keep nations from coming up with new ways to kill people. Little did Rogers know in 1929 that within 15 years civilization would advance into the atomic age with weapons so powerful, entire cities could be wiped off the map.
Yet this quote still rings true today. Treaties, hailed as advances toward world peace might reduce some aging weapons, but new ones are always being developed to take their place.
But it’s worse than that. The U.S. seems to be willing to lay down arms and even limit vital defensive capabilities, even if the other side doesn’t abide by the terms of the treaty. That doesn’t even take into account rogue nations whose stated intent is to use nuclear weapons to destroy their enemies, including the U.S.
This is real simple. A strong defense is the best offense. Oceans don’t protect us like they used to. If we don’t develop the best defensive and offensive technologies we won’t be able to protect ourselves and our allies from future threats. Nobody wants to find out that we have no defense against an enemy that has a better way to kill us in the next war. But that would also assume we had leaders that possessed common sense.
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.
I’ve been so sick on occasion that I didn’t feel like doing anything. I didn’t even want to sit up and read because my eyes were sore. Sickness, grief, depression and other afflictions can get us down to where it feels like our soul clings to the dust, and our soul melts from heaviness, as the Psalmist says in Psalm 119:25. We feel like a desert wasteland, as shown in the image. Nothing is growing, nothing is green.
It’s amazing what a little medication can do for the body. A friend can come alongside to share the grief, or offer an encouraging word to help lift the heaviness of our heart. Rain in the desert can bring out beautiful blossoms and colors.
The Psalmist also asks for God’s help. “Quicken me” he says, “Make me understand the way of Your precepts” he prays. Once we start thinking about it we can begin to meditate on his wondrous works and offer the Lord praise for his grace and kindness toward us.
The passage continues: “Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me thy law graciously.” God’s word or law is our help and comfort.
Dear Lord, when our body is sick or our soul is heavy, please help us to turn to your word. Let it revive us, strengthen us and comfort us. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 119 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes KJV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.
Will RogersOn March 1, 1933 Will Rogers wrote this quote in his syndicated Daily Telegram column. If we knew where the current administration stood on anything today it would be considered a major breakthrough!
These days it seems we elect politicians on the basis of personality and promises. Knowing where they stand on important policy issues, or scrutinizing their history of voting doesn’t seem to be of much importance. Honesty seems to have gone by the wayside as well.
The irony of all this is that as a society we rely on the honesty of others to function. We have to trust the salesperson, the pastor, the businessperson and their promises. When that trust is broken we look elsewhere for fellowship, products and services.
If a politician changes their stand on an issue and breaks that trust with their constituents, the voters might just take their votes elsewhere on election day. I hope that a good statesman wouldn’t be just a curiosity.
Image Inforamtion: 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.
When I went to vote, I had to stand in line. I don’t like to wait, I’m pretty impatient. I did get to visit with friends, but I would rather have been on my way. There’s no better picture of patience than the penguin. Male penguins sit atop their nest for weeks in order to …
Have you left the church? Do you find problems with the pastor or certain people there? From this quote you might ask, “how can Christ delight in the church, and how is it beautiful?” Those people are unfriendly, hypocrites… and the list goes on! I have to learn every day, with God’s help, that I …
Will RogersIn this quote from April 23, 1933 Rogers indicates people are worried about inflation. Recently the Fed expressed its concern about inflation. With the current economy, and all the brilliant economic minds saying different things, I’m not sure what to think. I think I’m actually both confused and worried according to Rogers. I’m worried …
These past years have been a financial struggle for us, as it has for many of you. Financial struggles, however, seem to teach us how to depend on God to meet our needs. One of the things we did was to drop the cable TV expense. Interestingly, my wife and I, and three kids don’t …
Rogers understands nationalistic pride, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We should be proud of our country. The problem comes when such pride is bent on the destruction of other countries. Germany under Hitler would be a good example. Even today, there are problems. The leader of Iran says that Israel must be wiped off …
Being searched at the airport now days is quite an experience. Your bags are checked with X-ray machines, and full-body scans render you naked on somebody’s screen. You body and possessions are fully exposed to try and determine if you are a terrorist threat. The one thing that they can’t do at the airport security …
“The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.”—Will Rogers It’s just a simple printing press, but it just happens to be the printing press in Washington that prints our money, and it’s got the whole world upset. Everybody knows printing more money brings trouble. Let’s hope …
Praising God is special. For who he is, for what He does, for good or bad, in any circumstance, we can praise God. Praising God in the congregation with song is, to me, even more special. I don’t sing very good, but when the congregation sings together, I can lift my voice as well. There’s …
Have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do? I think all of us have at some time or another. Actually, movie plots are filled with these types of stories. The protagonist is cast out of society unjustly and has to fight against the odds to prove their innocence. The Psalms are filled with …
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 …
