Upward, Believer!

Rouse thee, O believer, from thy low condition! 

Cast away thy sloth, thy lethargy, thy coldness, or whatever interferes with thy chaste and pure love to Christ. Make Him the source, the center, and the circumference of all thy soul's range of delight. Rest no longer satisfied with thy dwarfish attainments. Aspire to a higher, a nobler, a fuller life. 

Upward to heaven! 

Nearer to God!

~ Charles H. Spurgeon ~

A quote for your day

Rouse thee, O believer, from thy low condition! 

Cast away thy sloth, thy lethargy, thy coldness, or whatever interferes with thy chaste and pure love to Christ. Make Him the source, the center, and the circumference of all thy soul's range of delight. Rest no longer satisfied with thy dwarfish attainments. 

Aspire to a higher, a nobler, a fuller life. 

Upward to heaven! 

Nearer to God!

-Charles H. Spurgeon- 

It's all Christ

Take advantage of every opportunity to 

...know Christ...

...think of Christ...

...speak of Christ... 

...and reflect Christ.

-Paul Washer-

A thought for your day...

Used with permission by Christian Quotes 

Press on!

Tune your instrument!

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

-Hudson Taylor-

Grace…and Faith

(I found these very encouraging this weekend, so thought I’d pass them along. :) God bless!)

“I’ve learned recently to love imperfection a lot because it shines such a big light on God’s grace. And if someone has grace for you that’s when you feel their love the most and they see you for who you are and they love you anyway.”
― Lacey Mosley

“Trusting God’s grace means trusting God’s love for us rather than our love for God. […] Therefore our prayers should consist mainly of rousing our awareness of God’s love for us rather than trying to rouse God’s awareness of our love for him, like the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:26-29).”
― Peter Kreeft

Photo courtesy freeimages.com

“God really is a Father, as displeased with a cramped, niggardly attitude of lack as with its opposite.”
― Brother Andrew

“We can put it this way: the man who has faith is the man who is no longer looking at himself and no longer looking to himself. He no longer looks at anything he once was. He does not look at what he is now. He does not even look at what he hopes to be as the result of his own efforts. He looks entirely to the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work, and rests on that alone. He has ceased to say, ‘Ah yes, I used to commit terrible sins but I have done this and that.’ He stops saying that. If he goes on saying that, he has not got faith. Faith speaks in an entirely different manner and makes a man say, ‘Yes I have sinned grievously, I have lived a life of sin, yet I know that I am a child of God because I am not resting on any righteousness of my own; my righteousness is in Jesus Christ and God has put that to my account.’”
― D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Thoughts for Tuesday

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?

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What have you thanked the Lord for today?


(I'm sorry this is so short and to the point...I'm kind of running low on inspiration today. ;) Blessings!)

:: Come forth as Gold ::

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].

:: 1 Peter 5:10 ::

When you suffer and lose, that does not mean you are being disobedient to God. In fact, it might mean you're right in the center of His will. The path of obedience is often marked by times of suffering and loss.

:: Chuck Swindoll ::

The man who has an easy way through life, will be spiritually weak, flabby and impoverished. He won't be able to do all that God wants him to do. But the one who has gone through trials and testing successfully, will be strong and capable of doing all the will of God.

:: Zac Poonen ::

"...for when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold." 

Meditations on Monday

This year, let us ask God to dissolve all our hopes into a Single Hope to know Christ and be Found in Him. May this be a year to desire a radically transformed, deeper, truer, knowing of Christ as our All-Sufficient One. 

--Elizabeth Elliot--

Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it the most profitable way I possible can. --Jonathan Edwards--

 Obedience...the freedom to be creative under God given authorities.

Everything is ordered by God. he is the God of order. 

--Phillip H--

{In Christ Alone...my hope is found! He is my light, my strength, my song!}

Learn to say, NO. It will be of more use to you than if you would learn Latin. 

--Charles Spurgon--

October Wallpaper!

I want to apologize for not posting a wallpaper for September. With the giveaway going on, it slipped my mind until it was near the middle of September! 

Here it is...the October wallpaper! :) 

(Click and save image to your desktop and enjoy all month long!)
Please do not use these images for any other purpose other than personal enjoyment on the desktop of your computer!!!

Enjoy this month's wallpaper! If you enjoy using the wallpapers, please tell us! :)

Wisdom Wednesday :: Time with the Lord

"We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power and strength."

--Charles Stanley

This is so true! Sometimes I feel very discouraged, and when I take the time to hear from the Lord from his Word, or through prayer, it refreshes me! I am given new strength and am able to go on! 

