Every man carries with him the world in which he must live. Opportunity typically favors those who have paid the price of years of preparation. God’s best gifts are not things but opportunities. The danger is that we don’t aim too high and we miss it, but that we aim too low and reach it….
Author: Alan Holden
Old Professions
Old _______ never die—they just ____________. Housewives, wash away. Janitors, kick the bucket. FBI Agents, get fed up. Cardiologists, become disheartened. Golfers, lose their drive. Baseball players, strike out. Football players, fumble away. Hockey players, lose their puck. Tailors, divested. Detectives, dissolved. Orchestra leaders, become disbanded. Musicians, become disconcerted. Chiropractors, become disjointed. Politicians, become devoted….
Prayer
Prayer is the breath of the soul; without it you will turn blue. Arguments never settle things, but prayer changes things. Nothing makes us love our enemies as much as praying for them. A small boy asked his parents, “I’m going to pray now–do you need anything?” An important part of praying is a willingness…
Praise
Praise, like sunlight, helps all things to grow. The best way to boost the morale at the office is to tell the boss when someone is doing a good job. Man weighs the deeds, but God weighs the intentions. People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be–not what you nag them…
Peace
Christ as Savior brings peace with God; Christ as Lord brings the peace of God. The surest way to encourage violence is to give in to it. The person who keeps clean, square, and cool within will never collapse when the world without falls in on him. Peace of mind depends upon strength of mind….
Patriotism
Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right; when wrong, to be put right. If our country is worth dying for in time of way, let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace. He loves his country best who strives to make it best. America is…
Patience
Perhaps the most important trip you will ever make is going the second mile. Today is not won by old victories nor lost by old defeats. You lose a lot of battles in the process of winning the war. Patience is waiting without worrying. I would rather be hurt than do hurt. The difficult things…
Pastors and Preaching
The world has lost many good businessmen by having them become preachers. Jonah learned more in the fish than some learn in seminary. The pastor is called to be a shepherd, not a sheepdog. Some preachers have a wealth of thought; others have a thought of wealth. There is no pulpit so vacant as the…
Faithful Christian Living
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 Pray and Be Patient, vv. 1-5 A. Pray B. Be Patient–>Persevere in the Love of the Lord’s promise of His Coming and Expect it at any moment. Work if You Want to Eat, vv. 6-13 A. Separate from the disorderly. B. Don’t be chargeable to someone else. C. Be not weary in…
Day of the Lord
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 Introduction The Christians were shaken instead of “established” (see 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 13). They were told falsely that the Day of the Lord was already happening. Paul explains what has to occur BEFORE this day of wrath comes to the world. The Apostasy Must Take Place, vv. 1-3, cf 1 Timothy 4:1-16…