More Quotes Worth Repeating

"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference." The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln: Six Months at the White House by Francis B. Carpenter (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1995), pp. 258-259.

"I have been driven many times upon 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 that day." Lincoln Observed: The Civil War Dispatches of Noah Brooks edited by Michael Burlingame (Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998), p. 210.

"...I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side." The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln: Six Months at the White House by Francis B. Carpenter (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1995), p. 282. Also, Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by Ward Hill Lamon (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1994), p. 91.

"In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book." The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume VII, "Reply to Loyal Colored People of Baltimore upon Presentation of a Bible" (September 7, 1864), p. 542.

"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" Lincoln's Cooper Institute Address, February 27, 1860.

We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others, the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name - liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names - liberty and tyranny." The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume VII, "Address at Sanitary Fair, Baltimore, Maryland" (April 18, 1864), p. 301-302.

A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have.
Abraham Lincoln

A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Abraham Lincoln
(Hey, he was quoting Bible here)

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
Abraham Lincoln

And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln

Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world.
Abraham Lincoln

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Abraham Lincoln

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
Abraham Lincoln

Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.
Abraham Lincoln

Every one desires to live long, but no one would be old.
Abraham Lincoln

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
Abraham Lincoln

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.
Abraham Lincoln

I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.
Abraham Lincoln

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?
Abraham Lincoln

Important principles may, and must, be inflexible.
Abraham Lincoln

Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
Abraham Lincoln

My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.
Abraham Lincoln

Republicans are for both the man and the dollar, but in case of conflict the man before the dollar.
Abraham Lincoln

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
Abraham Lincoln

Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day! No, no, man was made for immortality.
Abraham Lincoln

That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.
Abraham Lincoln


The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.
Abraham Lincoln

The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.
Abraham Lincoln

The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep's for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as his liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty. Plainly, the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon a definition of liberty.
Abraham Lincoln

We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.
Abraham Lincoln

What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.
Abraham Lincoln

When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it's best to let him run.
Abraham Lincoln

With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die.
Abraham Lincoln

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
Abraham Lincoln

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
Abraham Lincoln

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
Abraham Lincoln

You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.
Abraham Lincoln

Quotes Worth Repeating

Last night I couldn't sleep and I amused myself with looking up quotes by different well-known men of yesteryear. The profound wisdom in some of their statements spoke to my heart and made me analyze the prevailing "wisdom" of today. How have we become so far removed from what was once considered commonplace thinking? I want to share with you some of William Penn's quotes, founder of Pennsylvania.

Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.
William Penn

Force may make hypocrites, but it can never make converts.
William Penn

Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.
William Penn
Obama must have read this one. lol.

Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.
William Penn

Nothing does reason more right, than the coolness of those that offer it: For Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders, than from the arguments of its opposers.
William Penn

Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.
William Penn

The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.
William Penn

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.
William Penn

To be like Christ is to be a Christian.
William Penn

True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.
William Penn


I think we could all stand some true silence in our life. If we could achieve more of it maybe we could come up with some quotable quotes of our own.... Instead of having to quote others. Here's to quieter days.

The Mystery of Time

Why is it when my house lies in a wreck I have no time for anything I need to do? When this happens I can't seem to find the time to clean, to write, or for devotional time with God. But when I get to the place that I can't stand it anymore and I MAKE time to clean it up an amazing thing happens. I find I have time for devotions, time to write, time to spend with my kids, time to bake, time for me, and time to breathe.
I have been staying up on my chores for the past two weeks. My house is spotless.... if you come over, however, still call first because this state could change any minute. lol I have so much extra time on my hands. Whoever came up with the saying that cleanliness is next to Godliness was definitely on to something.

I encourage all you women out there to try this multi-step experiment. You might get the same results I have gotten and the benefits of a clutter-free more stress-free environment.

Step One:
Whenever I get to this less chaotic place in my life without fail I have devotions the morning I start the "Big Clean." The Bible says in:

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Here in my life, once again, God's Word has proven true. The "all these things" to me are time to clean, to write, time for kids, time for baking, time for me, and time to breathe. Thank you, Jesus, for when we try You, You always are proven faithful.

