Quotes and Questions

If you take missions out of the Bible

there will be nothing left but the covers
Nina Gunter

Quotes and Question to Consider:

S. The measure of life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.
~Corrie Ten Boom
Q. What donation have I made today?


S. You can give with out loving. But you cannot love without giving.
~Amy Carmichael
Q. How is my love walk?


S. Not, how much of my money will I give to God, but how much of God's money will I keep for myself.
~ John Wesley
Q. Am I one of those people who never contribute anything into the lives of others, while criticizing ministers who are making deposits (spiritually, financially, physically, mentally) into the lives of others every day?


S. What's your dream and to what corner of the missions world will it take you?
~ Eleanor Roat
Q. Do I have a dream? What is it? How will it help others as it carries me?


S. The best remedy for a sick church is to put it on a missionary diet.
God had only one Son and He made that Son a missionary.
~ David Livingston
Q. Am I involved in a church that supports, raises up and sends missionaries?


S. God's Word done in God's way will never lack God's Supply.
Brother, if you would enter that Province, you must go forward on your knees.
~ Hudson Taylor
Q. Am I doing the will of God or simple going broke trying to do my own thing?


S. What is my task? First of all, my task is to be pleasing to Christ. To be empty of self and be filled with Himself. To be filled with the Holy Spirit; to be led by the Holy Spirit.

We are all making a crown for Jesus out of these daily lives of ours, either a crown of golden, divine love, studded with gems of sacrifice and adoration, or a thorny crown, filled with the cruel briars of unbelief, or selfishness, and sin . . .”
~ Amiee Simple Mcpherson
Q. Is pleasing God my task? Have I emptied myself, allowed the Holy Spirit to fill and lead me into faith and love and away from sin, selfishness and unbelief?


S. If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again.

I am glad to see that men are getting their rights, but I want women to get theirs, and while the water is stirring I will step into the pool.”

[That little man in black says] woman can't have as much rights as man because Christ wasn't a woman. Where did your Christ come from? . . . From God and a woman. Man has nothing to do with him.
~Sojourner Truth
Q. Am I prejudice? Do I have a problem with the opposite sex or do I see male and female as God sees them, both his wonderful handiwork? Am I sitting by complaining about being who I am, or am I doing something from the stand point of "I AM" ?

S. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
I could not at any age be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Q. Have I became complacent in life, by allowing others to make me feel inferior?

INSTANT PRAYER

Ro 12:12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Here we find that the way to rejoice in hope, and be patient in tribulation is through instant prayer.



Instant in this text comes from the word [ pros-kar-ter-eh'-o ].

Proskartereo is a compound of two words: pros which is a strengthened form of pro and kartereo coming form the word kratos.

• Pro: in front of, prior to, superior to, above, to go before, or ever.

• Kratos: vigor, dominion, might, power, and strength.

Therefore according to these Holy Spirit inspired words we are to: put prayer out in front of us, prior to every step we take, holding up God’s superior Word, keeping it above all else, letting it go before us at all times and in every situation. Allowing God to keep us strengthened, filled with vigor, and enabling us to walk in our delegated dominion, through Jesus Christ.

Sweeter than Honey from the Honeycomb

Psalms 19:7-14
Speaks to us about the Word of God, and tells us that it is to be desired more than fine gold, and that it is sweeter than honey from the honeycomb.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.


Here are just a few verses from God's amazing Word. Words that drip with sweetness, and act as medicine, nourishment and prosperity.

In these seven verses alone we see how the Word:

• pulls our lives together
• maps our lives out with clear signs making it plain to follow
• keeps us on course so we can enjoy life's ride (journey)
• is better than valuable set stones
• is sweeter than honey from the honeycomb
  
• warns us of dangers
• directs us toward hidden treasures
• keeps us from presumptuous sins and secret faults

Proverbs 24:13-14 says:
My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.



Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.



There are two kind of witnesses carrying the gospel message.

1. Those upon who's lips are the law of kindness.
2. Those who carry harsh condemning judgment.

• The first operating in love.
• The second from contention.

Are God's Words dripping from your lips like honey when you speak to others, or are the Words coming form your mouth hard and stone cold like gravel that breaks the teeth?

Let's be careful to get our daily portion of honey from the comb, and drip with sweetness everywhere we go.

Grow and Flouish

The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree: He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of Yahweh; They shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and green. To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Here David speaks of the righteous as a flourishing Palm-tree.
He even goes on to tell us how they grow…they grow like the cedar in Lebanon. But, how do the cedars in Lebanon grow? Until we know, how will we possible understand this beautiful poetic metaphor?

• Lebanon cedars grow at elevations of 4,264-6,888 ft.

Since we are raised with Christ and seated with Him in heavenly places according to Eph. 2:6 … that will be the place of elevation from which we best mature. To remove ourselves from this place, or to allow anything or anyone to detour us from this place will hinder our growth and can even be terminal.

