Quotes from Brother Lawrence

Good when He gives, supremely good;

Nor less when He denies:

Afflictions, from His sovereign hand,

Are blessings in disguise.

--from The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence (Born Nicolas Herman)

Daily Devotion

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 5: 19b-20

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

I will meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Psalm 119:15

My delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law I meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2

My eyes awake before the night watches, that I might meditate in your word. Psalm 119:148

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Psalm 63:6

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Do unto others what you want others to do unto you.

God don't care who you were, only who you are.

-- a priest from the movie "Cowboys and Aliens"

Proverbs 3:7

Do not give yourself airs of wisdom, for they who claim to be so wise turn fools.

- Saint Augustine interpretation of Proverbs 3:7 --"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil."

The greater the battle, the greater the joy

The commander triumphs in victory; yet he could not have conquered if he had not fought; and the greater the peril of the battle, the more the joy of the triumph. The storm tosses the voyagers, threatens shipwreck, and everyone turns pale in the presence of death. Then the sky and sea grow calm, and they rejoice as much as they had feared. A loved one is sick and his pulse indicates danger; all who desire his safety are themselves sick at heart; he recovers, though not able as yet to walk with his former strength; and there is more joy now than there was before when he walked sound and strong.

Saint Augustine - Confessions Book 8 Chapter 3

Consider it pure joy, my bethren, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

Psalm 139:16

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Isa 55:8-11 1 John 4:16

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

Peter 3:15

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Luke 16:15

what is highly valued by people is detestable to God.

Psalm 51:10

Make a clean heart in me, O God; give me a right spirit again.

Devotion of the Day

I know that thou canst do every thing. The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? There is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee.
Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. The mighty God. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed, ... there be more with us than with him.

http://bible.cc/2_chronicles/32-7.htm

Thoughts and sentiments:

I was dismayed by what i had posted earlier from what i read from Saint's Augustine's City of God --

"There is, then, a wicked mediator, who separates friends, and a good Mediator, who reconciles enemies. And those who separate are numerous, because the multitude of the blessed are blessed only by their participation in the one God; of which participation the evil angels being deprived, they are wretched, and interpose to hinder rather than to help to this blessedness, and by their very number prevent us from reaching that one beatific good, to obtain which we need not many but one Mediator, the uncreated Word of God, by whom all things were made, and in partaking of whom we are blessed."

I thought to myself that our enemies are too numerous for us to overcome, that im juz being pulled back all the time unceasingly, never able to break free. In our struggle with the evil one in our lifetime, which the evil one seeks to steal and destroy, prowling like a lion around us waiting for a perfect moment to strike, we need to know that Our Lord is sovereign and He is greater than "him". If God be for us, who can be against us? And our Lord who has overcome will be able to deliver us. And He who has started His work shall not abandon it till it is finished. Our Good Shepherd will never abandon his sheep. He will go all the way out to look for it, bring it back to the flock, and hold a feast to celebrate his return.

I was comforted and again reminded of the sovereignty of our Lord, for i have been deceived into believing that "his" number is too much and im powerless against him. But with my Lord at my side with His multitude of blessed hosts, He has the power, He has the victory and He shall grant me the victory over my enemy. With the Lord by my side i shall not fear. He is my fortress and my shield and my salvation.

A broken friendship may be soldered. but will never be sound.

(Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before.)

Psalm 91

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

For he shall give his angels charge over thee - literally, "He will give 'command' to his angels." That is, he would instruct them, or appoint them for this purpose. This passage Psalm 91:11-12was applied to the Saviour by the tempter. Matthew 4:6. See the notes at that passage. This, however, does not prove that it had an original reference to the Messiah, for even if we should suppose that Satan was a correct and reliable expounder of the Scriptures, all that the passage would prove as used by him would be, that the righteous, or those who were the friends of God, might rely confidently on his protection, and that Jesus, if he was of God, might do this as others might. On the sentiment in the passage, to wit, that God employs his angels to protect his people, see the notes at Psalm 34:7; compare the notes at Hebrews 1:14.

