Train Your Children Well Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Deuteronomy 4:9 Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Deuteronomy 32:46-47 Titus 2:7-8 Ezra 7:10 Proverbs 22:6 Hebrews 5:11-14 2 Timothy 2:14-17 Luke 6:40 Psalms 27:11-14 Matthew 19:14-15 01.31.20

TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN WELL

BREAD

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)

⁹ Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.  Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)

¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ²⁰ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, ²¹ so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.   Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (NIV)

⁴⁶ He said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. ⁴⁷ They are not just idle words for you--they are your life.”   Deuteronomy 32:46-47 (NIV)

⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.  Titus 2:7-8 (NIV)

¹⁰ For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.  Ezra 7:10 (NIV)

⁶ Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

¹¹ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.  Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV)

¹⁴ Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. ¹⁶ Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. 2 Timothy 2:14-17 (NIV)

⁴⁰ A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.  Luke 6:40 (NIV)

¹¹ Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.  ¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. ¹³ I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.   Psalms 27:11-14 (NIV)

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹⁵ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.  Matthew 19:14-15 (NIV)

BUTTER

“This is our first duty, we are to begin at the family hearth:   he is a bad preacher who does not commence his ministry at home.  The heathen are to be sought by all means, and the highways and hedges are to be searched, but home has a prior claim, and woe unto those who reverse the order of the Lord’s arrangements.  To teach our children is a personal duty; we cannot delegate it to Sunday School Teachers, or other friendly aids, these can assist us, but cannot deliver us from the sacred obligation…mothers and fathers must, like Abraham, command their households in the fear of God, and talk with their offspring concerning the wondrous works of the Most High.”   Charles H. Spurgeon  

“Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is place in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse in to the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into its soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny,--she would see that in all God's world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers, and she would commit to no others hands the sacred and holy trust given to her.”  JR Miller

“Never tire of doing what is right.  Live a life acutely aware of the brevity of it.  We are indeed but a mist.  And we will have all eternity to be in bliss.  Seek not to pander the flesh but to promote self-discipline, placing a priority of love on those in your spheres – especially those in your own household.  We often miss so many God given opportunities when indulging our worldly wants.  Denial of the flesh – choosing God’s will over my own - is never easy, often misunderstood but always worth it.  His way is higher, better, more beneficial and pleasing to the soul though often unutterably difficult.  In the end, it produces a life of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  BHY

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.”  Robert Fulghum

“The majority of children acquire the characteristics and habits of their parents.  What are they learning from us?”  Billy Graham

“Former Navy SEAL Michael Janke defines self-control as ‘the ability of the individual to adhere to actions, thoughts, and behaviors that result in personal improvement instead of instant gratification.’  He suggests that our ability to be self-managed casts a long shadow on our children and grandchildren.  When we begin to use self-discipline to control our emotional highs and lows, our appearance, our work ethic, and our commitment to physical exercise, we are providing an example and leaving a legacy for those who follow us….When we detect an area in our lives needing mastery, the Lord’s grace is sufficient to bring it under self-control as we walk in the Spirit and commit ourselves to obedience.  Peter tells us to make every effort to add to our faith goodness, knowledge, and self-control (2 Peter 1:5-6).”   Robert J. Morgan

“He alone has exhibited a life in which absolutely no fault could be found; and promulgated a teaching to which absolutely no exception can be taken.  Admittedly He is the One perfect Man – the ideal of humanity, His doctrine the one absolute teaching.  The world has known none other, none equal.”     Alfred Edersheim

“Faithfulness rarely feels heroic; it feels much more like showing up and hanging in. It is a matter of going to our cell, whatever form that might take, and letting it teach us what it will. Availing himself (Brother Lawrence) to consistent faithfulness yielded the blessing of both proficiency and presence—the presence of God—right there in midst of the monotony of dirty pots and pans.”   Margaret Guenther

“You will see at once from reading the text (Philippians 4:11), upon the very surface, that contentment in all states is not a natural propensity of man. Ill weeds grow apace; covetousness, discontent, and murmuring, are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. You have no need to sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth, upon which rests the curse; so you have no need to teach men to complain, they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener’s care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated.”    Charles H. Spurgeon

“This is a passing world — a world that is passing away, and a world passing on its legacy, and the children are looking up and straight into us, asking the world what in this banged-up world are you all passing down to us?”    Ann Voskamp

HEART SAVOR

·       It is our duty, our responsibility, indeed, our great privilege to teach our children well and it begins with our walking in a manner worthy of the Lord.  Most people learn from us when our ways and our mouths are not in conflict.  Our actions are louder than our blustering words.

