Fresh Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Fresh

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Scriptures

Proverbs 18:15 (MSG) Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.

Proverbs 16:22 (MSG) True intelligence is a spring of fresh water, while fools sweat it out the hard way.

Acts 3:19 So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].

James 3:11 - Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and saltwater?
Mark 2:22 - And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

DAY ONE-FRESH START

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Life is made up of beginnings, endings and more beginnings. Winter ends and spring begins. Spring ends and summer begins. Summer ends and winter begins. We are ending one decade and starting a new one with the challenges of the past year behind and the challenges of a new year ahead. We end childhood and begin young adulthood. We end being young adults and enter middle age. We end middle age and become senior adults. We are born, we live, we die, and then if we know Jesus, we live again.

I have found that the older I get the harder it is to begin again, the harder it is to move forward and not to stop. For many of us it becomes harder to try something new, the easier it is to do nothing. We sometimes think we have done enough.

How do you begin again, how do you move forward with life, how do you really live as long as you are living? This verse in 1 Corinthians 15:58 gives us some direction as to how to do that. The first instruction that Apostle Paul gives us about how to begin again, how to live is this: “…stand firm. Let nothing move you….” He is saying that we should let nothing in this world deter us, keep us from living the abundant life that Jesus came to give us (John 10:10). We should let no bad thing, no evil thing, not even a good thing keep us from living our lives for the Lord.

For the early Christians, there were some obstacles to living the Christian life. If you were a Christian in Corinth you could count on feeling out of place, out of step with most of the people who lived there (sound familiar). If you were a Christian in Corinth you could count on encountering persecution in one form or another. Paul was telling them don't let that stop you from living like you should “…stand firm. Let nothing move you….”

Thought of the Day  What is it that Paul would say to you today? “…stand firm. Let nothing move you….…stand firm. Let nothing move you….” It’s time to get busy in 2020, we have a lot of work to do.

You Think About It!

Kevin Rayner

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Links to my other blogs

I continue to work on and add to each one of these to keep them active and up to date. Constantly adding my old material and adding fresh content.

Title: Click on the title below to go to blog	Brief description of each blog
Off-The-Church-Walls	Humor blog
Real Life Quotes	Growing Quote collection.
Real Life Enrichment	Practical information for everyday life.
Parable	Inspiring devotional illustrations
Preacher Points	Place for sermon outlines and resources
Kevin Rayner's Ministry to God @ The Edmond Church of Christ	Many current resources currently being used at the Edmond Church of Christ
Edmond Oklahoma SAM's	Information for helping Seniors
Rayner Resources	Hub for my information online
Magnify Jesus	A look at the Christ's life and teachings
Christ's Church	Reflecting on the followers of Christ
Real Life Conversion	How lives are changed by Christ
Oaks of Righteousness	Where to focus on becoming more fully devoted followers of Christ
"Overtime Church"	More challenging thoughts for the disciple that is most serious about Jesus. Theology for the night owl, weekend worker, or Bible student who wants to learn more.
Kevin's Komment	Online commentary and resources to better understand scripture.
Real Life Servant Maker	For the Christian growing with a Christ-like servant attitude toward others.
Becoming Great Neighbors	Encouragement to love and serve your neighbor
Edmond Church of ChristHospitality	Helping each Christian become more hospitable.

THE PERFUME

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.

However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.

It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, " His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's.

His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing , and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume . But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further .

The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer....The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard , MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.

She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

=========================
Warm someone's heart today . .. . pass this along.

I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it"

Random acts of kindness, I think they call it.

Let Go And Be Happy

If you keep on thinking of all the ways in which Others cheated you, fought with you, degraded you or angered you; Your heart will forever be full of hatred.

Learn to let go. And be happy.

