Love is the grand secret of true obedience to God. When we feel towards Him as children feel towards a dear father, we shall delight to do His will. We shall not find His commandments grievous, and work for Him like slaves under fear of the lash. We shall take pleasure in trying to keep His laws, and mourn when we transgress them. None work so well as those who work out of love. The fear of punishment, or the desire of reward, are principles of far less power. They do the will of God best, who do it from the heart.~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986], 293

Whenever we call God the Creator of heaven and earth, let
us at the same time reflect, that the dispensation of all those
things which he has made is in his own power, and that we are
his children, whom he has received into his charge and custody,
to be supported and educated; so that we may expect every
blessing from him alone, and cherish a certain hope that he
will never suffer us to want those things which are necessary
to our well-being, that our hope may depend on no other; that,
whatever we need or desire, our prayers may be directed to him,
and that, from whatever quarter we receive any advantage, we
may acknowledge it to be his benefit, and confess it with
thanksgiving; that, being allured with such great sweetness of
goodness and beneficence, we may study to love and worship him
with all our hearts.- John Calvin (1509-1564), The Institutes of the Christian Religion, v. I [1559], tr. John Allen,Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1921, I.xiv.22, p. 170

Wisdom is ofttimes nearer when we stoop
Than when we soar. :- William Wordsworth, 1770 - 1850

The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:- William Wordsworth, 1770 - 1850

Confession of Christ is a matter of great importance. Let this never be forgotten by true Christians. The work that we can do for our blessed Master is little and poor. Our best endeavors to glorify Him are weak and full of imperfections. Our prayers and praises are sadly defective. Our knowledge and love are miserably small. But do we feel within that Christ has healed our souls? Then can we not confess Christ before people? Can we not plainly tell others that Christ has done everything for us--that we were dying of a deadly disease, and were cured--that we were lost, and are now found, that we were blind, and now see? Let us do this boldly, and not be afraid. Let us not be ashamed to let all people know what Jesus has done for our souls.~ J.C. Ryle,Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke volume 1, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986], 282, 283. {Luke 8: 41-48}

Jesus said, “I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18). If Jesus is committed to the church, should we be any less committed to it?-Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Crossway, 2000, p. 145.

Let it be a settled resolution with us to "keep our hearts with all diligence," all the days of our lives. (Prov. 4:23.) Even after renewal they are weak. Even after putting on the new man they are deceitful. Let us never forget that our chief danger is from within. The world and the devil combined, cannot do us so much harm as our own hearts will, if we do not watch and pray. Happy is he who remembers daily the words of Solomon, "One who trusts in himself is a fool." (Prov. 28:26.)~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986], 178, 179.

No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished? - Elbert Hubbard, 1856 - 1915

The happiest moments of my life have a been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.- Thomas Jefferson, 1743 - 1826

A happy family is but an earlier heaven.- George Bernard Shaw, 1856 - 1950

Cold words freeze people and hot words scorch them, and bitter words make them bitter, and wrathful words make them wrathful. Kind words also produce their image on men's souls; and a beautiful image it is. They smooth, and quiet, and comfort the hearer.- Blaise Pascal

Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit.- Baltasar Gracian, 1601 - 1656

Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change, - Robert F. Kennedy, 1925 - 1968

There are many people living in the midst of unattractive circumstances, amid hardships, toil, and disease, whose daily life breathes out most gently music that blesses others about them.- J. F. Millar

The world will not be converted when Christ returns. It will be found in the same condition that it was in the day of the flood. When the flood came, men were found "eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage," absorbed in their worldly pursuits, and utterly regardless of Noah's repeated warnings. They saw no likelihood of a flood. They would not believe there was any danger. But at last the flood came suddenly and "took them all away." All that were not with Noah in the ark were drowned. They were all swept away to their last account, unpardoned, unconverted, and unprepared to meet God. And our Lord says, "so will be the coming of the Son of Man." ~ J.C. RyleExpository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986], 326, 327.

Rather than denying problems, focus inventively, intentionally on what solutions might look or feel like. Our mind is meant to generate ideas that help us escape circumstantial traps - if we trust it to do so.- Marsha Sinetar

Inventors and geniuses have almost always been looked on as no better than fools at the beginning of their career, and very frequently at the end of it also.- Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 1821 - 1881

Lord, I wonder what fool it was that first invented kissing! - Jonathan Swift, 1667 - 1745

God is always with us, why should we not always be with God?- William Ullathorne

Wherever we may be, or whatever our circumstances, the Lord Jesus sees them. Alone, or in company--in sickness or in health--by sea or by land--in perils in the city--in perils in the wilderness--the same eye which saw the disciples tossed on the lake, is ever looking at us. We are never beyond the reach of His care. Our way is never hidden from Him. He knows the path that we take, and is still able to help. He may not come to our aid at the time we like best, but He will never allow us utterly to fail. He who walked upon the water never changes. He will always come at the right time to uphold His people. Though He tarry, let us wait patiently. Jesus sees us, and will not forsake us.~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1985], 131.

What other people think of me is becoming less and less important; what they think of Jesus because of me is critical.- Cliff Richard

When thoughts enter my mind uninvited, I do my best not to let them get comfortable there.-Unknown

At this day... the earth sustains on her bosom many monster
minds, minds which are not afraid to employ the seed of Deity
deposited in human nature as a means of suppressing the name of
God. Can anything be more detestable than this madness in man,
who, finding God a hundred times both in his body and his soul,
makes his excellence in this respect a pretext for denying that
there is a God? He will not say that chance has made him
different from the brutes; ... but, substituting Nature as the
architect of the universe, he suppresses the name of God.-John Calvin (1509-1564), The Institutes of the Christian Religion, v. I [1559], tr. John Allen, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School
Work, 1921, I.v.4, p. 60