·       We are to pour into our children what God has poured into us.   You cannot teach what you do not have.

·       If you desire to be a worthy teacher, you must learn from spending time with the Master.

Live Wisely Ephesians 5:15-17 Colossians 4:5-6 Hebrews 12:14-17 Colossians 3:5-10 Colossians 3:12-17 Colossians 1:9-14 1 John 2:6 01.29.20

LIVE WISELY

BREAD

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)

⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶ See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. ¹⁷ Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. Hebrews 12:14-17 (NIV)

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:5-10 (NIV)

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV)

⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 (NIV)

BUTTER

“We will never put God in a nice little convenient proverbial box of our own makings and imaginations.  He is so totally other – His thoughts are not our thoughts neither His ways our ways.  His paths for us are always perfect and pleasing and have our best interest at heart though most often unimaginatively hard.  His ways may not lead us into comfort and painlessness.  Indeed, His children should not expect to be carried into heaven on a bed of down though He can do so if He so desires.  More often than not, His ways lead us into circumstances ‘far beyond our ability to endure’ to demonstrate to the unbelieving world (and to ourselves for that matter) His power in our lives whether it be by miraculously changing our circumstances or just as  miraculously (or even more so), by changing our hearts through the circumstances. His good ways will always lead us on paths of conformation to the fullness of His precious Son – that’s the purpose.  He wants us to be like Jesus – whatever it takes - and we want that too.  That is the abundant life.”   BHY

“He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.”  Thomas Fuller

“Pray for a strong and lively sense of sin.  The greater the sense of sin, the less sin.”   Samuel Rutherford

“Never be afraid to live for Jesus.  Never be ashamed to live for Jesus.   Never be apathetic in living for Jesus. Be committed.”     Anne Graham Lotz

“A special faith in our Lord Jesus Christ’s person, work and office is the life, heart and mainspring of the Christian character.  He sees by faith and unseen Saviour, who loved him, gave Himself for him, paid his debts for him, bore his sins, carried his transgressions, rose again for him, and appears in heaven for him as his Advocate at the right hand of God.  He sees Jesus and clings to Him…..He sees his own many sins, his weak heart, a tempting world, a busy devil; and if he looked only at them, he might well despair.  But he sees also a mighty Saviour, an interceding Saviour, a sympathizing Saviour—His blood…..His righteousness, His everlasting priesthood—and he believes that all this is his own.  He sees Jesus and casts his whole weight on Him.  Seeing Him, he cheerfully fights on, with a full confidence that he will prove more than conqueror through Him that loved him…Habitual lively faith in Christ’s presence and readiness to help is the secret of the Christian fighting successfully.”  J C Ryle, Holiness

“Holiness is not a feeling – it is the end product of obedience.  Purity is not a gift – it is the result of repentance and serious pursuit of God.”  Frances J. Roberts

“Always remain alert to the fact that where one man has gone back is exactly where anyone may go back.”    Oswald Chambers

“Our lives are an embodiment of a message of whatever we believe to be true.”  Anonymous

“The only evidence we have of each other is what we profess with our lips and live with our lives.”  J.A. Motyer 

“Be such a person, and live such a life, that if everyone were such as you, and every life a life such as yours, this earth would be God’s paradise.”   Phillips Brook

“As our Great Shepherd, He leads and directs His children in the way they should go.  This is profitable for us, though often extraordinarily difficult, yet always for our ultimate good and His Glory – never one surpassing the other.  Our lives are not our own.  We have been bought with a high price and we are to honor God with our bodies.  We are not to run ahead doing our own things, going our own ways, giving no thought to His will – which, BTW, is always for our best.  This will always lead to ultimate ruin.  It matters how we live our lives.  Nothing done in the flesh sans His power is eternal.  God will not own what mere flesh can accomplish.  It will all be burned up.  Seek to follow hard after the One who loves you with an everlasting love and rejoices over you with singing.  You will not be disappointed.”  BHY

“Live a story that tells of the wanted life, tells of the abundant life.”  Ann Voskamp

HEART SAVOR

• ·        When all the crowds were leaving Jesus He turns to His guys and asks this heart tugging question:  “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.   Peter’s response is stellar and should be every believer’s answer as well:  ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69 (NIV)
• ·        His way is the high way – it is the way of wisdom and the path of perfect peace:  ³ You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
• ·        Learn to live your life Coram Deo – before the face of God.  Seeking to please Him in all that you think and say and do.