Step Two:
Decide on which room to start in ( I find the cleanest room is where I begin... This way you have results in no time and this seems to inspire me to press on) do not stop until it is done. When you are finished take a break and just sit down to appreciate a job well done.

Step Three:
Don't get overwhelmed. You do not have to have your house cleaned from top to bottom in one day. You just need to make the commitment to get your life in order. If you are not done the next day just get up with the same mission.

Step Four:
If you have faithfully followed step one, two and three, you no doubt are feeling the benefits by now. Let the change sink in and Thank God for helping you discover the mystery of having time and not having time.

I believe that when we have "NO time" to do what we need to do it is because we have told ourselves this so many times we begin to believe it. We started saying this phrase to make ourselves feel better about our lack of desire to do any better. We will always have time for God. He gave us the gift of 24 hours and He expects us to put Him first in our day. If we do this He will give us the desire to be better at whatever we do. He doesn't intend for us to live in the self created chaos we women sometimes find ourselves in. God delights in things done decently and in order and He has put this heart in us. Let us quit saying we haven't the time for our responsibilities .... and rather let us start praying for God to help us master whatever task we find in our area of responsibility. When we lapse and fail remember God knows we are human and He stands waiting to help us bare our load.

Chin up. Start cleaning!!! LOL

Lesson of the Creaking Chair

Making time for devotions is probably one of the biggest struggles a Christian faces. What is the best time in the day to study God’s Word and pray? I suppose this varies for every Christian. With seven kids, one of which being two and one being 10 months old the mornings are filled with little feet getting me out of bed wanting breakfast as soon as their feet hit the floor. Sometimes this “great awakening” comes between 6:45 and 7:00 am so mornings have always been a challenge for me. Mid-afternoon is no good consistently for me either. Something always is needing attention around this time. If it gets real quiet in the house (This seldom happens) after lunch you may find me napping. Finally, I generally get to the end of my day and in utter exhaustion fall into bed between
10:30 and 11:30 pm.

For a very long time I have tried to fit time in for devotions whenever I felt I had a free moment. This method has failed me miserably. The Lord really began to deal with me concerning the excuses I would give to explain my ultimate lack of time spent with Him. One day I decided, if I had a public job ( I am a WORK at home Mom) I would most likely have to get up at
6:00 am every morning whether I felt like it or not. Why could I not show as much devotion to the Saviour of my soul?

I began my plan of action, one morning, by rolling over in bed at 6:00 and picking up my Bible. I began to read while my husband snored. The temptation to fall back to sleep was too great. My sleep filled eyes would get heavier and heavier until finally I was startled awake by the sound of my closing Bible when the hand holding it would fall over because it was attached to a sleeping body. I realized if I was going to be successful at consistency I would have to leave the bed behind to have my time with God.

The next morning the house was in a hushed silence ( which happens rarely in a house containing so many bodies) I creeped to the living room to avoid waking sleeping lions. When I sat down in my recliner it made a creaking noise as if to protest being used so early. The sound it made brought back unexpected memories from my childhood. How many times had I heard that sound wake me in the mornings? My parents took their place in their chairs early in the morning to have their time with God throughout my memories of childhood. My parents, however, were not the only ones who came to my mind this morning. I remembered spending the night at my Grandparent’s house and sleeping on the couch only to be awakened early in the morning as my Grandfather, Riley Hensley, took his place in his oversized chair. I remembered opening up sleepy eyes to see him reaching for his Bible, placed on a table, by that chair side. I closed my young eyes and contentedly went back to sleep in the soft glow of his lamp light and the gentle sound of turning pages. All these memories came flooding back to me the moment I heard the creaking chair of mine. I was no longer alone in my living room. I was surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses. They had set the example and unknowingly had witnessed to me of the importance of this sacred hour I now spent with God. I wept as I wondered if my children were listening. I wondered if I would be that witness to them. Would I continue the legacy of the creaking chair?

Each morning now when I wake up and I think about just rolling over and falling back to sleep I remember the sound of the creak in the chair and I think to myself, “What if that chair doesn’t creak today?” Any morning could be the morning my children would hear and learn the importance of such a time spent with God. A memory could be created that would get them out of bed in the later years of their life to nurture the treasure of a relationship with the Most High God. My faithfulness now could result in a lesson taught that would one day lead them to discover the love they can experience while spending time alone with God.

