Topic(s): Faith

Deuteronomy 31:1–8

Hydrophobia is fear of water. Nyctophobia is the fear of darkness. Acrophobia is fear of high places. Xenophobia is fear of strangers. Claustrophobia is fear of confined places.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 6.3 million American adults, ages 18 to 54, have some type of specific phobia. That is a large number of people living in fear.

Without God, this world is a frightening place, but there is no need to lead a life of trepidation. We know the one who created the heavens and the earth and told the wind and the waves to obey Him.

If we are faithful children of God, we do not have to fear the things of this world because God tells us that He “hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The only fear we need to live in is the fear of the Lord, for He is awesome in might and perfect in holiness.

God is down in front. He is in the tomorrows. It is tomorrow that fills men with dread. God is there already. All the tomorrows of our life have to pass Him before they can get to us. —Frederick B. Meyer

George Bailey Quotes

Topic(s): Wisdom

• We pay the price or we pay the penalty.
• If you work hard when you don’t have to, you won’t have to work hard when you don’t want to.
• It matters not what you save if you lose your soul; and it matters not what you lose if you save your soul.
• The way to keep from being a busybody is to keep a body busy.
• When you ask for 30 minutes of a person’s time, you ask for 30 minutes of his life.
• There is nothing more pitiful than a full audience and an empty preacher.
• In preaching, you can’t substitute personality for preparation. —as noted by Jeff Archey (PTP 07)

“I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom.”—Ecclesiastes 7:25

Navigating the School Years: Don’ts

Topic(s): Children, Family

Click here for Do's

• Don’t adopt the mentality that since you send your children to school, the responsibility for their education is no longer yours. God holds parents accountable for the education of their children.
• Don’t allow your children to become distant from you. Never stop communicating (Deuteronomy 6:4–7).
• Don’t be too busy to spend daily time with each of your children. Make outings and activities with them a priority.
• Don’t ever, ever skip a scheduled worship service for a school or sports activity.
• Don’t ever let a day go by in which they don’t hear you pray for their souls.
• Don’t leave your children at after-hours school day care as a babysitting service. The bare minimum number of hours is enough and often too much.
• Don’t encourage your children to give in to peer pressure. Get rid of the mentality that you don’t want them to think being a Christian is restrictive. Being a Christian is living sacrificially and is not always fun, but sacrifices strengthen convictions that will serve them well through a lifetime toward heaven.
• Don’t assume you will find out if your children are questioning the existence of God or the doctrines of the Scriptures. Your job is to communicate, communicate, communicate!
• Don’t leave them in a situation in which their faith is being eroded. There are options. This risk is eternal. You can never regain this important time in their lives. —Cindy Colley, Think Magazine, September ’07

“Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. ”—Ephesians 6:4

A Manservant

Topic(s): Humor

Years ago, because of a shortage of maids in England, the minister’s wife advertised for a manservant. The next morning a nicely dressed young man came to the front door. “Can you start the breakfast by seven o’clock?” asked the minister.

“I guess so,” answered the man.

“Can you polish all the silver, wash all the dishes, do the laundry, take care of the lawn, wash windows, iron clothes, and keep the house neat and tidy?”

“Say, preacher,” said the young fellow rather meekly, “I came here to see about getting married but if it’s going to be as much work as all that, you can count me out right now.”

“By love serve one another.”—Galatians 5:13