031124 My Rules for Life... Bro. George DeHoff plus

My Rules for Life…

George DeHoff

 

1. I try never to say anything behind

A man’s back that would give me

The least embarrassment to say

To his face.

2. I try never to speak back to

Personal critics… friends do not

Need to hear the defense and

Enemies would not believe it.

3. Every day I greet every person

I see with a smile and make a

Special effort to do so if the

Person is poor or in unfortunate

Circumstances.

4. The first thing when I awake

In the morning I plan what my

Duty for the day is and try to

Go beyond it.

5. Every day I read from the Bible

And some other good books…

Feeding the mind and soul is

More important than feeding

The body.

6. I try to pay every debt I owe

On time and always save

Something from every pay check,

However small.

7. I like people and never harbor

Any malice or hatred toward any

Person in the world; I like places

And have yet to be anywhere that

I do not like… I go there with the

Intention of liking the place.

8. I am a confirmed optimist

believing that even in this life

evil men will be punished by

their own unhappiness and

good men will be rewarded.

“It’s better further on.”

9. I try to close each day as if

It were the last day I’d be on

Earth, closing the books on all

Regrets, worries and annoyances.

10. The last thing I do at night

Is to count one by one the

Blessings of the day.

This makes me so thankful

And happy that I soon drift

Into pleasant sleep.

In this spirit I hope to close

Life’s journey and drift into

Eternity.

- Beacon 9/26/1991

 

***

 

Cecelia’s Recipe For Life…

Cecelia Weir

 

Be Positive…

Look ahead…

Live in the present…

And be sure…

To love every minute…

Of whatever you do.

 

Have a zest for life…

A forgiving spirit…

Enthusiasm for others…

A genuine will for helping…

And nothing…

Will be impossible for you.

 

***

 

I have found that if you

Love life,

Life will love you back.

- Arthur Rubenstien

 

 

 

 

030824 post

Abraham Lincoln's Favorite Devotionals

The Believer's Daily Treasure

 

March 8

 

Pardon through Christ

 

“In whom we have redemption

Through His blood,

The forgiveness of sins.

- Colossians 1:14

 

“In that day a fountain shall be

Opened for the house of David

And for the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

For sin and for uncleanness.

- Zechariah 13:1

 

There Is a Fountain…

William Cowper

There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in His day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away:
Washed all my sins away,
Washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow’r,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more:
Are safe, to sin no more,
Are safe, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more.

E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

When this poor, lisping, stamm’ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save:
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save;
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save.

- Published 1772

 

The Greatest Need of the World

- Bill Dillon

Our society is characterized by mechanical conveniences,

Escape entertainment, sexual freedom, upward mobility

And practically unencumbered leisure.

What else could any people need?

Is there more to life?

What happens when the machines break down?

The entertainment is over?

The sexual freedom is found out to be nothing but

Barnyard morality?

The mobility becomes stalled?

The leisure turns to boredom?

What do we say when over soaring prices in stores,

Loved ones die, etc?

 

1. Can Science Help?

Science has its place, but it can’t salve the soul.

Science can ease some of the suffering through

Medicine but can’t tell the “why” of suffering.

 

2. Can Education Help?

H.G. Wells once believed more education would

Make man better but W.W. 2 showed some of the

Most educated nations committing the worst atrocities.

Education has a place but it is not the ultimate answer

To man’s spiritual problems.

 

3. Can Greater Sensual Pleasure Help?

No one opposes good fun, but in this age “King Jazz

Has replaced King Jesus.” In the gusto generation

There is more enthusiasm for beer, wine, whiskey and

Drugs than for God, Christ, the Church and the Bible.

 

4. Salvation from Sin is the Word’s Greatest Need!

If that need is filled then nothing else matters.

All have sinned (Romans 3:23).

And a new life is described by the Apostle Paul

In (Romans 6:1-4).

Via Beacon 12/12/1985 Edited by H.C.