Thou canst not reasonably expect protection if thou walk not in the way of obedience. Thy ways are the paths of duty, which God's word and providence have marked out for thee. The way of sin is not thy way - thy duty, thy interest. Keep in thy own ways, not in those of sin, Satan, the world, and the flesh; and God will take care of thee.

Basic Fundamentals

After Pastors Jeff sermon:

it doesnt matter how close i feel i am to God, or how hard i try to get to God. The fact is i can never be close enough in this lifetime. God is here, He's everywhere. He's more eager to reach me than i am to reach Him because of His infinite love for me. When i just take one step to Him, He will take a million steps to reach me. He loves me much more than i can ever think. I will have Him in my heart. I will be still, and know He is God..

Psalms 39:11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

The Eight Habits of Spiritually Healthy People

The Eight Habits of Spiritually Healthy People

Dr. John Barnett

Here is the question to ponder today, how hard is it to die when you have so much wealth? Consider this...

People who lay up treasures on earth spend their life backing away from their treasures. To them, death is loss.

People who lay up treasures in heaven look forward to eternity; they are moving daily toward their treasures. To them, death is gain.

Those who spend their life moving away from their treasures have more and more reasons to despair. Those who spend their life moving toward their treasures have more and more reasons to rejoice.

Is the passing of time causing you and me to despair or rejoice? God's ownership of everything is the reference point for all of us who serve the Lord.^[1]

God's Word teaches us eight habits that can keep us spiritually healthy until death. Wouldn't it be great to be in robust spiritual health, looking forward to Heaven? The habits recorded in Psalm 116 are not just for those who have one foot in the grave, they are actually good habits for all of our lives.

Here are the simple habits that make our death precious in the sight of the Lord. These are the marks of a healthy spiritual life that takes the sting out of death.

• v. 1 Believe in Him that He is listening and watching and respond in love.
• v. 2 Cry out to Him. Get used to talking to the Lord. Pour out your heart, your fears, your woes - share them with Him.
• v. 9 Follow Him through your daily life. He is the Shepherd and we are His sheep.
• v. 13 Drink Him. He is our cup of salvation. We thirst and He alone satisfies. Let Him into your life to meet your deepest needs!
• v. 14 Obey Him. Do what He says. Give in and submit to Him.
• v. 16 Serve Him. Tell Him that, say it aloud and offer it as an offering.
• v. 17 Thank Him. Think through all the many blessings and benefits the Lord has heaped upon you. If you have troubles, listen to some children pray. They thank the Lord for eyes to see, warm "blankies" to sleep under, food to eat and all the other simple and sweet blessings of life.
• v. 18-19 Live for Him. From now on live for His glory, talk of His blessings, come into His presence, worship and adore Him.

Do your plans and priorities for the rest of 2009 mirror what the Lord desires? His desires are clearly laid out in His Word.

Our key passage for this series is 1st Timothy 4.7. Paul says we are to discipline our selves towards godliness. What encourages a godly life?

The Discipline of Scripture. Time alone with God in His Word, the Scriptures, is the great necessity of our spiritual lives. We need to be alone with God daily! We need to find times to get away alone. Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. The Lord God of the Universe wants to Arrange your life, and Accompany you trip through life, and authorize everything needed from now on. Wow, that is the best life there is.

The Discipline of Spirit Filled Living. Jesus explained the Holy Spirit in our lives by using the image of a strong river of water flowing out of us. John 7.37-38. John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink (present active imperative). He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Rivers of water is the way Jesus describes the normal life of believers, His children.

The Discipline of Stewardship. A life given back to God as an offering is what stewardship is all about. Stewardship is not about money it is about life itself. Time and life are far greater treasures than money and possessions. God wants you 1st and foremost! A GODLY STEWARD KNOWS THAT GOD OWNS HIM AND EVERYTHING HE HAS. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; he's moving daily toward his treasures. To him, death is gain. He who spends his life moving away from his treasures has reason to despair. He who spends his life moving toward his treasures has reason to rejoice.

Is the passing of time causing you and me to despair or rejoice? God's kingdom was the reference point for these men. They saw all else in light of the kingdom. They were compelled to live as they did not because they treasured no things, but because they treasured the right things.