Grace To The Humble Proverbs 3:34 Proverbs 3:5-8 James 4:6 1 Peter 5:5-7 1 John 2:16-17 Ephesians 4:1-3 Luke 18:9-14 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 James 4:10 01.27.20

GRACE TO THE HUMBLE

BREAD

³⁴ He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.  Proverbs 3:34 (NIV)

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. ⁸ This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.   Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)

⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”   James 4:6 (NIV)

⁵ Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5:5-7 (NIV)

¹⁶ For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:16-17 (NIV)

¹ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)

⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’  ¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  ¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)

¹⁴ If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ¹⁵ Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. ¹⁶ I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.  2 Chronicles 7:14-16 (NIV)

¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.   James 4:10 (NIV)

BUTTER

“God gives grace to the humble. To those who humbly trust him with all their heart, he gives the grace of guidance. To those who humbly refuse to be wise in their own eyes, he gives the grace of refreshing peace. To those who humble themselves under his hand, he will give the grace of exaltation. And to those who humbly cast their cares on him, he gives the grace of carrying their cares.”  Jon Bloom

“In the Kingdom, there are no great men of God, just humble men whom God has chosen to use greatly.  How do we know when we are humble?  When God speaks, we tremble.  God is looking for a man who trembles at His word.  Such a man will find the Spirit of God resting upon him; he will become a dwelling place for the Almighty.  God asks for nothing but ourselves.”   Francis Frangipane  

“The path to deep, refreshing peace from God is living humbly before God.”  Jon Bloom

“To be much alone with God is the sovereign remedy for pride and self-complacency.  May we know the reality of this in the secret of our own souls.  May the good Lord keep us truly humble, in all our ways, simply leaning on Himself and his grace…”  C H Macintosh

“The truly meek man is humble, gentle, patient, forgiving, and contented; the very opposite of the man who is proud, harsh, angry, revengeful, and ambitious. It is only the grace of

God, as it works in us by the Holy Spirit, that can make us thus meek.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

“Those who know God will be humble.  Those who know themselves cannot be proud.”   John Trapp

“It is a contradiction to be a true Christian and not to be humble.”   Richard Baxter

“To the humble He reveals His secrets, and sweetly draws nigh and invites him unto Himself.”   Thomas a Kempis

“Guidance in life and soul-restoration are both graces God gives to the humble.”  Jon Bloom

“All of God’s resources will be made available to the soul that is humble enough to be able to receive them without growing proud because of it.  When a man is sincerely humble and never tries to take the credit or the praise, there is scarcely any limit to what God will do for him. Humility makes us ready to be blessed by the God of all grace and equips us to deal efficiently with our fellows. True humility is a flower that will adorn any garden. This is a sauce that will season every dish of life and improve it in every case. Whether in prayer or praise, whether in work or suffering, the genuine salt of humility cannot be used in excess.”  C. H. Spurgeon revised by Alistair Begg

“Strive to turn your heart from loving things that are seen, and to set it upon things that are not seen…How much better is a lowly peasant who serves God than a proud philosopher who watches the stars and neglects knowing himself…We must not trust every word of others or feeling within ourselves, but cautiously and patiently try the matter, whether it be of God.  The more humble a man is in himself, and the more obedient toward God, the wiser will he be in all things, and the more shall his soul be at peace.”   Thomas a Kempis

HEART SAVOR

·         God opposes the proud but gives abundant grace to the humble of heart.

·         Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time.

·         God is the great bestower of grace to all humble enough to receive it.  Indeed it is grace giving way to grace giving way to grace.     

Affliction Works Results James 1:2-4 James 1:12 Genesis 22:12-18 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 1 Peter 1:3-9 Philippians 3:17-21 Romans 12:12 01.24.20

AFFLICTION WORKS RESULTS

BREAD

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.   James 1:2-4 (NIV)

¹² Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.   James 1:12 (NIV)

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said.  “Do not do anything to him.  Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” ¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns.  He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.  ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”  ¹⁵ The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time ¹⁶ and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”  Genesis 22:12-18 (NIV)

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)

 ¹⁷ Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.  Philippians 3:17-21 (NIV)

¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.   Romans 12:12 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Do not think when we are suffering in the fiery furnace He does not care.  Do not think that He sits lofty in the heavenlies paying us no mind.  Our Master knows the intensity of the heat and the exact longevity of all our trials and tribulations designed to bring about His divine purposes of unmingled good and blessedness for every heir of mercy.  Our Savior suffered with a magnitude we know nothing of so that heaven’s doors would be open to us.  If on our way to our true home we undergo the arrows of Satan’s quiver, take heart my friend and do not lose your hope or joy.  Many have traversed this same path and received the warmest of welcomes home.   Weeping may endure for the night but joy, yes joy, comes in the morning.”  BHY 

“The sorest afflictions never appear intolerable, except when we see them in the wrong light.”  Brother Lawrence

“The Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

“The secret formula of the saints: When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines.”  Samuel Rutherford

“Only in the hot furnace of affliction do we as Christians let go of the dross to which, in our foolishness, we ardently cling.”   David Kingdon

“Afflictions work for good, as they are the means of loosening our hearts from the world.  When you dig away the earth from the root of a tree, it is to loosen the tree from the earth; so God digs away our earthly comforts to loosen our hearts from the earth.”    Thomas Watson

“Every affliction comes with a message from the heart of God.”   Alexander Maclaren

“That one’s sorrows are actually working for the faithful believer is predicated upon the faith that the unseen is the ultimate and supreme reality and that the present and visible are only relative and ephemeral…..‘Our   affliction,’ properly accepted, is actually creating or producing for us an ‘eternal weight of glory’ far beyond all proportion to the pain of the affliction.  Therefore it should be cherished and not wasted by resistance and rebellion.”    Paul E. Billheimer

“Patient endurance kills the despair that kills the soul; it teaches the soul to take comfort and not to grow listless in the face of its many battles and afflictions.”  Saint Peter of Damaskos

“We don’t normally like being on the bottom.  It’s just not the position we generally pick.  It goes against our flesh.  Yet, in the Bible’s economy you stoop to rise, you lower and God elevates.  Therefore, rock bottom appears the perfect place to simply look up and the perfect time to begin building upon the solid foundation of the Rock of Christ.  Often stripped of our dearest Delilah’s we are not too dissimilar to the returning prodigal.  We have nothing but our will to bring – do we really ever have anything else?  And Jesus says tenderly, ‘Come’.  On Him you can depend.  On Him you can count.  On Him you can trust.  He turns away no one.  He will never let the righteous fall or blow away for that matter.  His grip is firm and secure.  Much akin to a young mother grabbing her two year old in busy traffic and yet so infinitely more.  He dearly loves His children and He always causes them to stand because He is faithful and able to cause us to stand – no matter what wind blows.”   BHY

“Indeed, we are treasures in fragile jars of clay. We do not lose heart, because in comparison to ‘the weight of glory’ that awaits us in the New Heaven and the New Earth, even our permanent afflictions are made temporary, and are heaviest burdens are lightened. For the things that we see and experience now—things like diving accidents and car crashes and wheelchairs—are temporary. And the things that we do not yet see or experience—things like renewed bodies and perfect souls and youthfulness that is renewed and will soar like the wings of an eagle—these things are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:7-18, 12:7-10; Isaiah 40:28-31).”   Scott Sauls

“You exist because God wanted you to exist and you are who you are, what you are, how you are, where you are, and when you are because God made you (John 1:3), wove you in your mother’s womb (Psalms 139:13), called you to be his own (John 10:27); (Romans 8:30), and assigned you a life to live (1 Corinthians 7:17). And this infuses your entire life — its good and evil, its sweet and bitter, it’s health and affliction, its prosperity and poverty, its comfort and suffering — with an unfathomable dignity, purpose, and glory.”  Jon Bloom

HEART SAVOR

·         God never allows something in the life of the Believer that is not for their ultimate good and His glory – never one surpassing the other.

·         Afflictions demonstrate our humanness, our lack of ultimate control, our desperate need for Someone greater.  They are orchestrated by God to show our dependence upon Him.  Who can add a single hour to their lives or minute for that matter?  Who can transform a human heart and give it an entirely different leaning?  Who can create ex-nihilo (out of nothing)?  Only the One Who makes known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what is yet to come, Whose purpose stands and Who does all that He pleases.  He is God and there is no other. 

·         We do not lose heart because “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”