One act of thanksgiving when things go wrong with us is worth a thousand thanks when things are agreeable to our inclination.- John Jewell

Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; and the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say not to oneself.- Abraham Joshua Heschel

Being a Christian depends on a certain inner relatedness to
the living Christ. Through this relatedness all other
relationships of man--to God, to himself, to other people--are
transformed.-Stephen Neill (1900-1984), The Difference in Being a Christian, New York: Association Press, 1955, p. 11

Forgiven souls are HUMBLE. They cannot forget that they owe all they have and hope for to free grace, and this keeps them lowly. They are brands plucked from the fire—debtors who could not pay for themselves—captives who must have remained in prison forever—but for undeserved mercy—wandering sheep who were ready to perish when the Shepherd found them! What right then have they to be proud? I do not deny that there are proud saints. But this I do say—they are of all God's creatures the most inconsistent, and of all God's children the most likely to stumble and pierce themselves with many sorrows. We have nothing we can call our own--but sin and weakness. Surely there is no garment that befits us so well, as humility.
~ J.C. Ryle, Old Paths, “Forgiveness”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1999], 201.

Every Christian must refer "always and everywhere" to the Scriptures for all his choices, becoming "like a child" before it, seeking in it the most effective remedy against all his various weaknesses, and not daring to take a step without being illuminated by the divine rays of those words.-John Paul II

I bear my testimony that there is no joy to be found in all this world like that of sweet communion with Christ. I would barter all else there is of heaven for that. Indeed, that is heaven. As for the harps of gold and the streets like clear glass and the songs of seraphs and the shouts of the redeemed, one could very well give all these up, counting them as a drop in a bucket, if we might forever live in fellowship and communion with Jesus.-C.H. Spurgeon

The Church exists, and does not depend for its existence
upon our definition of it: it exists wherever God in His
sovereign freedom calls it into being by calling his own into
the fellowship of His Son.
And the Church exists solely by His mercy. God shuts up and
will shut up every way except the way of faith which simply
accepts His mercy as mercy. To that end, He is free to break
off unbelieving branches, to graft in wild slips, and to call
"No people" His people. And if, at the end, those who have
preserved through all the centuries the visible "marks" of the
Church find themselves at the same board with some strange and
uncouth late-comers on the ecclesiastical scene, may we not
fancy that they will hear Him say--would it not be so like him
to say--"It is my will to give unto these last even as unto
thee?" Final judgment belongs to God, and we have to beware of
judging before the time. I think that if we refuse fellowship
in Christ to any body of men and women who accept Jesus as Lord
and show the fruits of His Spirit in their corporate life, we
do so at our peril. It behooves us, therefore, to receive one
another as Christ has received us.-Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998), The Household of God, London, SCM Press, 1953, New York: Friendship Press,
1954, p. 150

In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. It is very easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements in comparison with what we owe others.- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Fear will always knock on your door. Just don't invite it in for dinner. And for heaven's sake, don't offer it a bed for the night.- Max Lucado

The love of our neighbour is the only door out of the dungeon of self.- George MacDonald

As a wise, skilled pharmacist mixes medicine, our heavenly Father wisely mixes exactly the right measure of bitter things and sweet, to do us good. Too much joy would intoxicate us. Too much misery would drive us to despair. Too much sorrow would crush us. Too much suffering would break our spirits. Too much pleasure would ruin us. Too much defeat would discourage us. Too much success would puff us up. Too much failure would keep us from doing anything. Too much criticism would harden us. Too much praise would exalt us. Our great God knows exactly what we need. His Providence is wisely designed and sovereignly sent for our good!-Don Fortner

God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life, that I may burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus.-Jim Elliot

The older I get the better I used to be!- Lee Trevino

A knowledge of the will of God is relative to one's desire to do the will of God. God does not reveal His will to those who are not gladly committed to it. A commission from God is relative to our commitment to God. Commitment is prerequisite to commission. There is no substitute for the bent knee, the surrendered heart, the open Bible, the listening ear and the voice of the Spirit in discovering the will of God.-Don Hillis