Great is the Lord – Psalm 48 ESV 2 Minute Devotional

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.

Spurgeon on Spurgeon on “Affliction, Grace and Strength” ~ 2 Minute Devotional

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.

Will Rogers on “I Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like”

“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.

Will Rogers on “Are we Cuckoo?”

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 nickel. I save my money and don’t spend more than I make. Farmer Jones is mighty educated though, so maybe he knows what he’s doin’.

Lately though, there’s been more people gathered at the Jones farm and activity than slopped hogs at the trough. New tools arrive by the truckload, new buildings, electric tractors and animals.

But there seems to be a problem. I’ve loaned him all the money I can and he’s emptied his silos to buy expensive cattle scanners. He’s been begging me for more, but I just don’t have any more to lend. He promised that even if he can’t pay me back his kids and grandkids can handle it.

With all that money you would think the Jones place would be going gangbusters. Funny thing is that half of his farm hands have been laid off, because the shovels weren’t ready. The building projects kept people busy for a short time, but they ran out of money half way through. I also noticed that the people managing his projects were the same ones that ran his campaign for Commissioner of Bug-tussle County. Sometimes I see ’em walkin’ down the road with suitcases full of money.

The other day I asked Farmer Jones if he hoped things would change for the better. He said that he was thinking that this was the new normal. Then he asked me: “Brother, can you spare a dime?”

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 Rogers

Will Rogers on “Raiders of the Lost TARP”

Will RogersCongressmen used to carry home suitcases stuffed with cash, but today it’s all done electronically. So much money is flowing out of Washington, it like a dam burst and flooded the entire valley.

There’s a $700 billion wall of money roaring down the valley covering the countryside with cash. The original allocation was designed to rescue the banking industry. About 3 months after passage, almost $300 billion of TARP funds had been spent.

There’s a tiny little problem with the program – nobody actually knows how the program is being run and where the money is going. Of over 300 banks receiving funds only two were required to detail how the money was to be spent.

Another tiny little problem is that instead of banks lending the money (the original intent), banks are hoarding cash and tightening lending because of market uncertainty.

It turns out that to run a program that massive, you need to hire more accountants, financial analysts, managers and hog callers by numbers greater than all the head of cattle in Oklahoma.

Let’s summarize. We don’t know where most of the money went. The money we do know about isn’t being used for the purpose intended, and oh yes, there is concern about fraud.

Well I guess we just need to trust these great statesmen on the banking committee and at the treasury. They are smart people and I just know they are putting all that taxpayer money to good use. As a statesman, it’s all about good intentions.

Well, the dam has burst and there’s no money left in reserve. It’s all gone, but we sure have a bunch of statesmen, by Will Rogers definition.

Reference: Where’s all the TARP Money? Forbs.com

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 Rogers

The Hills Skip like Lambs – Psalm 114 NIV 2 Minute Devotional

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.

EXTRA!

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 Rogers on Government Aid

The image shows Will Rogers doing one his trademark rope tricks – the big crinoline. Rogers plays out the lasso into a huge loop, not only encircling his horse, but the entire baseball team as well.

The quote: “Things in our country run in spite of government. Not by the aid of it.” still rings true today. In many cases the unintended consequences of legislation make the problem worse, not better.

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 Rogers on “War is Coming!”

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.

Uncountable Blessings – Psalm 139 NASB 2 Minute Devotional

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 seen a contest where the challenge was to guess the number of grains of sand in a jar. Somebody has to actually count all the grains, and even a small jar of sand has a huge number of individual grains.

As we read the scripture and listen to God’s word preached we can begin to understand some of God’s precious thoughts toward us.

There’s a lot of sand in this world, and even trying to number the grains of sand in this image is an impossible task, for the number is too great for us to comprehend.

Consider our infinite God who would bend his thoughts toward us in infinite detail. Our only response can be worship and praise!

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 139 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.

Mourning into Dancing – Psalm 30 ESV 2 Minute Devotional

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.

Navy Psalm 109:30 on “Give Thanks to the Lord” ESV 2 Minute Devotional

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 Rogers on “Business Disruption & Meeting of The Federal Reserve”

The U.S. economy is amazingly resilient, but it can only carry so much dead weight in the form of government taxes, policy and regulations before something has to give.  The current administration and the Federal Reserve Bank continue to throw gasoline on the fires of recession, burning up business growth and precious jobs.

