Quotes from Cheri Fuller

DEAR LORD, forgive me when I demand evidence of your working and power instead of thanking you for all you do. Please open my eyes to be aware of your presence, to sense your nearness, and to see the works of your hand everywhere I look. With all my heart I welcome your presence today, however you choose to reveal yourself to me. And don't let me forget to thank you.

THE ONLY HAVEN OF SAFETY IS IN THE MERCY OF GOD, AS MANIFESTED IN CHRIST, IN WHOM EVERY PART OF OUR SALVATION IS COMPLETE. John Calvin (1509-1564)       The One Year Bible Readings for today are Ezekiel 3:16-6:14; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 104:24-35; and Proverbs 26:27. 3 Searching for God Give thanks to the Lord and

LIFE'S MAJOR PURSUIT IS NOT KNOWING SELF . . . BUT KNOWING GOD. . . . UNLESS GOD IS THE MAJOR PURSUIT OF OUR LIVES, ALL OTHER PURSUITS ARE DEAD-END STREETS, INCLUDING TRYING TO KNOW OURSELVES.

O GOD, enthroned in heaven, I long to have my eyes fixed on you as the psalmist did. Draw me to you, Lord, as I lift my eyes to your throne for your mercy and grace today. Keep me from distractions that would take my eyes from you and make my focus fuzzy. And give me attentiveness to your Holy Spirit's "signals" in my heart and life today.

If you wish to be disappointed, look to others. If you wish to be downhearted, look to yourself. If you wish to be encouraged . . . look upon Jesus Christ. —ERICH SAUER (1898–1959), German theologian and writer

COLD WORDS FREEZE PEOPLE, AND HOT WORDS SCORCH THEM, AND BITTER WORDS MAKE THEM BITTER, AND WRATHFUL WORDS MAKE THEM WRATHFUL. KIND WORDS . . . SOOTHE, QUIET, AND COMFORT THE HEARER. Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

Worrying doesn't take away tomorrow's grief," said Corrie ten Boom. "It takes away today's strength. It does not enable us to avoid evil, but it makes us incapable of dealing with it when it comes."4

LORD, thank you for the incredible privilege of prayer. How amazing it is that you bend down and listen to me, that you hear and answer my prayers. Thank you for the privilege of being a partner with you as you fulfill your purposes, and thank you for showing yourself mighty as I pray. Empower me to pray as long as I breathe!

A wrong view of God leads inevitably to a failure to enjoy and grow in His grace. Failure to appreciate His love, His kindness and generous heart leads eventually to a life which bears no fruit and makes no progress. The lesson is clear: if you would grow in grace, learn what grace is. Taste and see that the Lord is good. —SINCLAIR B. FERGUSON (1948–), Scottish preacher and theologian

LORD, thank you for your promises of deliverance and protection. Because you've said, "I will be with you," what have I to fear? Help me to trust in you, not only in the small details or battles of life, but also in times of great trouble. You are my Lord, my God, my Savior.

Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! —ANNE

We can kill our son's confidence by making things too easy for him, by hovering, overprotecting, and over-functioning.

Father, teach me to live in the abundance of your promises instead of in my evaluation of my circumstances.

LORD, as we celebrate your birth today, I praise you for coming to earth so that we who believe in you might know your forgiveness and experience your love. You are Emmanuel, God with us! Although as mere humans we are like a breath of air, our days like a passing shadow, you reached down from on high and brought us out of darkness into your marvelous light.

HEAVENLY FATHER, please give me the right words to speak, words that will satisfy the soul of every listener. Let my words encourage and not discourage those who hear me speak. Help my tongue to nourish life and not to kill. And perhaps most important of all, help me to encourage others to be encouragers.

LORD, thank you for your offer to carry my burdens for me. I give them all to you and I gladly receive your rest! I place myself under your yoke to learn from you. Teach me your wisdom that is humble and pure, and help me to walk in the ways you set before me. Thank you for your mercy and love that invite me to live my life resting and trusting in you!

GOD, thank you for good friends who will speak the truth that is like soothing medicine. I don't always want to hear what people have to say, Lord, but help me not to refuse it since it is good for me. I want my life to reflect uncompromising faith. Empower me by your Spirit to take active steps to live a life without compromise.

THE BETTER YOU BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH GOD, THE LESS TENSIONS YOU FEEL AND THE MORE PEACE YOU POSSESS. Charles

LORD, you have given me so much. You have blessed me with salvation so that I could enjoy abundant life here on earth and eternally in heaven. Help me to praise you not only on a special, appointed Thanksgiving day but regularly and continually. May I, like David, begin and punctuate my prayers with praise and thanksgiving! Your faithful love endures forever. I can never praise you half enough.

MERCIFUL FATHER, help us to gather together and pray for your mercy. Forgive us for pushing you out of our lives only to fill them with meaningless pursuits. Forgive us for allowing evil to penetrate our hearts and minds. Open the eyes of our nation to our desperate need for you. Thank you for giving us not what we deserve but what we need to find our way back to you.

Many stories of the Bible tell of a person who prayed multiple times. Jesus himself prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Matthew 26:36–44). Paul asked three times for his "thorn in the flesh" to be removed (2 Corinthians 12:7–9 KJV). And Elijah prayed to God seven times for rain before the drops began to pour from the sky (see 1 Kings 18). Perseverance in prayer is never nagging. God loves to hear your voice.

JESUS, I am thankful that I can worship you right where I am. I will enter your courts with thanksgiving. I will kneel at the mercy seat and find forgiveness. I will call out your name in praise. Lord, I pray for those who do not have intimacy with the living God. You have already made the pilgrimage for them. Open their eyes to see that they can find you right here, right now.

LORD, show me those in my neighborhood, my circle of friends, and my family that you want me to pray for and build relationships with. They may be the very people you have appointed to eternal life. Equip me to be a light to those who don't know you

COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING FATHER, many people have material goods and success, but they still search for something that is real and lasting. Thank you for joy that runs deep. Thank you for peace that only you can give. Help me not to take what I have been given for granted but to be filled with gratefulness.