We often miss something in missionary martyr Jim Elliot's famous words, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." We focus on his willingness to go to the mission field. That willingness started when he relinquished his hold on things as MINE!

________________________________________

[1] Adapted from Alcorn, Money, Treasures and Eternity, p.

This article was excerpted from Dr. John Barnett's book, Discipline Yourself For Godliness. For more resources, visit our website at www.DiscoverTheBook.org. Or to read the rest of this article, insert the following URL into your browser bar: http://www.dtbm.org/sermon/discipline-four-stewardship-living-totally-for-jesus/

Check out the Discover the Book devotional from Dr. John Barnett. Read or sign up for email delivery here.

Original publication date: October 6, 2009

2 Corinthians 10:17-18

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

1 Tim 6:6-19

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Paul’s Charge to Timothy

11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Romans 14:8

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth with singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people and will have mercy upon his afflicted. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. My soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ those things which pertain to God. We ... joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Neh. 8:10. Isa. 49:13. Isa.12:2. Ps. 28:7. Isa. 61:10. Rom. 15:17. Rom. 5:11. Hab. 3:18

From daily devotions of http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455788&dtype=Scripture

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

1 Samuel 30:6

I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

Ezekiel 34:16

As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”

Hebrews 3:15

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalms 51:10

Isaiah 40:28-31

"The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you

I begin to realise that during those time when im hiding in my cave, God's blessing stopped and i cant really do much in my life. But after i take the step to actually walk out, come to Him and ask for forgiveness, He will recieve me in His open arms and start pouring out His love unto me. With God by your side, you feel changed, refreshed, and the things happening in your life just change for the better. Taste the Lord and know He is good!

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Yahweh

4 steps to Impacting Our World

1. PRAYER

2. PARTNERSHIP

3. CHURCH PLANTING

4. FINANCIAL INVESTMENT

Matthew 5:14-16

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

- Proverbs 3:7

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. - Romans 12:3

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,

- Galatians 6:3-4

The story of the parishioner

Perhaps you have heard the story of the parishioner who received recognition for being the humblest man in the church? They gave him a pin to wear. The following Sunday he wore it and they took it away from him for being proud. One wonders sometimes if humility is like this. As soon as we think we are humble, we are not.

from : http://www.bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=120

Place where Jesus was born

We all know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but where exactly? This is the spot where our Lord was born.

This silver star, beneath the altar in the Grotto of the Nativity, marks the spot believed to be the Birthplace of Jesus.

The upper part of the Altar of the Nativity.

View of Church of The Nativity from Manger Square

Where was Jesus crucified?

One day i was in my thoughts, and suddenly a random thought came in. Where is the exact spot where Christ was crucified? I went to check on the net for pictures of it and maybe one day i may visit the spot. These are what i found. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem contains many holy artifacts and revered sites all in one. They include the rock where Jesus was crucified on (Golgotha's rock), the site where Jesus was laid called the stone of unction or the stone of anointing (where his body was prepared for burial), and his tomb as well (where on the third day the stone covering his tomb was moved by angels)

Below are photos of the Golgotha's rock where Christ was crucified upon

The rock can be viewed under glass on either side of the central altar, and the site of the Crucifixion can be touched under the central altar.

Crack in Calvary, said to be the one caused by the earthquake that occurred at the Crucifixion

Next the place where Christ's body was laid and prepared for the burial

Mosaic depicting the anointing of Christ's body after the Crucifixion, on the outer wall of the Catholicon behind the Stone of Unction.

View of the edicule from above. This boxy chapel dates from the 19th century and replaces earlier freestanding structures on this site. The small dome is above the Tomb of Christ.

Sunlight streams in the dome over the Tomb of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Painting of the edicule as it appeared in 1891. In the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

Entrance to the edicule, which contains the tomb of Christ.

The first of two small rooms inside the edicule, known as the Chapel of the Angels. This altar contains a stone believed to be part of the large stone that was rolled away from Christ's tomb on Easter morning. The archway in the back leads to the Tomb of Christ itself.

