“FOR THE WORD OF THE LORD IS RIGHT AND TRUE.” – Psalm 33:4

At the beach.

What a blessing it was today to read two quotes by leaders in the devotional treasury UNTO THE HILLS by Billy Graham, – November 10 –  one by Benjamin Franklin and the second by Abraham Lincoln.

“I HAVE LIVED, SIR, A LONG TIME, AND THE LONGER I LIVE THE MORE CONVINCING PROOFS I SEE OF THIS TRUTH: THAT GOD GOVERNS IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN. AND IF A SPARROW CANNOT FALL TO THE GROUND WITHOUT HIS NOTICE, IT IS PROBABLE THAT AN EMPIRE CANNOT RISE WITHOUT HIS AID.” – Benjamin Franklin addressing the chairman of the Constitutional Convention, meeting at Philadelphia in 1787.

“I HAVE BEEN DRIVEN MANY TIMES TO MY KNEES BY THE OVERWHELMING CONVICTION THAT I HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. MY OWN WISDOM, AND THAT OF ALL ABOUT ME, SEEMED INSUFFICIENT FOR THE DAY.” – Abraham Lincoln.

Billy Graham says,”Would that our leadership were as humble today!”

The Bible says, “SINCE THEY HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, WHAT KIND OF WISDOM DO THEY HAVE?”

“DAS GANZE LEBEN BESTEHT AUS GELEGENHEITEN, JESUS ZU BEGEGNEN.” – Romano Guardini

“NIEMAND BITTET GRUENDLICH, DER NOCH NIE GRUENDLICH ERSCHROCKEN IST.” – MARTIN LUTHER

THE LIBRARY IN KAITAIA: I like to go there for inspiration.

The earlier children begin to read, the more advantages they have, tells me a leaflet, I picked up at our local library.

One of the seven advantages has to do with relationships. “Kids who choose to read have more positive relationships,” I am reading there. Another advantage is this: “Kids who choose to read understand our world better.”

I know how true that is. I used to read the books in our small school library, which told me about other countries. The reason was that I wanted to go there. And I visited several countries and lived in Thailand for quite some time.

Four tips are also given how to get children interested in reading books. “Give them plenty of choice in time, space, and books to read,” is one of the tips. And don’t forget to encourage them to read “THE BOOKS OF BOOKS,” the Bible.

Another tip is to read aloud, regardless of age. I know at least one mother who did that with her children. One more suggestion is to take them to the local library.  We have a really good library here in Kaitaia.

People who read and understand the Bible have not only more positive relationships with other people, but they have also a relationship with the living God.

“Take on the day with 24hr allergy relief,” I am told in the SUMMER 2017 YOUR HEALTH magazine.

Let me now tell you how I take on the day. I take on the day with PRAYER and BIBLE STUDY.

PRAYER

“ACTS”

What is prayer? Prayer is conversing with the Lord Jesus Christ. In his book ONE HUNDRED BIBLE LESSONS Alban Douglas writes that “Prayer should consist of at least four parts –

ADORATION – CONFESSION – THANKSGIVING – SUPPLICATION – ”

Let us also remember that we can pray 1. Everywhere, 1 Timothy 2:8 and 2. Always, Luke 18:1.

BIBLE STUDY

I am reading the Bible from cover to cover just like any other book. When reading the Bible it is good to look for: 1. Commands to be obeyed, 2. Examples to be followed, 3. Errors to be avoided, 4. Promises to be claimed. (One Hundred Bible Lessons by A. Douglas, The Quiet Time.)

Billy Graham says: “PRAYER COMBINED WITH BIBLE STUDY MAKES FOR A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN LIFE.”