Andy's Inspiration Box

"Praying for us all that today we'd take God up on His offer of peace. Relentless stress is a killer. Oh, to trade it for relentless trust." - Beth Moore

Proverbs 11:25 English Standard Version (ESV) 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

“Even when I cannot see him, I can hear the beautiful gallop of God's heartbeat for humanity.” - Christine Caine 

"Sometimes we think we are wrestling with a problem of guidance: if only we knew what God wanted us to do all would be well. But if we are honest, we are often faced with an obedience problem. We have a fair idea what God wants us to do but are afraid or unwilling to do it. So we go our own way all the time muttering about the difficulties of knowing God’s will." - David Reay

"The size of your ministry isn’t proof of the success of your ministry."  - Ann Voskamp

"Do you believe that God puts people in the right place at just the right time? I do! God holds time and circumstance in His hands; He can intersect your life with another’s at the perfect moment." - Mike Woodward

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. -  Hebrews 12:1 New Living Translation (NLT)

Daniel 6:26-27 New International Version (NIV) 26 “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. 27 He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

"Every follower of Christ is asked to preach the gospel to people who don’t know Him yet. We don’t have to go overseas or be in full-time ministry to live out God’s mission here on earth; we just have to share Him, wherever we find ourselves." - The Life Team

"You are God's opportunity in your day. He has waited for ages for a person just like you. If you refuse Him, the God loses His opportunity which He sought through you, and He will never have another for there will never be another person on earth just like you." - Springs in the Valley (July 25)

Philippians 4:4-9 New Living Translation (NLT) 4  Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!   5  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. [ a ] 6  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.   7  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

John 4:1-15 New International Version (NIV) Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a]) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for...

"Love is never a trite feeling. Love is a wildfire in the bones, a burning flame willing to serve—willing to say yes." - Ann Voskamp

Ecclesiastes 9:11 New International Version (NIV) 11 I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

When I pray, you answer me and encourage me by giving me the strength I need. Psalm 138:3 TLB

2 Timothy 2:20-23 English Standard Version (ESV) 20  Now in   a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay,   some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21  Therefore,   if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, [ a ]   he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house,   ready for every good work. 22  So   flee   youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with   those who call on the Lord   from a pure heart.   23  Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant   controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

Proverbs 3:5-6 New Living Translation (NLT) 5  Trust in the  Lord  with all your heart;      do not depend on your own understanding. 6  Seek his will in all you do,      and he will show you which path to take.

Matthew 6:7-8 New International Version (NIV) 7  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling   like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.   8  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need   before you ask him.

2 Peter 3:8-9 New International Version (NIV) 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

"How many times have we told ourselves that we’re not good enough for God? The truth is, God specializes in using broken vessels. Rehab, a prostitute, saved Israelite spies from the men of Jericho and became a part of Jesus’ lineage. Moses, a murderer, delivered the children of Israel from Egypt. David, an adulterer, was considered a man after God’s own heart. A talking donkey saved the prophet from being killed by the Angel of the Lord. Paul, a persecutor of Christians, went on to write about two-thirds of the New Testament. So what’s holding you back? I challenge you to go beyond your own limitations today. Give God the broken pieces of your life. The weaknesses you are ashamed of are the perfect message of His grace. He is able to use the mess of your life and turn it into a message of hope for someone else." - Mary Pinckney

Isaiah 41:10 New International Version (NIV) 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

"God’s got the oil. I just need to keep bringing the jars." - Chris Brown

Revelation 7:14-17 English Standard Version (ESV) 14  I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of  the great tribulation.  They have washed their robes and made them white  in the blood of the Lamb. 15  “Therefore they are before the throne of God,      and  serve him day and night in his temple;      and he who sits on the throne  will shelter them with his presence. 16  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;      the sun shall not strike them,      nor any scorching heat. 17  For the Lamb in the midst of the throne  will be their shepherd,      and he will guide them to springs of  living water, and  God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Romans 8:35-39 New International Version (NIV) 35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36  As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long;      we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [ a ] 37  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors  through him who loved us.   38  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [ b ]  neither the present nor the future,  nor any powers, 39  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God  that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"Somewhere in the trial His will must be hidden, and you must accept His will whether known or unknown, and so hide yourself in His invisible arms of love. Say "Thy will be done! Thy will be done!" again and again. Shout out every other thought but the one thought of submission to His will and trust in His love. Thus you will find yourself riding with God in a way you never dreamed could be." - Springs in the Valley (July 14)

" How different would this world be if we all enlarged our hearts just that little bit more?"  - Rosie Harriott, Heart Soul Teach http://heartsoulteach.com/?p=518

"We cannot depend upon great events, striking circumstances, exalted moments and great occasions to measure our zeal, courage, faith, and love. These are measured by the commonplace, workday tasks, the homely hidden paths of common life." - Springs in the Valley (July 13)

"It has been said that a wise Christian parent gives a child both roots and wings. Roots to form some sort of foundation for life; wings to set them free to work out how they build on such a foundation—or indeed whether or not to accept that foundation. We neither lazily abdicate our responsibilities towards them or assume full responsibility for them. It is, to say the least, a challenging exercise." - David Reay

Psalm 1 English Standard Version (ESV) 1 Blessed is the man[a] who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

"Based on my past experiences, present circumstances and future hopes, what is the wise thing for me to do ? - Andy Stanley

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21   NLT

1 John 2:15-17 English Standard Version (ESV) Do Not Love the World 15  Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.   16  For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and  the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.   17 And the  world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

John 14:16-17 New International Version (NIV) 16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate   to help you and be with you forever—   17  the Spirit of truth.   The world cannot accept him,   because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be [ a ]   in you.

Luke 6:38 New Living Translation (NLT) 38  Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

"Well, now, what if God should have a plan for everyone? What if God should have a plan for you ? In such a case - surely it is the true case - everything we have to, everything we have to bear, comes to us as part of a prearranged plan. Things that disturb our work, things that upset our purposes, things that thwart our wishes, interruptions, annoyances - these may all be a part of the plan - God's plan - and should be met accordingly." - Springs in the Valley (July 7)

Romans 8:18-21 New International Version (NIV) Present Suffering and Future Glory 18  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.   19  For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God   to be revealed.   20  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,   in hope   21  that [ a ]   the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay   and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." - Ephesians 3:12

"How often we forget the powerful God we represent and the important task we’re called to! It’s not enough to live silently among those who don’t know Christ; we need to share verbally about what He has done, and what He promises to do." - Leanne Janzen

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. - Psalm 25:4

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV) 5  Trust in the   Lord   with all your heart      and lean not on your own understanding; 6  in all your ways submit to him,      and he will make your paths   straight. "More often than not, our problems with guidance are actually problems with obedience. The most challenging part of following Jesus is not so much figuring out what he might want us to do, but getting down to doing what he wants us to do. True, there are times of puzzlement for us, when we are at a crossroads and unsure of the best path. But most of our life isn’t spent at crossroads.... This doesn’t mean all is always crystal clear. It simply means we can trust God not to lead us up the garden path. We can get things wrong. God never does." - David Reay

Ephesians 5:11-20 The Message (MSG) 11-16 Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! 17 Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants. 18-20 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

- Andy Stanley

Romans 5:8 New International Version (NIV) 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

"Hope grows in proportion to our knowledge. And according as our faith penetrates through this holy exercise [reminding ourselves that God's presence is constantly with us] into the secrets of the Divine, our hope grows and strengthens itself, and the grandeur of the blessing it desires, and in some manner already tastes, satisfies and sustains it." - Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection