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CONTENTSThe
Best of Life
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CONTENTSThe
Best of Life
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"Righteousness
exalteth a nation:
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By Rev. Larry W. Greiner |
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"The president of the College of New Jersey, the Reverend John Witherspoon (Presbyterian), was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. He is too much forgotten in our history books. John Witherspoon had a far-reaching influence on democracy. He had personally taught several of the signers of the document, and nine of them were graduates of the little college over which he presided at Princeton. When he took up his pen to put his name to the document, Witherspoon declared, ‘There is a tide in the affairs of men, a spark. We perceive it now before us. To hesitate is to consent to our own slavery. That noble instrument upon the table, that insures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this very morning by every pen in this house. He that will not respond to its accents, and strain every nerve to carry into effect its provisions, is unworthy of the name of free man. For my own part, of property I have some; of reputation, more. That reputation is staked, that property is pledged on the issue of this contest; and although these gray hairs must soon descend into the sepulcher, I would infinitely rather that they descend thither by the hand of the executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred cause of my country.’ "The greater the separation between Church and State, the greater the separation between today’s America and the America of our forefathers and their godly heritage. Let us remember that to have God continue to bless America, these two banners must fly side by side—the Flag of the United States of America and the Banner of the Cross." "But evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:13-15). |
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"If we abide by the principles taught in the
Bible,
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I didn’t even have makeup on! So I said, "Honey, why would you say I look pretty today? Normally I’m dressed up in a suit and high heels." And he said, "When you look like that, I know you’re going some place; but when you look like this, I know you’re all mine." Nothing can replace the beauty of being together with those we love. Treasure every moment! —Carol Kent in Today’s Christian Woman |
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By Wendy Greiner Lefko |
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 last
day of school! For the past month or two they’ve been counting the
hours, looking forward to the final day, and at last it’s here! I still
vividly recall the feeling of freedom I had as a child walking home from
school on that last day, anticipating a summer of fun and relaxed
schedules. No studying, no tests, no pop quizzes, no homework, no projects—just
the joy of planning activities with friends and family. There’s nothing
quite like it for a kid!
Yet, without doubt, it pales in comparison to our final day here on earth. If we knew that tomorrow would conclude our "schooling" in this world, what excitement would fill our hearts! How we would look forward with breathless anticipation to the glory that lies before us as believers in Heaven, our eternal perfect home! No more pain, no more worry, no more heartache, no more fear, no more wrestling with the sin nature. Our minds can’t even comprehend how wonderful it will be. Yet the thrilling part is that it could be tomorrow, perhaps even today! Only God knows the exact time when He will take His loved ones home, but we do know it could be any day. The very thought of the splendor that awaits us in glory should be enough to fill our hearts with joy. Today may not be our last day on earth, but we can and should live as if it were. We must act on our burden for the lost, all the while rejoicing that our time on this imperfect planet is limited and knowing that any day could be our last "school day", with an eternal "summer" in store! What a day that will be, |
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"Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient gesture, the hard and selfish deed, the failure to show sympathy and kindly help where I had the opportunity, but missed it; and enable me so to live that I may daily do something to lessen the tide of human sorrow, and add to the sum of human happiness. AMEN." —F.B. Meyer |
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Once, when Ira D. Sankey finished singing the hymn, "Rescue the Perishing," he said, "Years ago Fanny Crosby, the blind song writer, went to the Jerry McAuley Mission in New York City and asked if there was a motherless boy in the audience. From the rear a little fellow came forward, and the great Fanny Crosby laid her tender hands on his head and kissed him. Then Fanny went home and wrote ‘Rescue the Perishing.’" As Sankey finished telling the story, a man got up and said, "I am the boy she kissed that night. I never was able to get away from the impression made by that touching act. I became a Christian and am now living in this city with my family." The results of a tender act of compassion are inestimable. A kind word, spoken in love, will start echoes rolling that will strike the hilltops of glory and reverberate throughout all eternity. —Selected |
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A calm and heav’nly frame; A light to shine upon the road That leads me to the Lamb! —William Cowper |
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"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm."—Abraham Lincoln 
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When our children were small, we played a game. I’d take some coins in my fist. They’d sit on my lap and work to get my fingers open. According to the international rules of finger opening, once the finger was open, it couldn’t be closed again. They would work at it until they got the pennies in my hand. They would jump down and run away, filled with glee and delight. Just kids. Just a game. Sometimes when we come to God, we come for the pennies in His hand. "Lord, I need a passing grade. Help me to study." "Lord, I need a job." "Lord, my mother is ill." We reach for the pennies. When God grants the request, we push the hand away. More important than the pennies in God’s hand is the hand of God Himself. That’s what prayer is about! —Haddon Robinson |
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Can’t I tell them the day of Your coming draws nigh? Why can’t I tell them their time is soon o’er, How soon they’ll be reaching that heavenly shore? If only they knew how few sunsets they’ll see Before You call them home for eternity. I’m sure if they heard how few hours remain They’d be much more busy proclaiming Your Name. I know they would turn from their sad, sinful ways, Reclaiming their time, redeeming the days. They’d cease senseless quarrels, make quickly amends, Repent on their knees, share Your Word with all men. Oh, Lord, let me tell them, let me warn them today, Lest they let precious hours slip quickly away. —Wendy Greiner Lefko ©2002 |
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Speak kind words and you will hear kind echoes. —Benjamin
Franklin
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"Between that great heart in heaven and this poor throbbing, aching heart on earth there is love established—love of the dearest, truest, sweetest and most faithful kind. In fact the love of woman, the mother’s love, the love of spouse, these are but the water; but the love of God is the wine." —C. H. Spurgeon |
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When the road of life is steep and slippery, prayer in action gives us traction. |
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