The holiest site in Christianity: the tomb of Christ inside the edicule of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This slab is believed to be where Jesus' body was laid in the tomb. The vase of candles marks the place where his head was. The banner behind it varies with the liturgical seasons: this one is after Easter and says "Christ is Risen."

Please click the link below for the photo tour around The Church of Holy Sepulchre

source: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-holy-sepulchre-photos/

Note: There is also another alleged site where Christ's tomb was and its called the Garden Tombs and is favored by Protestants to be the actual site of Christ's tomb outside the city walls.

Next, The Church of Nativity, where the spot for Christ's birth is hold.

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

True Cross

The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.^[1]

According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena (c. AD 250 – c. AD 330), mother of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome, travelled to the Holy Land, dated by modern historians in 326-28, founding churches and establishing relief agencies for the poor. It was afterwards claimed, in the later fourth-century history by Gelasius of Caesarea followed by Rufinus' additions to Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, that she discovered the hiding place of three crosses, believed to be used at the crucifixion of Jesus and the two thieves — St. Dismas and Gestas — who were executed with him, and that through a miracle it was revealed which of the three was the True Cross.

Many churches possess fragmentary remains that are by tradition alleged to be those of the True Cross. Their authenticity is not accepted universally by those of the Christian faith and the accuracy of the reports surrounding the discovery of the True Cross is questioned by some Christians.^[2] The acceptance and belief of that part of the tradition that pertains to the Early Christian Church is generally restricted to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The medieval legends that developed concerning its provenance differ between Catholic and Orthodox tradition. These churches honour Helena as a saint, as does also the Anglican Communion.

The proving of the True Cross, Jean Colombe in the Très Riches Heures.

Theodoret (died c. 457) in his Ecclesiastical History Chapter xvii gives what had become the standard version of the finding of the True Cross:

When the empress beheld the place where the Saviour suffered, she immediately ordered the idolatrous temple, which had been there erected, to be destroyed, and the very earth on which it stood to be removed. When the tomb, which had been so long concealed, was discovered, three crosses were seen buried near the Lord's sepulchre. All held it as certain that one of these crosses was that of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that the other two were those of the thieves who were crucified with Him. Yet they could not discern to which of the three the Body of the Lord had been brought nigh, and which had received the outpouring of His precious Blood. But the wise and holy Macarius, the president of the city, resolved this question in the following manner. He caused a lady of rank, who had been long suffering from disease, to be touched by each of the crosses, with earnest prayer, and thus discerned the virtue residing in that of the Saviour. For the instant this cross was brought near the lady, it expelled the sore disease, and made her whole.

Reliquary of the True Cross at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem.

One of the largest fragments of the True Cross is at Santo Toribio de Liébana in Spain.

A "Kreuzpartikel" or fragment of True Cross in the Schatzkammer (Vienna).

Reliquary of the True Cross at Notre Dame de Paris.

Base of reliquary of the True Cross and nail of the crucifixion. Notre Dame de Paris.

source: wikipedia

Let your speech be always with grace.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. By thy words thou shalt be justified. The tongue of the wise is health.

Col. 4:6. Prov. 25:11,12. Eph. 4:29. Matt. 12:35. Matt. 12:37. Prov. 12:18

- Daily Devotionals from bible.com

http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455749&dtype=Scripture

Four Evangelists Symbols

Matthew the Evangelist, the author of the first gospel account is symbolized by a winged man, or angel. Matthew's gospel starts with Jesus' genealogy from Abraham; it represents Jesus' Incarnation, and so Christ's human nature.

