Have you ever been excited about something? I just received my new iPhone 4 in the mail the other day, and the anticipation of opening the package and using my new phone got my heart racing. Only a geek would understand!
All of us have our passions – things that set our hearts to racing in anticipation. Spurgeon reminds us in this quote that our love for God should excite us as well, and it should impact everything we do.
The beautiful image of frost on the trees in winter fits well with Spurgeon’s final thought. We should make God our only object – we need to focus on Him so that our zeal would not grow cold. I’ve got a long way to go, but I thank God for the help of His Spirit.
I hope you have been blessed by this quote from Charles Spurgeon 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.
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 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.
Well, the hyenas are laughing these days according to this Will Rogers quote! The current administration must be full of them. There’s just no other way to explain the mess we’re in.
The problem is that the idea of this being a “good administration” as Will Rogers says seems to be nothing more than an illusion. When you pull back the curtain, or even casually look into the facts we find that the Washington rhetoric doesn’t match reality.
The spin they try to put on their policies provides more material than a good humorist can possibly keep up with. Take this quote from our Vice President: “Just because the Recovery Act was a monumental failure, does not mean that it is not working.” Or how about when the former Speaker of the House said that “We need to pass this bill so we can find out what’s in it.”
We can only hope that the laughing hyenas in this “great administration” don’t cause more damage before the next election. If the “breaks” are with us, perhaps the next administration will bring back some good old common sense to government and the laughing hyenas can go laugh somewhere else.
Image Information Will Rogers is pictured on a movie set. Over his career, Will Rogers starred in 48 silent films and 21 movies with sound (talkies). At the time of his death in 1935 he was one of the top box office draws, second only to a very young Shirley Temple.
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.
As I look back across my life, I am continually amazed to see God’s hand in events large and small. God called me out of a life of sin and self-destruction. He has guided my path step-by-step, through dark times and blessings.
In Psalm 78 we understand that God chose David. Had this not happened, David would likely have tended sheep for the rest of his life. There would have been no record of his life because there was nothing remarkable about him. Instead God lifts an unknown and unremarkable young man from obscurity to become one of the major figures in Scripture.
The story of David’s choosing can be found in I Sam 16. From this passage, God makes it clear that the choice of David was His choice alone, and not a choice based on human reasoning, luck or chance. God chose David, David didn’t choose God.
I think the same is true of my life. God chose me, I didn’t choose God. In fact, Had it been up to me, I never would have chosen God. Furthermore, had I made all the choices in my life, it would have been a mess.
Ask God daily for his guidance. Look back and acknowledge God’s day-by-day work in your life. Thank God for the many blessings he has brought your way. It is a great comfort to know God chooses my path and directs my life. If I had to trust in my own choices, I would find no peace, and God would receive no glory.
Dear Lord, Help me to trust in your choosing. Let me earnestly seek your guidance each day, that you might be glorified. Amen.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 78 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.
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.
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 day while Samson is walking along the road, a young lion “came toward him roaring.” Then is says that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and, with his bare hands, he tore the lion apart in pieces.
Later Samson returned to the place to find a swarm of bees in the carcass of the lion, and Samson scraped the honey out with his hands and ate it, and gave some to his mother and father.
From the account of Scripture, we know that Samson was a strong guy, but notice that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him as the lion came toward him. God was with Samson during this deadly confrontation. I have trouble carving a turkey with a knife, but Samson tore apart a lion with his bare hands!
From this story, we find out that God was with Samson during the trial, and saved his life, plus sweet honey grew out of the aftermath. So it should be with us if we rightly consider our situation as Spurgeon says.
Dear Lord, Help me to acknowledge your presence during trials, so that my faith may grow stronger. I praise you for the honey that grows out of the adversity, the sweet taste after the bitter trial. 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.
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.
When asked about the first thing they want to do when they get to heaven, most people say something like “I want to see my mother and father,” or “I want to say hi to Uncle Bushrod – he was my favorite uncle.”
Those are nice thoughts, and I’m sure we will have fellowship with saints who have gone before us, however the reward of heaven is to see Jesus – to thank and praise him for his salvation.
If you look at the image closely, you will see that the rabbit is buried in snow. Winter is a hard time for many animals, but it can be endured because of the promise of spring.
Adversity comes to the christian in many ways. We can endure it because of the promise of heaven. The harsher the winter, the sweeter the spring, and likewise the greater the adversity, the sweeter the promise of heaven.
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 RogersCongress wants to START down the same old worn out and ineffective path again. During Rogers day, in the aftermath of WWI, diplomats had numerous conferences on disarmament. Funny thing was that they could never agree on what battleships to scrap, or weapons to destroy. Rogers attended a number of these conferences for the humor value, and sent his dispatches back to the U.S. newspapers.
If you are a nation intent on peaceful coexistence, you would like to at least have a good defense. If you are an aggressor, you’re not going to give up anything, so what good does it do to try to define what weapons can be used, or not used?
Today, the diplomats have put together another grand masterpiece of useless agreements on weapons restrictions and reductions. The danger today is that we’re the only ones that seem to take it seriously, to the point of dangerously weakening our defensive systems.
Can you imagine one of those diplomats coming face-to-face with some thug on a Washington, DC side-street? The diplomat confidently points out that he has disarmed according to the treaty, and that the thug’s gun is not to spec, and that he is not wearing the proper uniform. The thug then confidently pulls back the trigger and says: “Your money or your life!”