 

The Power of the Gospel

- Marshall Keeble

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that will stop

Men from sinning. It has already been proven that city

And county jails won’t stop it; State and Federal penitentiaries

Have been enlarged yet they are over crowded.

The death penalty won’t stop them from sinning.

 

The only thing that will stop them is what the Apostle Paul

Wrote about in the book of Romans chapter 1 verse 16…

 

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,

For it is the power of God to salvation for 

Everyone who believes,

For the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

 

Friend, the gospel is powerful enough to stop a man from

Bootlegging, to stop a man from beating his wife,

To make him stay away from his neighbor’s wife,

To make a woman let her neighbor’s husband alone.

Via Beacon 12/12/1985 Edited by H.C.

 

Plan of Salvation…

* God’s Part

1. The great love of God for man.

For God so loved the world that He gave

His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not

perish but have everlasting life.

(John.3:16)

 

2. He gave Christ as the Savior.

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and

to save that which was lost.”

(Luke 19:10)

 

3. Sent the Holy Spirit as a guide.

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,

He will guide you into all truth;

for He will not speak on His own authority,

but whatever He hears He will speak;

and He will tell you things to come.

(John 16:13)

 

4. Provided atonement by the blood of Christ.

Much more then, having now been justified by

His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

(Romans 5:9)

 

5. Gave the Gospel as “the power unto salvation.”

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,

for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone

who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

(Romans 1:16)

 

*Man’s Part

1. Hear the Gospel.

So then faith comes by hearing,

and hearing by the word of God.

(Romans 10:17)

 

2. Believe the Gospel.

But these are written that you may believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that believing you may have life in His name.

(John 20:31)

 

3. Repent of past sins.

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked,

but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

(Acts 17:30)

 

4. Confess faith in Christ.

Therefore whoever confesses Me before men,

him I will also confess before My Father

who is in heaven.

(Matt.10:32)

 

5. Water Baptism.

For as many of you as were

baptized into Christ have

put on Christ.

(Galatians 3:27)

 

6. Faithfulness

But Jesus said to him,

“No one, having put his hand to the plow,

and looking back,

is fit for the kingdom of God.”

(Luke 9:62)

 

 

 

 

030624 Happy Birthday...

Modern man needs to realize

That speed is meaningless

Without direction.

- James E. Gibbons

 

When you get where you are going,

Where will you be when you

Get there?

- James E. Gibbons

 

Right is always right

If no one is right,

And wrong is still wrong

If everyone is wrong.

- James E. Gibbons

 

 

 

Old School Toby Keith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw6zaOHSQbI

030524 A Tribute to A.M. Burton...

Andrew Mizell “A.M.” Burton

(1879-1966)

Is a classic example of the fulfillment of the

American dream.

He started life on the family farm with less

than 2 years of formal education.

He travelled to Nashville; TN to begin work

with a “home service” Insurance Company

and worked a “debit” selling and collecting

on a weekly basis.

When that company decided to discontinue

operating in the state of Tennessee his

manager said to him,

‘If you’re the man that I think that you are,

you’ll start your own company.”

He persuaded 5 other investors to help him

begin The Life and Casualty Insurance Company

of Tennessee in 1903.

He was the President of the company for 48 years.

In 1957 the company opened its new home office,

the 31 story Life & Casualty Tower at 4^th Ave. N.

and Church St. downtown Nashville, TN.

It was briefly the tallest in the Southeast.

The company also owned radio and television

stations WLAC until the 70’s.

Personally interesting to me is that eventually

after acquisitions and mergers thru the years

the American International Group (A.I.G.)

based in a Nashville, TN suburb was the

first company I personally worked with in

Jasper, AL beginning in 2007.

Another interesting fact is A.M. Burton was

the great-grandfather of singer Amy Grant.

