Inspiration And Encouragement – July 2018

Scripture Quote

II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

A Merry Heart

The Importance of Having your Email Addresses Correct!

It seems there was this couple from Minneapolis, Minnesota who decided to go to Florida for a few days to thaw out during one particularly cold winter. Since both spouses worked, they had difficulty coordinating their schedules, so the decision was made to have the husband leave for Florida on a certain day, with the wife following him one day later. The man made it down to Florida and arrived at his hotel. Upon getting to his room, he decided to open his laptop and send his wife back in Minneapolis an email. However, he left off one letter in typing his wife’s email address and sent the email off without realizing his error.

In another part of the country, a widow had just returned from the funeral of her husband, a deacon of many years who had been called to glory just a few days earlier. She decided to check her email because she was expecting to hear from her husband’s relatives and friends. Upon reading the first email she let out a loud scream, fainted and fell to the floor. The woman’s son rushed into the room and found his mother on the floor. He glanced up at the computer screen and saw the following email message:

To My Loving Wife:

I’ve just been checked in. Everything has-been prepared for your arrival here tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then.

Your Devoted Husband.
PS: It is sure hot down here

Your IQ (Inspirational Quotes)

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” – James Madison

“The people — the people — are the rightful masters of both congresses, and courts — not to overthrow the constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.” – Abraham Lincoln

Fresh Manna

The Destiny of a Nation

Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

To receive a promotion at work one must secure the favor of the person who gives out promotions. There are certain characteristics they are looking for and they need to be manifested in person’s life before the promotion is given. If the CEO of the company promotes an individual then that will be a decision that no one will be able to dispute. If a person does not perform their job well they can also be demoted or fired.

If a nation is to receive a promotion the chief characteristic that God is looking for is righteousness. There was a time in the history of our nation that we understood this principle as it was proclaimed from our pulpits and our people sought the righteousness of God. French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public-school system, and in her institutions of higher learning and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness then did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!”

To love one’s country and be patriotic is a good and noble thing. Our eternal destiny does not depend on our relationship to our nation, but to Jesus. If the soul is to be totally cleansed of sin it must trust in Jesus alone for salvation. The best way to serve your country is to love God, pray for your nation and share the gospel message with everyone you can.

Consider the testimony of Edith Cavell, the brave British nurse who was killed by the Germans during World War I. She served in a Red Cross hospital in Belgium during the war. From August of 1914 until August, 1915, Nurse Cavell helped to care for wounded French, Belgian, English and German soldiers alike. She ministered faithfully even to those who had fallen while fighting against her own nation. Naturally, her sympathies were with the Allies, and in cooperation with the efforts of Prince Reginald de Croy, she aided many derelict English and French soldiers who had fled from the Germans. These escaped by “underground” methods to the Dutch frontier, where, with the aid of guides, they were conveyed across to Britain. When some of these fugitives were traced to her house in Brussels, she was immediately arrested and after a court-martial was sentenced to face a firing-squad. All her kindness to the German wounded was forgotten. Her captors considered her a spy and treated her accordingly.

Just before the bandage was placed over her eyes, as she stood fearlessly facing the soldiers who were about to take her life, she gave a last message to the world. “I am glad,” she said, “to die for my country. But as I stand here I realize as never before that patriotism is not enough.” Then she went on to give a clear, definite testimony to her personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and her assurance of salvation, not through laying down her life for others, but because He laid down His life for her. In perfect composure, she submitted to the bandaging of her eyes and, in a few moments fell, pierced by many German bullets.

Our own sin will make us a slave, but it is the truth of God’s Word that sets us free. Consider the story of a 14th century duke in what is now Belgium. This man was greatly overweight and had trouble controlling his appetite. This duke had an argument with his younger brother Edward who led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured him but did not kill him. What he decided to do was build a room around him in the castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size and none of which were locked or barred. The problem was his size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight.

But Edward knew his older brother and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods into the room. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, the duke gained more weight. When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.” This man stayed in that room for 10 years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined that he died within a year as a prisoner of his own appetite.

This story is a sad picture of many in our nation today who have become prisoners of their own making. We have a wonderful promise in II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” As long as God is on the throne and you are alive there is hope, never give up.

More than Conquerors

A Powerful Example of Love

On May 2, 1962, a dramatic advertisement appeared in the San Francisco Examiner: “I don’t want my husband to die in the gas chamber for a crime he did not commit. I will therefore offer my services for 10 years as a cook, maid, or housekeeper to any leading attorney who will defend him and bring about his vindication.”

One of San Francisco’s greatest attorneys, Vincent Hallinan, read or heard about the ad and contacted Gladys Kidd, who had placed it. Her husband, Robert Lee Kidd, was about to be tried for the slaying of an elderly antique dealer. Kidd’s fingerprints had been found on a bloodstained ornate sword in the victim’s shop. During the trial, Hallinan proved that the antique dealer had not been killed by the sword, and that Kidd’s fingerprints and blood on the sword got there because Kidd had once toyed with it while playfully dueling with a friend when they were both out shopping. The jury, after 11 hours, found Kidd to be not guilty. Attorney Hallinan refused Gladys Kidd’s offer of 10 years’ servitude. (From the Book of Lists #2, p. 157.)

Note: The greatest example of love from Jesus as he did not want us to be sentenced to an eternal hell because of our sin. He willingly paid the price for us and all we need to do is receive the free gift of eternal life that he has offered us. John 3:15 “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” If you have never have asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and trust him by faith as your savior please do so today.