• They grow best in deep soil on slopes facing the sea.

As Christians our roots must go down deep. We must be rooted and established in our faith [Col. 2:7], keeping our minds stayed on the Lord and our faces toward the harvest, (the sea of lost humanity). That is our co-mission.

• The trees require a lot of light and about 40 inches (1000 mm) of rain a year.

Like the cedars of Lebanon we require much light and rain in order to grow properly, thus we must remain continually in God’s Word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths [Ps. 119:105]. Allowing the rain of the Spirit to come down over us refreshing through times in His presence and in prayer.

• The cedars can grow 80 feet tall and spread out from 30-50 feet.

How encouraging to know that we can grow tall in spiritual stature and spread out on every side. Reaching in all directions to those in need.

• They grow very slowly.

Thus our need for patience while we are growing. As a tree can not run away as it awaits it’s fruitful season. So we must remain steadfast in Christ as we wait for the rewards of our faith. It is through Faith and patience that we will reap, not through faith alone [Heb. 6:12].

• The oldest tree is more than 1000 years old.

Like the cedar we too, are promised longevity [Ps. 91:16], good life, fruitful life bearing fruit in our old age.

• The Lebanon cedar doesn't flower until it is 25-30 years old.

Jesus was around 30 years old according to historic records before he begin his actual ministry. Born the Son of God, growing in the house of God, teaching and being taught … preparation time is never wasted time. To bring forth fruit out of season can be bitter and harmful, thus we must allow ourselves time to grow before we go.

• The flowers, or catkins are unisexual, with both male and female flowers on the same tree, with the ability to produce of itself.

God has given each of us male and female the ability to bring forth. Not because we are either male or female … but because we are Spirit. God's Spirit is neither male nor female and is able to produce of himself through us (male and female) in the earth.

Gen. 1:27-28
27 So God created man in his own image (spirit), in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (bodies).

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.


Now we can better understand the David’s text:
The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree: He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of Yahweh; They shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and green. To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.


To often we read the Bible in it’s poetic form, and yet fail to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us, to teach us and lead us into all truth.

The Word of God tells us to study to show ourselves approved. Therefore, we must discipline ourselves to be good students of the Word, always consciously sensitive to our teacher. When we do we will be ready for the test that life brings, and useful in the earth.

Have Your Feet Been Washed Today?

John 13

Washing His Disciples' Feet

^1-2 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.

^3-6Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"

⁷Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."

⁸Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!"

Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."

⁹"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!"

^10-12Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.

^12-17Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each others feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

As we walk through this World our lives are subject to all the elements of sin. Sin that must be mastered. Dirty attitudes are easy to pick up during the day. Attitudes that can mar the reflection of the very God we are to be reflecting to a lost World ... to our own family.

Our toes get stepped on by others leaving the dust of carried offense. Offenses that leave a residue of resentment. We are wronged and the next thing we know we are either running to a cave of isolation, or lashing out in anger. Thus, we need to spend time in the Word and communing with the Jesus daily, allowing him to speak into our lives ... to wash our feet.

If Jesus has been willing to wash our feet, should we not do the same for Him by washing each others feet, by speaking words of life, love, and forgiveness to them; by offering grace one to the other? Wash today, and be washed ... leave the sweet savor of Jesus everywhere you go.

Before They Call I Will Answer

This Morning as Isaiah 65:24 was brought to my attention I ran across this beautiful story written by a missionary who worked in Central Africa.

As I share it, my pray is that you will turn to God with Child like Faith, and look to Him as the Heavenly Father who loves you deeply, hears you when you pray and even before you ask ... is caring for your needs.

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.

Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates)..

‘And it is our last hot water bottle!’ she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

‘All right,’ I said, ‘put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.’

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. ‘Please, God’ she prayed, ‘Send us a hot water bottle today . It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.’

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, ‘And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she’ll know You really love her?’

As often with children’s prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say ‘Amen’? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren’t there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.

Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses’ training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the porch was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly… Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.

From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the….. could it really be?

I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, ‘If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!

‘Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, ‘Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she’ll know that Jesus really loves her?’

“Of course,’ I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God’s prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it that afternoon.

“Before they call, I will answer.” (Isaiah 65:24)

How well is your house built?

Proverbs 24:3-4 amplified
Through skillful and Godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established (on a sound and good foundation), And by knowledge shall its chambers (of every area) be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.


Success comes not by chance, but by careful management and godly counsel. Our lives and families, should each be built upon God's Word foundation. We are told in Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Wisdom builds on a solid foundation. The Word of God is Solid. That Word is the foundation upon which we should build and with understanding of the Word are established in our faith.

Once the foundation is laid, and our faith established it is time to move on in the knowledge of the Lord that our house might be filled with all that is good and perfect. Hosea said, that we are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Hosea was not saying that knowledge was not available, it was because available knowledge was rejected.