 

The Monkey With The Wooden Apples

There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit when hungry, and resting when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest.
He sniffed the apples and smelled nothing. He tried to eat them, but hurt his teeth. They were made of wood, but they were beautiful, and when the other monkeys saw them, he held onto them even tighter.
He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened red in the sun, and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them, that he didn’t even notice his hunger at first.
A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands. He couldn’t bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn’t relax, either, if he was to defend his apples. A proud, but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.
The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired, hungry, and he couldn’t climb trees or collect fruit with his hands full. What if he just let go?
Letting go of such valuable things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree, and smelling it’s fruit was enough. He dropped the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.
Letting Go Of Wooden Apples
Like that little monkey, we sometimes carry things that seem too valuable to let go. A person carries an image of themselves as “productive” carries it like a shiny wooden apple. But in reality, their busyness leaves them tired, and hungry for a better life. Still, letting go seems crazy. Even their worries are sacred apples – they prove s/he’s “doing everything s/he can.” S/He holds onto them compulsively.
This is a hard thing to see. We identify so strongly with our things even, feeling pain when our cars are dented. How much more powerfully will God identify us with our Faith and God’s commandments?? Have you obeyed them? but we have always searched after vain pleasures to make us happy , Yet they don’t always feed our souls, do they? And we become tired of defending them.
How else could the story end?
The monkey might be found dead of hunger, under a beautiful tree, with fruit within reach, but still grasping his wooden apples.
I chose to end it with him letting go, because only with open hands can we receive anything. Ask God & He will give you more greater riches.

God Doesn't Want You to Be Happy

https://youtube.com/shorts/kMLkdyYRVUI?si=U2SI4FRdUe9Ihbyf

There is a story of a young boy who sat down and poured out his heart to God about what he wanted for his future. The boy asked God if he could live in a mansion when he grew up. He also wanted to marry a tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl and have three boys. He was even specific about what he wanted his boys to do when they grew up. He wanted one of them to be a politician, another to be a business man, and one to be a quarterback. He only had one more request, and that was that one day he would climb great mountains and be a great adventurer.

Well, the boy grew up. He ended up hurting his knee in football and could not even climb a tree — let alone a great mountain. He had to live in the city in an apartment for his job. He ended up falling in love and marrying a short, brown-haired, brown-eyed girl. He had three lovely daughters. One grew up to be a teacher, one a nurse and one a writer. He lived a good and happy life. It was not until he was an older man that he remembered the prayer he made as child. Looking back on all the things he wanted and did not get, the man became depressed. In his sadness he cried out to God and asked why he didn’t get what he wanted. God simply replied, "Because I wanted you to be happy."

God has promised us that He will give us good gifts (Matthew 7:11). Are you seeing the blessings God has for you? He knows what we need better than we do. Let us put our faith and trust in him.

Kevin

Happy Moments

I took my sons out for a walk at a nearby lake the other day. The weather was perfect for it. The sky was clear, the temperature was warm, the sun was dancing off the waves, and flowers were blooming along the walk path surrounding the water. Couples both young and old were walking along the path enjoying all of this God given beauty. Dozens of people were fishing peacefully along the banks and in boats. Children were running and playing with their dogs. Families were setting up picnic dinners for later. Some people were just sitting in the grass looking blissfully out on the water. I even saw one young woman praying with a joyful smile on her face as she sat under a tree. Never had I seen so many people spending their time so well.

The day after the great teacher and writer Leo Buscaglia died a note was found in his typewriter. It simply said, "Every moment spent in unhappiness is a moment of happiness lost." I for one don’t want to lose any more moments of happiness that I have left in this world. I want to use and enjoy every single one of them. It doesn’t matter if they are spent working, playing, eating, reading, singing, praying, or just walking in the sunshine. I want to spend my time well and fill my life with happy moments. I want to choose love, share joy, and be one with God all day long every single day of my life.

Happiness isn’t something you find. Happiness is something you choose. Happiness is something you live. Life here is both precious and brief. Spend it well. Live it joyously. Don’t waste a second of it on unhappiness. Go to work with a smile on your face. Greet others with love in your heart. Exercise with pleasure. Play with delight. Pray with both peace and joy. Learn from your pain. Grow from your troubles. And always use every moment you are given to choose more love, joy, peace, happiness, and oneness with God.

