Quotes of wit, wisdom and inspiration

Wit

When thou dost not know what to blog
Let quotes of others clear the fog
Get outside and take a jog
Find your friends and play leapfrog

—Elizabeth Knaus

Wisdom

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17

more verses on wisdom

Devotion from Lutheran Hour Ministries: Changeless

Inspiration

Pinterest

• Re-purpose the file drawer
• Skip the scrapbook
• Cork for wine, not for wall board
• Visual library

GPS

• Hope for the map-folding challenged
• Relief for wives as passengers with lost men
• Voice of direction to places unseen

Etsy

• 24/7 Shopping convenience
• Analytical search assistance
• Art, vintage, creative supplies

Google

• Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask
• Resolution for the Scrabble double challenge
• Search the Scripture

YouTube, Vimeo

• Upload, view and share videos

Facebook

• Friends
• Likes
• Places
• Pages
• Timeline
• Trivia
• Messaging
• Photos
• Journal
• Games
• Social network

—Elizabeth Knaus

Sweet Baby Jesus

Babies are precious. 

Women who have carried and given birth to a child—as well as men and children who witness this process—are amazed at this miracle of life. Christ is peacefully resting in my illustration below. He is the same as any other human baby in some ways, yet He is entirely different.

• He is the Son of God who came miraculously through a virgin birth!
• He is both God and man
• He is the reason we celebrate Christmas
• He is one part of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
• He performed miracles 
• He loves us even though we are sinners
• He lived a sinless life and gave it up for us, paying the penalty for our sins
• By His suffering, death and resurrection, He blots out sins of repentant people
• He “totally gets” the things in our lives
• He understands our
  
  • pain
  • fears
  • grief
  • sorrow
  • difficulties 
  • broken hearts
  • misery
  • hopes
  • joys
  • celebrations

God the Holy Spirit comes to us when we absorb the water of baptism and the Word of God—we are given the free gift of faith. We mature and grow a deeper faith when we regularly hear the Word in church and study it at home. As people of faith, through what we learn in the Bible, we see:

• our sin
• our guilt
• our mortality
• our need for a Savior
• our need to tell others, “I’m sorry.”
• our need to repent sins to God
• the fresh comfort we receive through forgiveness
• the peace we receive by forgiving others
• our need and desire to improve
• our need to keep hearing and studying the Word to help us trust Him completely
• the reason to pray, praise and give thanks
• the love of Christ (unselfishness) 
• the hope, forgiveness, comfort and strength He offers 
• the only way to heaven 

Someday our life as we know it in this world will be over. What we truly want is a Savior, and while we wait for Him, we fill ourselves with His Word. We look forward to joining with Him and all believers in eternity, a place with no pain and no sorrow—heaven—where we will see Jesus face to face.

Thankful for the gift of faith, grace and life eternal, Christians want to share the Good News with others and encourage them.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
Christmas Inspirations Postcard Number One ©Elizabeth B. Knaus

The Savior Has Come

Read more about these postcards for sale at the Christian Postcard Section in my Etsy Shop.
 

Broken promises and promises to trust

Nobody’s perfect.

People break promises. This fact is recorded in the Bible:

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23

It is extremely frustrating and heartbreaking when promises are broken and lies unfold. Yet, we can process these emotions with the comforting words of hope, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.  2 Corinthians 12:9;  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

With this promise of God, we are assured that what we learn in the Bible comes from Him! Blessings are ours when we trust Him. Jesus is perfect; God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

10 Promises from God

1. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
2. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV
3. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 NIV1984
4. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV
5. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 ESV
6. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 ESV
7. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 ESV
8. But whoever listens to Me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster. Proverbs 1:33 ESV
9. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 ESV
10. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV

The ultimate Christmas gift!

Immanuel means “God with us”. The virgin birth of Jesus is one of God’s greatest miracles and gifts to humanity. Christ is patient and calls those who doubt to repent. No one knows when, but He will appear again to separate those who reject Him and to dwell with those He has chosen (Matt. 24:36, 25:31–46). For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8

• Grant us a faith that perseveres until the end, O Lord. Move us by Your Spirit, that our good works continually glorify You and benefit our neighbors. Amen.
—The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, Saint Louis

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. —Isaiah 7:14 KJV
Christmas Inspirations Postcard Number Two ©Elizabeth B. Knaus

The Savior Was Promised

Read more about these postcards for sale at the Christian Postcard Section in my Etsy Shop.

How to be humble. 33 thoughts on the virtue of humility.

Humility means not being proud or arrogant, but being modest and courteously respectful. How attractive is an attitude of meekness and gentleness!