In writing about A.M. Burton which appeared

in the Gospel Advocate after his passing his

friend Athen Clay Pullias wrote about the

special traits that A.M. Burton exhibited

throughout his life…

Faith, Vision, Benevolence, Optimism, Generosity.

The following are three quotes’ Pullias noted…

"It can be done," no matter what it is.

- A.M. Burton

"Nothing succeeds like success."

- A.M. Burton

"God will show the way that will work out for the best."

- A.M. Burton

 

A.M. Burton was a Christian.

He was great because he followed

The Lord’s definition of greatness…

 

… “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles

Lord it over them, and those who are great

Exercise authority over them.

Yet it shall not be so among you, let him

Be your servant, And whoever desires to

Be first among you, let him be your slave…

Just as the Son of Man did not come to

Be served, but to serve, and to give His

Life a ransom for many.

Matt.20:25-28

 

 

 

 

 

030424 You've Got a Friend...

Carole King wrote and released a song in 1971

That struck a chord with many people.

 

“You’ve God a Friend”

 

When you’re down and troubled,

And you need some love and care,

And nothing, nothing is going right

Close your eyes and think of me,

And soon I will be there

To brighten up even your darkest night.

If the sky above you grows dark and full of clouds

And that old north wind begins to blow

Keep your head together and call my name out loud

Soon you’ll hear me knocking at your door

Why can people be so cold?

They’ll hurt you, yes, and desert you

And take your soul if you let them,

Oh, but don’t you let them

You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I’ll come running to see you again

Winter, spring, summer or fall

All you have to do is call

And I’ll be there

You’ve got a friend.

 

Excerpted by H.C.

 

A Friend of the Friendless

 

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking,

and they say,

 ‘Look, a glutton and a ^[a] winebibber,

 a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

 But wisdom is justified by her ^[b] children.”

 [a] wine drinker [b] works  

 Matt.11:19

 

Jesus is a friend of the friendless. 

 

Our Lord was willing to associate with those

whom the world deemed unworthy and

untouchable. 

 

Jesus embodied the spirit of real evangelism

by reaching out to all men  with the

gospel message. 

 

Though his enemies meant it as a criticism,

their words are really a compliment…

 

“The Son of man came eating and drinking,

and they say …

‘Look, a glutton and a ^[a] winebibber,

a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

But wisdom is justified by her ^[b] children.”

Matt.11:19

 

He ate with Pharisees (Luke 7:36). 

 

He ate with publicans and sinners (Matt.9:10). 

 

He reached out and touched the untouchables

(Matt.8:2-3; Luke 8:43-48). 

 

His closest companions on earth were a group

comprised of roughneck fishermen, a publican,

a political fanatic, and a money-hungry treasurer. 

 

Jesus was willing to befriend those that many

in the world would rather leave to themselves.

 

What about us?

 

Are we willing to befriend the friendless?

 

Do we reach out only to those who fit the mold

of who we think a friend should be?

 

Find the broken, the hurting, the struggling,

the lonely, the forgotten, and be a friend to them.

 

Via Rooted in the Cross

Edited by H.C.

 

People get caught up with how many friends

they have on Face book

Or how many are following them on other

social media platforms.

 

The real question is

 

Is Jesus Christ your friend?

 

Are you his friend?

 

“You are My friends if you

do whatever I command you.

John 15:14

 

Friend,

have you followed Christ’s commandments

Regarding the salvation of your soul?

 

Friendship’s Road…

Friendship is a chain of gold
Shaped in God’s all perfect mold.
Each link a smile, a laugh, a tear,
A grip of the hand, a word of cheer.

Steadfast as the ages roll
Binding closer soul to soul;
No matter how far or heavy the load
Sweet is the journey on friendship’s road.

 

Jesus is a friend for life,

Guiding through all toil and strife;

No matter how far or heavy the load,

Sweet is the journey on friendship’s road.

 

- Monroe Crossing

 

“Happy is he who has the

God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,”

Psalm 146:5

 

 

030224 quotes plus...