~~Joseph J. Mazzella

 ===

Am I Happy?

If there is any sadness I make a strong effort to be free of it quickly, otherwise it grows like a vine in the rainy season: by midday I will be confused; by evening a whole jungle of weak, wasteful and negative attitudes will have taken deep roots in my mind. The result equals chaos. Sometimes I reach a stage where the attitude is: "So what if I feel the blues today? It is my life; no one else will be affected".

Firstly, the more I allow myself to experience sorrow, the less time I have available to be happy and contented. It sounds ridiculously obvious, but am I aware of the value of happiness? It is an extremely rare commodity, and the cost goes sky high.

Secondly, is it my life? Yes, I am living it, but am I not a member of a family or a co-worker with others, and am I not part of society? If so, then every movement affects and is affected by those around me.

~~unknown

 

Faith Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Faith

Fearless and Faithful

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JQINaGXp14k

Do You Struggle With This?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/t8WiMpj5km8

Are You Strong Enough For This?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X7bAmBJHjEU

Devotional Thought

Faith

This is the great and momentous word in Scripture, which hath given rise to endless disputes, and employed the minds of men in all ages to explain; and yet to thousands still remains as obscure as ever. But notwithstanding: all that the bewildered and erroneous mind of man may say on faith, the scriptural account of faith is the simplest and plainest thing in the world. Faith is no more than the sincere and hearty assent and consent of the mind to the belief of the being and promises of God, as especially revealed to the church in the person and redemption, work of the Lord Jesus Christ. JEHOVAH, in his threefold character of person, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, hath mercifully been pleased to reveal himself as "forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin," and giving eternal life to the church in Christ Jesus. And these blessings are all declared to be in the person, and procured to the church by the sole undertaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the glorious Head of his body the church, the fulness of him "that filleth all in all."

The hearty, cordial, and sincere belief in these blessed truths of God is called faith, because it is giving credit to the testimony of God, and relying upon his faithfulness for the fulfilment of them. The apostle John, in his first Epistle, fifth chapter, and ninth and following verses, puts this doctrine in so clear a point of view, that, under divine teaching, if attended to, it would be impossible to mistake it. "If we receive (saith John) the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record that God hath given to us, eternal life; and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life."

No form of words could have been more happily chosen to state what is the act of faith, and to put it in a clear and full light. Immense and unspeakable blessings are promised by God. It is not the greatness of the blessings which demands our faith, but the greatness of the Being promising. Indeed, the greater the blessings are, the greater would be the difficulty of believing, unless some other warrant and authority become the foundation for belief. The bottom, therefore, of all faith is, that what we are called upon to is that cannot lie; JEHOVAH that will not lie. An Almighty Promiser that never can out-promise himself. Hence, when Moses at the bush desired a confirmation of the truth, the Lord gave him to deliver to Israel, by knowing his name, and having such assurances to make to them as might silence every doubt. "Behold," (said he,) "when I come to the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you, and they shall say unto me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM." That is, I AM a being self-existing, and eternal; and which, therefore, gives a being to all my promises. So that this is the sure ground of faith. Not the greatness and blessedness of the promise; but the greatness, blessedness, and faithfulness of the Promiser. And to believe in the almighty Promiser in his assurances in Christ, is faith. I only add, however, under this article, that though faith is the simplest and plainest act of the mind, yet both the possession and the exercise of it is the gift of God. "Unto you," (saith an apostle,) "it is given to believe." (Php_1:29) And hence every truly awakened and regenerated believer finds daily reason, to cry out, as the apostle did to Christ, "Lord, increase our faith!" (Luk_17:5)

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#Trust

Scriptures

James 2:14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

Galatians 3:9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

Hebrews 11:3 (MSG) By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.

Matthew 17:20 (MSG) “Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.”

James 2:18 (MSG) I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.

Luke 17:6 (MSG) But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.

2 Corinthians 1:24 (MSG) We’re not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We’re partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours.

Luke 17:5 (MSG) The apostles came up and said to the Master, “Give us more faith.”

