And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

John 17:3

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 This is what the Lord says:
   “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
      or the powerful boast in their power,
      or the rich boast in their riches.
  But those who wish to boast
      should boast in this alone:
   that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
      who demonstrates unfailing love
      and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
   and that I delight in these things.
      I, the Lord, have spoken!

Jeremiah 9:23-24

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When Joel Osteen was asked by Larry King what he thought of the criticism regarding his teachings his reply went something like this, "I'm just doing what God called me to do.  He didn't ask me to do this, or that.  Maybe he called others to that but he called me to do what I am doing and I believe that is why I am successful." 

May we all continue to do what He has personally spoken to us and move forward in Christ. 

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When we are in terrible pain and cry out to others, some people, even some professionals (counselors, pastors, doctors) are not yet wounded healers. They may be someday, but as of now they haven't walked through their own valley of suffering or loss, and God has not yet called them to the wounding place. So they listen to us as we describe the pain, but their first words sometimes are brittle, "learned behavior" responses. They utter words which sometimes come from ignorance of pain or a denial of their pain or out of someone else's training or teaching. But, definitely, their response is not out of their own valley of suffering. Their words do not touch us with comfort and healing. It's as if we are listening to an executive giving a medical lecture in an office conference room rather than watching a doctor binding up wounds in a hospital.

The effective, called-of-god wounded healers speak to the hurting with real words, because they are very sensitive and well acquainted with their own pain...

-Joyce Landorf Heatherly ("My Blue Blanket" excerpt)

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Jesus says regarding judging - Don't. The average Christian is the most penetratingly critical individual. Criticism is a part of the ordinary faculty of man; but in the spiritual domain nothing is accomplished by criticism. The effect of criticism is a dividing up of the powers of the one criticized; the Holy Ghost is the only One in the true position to criticize, He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into communion with God when you are in a critical temper; it makes you hard and vindictive and cruel, and leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person. Jesus says, as a disciple cultivate the uncritical temper. It is not done once and for all. Beware of anything that puts you in the superior person's place.  -Oswald Chambers

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Godly sorrow focuses on God.  Worldly sorrow says what's going to happen to me.  You understand?  I couldn't get free from that sin because I was afraid I would be judged for that sin.  But a year later I said, "God, I've hurt your heart, I've hurt you.  I want this gone.  It breaks our fellowship."  That was Godly sorrow.  It produced repentance.  -John Bevere 

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Lord, Make Me An Instrument of Peace

Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love:
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. 

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The truth is given to set people free, not to find fault...we need to exercise great caution.  -Watchman Nee

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Preach the gospel at all times.  If necessary, use words. 

-Francis of Assissi

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I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God. 

-Oswald Chambers

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God did it!  -Mom

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Jesus did not come to reform self.  He came to crucify it. 

-Benny Hinn

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I want to know God, all the rest is details - Albert Einstein

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For it is only in love that the unequal can be made equal

- Kierkegaard

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A prayer through Evan Roberts (excerpt from "A World Aflame" by Rick Joyner):

     "Lord Jesus, help us now through the Holy Spirit to come face to face with the cross.  Whatever the hinderances may be, we commit the service to Thee.  Put us all under the Blood.  Oh, Lord, place the Blood on all our past up to this moment.  We thank Thee for the Blood.  In the name of Jesus Christ bind the devil this moment.  We point to the Cross of Christ.  It is our cross and we take its conquest. 

     Reveal the cross through the name of Jesus.  Oh, open the heavens.  Descend upon us now.  Tear open our hearts; give us such a sight of Calvary that our hearts may be broken.  Oh Lord, descend now; open our hearts to receive the heart that bled for us.  If we are to be fools-make us fools for Thee.  Take us spirit, soul, and body.  WE ARE THINE.  Thou hast purchased us.

     Reveal the cross for the sake of Jesus-the cross that is to conquer the world.  Place us under the blood.  Forbid that we should think of what men may say of us.  Oh speak-speak-speak, Lord Jesus.  Thy Words are "wine indeed".  Oh, reveal the Cross, beloved Jesus-the cross in its glory.

     Reign in every heart for the sake of Jesus.  Lord, do Thou help us to see the dying Savior.  Enable us to see Him conquering the hosts of darkness.  Claim victory for Thy Son, now Lord.  He is worthy to have the victory.  THOU ART THE ALL-POWERFUL GOD.  OH, CLAIM VICTORY.  We shall give all the glory to Thy Name.  No one else has a right to the glory but thee.  Take it, Lord.  Glorify Thy Son in this meeting.  OH HOLY SPIRIT-DO THOU WORK THROUGH US AND IN US NOW.  Speak Thy Word in power for thy Name's sake.  Amen-and Amen!"

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From the movie, "Under the Tuscan Sun":

Kathryn, "When I was a little girl I used to spend hours looking for ladybugs. Finally I just give up and fall asleep in the grass. When I woke up they were crawling all over me."

Francis, "Sooo..."

Kathryn, "So go work on your house and forget about it."

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DO IT ANYWAY

Written By Mother Theresa

        People are often unreasonable, illogical,
        and self-centered;
        Forgive them anyway.

        If you are kind, People may accuse you
       of selfish, ulterior motives;
        Be kind anyway.

        If you are successful, you will win some
        false friends and some true enemies;
        Succeed anyway.

        If  you are honest and frank,
        people may cheat you;
        Be honest and frank anyway.

        What you spend years building, someone
        could destroy overnight;
        Build anyway.

        If you find serenity and happiness,
        they may be jealous;
        Be happy anyway.

       The good you do today,
        people will often forget tomorrow;
        Do good anyway.

        Give the world the best you have,
        and it may never be enough;
        Give the world the best you've got anyway.

        You see, in the final analysis,
        it is between you and God;

        It was never between you and them anyway

(although I don't know if I totally agree with that last sentence as it is worded, I love this)

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God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better.  ~Rick Warren

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"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." - Zig Ziglar 
 

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It is perilously possible to make our conceptions of God like molten lead poured into a specially designed mould, and when it is cold and hard we fling it at the heads of the religious people who don’t agree with us.  ~Oswald Chambers