Ezra said to them,

“Go, eat and drink what you enjoy,

And give some to him who has

Nothing ready.

For this day is holy to our Lord.

Do not be sad for the joy of the

Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

 

“May honor and thanks be given

To the Lord,

Because He has heard my prayer.

The Lord is my strength and my

Safe cover.

My heart trusts in Him,

And I am helped.

So my heart is full of joy.

I will thank Him with my song.

The Lord is the strength of His people.

He is a safe place for His chosen one.

Save Your people and bring good to

What is Yours.

Be their shepherd and carry them

Forever.”

Psalm 28:6-8

 

“Christian brothers,

Keep your minds thinking about

Whatever is true,

Whatever is respected,

Whatever is right,

Whatever is pure,

Whatever can be loved,

And whatever is well thought of.

If there is anything good and

Worth giving thanks for,

Think about these things.”

Philippians 4:8

 

If in our daily life we can smile,
if we can be peaceful and happy,
not only we,

But everyone will profit from it.
This is the most basic kind of

Peace work.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

If you could only sense

How important you are

To the lives of those you meet;

How important you can be

To the people you may never

Even dream of. 

There is something of yourself

That you leave at every meeting

With another person.

- Fred Rogers  

 

Who is the happiest of men?

He who values the merits of others,

And in their pleasure takes joy,

Even as though t'were his own.

- Johann von Goethe

 

Take Time…

Take time to laugh…
It is the music of the soul.
Take time to think…
It is the source of power.
Take time to play…
It is the source of perpetual youth.
Take time to read…
It is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to pray…
It is the greatest power on Earth.
Take time to love and be loved…
It is a God-given privilege.
Take time to be friendly…
It is the road to happiness.
Take time to give…
It is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to work.
It is the price of success.
- Anonymous

 

Take Time…

Take time to Work…

It is the price of success.

Take time to Think…

It is the source of power.

Take time to Play…

It is the secret of youth.

Take time to Read your Bible…

It is the foundation of knowledge

And feeds the soul.

Take time to Worship…

It is the highway of reverence

And washes the dust

Of earth from our eyes.

Take time to Help

And Enjoy Friends…

It is the source of happiness.

Take time to Love …

It is the one sacrament of life.

Take time to Dream…

It hitches the soul to the stars.

Take time to Laugh…

It is the singing that helps

With life's loads.

Take time to Pray…

It rids us of our excess baggage.

Take time to Plan…

It is the secret of being able to

Have time to take time for the

First ten things.

- Anonymous

 

This Moment…

I may never see tomorrow;

There’s no written guarantee,
And things that happened

Yesterday belong to history;
I cannot predict the future,

I cannot change the past;
I have just the present moment,

I must treat it as my last.

I must use this moment wisely

For it soon will pass away,

And be lost to me forever as

Part of yesterday,
I must exercise compassion,

Help the fallen to their feet,
Be a friend unto the friendless,

Make an empty life complete.

The unkind things I do today

May never be undone,

And friendships that I fail to

Win may nevermore be won;
I may not have another chance

On bended knee to pray,
And thank God with humble heart

For giving me this day.

I may never see tomorrow,

But this moment is my own.
It's mine to use or cast aside;

The choice is mine, alone.
I have just this precious moment

In the sunlight of today,
Where the dawning of tomorrow

Meets the dusk of yesterday.

- Paul F. Barnett

  

Finders, Keepers or Givers?

A wise woman who was traveling

In the mountains found a precious stone

In a stream.

The next day she met another traveler

Who was hungry, and the wise woman

Opened her bag to share her food.

The hungry traveler saw the precious stone

And asked the woman to give it to him.
She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune.

He knew the stone was worth enough to give

Him security for a lifetime.

But a few days later he came back to return

The stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said,

"I know how valuable the stone is,

But I give it back in the hope that you can

Give me something even more precious…

Give me what you have within you that

Enabled you to give me the stone."

- Anonymous