My Daily Pause

1. GEORGE WASHINGTON: It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible…. He is worse than an infidel who does not read his Bible and acknowledge his obligation to God.
2. JOHN ADAMS: The Bible is the best Book in the world.
3. THOMAS JEFFERSON: I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands…. The Bible makes the best people in the world.
4. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS: My custom is to read four or five chapters of the Bible every morning immediately after rising…. It seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day…. It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue.
5. ABRAHAM LINCOLN: I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith and you will live and die a better man.

Today I’ll simply point to an article by Dr Thomas Stanley (The Millionaire Next Door) describing how one millionaire family lives.

http://www.thomasjstanley.com/blog-articles/131/A_Millionaire_Profile.html

I don’t know their religious backgrounds but they seem to bring us a living example of “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”  1 Timothy 6:6

“The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness.”

– Henry David Thoreau

Armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-18

Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23

15 Exhortations – 1 Thessalonians 5:14-23

What Christians should do – Philippians 4:4-8

Things that Love is – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 19)

This scripture has been referred to as the “Christian’s bank note.”  It speaks of assurance, providence and care!

The president of the Bank – “My God.” Paul could say “my God” because of his personal experience.  It’s evident that there is a vast difference between knowing of someone and truly knowing that person.  He is “my God” only when I am “His child.”  I possess Him only when He possesses me.  Note the possessive, personal pronouns throughout scripture.  In addition, all God promises to do for the world, for humanity, can be claimed by our own personal pronoun- “For God so loved me that He gave His only begotten son…” The God of heaven and earth is “my God.”

The Promise to Pay – “Shall Supply.” The word “supply” here is translated from the same word translated “full” in the previous verse.  Our cup “runs over.”  Paul said the same thing in a more emphatic way to the Ephesians, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” (3: 20) What a wonderful reality!  God will do immeasurably more than we can ever even dream of.

The amount – “All Your Need.” Not all your wants, but all your needs.  This calls for a joyous trust and confidence in God.  Our needs, both spiritual and material, will be supplied.  Do we really believe that?  Has God not shown that to us time and time again? Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?….If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe  you?  O you of little faith.  So do not worry…”  (Matthew 6: 26,30,31) “Trust me,” God is saying!

The Capital of the Bank – “According to His Riches in Glory.” There is never any capital shortage with God.  His treasure house is as inexhaustible and boundless as His infinite love and grace.  The words “rich” and “riches” appear six times in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:  “In Him we have…the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us…” (1: 7,8), “the riches of His glorious inheritance…” (1: 18), “God, who is rich in mercy…” (2: 4), “the incomparable riches of His grace…” (2: 7), “the unsearchable riches of Christ…” (3: 8), and “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.” (3: 16) Oh, what riches God has for us.

The Cashier’s Name – “Christ Jesus.” Through Jesus, our Savior, these great and inexhaustible blessings flow.  All blessings come through Christ Jesus, through our union with Him!  “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘yes’ in Christ. And so through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 1: 20)

No wonder Paul broke forth in the ascription of praise: “Unto our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever. Amen”

Charles Cash

Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.
–Benjamin Franklin

Paul understood that we need to be angry sometimes, but we shouldn’t let it give us an excuse to sin. It’s also a good idea to get over it quickly. Check out Ephesians 4:26-27

Giving is an important part of our worship and our service to the Lord. Here are six thoughts to meditate upon:

1. We should Give Purposefully: 2 Corinthians 9:7
2. It shows our trust in God: Deut. 8:11-18; Luke 12:18-19; 2:2-4; Mark 10:24
3. We should adjust our giving when we have increases in prosperity: 1 Corinthians 16:2; Leviticus 5:7
4. We should give our contribution every week: 1 Corinthians 16:2
5. Make giving our financial priority: Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-37; Proverbs 3:9
6. It shows God’s worth: 2 Samuel 24:24; Malachi 1:6-8

A father is the knight in shining armor
Who protects his children and wife
From those who would seek to harm or lure
Them into a dangerous situation or strife.

He is the shelter from the world’s cruel ways.
He is the strong tree that stands firm in the storms.
He is the ray of hope in his children’s darkest days.
He is the hand of comfort to his wife when she is forlorn.

He guides his loved ones in the way that they should know.
He seeks the best way for his family to help them through life.
He is the lighthouse on the shore that lets his dear ones know where to go.
He is the shield that protects his loved ones from life’s cruel knife.

Who has given us this great gift called a father,
This precious foundation in a world of uncertainty?
It is our God, our Heavenly Father,
Who has loved us unconditionally.

–Ruth Carter

I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. ~Mark Twain

You never know how a horse will pull until you hook him up to a heavy load.

– Paul “Bear” Bryant