Mark the Evangelist, the author of the second gospel account is symbolized by a winged lion - a figure of courage and monarchy. Mark has John the Baptist preaching "like a lion roaring" at the beginning of his Gospel. It also represents Jesus' Resurrection (because lions were believed to sleep with open eyes, a comparison with Christ in the tomb), and Christ as king. This signifies that Christians should be courageous on the path of salvation.^{[citation needed]}

Luke the Evangelist, the author of the third gospel account (and the Acts of the Apostles) is symbolized by a winged ox or bull - a figure of sacrifice, service and strength. Luke's account begins with the duties of Zacharias in the temple; it represents Jesus' sacrifice in His Passion and Crucifixion, as well as Christ being High priest (this also represents Mary's obedience). The ox signifies that Christians should be prepared to sacrifice themselves in following Christ.^{[citation needed]}

John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth gospel account is symbolized by an eagle - a figure of the sky, and believed to be able to look straight into the sun. John starts with an eternal overview of Jesus the Logos and goes on to describe many things with a "higher" level than the other three (synoptic) gospels; it represents Jesus' Ascension, and Christ's divine nature. This represents that Christians should look on eternity without flinching as they journey towards their goal of union with God.^{[citation needed]}

source: wikipedia

The Gospel symbols are based on the biblical imagery found in Ezekiel and Revelation.

The image of a man or angel represents the Gospel of Matthew and signifies Christ's human nature.

The lion represents the Gospel of Mark and is a traditional symbol of royalty and power and, therefore, denotes Christ the King.

The ox or calf, the sacrificial victim, represents the Gospel of St. Luke and highlights the priestly character of Christ's mission.

The eagle stands for the Gospel of St. John, the evangelist "who soars to the heavens," because his theology is much more developed than the three Synoptic Gospels. Just as an eagle soars above the earth, so John's theology soars above the other Gospels.

The symbols for the Synoptic Gospels probably come from how each one begins. The Gospel of Mark begins with the lines: "A voice cries out in the wilderness." In the wilderness you can hear the roar of the lion for miles around. Matthew's Gospel opens with the genealogy of Jesus, and represents Jesus' human roots. The Gospel of Luke opens with the story of Zechariah the high priest, who offered a sacrifice of a bull on behalf of the nation.

These symbols were developed as a way of helping people to remember the different Gospels and the perspectives that they took, especially at a time when most people could not read.

source: http://www.rc.net/philadelphia/st_patrick/symbols_of_the_four_evangelists.htm

2 Peter 1:5-11

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

James 4

Submit Yourselves to God 1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?a 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”b 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

2 Timothy 2:20

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But in a great house,.... This simile the apostle makes use of, to show that it need not seem strange, nor should it be distressing to anyone's mind, to hear that men of such wicked principles and practices should be in the church of God, who are before mentioned; since in every great house or palace, the house of a nobleman, or palace of a king, there is a variety of vessels of different matter, and for different uses, and some are mean, despicable, and dishonourable; and so it is in the church of God: for by this great house, in the application of the simile, is not meant the world, as some think; for though that is a house built by God, who built all things; and is a very large one, and full of inhabitants, comparable to vessels; and there are in it both good and bad, as always have been; yet it is no startling thing to any man, that there should be bad men in it; rather the wonder is, that there should be any good; but by this house is meant the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Timothy 3:15; see Gill on 1 Timothy 3:15.

There are not only vessels of gold and of silver; persons who are members of the visible church, who are comparable to gold and silver, for their worth and value, and preciousness in the sight of Christ, who accounts them his jewels, and peculiar treasure; and for their excellency and usefulness in the church, by reason of those differing gifts bestowed upon them; and for their lustre and purity, both of doctrine and of life; and for their solidity and duration:

but also of wood, and of earth: there are others in a visible church state, who are like to dry wood, destitute of the grace of God, and are fit matter for Satan to work upon, and by them raise and increase the flames of contention and division, and will be fit fuel for everlasting burnings; and there are others who are sensual, and carnal, and worldly, who mind earth, and earthly things, and have no spirituality, nor spiritual mindedness in them:

and some to honour; who are designed for honourable service, and behave honourably, and are worthy of honour in the church; are honourable officers, or members in it; and are to the honour of Christ, and the Gospel; and shall at last enjoy honour, glory, immortality, and eternal life.

And some to dishonour; who are to the disreputation of the church, the dishonour of religion, and scandal of the Gospel; by them God is dishonoured, his ways evil spoken of, his doctrines blasphemed, and his name reproached; and who are themselves dishonourable among men now, and will be covered with shame and everlasting contempt hereafter.

One to sow the seed, another to water it, but it is the Lord who makes it grow