Image Information: Will Rogers was an expert with the lasso. This rope loop is called the big crinoline and the size of the loop, plus the fact that he is on a running horse shows Rogers’ expert skill.
The image was taken directly from photographs 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 quote is from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotional. The code M12-19 means that it is from the Morning reading on December 19.
The sparrow image was chosen to match the quote and really helps to emphasize God’s care for the least of His created creatures and how he truly cares for each of us.
The Spurgeon Quotes iPhone app has quotes for each day of the year with a matching image. The day’s quote is presented when the app is launched, plus you can browse through the other quotes if desired.
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 never met a man I didn’t like.” This was perhaps one of Will Rogers’ most famous quotes. He could call presidents, senators, congressmen and many famous people friends. Rogers was extremely generous in raising money for the Red Cross to aid families in distress from natural disasters. He even traveled to other countries to help bring relief.
Image Info: 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.
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.
Have you ever been in the right place at the right time to see something special? A few weeks ago, after a late afternoon thunderstorm, I looked outside to see the most magnificent rainbow. In fact, there were two rainbows. The colors of the dominant one were so bright and vivid – it was breathtaking. A few minutes later it was gone.
As I think about my life, I can see that God has led me with love and precision. He has placed me at the right time in the right place to accomplish his purposes. One step to the right or the left would not have accomplished his purposes and would have led to disaster.
When I look at the image of the mountain goat perched on a ledge, I think of the precision of each foot placement and how one misstep can lead to disaster. Yet they live and thrive in the high places.
I know it’s not my skill, strength or intelligence that sets me on high places. To God alone be the glory for leading me every moment of every day.
I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 18 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.
![Let me stir you up in his name to make diligent search and solemn trial of your state, lest you come short of the promised rest. ... Let the oldest saint look well to the fundamentals of his piety, for grey heads may cover black hearts: and let not the young professor despise the word of warning, for the greenness of youth may be joined to the rottenness of hypocrisy. E12-18</p> <p>[professor – One who makes a public avowal of his belief in the Scriptures and his faith in Christ. “Professors of religion.”]](https://systemsofmerritt.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/spur009i.jpg "Spurgeon Daily Quote")
To examine one’s faith is a most difficult, but most necessary exercise, for both young and old, as Spurgeon points out in this quote. It is something that you must do on your own, in a quiet moment, like the penguin in the picture.
What state am I in? Do I have forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ? Am I a Christian? Am I growing in Christ? Am I struggling with sin? How can I know these things. Should I trust someone else’s opinion of my faith in God?
The only way to truly examine one’s faith is by God’s Word, the Bible. According to Ephesians 2:8-9 we are saved by grace, not by works. If you think good works such as helping the poor or going to Church are going to get you to heaven, ask God for grace and forgiveness of your sins.
Are you a Christian, but are lacking in assurance and growth as a believer. Look to and study the Scriptures, and seek fellowship with other believers for help. Lack of assurance does not necessarily mean lack of salvation. Be patient, assurance will come with growth.
Dear Lord, As I examine my faith, as I look into your Scriptures, work in my heart and life. Help my faith to grow so that I may come, at last, to your promised rest. 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.
When I read about Jonah, or the Israelites in the wilderness, my first instinct is to think: “What a bunch of stubborn boneheads! Don’t they ever learn?”
Just about the time I start to congratulate myself on what a fine example of obedience I demonstrate, compared to others, the Lord sees fit to humble me. It’s me, Frank, in the belly of the whale taking another dip under the water, just like the image on the left. It’s me, Frank, walking through the wilderness, until I learn my lessons.
When I am deposited on the beach, I’ll brush the seaweed out of my hair, preach the gospel to the (stunned) fishermen, and ask directions to Nineveh!
Dear Lord, Let me yield myself to you rather than strive against you. Help me to humble myself, so that I may serve you without delay. 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.
When I was young, I was a Navy brat. My father was a career military man and we lived in a number of different places, including abroad. We also travelled across Europe, following his ship from port to port. I’ve seen the beautiful cathedrals, Roman ruins and great works of art. I’ve also observed the …
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 …
Cindy and I just became grandparents recently. She had the privilege of being with our daughter when the baby was born. The pictures of our newborn grandson are precious. The closest I can come to the concept of a shining face is that of a new mother gazing upon her baby for the first time. …
When asked about the first thing they want to do when they get to heaven, most people say something like “I want to see my mother and father,” or “I want to say hi to Uncle Bushrod – he was my favorite uncle.” Those are nice thoughts, and I’m sure we will have fellowship with …
This is one of Will Rogers’ most famous quotes, and it’s probably just as true today as in 1930. 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 …
For whatever reason we don’t seem to take notice of problems until they become a crisis. Government seems to be especially bad about this, and the news media knows that crisis headlines sell. Will Rogers makes a great observation with this quote. In fact, sometimes it seems that the government prohibits putting out the fire …
I’m always interested in contests where we are asked to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar. I might make an attempt to count some of them through the glass, but soon give up in frustration. Usually I make a wild guess, which turns out to be nowhere the real number. I’ve never …
When I was working on my masters degree at the University of Illinois I built instrumentation for their Aeronomy program. We made rocket payloads that would gather data from the upper atmosphere which would allow us to look at the nature of energetic particles that stream down the earth’s magnetic fields. I love science and …
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 …
I love peaceful scenes like the one in the picture. A glassy lake, the ocean in the morning, fog settling over the mountaintops, a quiet evening at sunset are the times I remember. With the busyness of life we enjoy the peaceful times that God gives us. As I have time to relax and enjoy …