While this occurs in in any administration, the economy eventually quenches the fire and things get back in balance after a year or so. With this administration, however, the fire is out of control and by either incompetence or design, they continue to feed a fire from which the economy cannot easily recover.

It all seems to stem from a complete lack of business common sense pioneered by Democrat Party legislation and mandates filled with political correctness and social engineering. By requiring banks to engage in risky loan practices, and masking the problem, the mountain of worthless paper finally precipitated our current financial crisis.

So the Federal Reserve encourages more risk? Read it here:

“Meanwhile the Federal Reserve is urging the banks to go on taking risks. It has been injecting cash into the banking system for the past half-year while urging bank CEOs in confidential chats to offer more credit. The aim is to keep on financing consumer spending and even to stimulate it further — for reasons of patriotism. There’s a word for this policy — madness.” (Source: www.spiegel.de from 4-14-2008)

Patriotic or not, common sense tells us not to take unnecessary risk in uncertain economic times. In spite of huge injections of cash into the economy in the form of stimulus and recovery legislation the administration has not been able to convey economic stability. Instead they keep throwing gasoline on the fire!

While the FED emphasizes patriotism, the Vice President inspires confidence with this quote: “Just becaust the Recovery Act was a monumental failure, does not mean that it is not working.”  Businesses beware when the Federal Reserve Bank meets. Will Rogers is right, again!

Image Information: This image shows Will Rogers holding his son, and at the same time spinning his lasso around them both.

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.

Spurgeon on “The Delusion of Pride” ~ 2 Minute Devotional

There are so many things that cause us to be proud, even as Christians – possessions, accomplishments, position in the company, abilities, etc. This recession has been difficult for me. When I’m out of work and can’t find enough money to pay the bills, I get upset at God. I know I could make a good wage if only someone would hire me. In fact, I deserve to be hired!

On the other hand, when I’m doing well, my tendency is to think that it’s all because of my own efforts and abilities. In fact, I deserve to do even better!

Humility before God and man is the better way. If I can acknowledge that all that I have, and all that I am are gifts from God, it will be easier to trust Him for my needs. If I can humble myself and acknowledge that I need God to save me from my sins, He will hear me.

Recently I’ve been reading the first six chapters of the book of Daniel in the Bible. Read the chapters if you will, and consider the deep humility and faith of Daniel. God reveals the king’s dream to Daniel in chapter 2 and Daniel could have taken credit for it before the king, but instead he says “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” As a result the king responds to the interpretation by praising God, saying: “Truly, your God is God of gods, and Lord of kings…”

On the other hand, in chapter 4, we find that the king is humiliated for seven years because he didn’t give credit to God. When the king’s mind was restored he lifted his eyes toward heaven and “blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever.”

Dear Lord, Help me to acknowledge my need for you in everything I do. I humbly ask you for salvation through Jesus Chirst, who humbled himself for me on the cross and died for my sins. 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.

Will Rogers on “Lay Down Our Weapons”

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 arguments for disarmament in one word: “cuckoo.” The happy version goes like this: Both parties get rid of lots of weapons and the world will be a safer place. The scary version is we disarm, trusting the other party to do the same, even if they lie to us. Even worse is the fact that the current administration wants to compromise our ability to even defend ourselves with treaty concessions.

Here’s a little story for you. Farmer Jones down the road is a nice guy, but he is known to have a mean streak. When he gets drunk, he threatens to blow my farm off the map, but when he’s sober, he says he’s a nice guy and suggests that I get rid of all my guns. He did blow up two of my barns one time, and cut the heads off of some of my chickens when I wasn’t looking.

I’ve found that modern inventions have done wonders in keeping the peace. When he found out that his bullets were no longer effective against my bullet defense system, he could only complain that it wasn’t fair. When he realized that my guns had twice the range of his, he calmed down pretty quick. I told him that if he ever threatened my chickens again, my chicken protection system would fill his hide with buckshot.

Farmer Jones and I get along fine now. We trade chickens, hogs and corn. We have an understanding. You touch my chickens, hogs, barns or junk and I’ll blow you to kingdom come. He knows I can do it, and he knows I mean it.

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 Rogers