Another thought

"Jesus didn't die half-way for you
why do you get to live half-way for Him?"
 -Damon Thompson

A scattering of thoughts

Some convicting thoughts:

                            Source

                          Source

(Don't just pray about what seems logical and possible. Pray HARD about the "impossible" God will show you that NOTHING nothing nothing nothing is impossible with Him. Ever. Period. End of Story.)

                            Source

Hmm very interesting!

Blessings Tiffany

oops! Suddenly realized there was a thoughts Tuesday -oh well there is now Thursday Thoughts :D

The Fruit of the Spirit ..... And an Announcement!!!

Hello Everyone! 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

~Galatians 5:22-23~

"God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality. Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity."

--Rick Warren

What has the Lord been showing you recently?

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And the announcement ??? :)

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Issue #5 of Jewels of Jesus!!! :D

Click HERE to read this issue! 

Have fun! And once you've read it, tell us what you think! :)

~Blessings~

Rachel for the JOJ team

Patience :: Thoughtful Tuesdays

"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." 
-- 1 Timothy 6:11 {KJV}

"Patience is a grace as difficult as it is necessary,
and as hard to come by as it is precious when it is gained."
-- Charles Spurgeon

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Thank you, Miss Bethany, for letting me re-post  your meditation on JOJ! :) 

(Bethany is a good friend of mine, and you can find her blog here:
Thanks again!)

Be Strong :: Meditations on Monday

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Deuteronomy 31:6

 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

1 Peter 5:7

"Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart-so will you be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

~Andrew Murray~

A Wise Woman

“A woman unacquainted with the Bible, and ignorant of its contents, affecting her own conduct, character, and history, has yet to know the finest threads of female loveliness.

The Bible is the best mirror by which to know what you are and to become what you should be.”

  ~ John Angell James (1785-1859) ~

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True understanding and honest surrender to God’s will brings out the best that He has for us; man or woman, girl or boy.  This requires a life-long dedication.  God’s Word affects everyone…whether or not they believe in God.  It affects us in ways we have yet to understand.  Romans 12:1-2 speaks about renewing our minds with the Word of God. This happens when we read and study God’s word.  And by memorizing and meditating on Scripture, we become more acquainted with God and His Word.  Only by humility and God’s grace may we ever hope to become who we should be. 

(A short article I wrote for our church' monthly paper)

Love All God's Creation....

Background Credit

I love that quote. I don't know why, but it's...beautiful. In its own way.

Today's Selected Story:
I heard the above quote for the first time when I was listening to a radio dramatized story by Leo Tolstoy, God Sees the Truth, But Waits. It's a beautiful story, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it to. So--click the link, read the story, and then come back to tell me what you think. :)

Do you have a favourite quote and / or story that was written many years ago? Comment below; I'd be interested to know! :)

Have a blessed Sunday and following week!

A Misuse of Imagination--Wisdom Wednesday

“Worry is a misuse of imagination.” ― Dan Zadra

Matthew 6:25-27, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?”

Luke 12:25, “And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?”

Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

“We really feel happier when things look bleak.
Hope is endurance. Hope is holding on and going on
and trusting in the Lord.” ― Michael Novak
{Photo Credit}

Proverbs 12:25, “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.”

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Isaiah 43:1-3, “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.”

“Don't worry when you are not recognized,
but strive to be worthy of recognition.” ― Abraham Lincoln
{Photo Credit}

Some quotes about worrying:

“I’ll give you some symptoms of a sign that your faith is deteriorating–whenever you face all of your problems and you trust only your plans to get you out–it is a sign that your faith is deteriorating.” ― T.D. Jakes

“No one can pray and worry at the same time.” ― Max Lucado

“Knowing that God is faithful, it really helps me to not be captivated by worry. But knowing that He will do what He has said, He will cause it to happen, whatever He has promised, and then it causes me to be less involved in worrying about a situation.” ― Josh McDowell


“Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise and providence of God, and yet it is a sin that Christians commit perhaps more frequently than any other.” ― John MacArthur

{Photo Credit}

“The more you pray, the less you’ll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. You’ll feel more patient and less pressured.” ― Rick Warren

“If you spent your life concentrating on what everyone else thought of you, would you forget who you really were?” ― Jodi Picoult

“I am reminded of the advice of my neighbor. ‘Never worry about your heart till it stops beating.’” ― E.B. White

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” ― Leo Buscaglia

A thought

Every two weeks I go to a speaking group called Tecorians and this is one of the Christmassy thoughts I had to do, I really like this one:

Blessed is
The season which
Engages the whole
World in a
Conspiracy of love.

-Hamilton Wright Mabie

-Blessings Tiffany