The Substance Of Things Hoped For

 Unfolding The Rose A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact... It wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was to do so. Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem... It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God's design; But I cannot unfold the petals Wit...

Things to Think About In Our Relationship with Our Lord   God One-Liners 1. Give God what's right - not what's left. 2. "Pray" is a four-letter word you can say anywhere - except in public schools. 3. Man's way leads to a hopeless end - God's way leads to an endless hope. 4. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing. 5. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone. 6. To be almost saved is to be totally lost. 7. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma - but never let him be the period. 8. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period. 9. God grades on the cross, not the curve. 10. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a facelift. 11. When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty. 12. God doesn't want shares of your life - He wants a controlling interest. 13. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church. 14. We don't change God's message - His message changes us. 15. The c...

The Silversmith's Reflection And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:3 While reading Malachi chapter 3, a group of women in a Bible study came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One woman spoke up and said the verse was intended to convey the sanctifying influence of the grace of God. Then she said she would visit a silversmith and report to the other women what he said on the subject. She went accordingly and, without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which the smith described to her. "But, sir," she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, ma'am," replied the silversmith. "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for i...