Ho 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Knowledge comes from obeying God's instruction. When God tries to instruct us through His written Word that is forever established, or through the person of the Holy Ghost who aligns and agrees with the written Word, and we refuse, or reject it ... destruction is sure to follow. Knowledge refused is like the man who built upon the sands.

Matthew 7:26-27
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.


Knowledge received, instructions obeyed brings great riches into our lives. Therefore, let us be Like the Wise man who built his house upon the Rock. When the winds blew and the rains came ... (the storms of life), both He and His House were left standing.

Luke 6:47-49
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Pray Without Ceasing

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

So many have read this scripture and put themselves into bondage. They think they must go into a prayer closet and never come out. They quit maintaining the duties of their homes, pull away from community affairs, and forsake time with their spouses and family. This ought not be.
Our lives should be a life of living prayer. We like Enoch should be walking with God daily, allowing him into all the affairs of our lives.

Why not invite Christ through the person of the Holy Ghost to be a part of your daily duties, community services and family gatherings.

• Allow Him to have a say in all that you do.
• Allow Him to quicken you to pray at any given moment concerning what is happening in your life and int he World around you.

In allowing the Holy Spirit to lead in prayer, you find rest, and in this rest there is liberty and great effectiveness.

E. M. Bounds penned these words concerning I Th. 5:17 ...

Always does not mean that we are to neglect the ordinary duties of life; what it means is that the soul (mind, will and emotions), has come to intimate contact with God in the silence of the prayer chamber and is never out of conscience touch with the Father, that the heart is always going out to Him in loving communion, and the moment that the mind is released from the task upon which it is engaged it returns as naturally to God as a bird does to a nest.

What a beautiful concept of prayer we get if we regard it in this light, if we view it as constant fellowship, an unbroken audience with the King. Prayer then loses every vestige of dread which it may once have possessed; we regard it no longer as a duty which must be performed, but rather a privilege which is to be enjoyed a rare delight that is always revealing some beauty.

Isn't it redemptive to view the Word of God in Light?

Living Responsibly in the Body of Christ

I Thess. 5:13-22 (The Message)

^12-13And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

^13-15Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

^16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

^19-22Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

Exhortations on How To Live Responsibly
From the Apostle Paul

• Honor your hard working leaders, overwhelm them with appreciation and love.

• Get along with each other and always do your part.

• Warm the freeloaders to get a move on.

• Encourage the stragglers.

• Reach out and pull the exhausted to their feet.

• Be patient with each person.

• Be attentive to individual needs.

• When you get on each others nerves, don't snap.

• Look for the best in every person.

• Do your part to pull the best out of every person.

• Be cheerful no matter what.

• Pray all the time.

• Thank God no matter what happens.

• Don't suppress the Spirit.

• Don't stifle those who carry God's Word through the gift ... but don't be gullible ... check everything out (weigh it by the written Word), keeping only that which is good, and throw out anything tainted with evil.

Selah ...

Stop and Think on These Things!

Choices

What choices have you made today, or will you make?

God has given each of us free will. The opportunity to choose.
He does not choose for us, he is a God in control, not a controlling God.

De 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:


God's nature toward you is all love, his desire for you is all good, but He will not control you like a puppet on a string. He will not make your choices for you.

God waits to see if you will side with His Good will (which you will know by His Word and Spirit), or if you will follow a lesser plan that is filled with evil and corruption (that stems from minds and attitudes that have been programed to believe evil instead of good).

Let me remind you also, the choices you make not only effect you but others, especially your children (if you have them).

Take a minute and thing about the choices that your parents have made (good or bad) that affect you. Choices, matter ... to you and to others.

Be conscience of your choices today!
Side with God's Word and Spirit ... choose life; choose blessing!

• Do it for you.
• Do it for your future.
• Do it for those around you.

Love Yourself ?

Matthew 22:37-39
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The message bible says it like this:
Jesus said, 'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: "Love others as well as you love yourself".

So my question to you today is?
How well do you love yourself?

The way that you love God and yourself is the scale by which you will love me, or any other person who crosses your path.

I John 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Love is Power, power greater than any other power in the universe.
To love God and yourself is to be empowered.

• Take sometime to think about this today ... How is my love walk?

• Take some time to get to know God ... The true living God, the one that sent his son Jesus for you.

• Take some time to get to know You ... The real you!
  

Do it for me, and all your neighbors!

Introduction

365 Days of Power, Love and Integrity is simply a day by day devotional.

Every day a scripture text will be displayed along with comments, stories, or other inspiration inserts.

My purpose for blogging is to express my heart with all who desire to connect to a real God and real people!

Perhaps that is YOU ... Whoever you are!

My prayer for all whom I have met, and all of whom I have yet to meet ...

• Be filled with Power.
• Surrounded with Love.
• Led by the integrity of the Holy Spirit within.

I can't wait to begin this Word Journey with you!

Sherry