Faithfulness

Brother Kuykendal was a pastor in Texas when H. Z. Duke, founder of Duke and Ayers Nickel Stores, asked him if he believed in tithing to which he replied that he did. Mr. Duke then asked him if he practiced tithing. He answered, “No, I do not. I believe in tithing, but I cannot practice it. You see, I have thirteen children at home. Every meal fifteen of us sit down at the table. I receive only $125 a month, $1500 a year, as salary. I have to maintain my own horse and buggy for constant traveling.

The great preacher F.B. Meyer once asked D.L. Moody, “What is the secret of your success?”  Moody replied, “For many years I have never given an address without the consciousness that the Lord may come before I have finished.”

Source: Life Changing Thoughts, Gary Smith

“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”—Abraham Lincoln

“Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.”—Abraham Lincoln

“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.”—Theodore Roosevelt

One of the Greek’s Olympic games was a race in which the contestants carried torches and the winner was the one that finished with his torch still lit. The Christian’s desire should be that he will finish his race with his flame still burning strong.

Source: Fan the Flame, J. Stowell

Michael Jordan is probably the best player the NBA has ever seen. He gave this insightful look into the incredible success that he enjoyed:

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”—Michael Jordan

Source: Bits and Pieces

Submitted by the homiletics class of West Coast Baptist College

A young man, who was to return home and be married, came sooner than was expected. He did not notify his bride-to-be of the exact time. He desired to please her with a surprise. He loved her devotedly and had worked hard and saved his earnings in order to purchase a home for her. It was about midnight when he arrived, but, with a happy heart, he felt he must go by her home. However, when he came near he saw the house was all lighted up. As he came nearer he heard music. Still nearer he saw dancing.

Thomas Obediah Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky in 1866. He received his education in a little country schoolhouse, and at age 16 began teaching there. He was saved at age 27, and with no college or seminary training was ordained to the Methodist ministry at age 36. He served as a Methodist minister for a year, but ill health made it impossible for him to continue. He moved to Vineland, New Jersey, where he opened an insurance office.

When a flock of crows invades a field of corn, the birds customarily station two sentries in a nearby tree to keep watch and warn the rest of any danger. Once, two people succeeded in sneaking up on a flock of crows and scaring them before the sentries had given warning. The birds burst into flight, immediately attacked and killed the two sentries, and then flew off. The irresponsibility of those sentries could have cost the entire flock their life.

George Mueller read the Bible through over 100 times. He also wrote over 30,000 letters per year for 40 years. He had nine assistants working in a dozen languages. He pastored 1200 believers, had the oversight of five large orphanages and a huge publishing house, printed and distributed millions of books, tracts, and Bibles. He said, “I never think of going to my work without first having a good season of time with God and my Bible.”

Source: Unknown

Submitted by the homiletics class of West Coast Baptist College

The English artist George Romney fell in love and married a young lady, but then left her so that he could pursue his career wholeheartedly (although he did support her financially). His paintings brought him much income, but he eventually became too old to work and went back to his wife who took care of him until he passed away. The spirit that his wife showed in caring for him was worth more than all the paintings he ever produced.

We often ignore Christ until we need Him, but He always loves us and stands ready to forgive and restore us.

Virginian Colonel Byrd was condemned to death by the Cherokee Indians. In that tribe there was a chief who had been a friend to him. That chief said, “This man is my friend; before you can get at him, you must kill me.” The Cherokees let him go free. 

The believer is held safely in Christ's hand. Before the believer could lose his salvation, Christ would have to be overcome; and that is impossible.

Source: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Paul Lee Tan

Submitted by the homiletics class of West Coast Baptist College

W. B. Riley used to tell the story of a man who had walked the streets of Philadelphia searching for employment. One day he happened to go into the office of a well-known businessman by the name of Girard. When he asked for a job, Mr. Girard answered, “Yes, I can give you work. See that pile of bricks out there? Carry them over to the other end of the yard and stack them up.”

Missionaries Dick and Margaret Hillis were caught in China during the Japanese invasion. The couple lived with their two children in the inland town of Shenkiu. The village was tense with fear, and every day brought terrifying reports of the Japanese advance. At the worst possible time, Dick developed appendicitis, and he knew his life depended on making the long journey by ricksha to the hospital. On January 15, 1941, with deep foreboding, Margaret watched him leave.

When G. Campbell Morgan was a young man he visited two elderly ladies each week to read the Bible to them. When he read Matthew 28:20, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” He said, “Isn’t that a wonderful promise?” One of the ladies quickly replied, “Young man, that is not a promise. It is a fact!”

All of God’s promises are fact.

Source: The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete New Testament, Warren Wiersbe

Submitted by the homiletics class of West Coast Baptist College

From Acts 12:2 we know that Herod beheaded the apostle James, brother of John, but do you know the rest of this story?

A German botanist, who was traveling in Turkey, saw a rare flower hanging from an inaccessible precipice. He offered ten piastres, then twenty, then half-a-sovereign, and, finally, one pound, to a tempted but hesitating boy, if he would be slung over with a rope and cut the plant. The boy, struck with a new thought, said, “Wait a moment, and I will go for my father to come and hold the rope; then I will willingly go down and get it.”

On May, 19th, 1780, in Hartford, Connecticut. The sky went from blue to gray at noon. Shortly thereafter the sky was so dark that men believed the end of the universe had come and fell to their knees begging for a final blessing. The House of Representatives was meeting, and many representatives asked for the meeting to be adjourned immediately. The Speaker of the House, Colonel Davenport, rose to his feet and silenced the men with these words, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment.

“The Great Wall of China is a gigantic structure which cost an immense amount of money and labor. When it was finished, it appeared impregnable. But the enemy breached it. Not by breaking it down or going around it. They did it by bribing the gatekeepers.”—Harry Emerson Fosdick

Source: The Minister's Manual, 2008 edition, Lee McGlone

Some Christians are like:

1. Wheelbarrows–must be pushed
2. Canoes–need paddling
3. Kites–must be kept on a string
4. Footballs–can’t tell where they will bounce next
5. Balloons–full of wind ready to blow up
6. Trailers–must be pulled
7. Lights–go on and off
8. Kittens–content when petted

But some are like the North Star—there when you need them, dependable, and loyal.

Source: Unknown

In the 1880s a young man who was an earnest Christian found employment in a pawnshop. Although he disliked the work, he did it faithfully as unto the Lord until a more desirable opportunity opened for him. To prepare himself for a life of Christian service, he wrote on a scrap of paper the following resolutions: “I do promise God that I will rise early every morning to have a few minutes—not less than five—in private prayer.