Galatians 3:12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”
Hebrews 11:1-2 NLT Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11 Faith in Action Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. ...

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Faith

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/search?q=Faith

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/words/Faith/sort/popular

Logos Dictionary Themes

You Think About It!

Kevin Rayner

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• What illustrations would you suggest adding to these?

Life's Greatest Test

Life's Greatest Test - Story of John Blanchard

One of the most romantic and inspirational true to life story of a soldier's life and love.

John Blanchard was a soldier.

One day, in a library, he found an old book with a lot of writing in the margins. He read her handwritten notes in the book and admired their deep insights. At the front cover, he saw that the book was previously owned by a certain Hollis Maynell.

With much effort, he located her address. He wrote to her and told her about her old book and how he liked her written notes.

And she responded, thanking him for his kind words.

But that day, he was shipped overseas to fight in a war.

Still, they kept writing to each other. During the difficult times at the battlefield, her words inspired him and gave him hope.

Little by little, John was falling in love with her.

He requested for a photo, but she replied that if he really cared for her, it won’t matter how she looked.

Finally, he was going home.

They decided to meet at the Grand Central Station at 7pm.

He said he’d be in his soldier’s uniform bringing her old book.

And she said, “You’ll know me by the red rose I’ll wear on my lapel.”

When the train arrived at 7pm, John was there, wearing his neatly pressed military uniform, with her old book in his hand.

The first woman to step off the train was a beautiful woman in a green suit. But there was no red rose on her blouse.

John was disappointed. But she was so lovely, he kept looking at her. She walked in front of him, glanced at him with a smile, and asked, “Are you following me, soldier?”

A part of him wanted to follow.

But no, he had to wait for Hollis Maynell.

The next woman who stepped off the train had a red rose on her lapel. She was perhaps 45 years old. She had graying hair beneath her hat. And she was very overweight. Meantime, the beautiful woman in the green suit was walking away.

John was torn.

Yet he looked again at the woman who was wearing the red rose. He remembered her letters and what a fascinating a person she was. He remembered how wonderful her words made him feel. He told himself, “This may not be love. But this may be more than love. This will be a beautiful friendship with a lovely person.”

He walked up to her, straightened himself, handed the book to her and said, “My name is Lieutenant John Blanchard. You must be Ms. Hollis Maynell. I’m so glad you could meet me. May I have dinner with you tonight?”

The woman smiled. “I don’t know what this is about, son,” she answered, “but the young lady in the green suit asked me to wear this red rose on my coat. She also said that if you asked me out for dinner, she said she’d be waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!”

Joshua

Be Strong - A Series from Joshua

March-April 2013

Sermon Audio

Be Strong And Courageous by Randy Roper
In the first lesson in our series on Joshua, we look at how God prepared Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land, and how we can all find strength and courage to face the unknown in life.

The Power of The Lord by Rob Long
The power and strength of the Lord are evident in Israel's crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land. That same power is at work in our lives today.

When Walls Fall Down by Rob Long
God guided the armies of Israel to walk in obedience. Their obedience resulted in God's provision--the walls of Jericho coming down.

Confronting Sin by Kent Risley
Sin has lasting implications on individuals and the community surrounding that individual. Learn valuable lessons from the story of Achan in Joshua 7.

How Will You Be Remembered? by Randy Roper
If you have the opportunity to choose your final words on earth, what would say?  Last words are more meaningful if they have been underscored by the way a person lived his/her life.  At the end of his life, Joshua chooses to make the name of God known rather than make a name for himself.

Choose This Day by Randy Roper
Life is filled with choices.  With so many decisions to make, we can easily feel overwhelmed. But one decision stands out from all the others. It is a decision that demands action and has implications. What will you choose?

Self Examination

The story is told of a monastery in Portugal, perched high on a 3,000 foot cliff and accessible only by a terrifying ride in a swaying basket. The basket was pulled with a single rope by several strong men, perspiring under the strain of the fully-loaded basket. An American tourist who visited the site got nervous halfway up the cliff when he noticed the rope was old and frayed. Hoping to relieve his fear he asked, "How often do you change the rope?" The monk in charge replied, "Whenever it breaks!"