Maybe you have a chair like mine that should creak tomorrow morning. God Bless.

Positive Outlook

Positive thinking is something we hear quite a bit about nowadays. The theory is that I can change my circumstances just by thinking positively. How true is this?
The Bible doesn't say positive thinking changes things what it teaches is prayer changes things. The Bible says in:

James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The Bible also says in:

Matthew 17:20 - And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Wow that is incredible....all this comes through prayer. Prayer if done sincerely and consistently creates and feeds faith and faith creates a positive outlook. If I am praying in faith about a circumstance in my life I will not be talking negatively about it. I will be conducting myself in a way as to be expectant of the answer to my prayer. I will be changing my surroundings by changing my attitude towards them.
Negative thinking comes from a lack of praying and an abundance of complaining. This approach to life will keep you in a cycle of depression and apart from the heart of God. If you are caught here the first step is to repent. The second step is to count your blessings. You have much to be thankful for; food, clothing, a roof over your head, air to breath, family that loves you, a Heavenly Father who died for you .... etc. If you are homeless and sleeping in your car then thank God for your car. If your family hates you then thank God that He loves you and is willing to forgive you no matter what you have done. The importance of this exercise is that you think and meditate on how much you take for granted. There is something somewhere you can thank God for no matter how low you are now. The third step is to start a consistent devotional time with God. This time should include Bible reading and fervent prayer to God. Quit asking God to give you what YOU want and start asking God to make you what He wants. If you do these three things it will impact how you feel, how you think, and how you are perceived, and most importantly how you stand before God.

Please note that I currently have two blog spot addresses. inclined2analyze.blogspot.com and devotionsandopinions.blogspot.com They are copies of each other

Dawn

God came to me in shades of night
Dark so thick I could not see
And there within the blackness
Spoke light and love to me.

In my fears I trembled
So weak I couldn't stand
But then I felt Him reaching
Found Hope within my hand

I discovered there a strength
I hadn't known before
The things I thought were lost to me
He spoke and did restore

I've faith enough to follow
Where He leads me now
And though I do not know just where
It matters not somehow.

Grey streaks of light now fill my sky
And so I follow on.
His love my light and dawning
Soon the darkness will be gone.

Written by: Laura L. Grapes
Copyright 2008

I Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Legacy of Anger

Proverbs 22:24 -25 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Are you easily angered?

Many times I have heard the laughing comments of people referring to someone's fiery temper as if it were something to be admired. Being a red head I have heard the endless comments regarding the supposed terrible tempers of all red heads. Comments made with a silly grin as if they would like to see a demonstration of the supposed temper in the next few minutes. The truth however is, according to the Bible, an inability to control one's anger is not something to be admired. The truth is it is a snare to our souls and the souls of whomever finds themselves in our company. Sadly the ones we are laying this dangereous snare for are the ones we love and care about the most; they are our own children and close family members.
The Bible says we are not become friends or go anywhere with a furious and angry man. Our children and spouses have no choice however but to be subjected to our fits of temper and thus they learn our ways and this cycle of ensnarement lasts generations.
Anger and the inability to control the emotions can grow into so many full blown manifestations with consequences that are far reaching. Many things can be traced back to uncontrolled emotions....anger, quarreling, bitterness, hate, murder...do we really want to lead our loved ones into this treacheous territory? My mother has always quoted what she heard somewhere,"What parents do in moderation, children do in excess." Do we really want our children fine tuning the abilities to fly off the handle...or storm out of a room...or throwing objects...or yelling...or screaming...or pouting and sulking?
If these are your vices your pet sins...REPENT. Ask those around you who have seen the anger rule you to forgive you and share with them this verse in Proverbs.
Anger and uncontrolled emotions do not just cost you. Our children are watching and learning from us. Let us not leave to them this legacy of anger. Let us put it off like an old garment and ask God to cloth us in His meekness, quietness, and righteousness.

Though I wouldn't repeat some of the other stuff these men below have said here is some
Food For Thought:

How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.
Marcus Aurelius

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.
Ambrose Bierce

No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched.
George Jean Nathan