Quotes worth Quoting #16

Christianity is the only major religion to have as its central event the humiliation of its God.
Bruce Shelley

Quotes Worth Quoting #15

There is no failure in God's will, and no success outside of God's will.

George Washington Truett

Our prayers, God's answers

"God always answers our prayers. The answer might be yes, no or wait. It might take us out of our comfort zone. But it's God's answer in God's timing nonetheless. So let us "pray without ceasing; [and] in everything give thanks". 1 Thess. 5:17-18"

Running, Walking and In Between

After waking up, breakfast, quiet time and general puttering around in the kitchen, I was finally ready to go for a run. I had gotten some brand new running shoes the day before, and I was dying to try them out. My old sneakers were retired from running, as they had seen better days.

Now, I'm not a 'runner' if you think of a runner as someone who does marathons as a hobby, but if you think of a runner as a person who attempts to move both feet in a forward motion while clomping them up and down, then I'm a runner through and through. I'm persuaded that to runners, I looked funny, to non-runners I looked funny and to those in-betweeners at my level I certainly didn't look inspirational. In fact, I felt rather like a shire horse trying to do dressage. :-) Thankfully I had no observers save the few drivers that drove by me on my otherwise private route.

The sun was warm, the breeze was welcome and the surface of the road was just the right texture; firm enough to not be muddy, and soft enough for a bit of cushioning. A rapidly disappearing layer of snow still lay under the trees on either side of the road. I felt like my feet were pounding, thumping and thudding the ground; all of the things that they shouldn't have been doing! Oh well. I was enjoying the fact that I was able to be where I was with the strength and health that God gave me, along with all the added blessings of a sunny, warm day and a safe road to run on.

I had brought my mp3 player with me with a playlist of inspirational instrumental/vocal songs to keep me going. I decided that on the way down I would not use it, but that I would rather enjoy nature.
On the way back, however, I turned it on and began my run back. I decided that some of the most inspirational music to run to is the soundtrack from 'The Man from Snowy River'. I'm not a fan of the movie, but the soundtracks are great. Andrew Peterson's 'Pillar of Fire' is one that it's hard not to run to! Especially since I was "homeward bound". I began walking once I had reached my goal of running over 3 miles. Andrew Peterson's "Just as I Am" began playing as I neared the entrance of my road. I'm so glad that "He loves me, He does." Just as I got back to our house, "Rocky Top" started to play. I had to smile. There "ain't no smoggy smoke" near my house, and it just may always be "home sweet home to me".

---

I feel so privileged and blessed! Just last night I was reading Ephesians 5:1-21. I've been learning lately just how important it is to heed the exhortation given in verses 15 and 16:

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

In Ephesians chapter 5 we have three different verses that talk about walking.

• Verse 2 says to "walk in love".
• Verse 8 says to "walk as children of light".
• Verse 15 says "be careful how you walk".

Then  in Hebrews 12:1-2 the author compares living out the new life Christ gives (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 6:4) to running a race.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Here it says "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us". The race that it talks about in that verse is our lives. At the finish line is a reward in heaven from God (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Are you 'entered' into the race? Jesus said "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved...". John 10:9. The only way to be right with God is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior from your sins: That we stood guilty before God, that Jesus died to take the punishment we deserved for our sins, and that He lives again.

I know I don't fully comprehend or follow the commands of all of these verses. It is my prayer that I will learn to walk more and more the way God wants me to every day. But I do know this: Whether I'm walking or running, I have a reminder from the Bible to

• Walk in love
• Walk as a child of light
• Be careful how I walk
• Run with endurance

I'm thankful to the Lord who gives me the ability to enjoy His creation by walking and running in it, but I'm even more grateful for the fact that I'm His child. It is my strong desire that I would

...Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10

(photo credits: Microsoft images)

Quotes Worth Quoting #14

Satan has no difficulty

in making sin look innocent.

John Blanchard

Quotes Worth Quoting #13

Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into
harmony with Him.

Hudson Taylor

Quotes Worth Quoting #12

The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible
in our life and thoughts.

George Mueller

Quotes Worth Quoting #11

Faith ends where worry begins, and worry ends where faith begins.

George Mueller

Quotes Worth Quoting #10

It ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and great, and honoured in that world where his Lord was poor, and mean, and despised.

George Muller

Quotes Worth Quoting #9

Out of one hundred men, one will read the Bible, the other ninety-nine will read the Christian.

D.L. Moody

A Great Piece by Bach!

Recently I started learning how to play the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (or part of it, anyway!) on the violin. It's a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach, and I really like it. Not just because it's by Bach, but that is a good reason to like it. :-)

Before you watch the video, here's a quote from Bach that I appreciate.

The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.

I agree that all music should give glory to God, and a lot of it is certainly refreshing to listen to and enjoyable to play.
Here's a video of the bit of the Brandenburg Concerto that I'm starting to learn. This video is well worth watching, not only to hear the music, but also to see how every instrument, musician and part comes together to form this beautiful and lively piece. The musicians are also fun to watch; they look like they thoroughly enjoyed playing this piece together. :-) I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did!

Overheard in an Orchard

Overheard in an Orchard

Said the robin to the sparrow,
"I would really like to know
Why those anxious human beings
rush around and worry so."

Said the sparrow to the robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
such as cares for you and me."
~ Elizabeth Cheney ~

 Picture: http://doriswintch.com/blog/?p=8
Thank you, Jess, for bringing this poem to my attention. :-) 

Quotes worth Quoting #8

Christ died for all men, not just the ones you know and like. 

Anonymous

Quotes worth Quoting #7

A Christian shows what he is by what he does with what he has. 

Anonymous

Quotes worth Quoting #6

True faith produces a life full of actions, 

not a head full of facts. 

Anonymous

Quotes worth Quoting #5

"To be like Christ is to be a Christian."

Daniel Webster

Quotes worth Quoting #4

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator 

for all I have not seen." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quotes worth Quoting: #1

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Jim Elliot

Quotes worth Quoting: #2

"If Christ is Lord, then He must come first. If the personal pronoun "I" is in the throne, then Christ is no longer in control."
William MacDonald
True Discipleship

Quotes worth Quoting: #3

"Christ is a substitute for everything,
but nothing is a substitute for Christ."
Harry Ironside
Taken from Wholesome Words