Most likely all of us would agree it is crazy not to regularly examine and change something - like the rope in the story - that your life depended on. Strangely enough, however, a lot of us live our lives that way. We sometimes forget eternal life is dependent on how we live our lives here on earth. How often do we forget to slow down, examine how things are going, and make the decisions necessary to change any bad habits or sinful things we have gotten ourselves involved in? We keep doing the same old thing over and over again until something breaks.

In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul tells them: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you —unless, of course, you fail the test?

Self examination is something we should regularly practice as Christians. Do you really want your eternal life to depend on something you have not examined and made sure is right? Of course not! Just like you would not want to go up and down on an elevator daily, supported by a rope you are not sure could hold you. Take some time today and make certain your life is right with God.

Maturity Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Maturity

Albert Einstein

In the course of their conversation at a dinner party, Albert Einstein’s young neighbor asked the white-haired scientist, “What are you actually by profession?”

“I devote myself to the study of physics,” Einstein replied.

The girl looked at him in astonishment. “You mean to say you study physics at your age?” she exclaimed. “I finished mine a year ago.”

=========

Stepping Stones

The Lord came to me like a dream one day and asked, "why do you sorrow?"

I answered, "Lord my life is so full of pain, I can't face one more tomorrow."

 

The Lord sat down beside me, and gently took my hand.

He said, "Let Me explain to you, and then you'll understand.

 

Each sorrow is a stepping stone you must surmount each day,

And every stepping stone you climb is a sorrow that's passed away.

 

The road of life is a mountainside, with crevices in which to be caught,

But as you struggle on your way, I, the Rock, will lend support.

 

Every stepping stone you climb, makes spirit and heart grow strong.

Exercising character and faith, this road seems painful and long.

 

The way is paved with stepping stones, to uplift your heart and soul,

Though difficult, they aid your way, to a City paved with gold.

 

I know that you are tired, for I too have walked this way,

My sorrows did they multiply, but I cleared many stones away.

 

I left My Rock to lift you up, I left behind My story.

To give you strength to make your climb, to that special place in glory.

 

And never fear, the Rock is here, you'll never climb this mountain alone

Surmount life's sorrows, continue on, for they are but stepping stones.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.  In all ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6

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Aspiring to Spiritual Greatness / Sermon – Mike Mazzalongo | BibleTalk.tv

https://youtu.be/zZf0FFdM8uU

When I was a young Christian the preacher who baptized me warned me that I had to be careful of "selfish ambition". This term is only used three times in the N.T. and each time there is a warning that those who are this way, who have this attitude, will suffer in this world and the next.

=========

Articles:
MATURITY IS THE RESULT OF LEARNING TO FEED THE RIGHT EMOTIONS
MATURITY—THE VALUE OF LEARNING

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Scriptures

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Philippians 3:15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.

Luke 8:14 - And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

1 Corinthians 2:6 - Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.

1 Corinthians 14:20 - Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Ephesians 4:13 - until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Philippians 3:15 - Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

Colossians 1:28 - Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Hebrews 5:14 - But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 6:1 - Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 12:2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

You Think About It!

Kevin Rayner

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Joy Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Joy

Pursuit for Joy

Men have pursued joy in every avenue imaginable. Some have successfully found it while others have not. Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found:

• Not in Unbelief — Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”
• Not in Pleasure — Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.”
• Not in Money — Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
• Not in Position and Fame — Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”
• Not in Military Glory — Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, before he said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”
• Where then is real joy found? — the answer is simple, in Christ alone.

Let Your Balloon Go

A conference at a Presbyterian church in Omaha. People were given helium-filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were Presbyterians, they weren’t free to say “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord.” All through the service balloons ascended, but when it was over one-third of the balloons were unreleased. Let your balloon go.

Bruce Larson, Luke, p. 43

Christians

As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: “It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians—and I am one of them.”

Moody Bible Institute’s, Today In The Word, June, 1988, p. 18

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Romans 15:13 ESV May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 12:12 ESV Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Philippians 4:4 ESV Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

James 1:2 ESV Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

Galatians 5:22 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Psalm 16:11 ESV You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

John 16:24 ESV Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Proverbs 17:22 ESV A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Luke 2:10 (NIV) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

John 15:11 (NIV) I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Peter 1:8 (NIV) 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,

Philippians 4:4 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

John 16:24 (NIV) Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Philippians 2:1 If then I can appeal to you as the followers of Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love and any common sharing of the Spirit, or if you have any tender-heartedness and compassion, make my joy complete by being of one mind,

Acts 2:46 And every day, devoting themselves [to meeting] with one purpose in the temple [courts] and breaking bread from house [to house], they were eating [their] food with joy and simplicity of heart,

Psalm 16:11 ESV You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Proverbs 17:22 ESV A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

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Kevin Rayner

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• What illustrations would you suggest adding to these?

Jeremiah: Fire & Faith

I Put My Words in Your Mouth
Randy Roper
In this first message in our series on Jeremiah, Randy looks at the commissioning of the prophet Jeremiah. God gave him a message to proclaim.


Living Water and Broken Cisterns
Kent Risley
 Message #2 in series on Jeremiah


Return to Me
Randy Roper
 Message #3 in series on Jeremiah. Repentance is more than good intentions and the right words; it is a genuine change of one's heart and life.


I Have Been Watching
Randy Roper
 Text: Jeremiah 7 Topic: When it comes to faithfulness, having the "look" is no substitute for living the life.

In These I Delight
Kent Risley
 Jeremiah 9:23-26 Righteousness is not accomplished by us; it is provided to us by God through Christ.

The Plans I Have for You
Randy Roper


Jeremiah 29:11 is often plucked out of context and misapplied to an individual life of prosperity. What does God's promise of a plan for prosperity, hope, and a future really mean in the biblical context?

I Will Make A New Covenant
Kent Risley

Edmond Church of Christ Songs - MP3

Edmond Church of Christ Congregational Acapella Singing

Jump to:   A-B   C-G   H   I   J-L   M-O   P-S   T   U-Z

A-B

• A Beautiful Life
• A Common Love
• A Wonderful Savior
• Abide with Me, 'Tis Eventide
• All Glory Laud and Honor
• All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (Coronation)
• All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (Diadem)
• All to Jesus I Surrender
• Amazing Grace
• Ancient Words
• Are You Washed in the Blood
• As the Deer Panteth for the Water
• At Calvary
• Be Still and Know
• Be Thou My Vision
• Be with Me, Lord
• Because He Lives
• Beneath the Cross of Jesus
• Bind Us Together
• Bless The Lord, O My Soul
• Blessed Assurance
• Blest Be the Tie
• Break Thou the Bread of Life
• Breathe on Me, Breath of God
• Bring Christ Your Broken Life
• Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary
• Buried With Christ

C-G

• Christ for the World We Sing
• Christ Returneth
• Christ, the Lord, Is Risen Today
• Come, Thou Almighty King
• Come, We That Love the Lord
• Count Your Blessings
• Crown Him With Many Crowns
• Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
• Do You Know My Jesus?
• Each Step I Take
• Fairest Lord Jesus
• Faith Is the Victory
• Father, Hear the Prayer We Offer
• Father of Mercies
• Flee As a Bird
• Footprints of Jesus
• Give Me the Bible
• Glorious Is Thy Name
• God Is the Fountain Whence
• God of Grace and God of Glory
• God of Our Fathers
• God's Family
• Great Is Thy Faithfulness
• Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (Zion)

H

• Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah
• Hark! the Gentle Voice
• Have Thine Own Way
• He Leadeth Me
• He Lives
• Heaven Came Down
• Hide Me, O My Savior
• Higher Ground
• Highest Place
• His Grace Reaches Me
• His Name Is Wonderful
• Holy Father, Grant Us Peace
• Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
• Holy, Holy, Holy!
• Holy Is the Lord
• Home of the Soul
• Hosanna
• How Deep the Father's Love
• How Firm a Foundation
• How Great Thou Art
• How Long Has It Been?
• How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts?
• How Sweet, How Heavenly
• Humble Yourselves

I

• I Am a Sheep
• I Am Resolved
• I Believe in Jesus
• I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
• I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Fillmore)
• I Know the Lord Will Find a Way
• I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
• I Love the Lord
• I Love to Tell the Story
• I Love You Lord
• I Love You With the Love of the Lord
• I Must Needs Go Home
• I Need Thee Every Hour
• I Stand Amazed
• I Stand in Awe
• I Will Call Upon the Lord
• I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
• I'll Fly Away
• I'm Not Ashamed to Own My Lord
• In Christ Alone
• In Heavenly Love Abiding
• In His Time
• Is Thy Heart Right with God?
• It Is Well with My Soul

J-L

• Jesus Is All the World to Me
• Jesus Is Lord
• Jesus Is Lord of All
• Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
• Jesus, Lover of My Soul (Martyn)
• Jesus, Name above All Names
• Jesus, Rose of Sharon
• Jesus, Wonderful Thou Art
• Jesus Loves Me
• Jesus Paid It All (Beazley)
• Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
• Just Over in the Gloryland
• Lead Me to Calvary
• Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
• Learning to Lean
• Let Us with a Gladsome Mind
• Lord, I'm Coming Home
• Lord of All Being, Throned Afar
• Lord, Reign in Me
• Lord We Come Before Thee Now
• Love Divine
• Love Lifted Me
• Low in the Grave He Lay

M-O

• Master, The Tempest Is Raging
• More About Jesus
• Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?
• My Country, 'Tis of Thee
• My Eyes Are Dry
• My God and I
• My God, My Father, Though I Stray
• My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
• My Jesus, As Thou Wilt
• My Jesus, I Love Thee
• Near To the Heart of God
• Nearer My God, to Thee
• Nearer, Still Nearer
• No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus
• Nothing but the Blood
• O How I Love Jesus
• O Lord, We Praise Thy Name
• O Lord, Our Lord (Palmer)
• O Master Let Me Walk with Thee
• O Praise the Lord
• O Worship the King
• On Jordan's Stormy Banks (O'Kane)
• On Zion's Glorious Summit
• Only in Thee
• Onward Christian Soldiers
• Our God, He Is Alive

P-S

• Peace, Perfect Peace
• Pierce My Ear
• Praise the Lord
• Purer in Heart, O God
• Redeemed
• Rise Up, O Men of God (Festal Song)
• Rock of Ages
• Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
• Seeking the Lost
• Seek Ye First
• Send the Light
• Sing to Me of Heaven
• Sing On
• Soldiers of Christ, Arise
• Something Beautiful
• Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
• Standing on the Promises
• Sweet By and By
• Sweet Hour of Prayer

T

• Take Time to Be Holy
• Thank You Lord
• The Battle Belongs to the Lord
• The Gloryland Way
• The Great Redeemer
• The Greatest Commands
• The Lord Bless You and Keep You
• The Lord Has Been Mindful of Me
• The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond)
• The Old Rugged Cross
• The Sands of Time
• The Spacious Firmament on High
• The Steadfast Love of the Lord
• The Way of the Cross
• There Is a Fountain
• There Is a Habitation
• There Is Power in the Blood
• There's Not a Friend
• There's Something About That Name
• 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
• To Canaan's Land I'm on My Way
• To God Be the Glory
• Trust and Obey

U-Z

• Unto Thee, O Lord
• Upon the Banks of Jordan Stood
• Victory in Jesus
• Walking in Sunlight
• We Praise Thee, O God
• Were You There?
• What a Friend We Have in Jesus
• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
• When My Love to Christ Grows Weak
• When We All Get to Heaven
• While On the Sea
• Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?
• Will Your Anchor Hold?
• Without Him
• Wonderful Grace of Jesus
• Wonderful Words of Life
• Yes, for Me, for Me He Careth
• Yield Not to Temptation
• You Are My All in All
• You Are the Song That I Sing