1. Listen more than talk. Follow the words of the other, without being overly concerned about sharing your ideas.
2. Ask people for their opinion.
3. Be ready to give credit for another person’s idea, even if you are the one to carry it out.
4. Count to five before adding to a conversation. Be sure that the other person has finished his thought, and reflect on what he said.
5. Provide positive feedback.
6. Say, “I’d be honored” when asked to help.
7. Say, “It’s my pleasure” when thanked.
8. Admit when you don’t understand or know something.
9. When you screw up, say, “I was wrong.”
10. Teach someone what you know.
11. Cautiously use criticism, constructively and sparingly.
12. Give God the glory for skills, talents, blessings and successes.
13. Understand that timing is important.
14. Prioritize your time.
15. Think less about money for self, more about money for charity or for the building up of important things.
16. Think of others first, before yourself.
17. Pass on thanks to those who help you achieve something for which you were thanked.
18. Be quiet about your goals.
19. Be quiet about your achievements.
20. Look for potential in others.
21. Help others with their goals.
22. Value other people’s time.
23. Remember you have faults and are a sinner—you are no better than anyone else.
24. Give others the benefit of the doubt.
25. Pray for humility.
26. Seek wisdom by choosing wise friends.
27. Be willing to learn in all areas of education, especially about moral issues. Spiritual knowledge is found in church, Bible study and personal devotions.
28. Keep calm and carry on.
29. Be willing to accept new ideas and change.
30. Graciously accept praise with a sincere and simple, “thank you” without expounding upon it.
31. Don’t compare yourself to others.
32. Stick with your convictions. Recognize differences in others, but don’t conform if it doesn’t respect your values.
33. Forgive others who’ve wronged you without responding in revenge. Then move on.

These ideas are easier said than done, however, God is pleased when we try. The pleasure the Lord takes is not because of what we do, but because of the perfect life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to earn our redemption. Teach us, oh Lord, to have a humble spirit.

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; He adorns the humble with salvation.—Psalm 149:4 ESV
Teach us oh Lord. 
Christmas Inspirations Postcard Number Four ©Elizabeth B. Knaus

The Savior Redeems

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How to love

Agape is the Greek word to describe God’s love.

C. S. Lewis, in his book The Four Loves, used agape to describe what he believed was the highest level of love known to humanity—a selfless love, a love that was passionately committed to the well-being of the other. Before our wedding, our pastor required that my husband and I attend premarital counseling. In one of our meetings, he explained this meaning of agape love to us—such valuable knowledge for the strengthening of marriage! Unconditional love promotes loyalty and dedication to each other, even as the imperfect humans we are. Because of human nature, temptation to give up will creep in—and when it does, it is essential to grasp tightly to this type of love in order to uphold the marriage commitment and help each other. Trust grows from trials patiently endured. The reward is great.

When asked what was the great commandment, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

God gives His only Son as a sacrificial gift to deliver the world from condemnation and to give eternal life to those who believe in Him. When we continue in an immoral lifestyle, we naturally resist divine disclosure of our sin and thus our need for a Savior. Do not flee the light, but repent. God has revealed His strong love in His Son, Jesus Christ, to forgive your sins and give you life. • O heavenly Father grant that my life may be a vivid testimony to Your sacrificial and faithful love in Christ. Amen.
—The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, Saint Louis

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. —John 3:16 KJV
Christmas Inspirations Postcard Number Three ©Elizabeth B. Knaus

The Savior was Given

Read more about these postcards for sale at the Christian Postcard Section in my Etsy Shop.

Forgiveness and peace

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. —C.S. Lewis

God’s good-will to men is proven in sending Jesus for the redemption of the world. God’s kindness and love designed this free gift (we don’t deserve it). He introduced peace in this world—extinguished the separation that sin had raised between God and man and established a peaceful connection. If God be at peace with us, all peace results from it: peace of conscience and peace with other people. Peace is all that is good which flows to us from Christ. All the good we have, or hope, is owing to God’s good-will; and, if we have the comfort of it, He must have the glory of it.

Take the benefit of peace though vessels of His mercy! Worship, praise Him, listen to His Word and receive His gifts of forgiveness. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” To help you grow in faith, my hope is that you will visit my church or find a similar church in your area.

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:14 ESV
Christmas Inspirations Postcard Number Five ©Elizabeth B. Knaus

The Savior Brings Peace

Read more about these postcards for sale at the Christian Postcard Section in my Etsy Shop.

Are you open-minded?

Think about what is written on your heart.

1. Who was Adolf Hitler?
2. What do you do when you come to a green light?
3. When has watching a movie made you think twice?
4. How are you influenced to make intuitive decisions?
5. Do you trust your instincts?
6. Do you weigh pros and cons and use imagination to envisage living with your decision?
7. Why form opinions on political issues?
8. Do you like thought provoking questions?
9. Why are you receptive to new and different ideas or the opinions of others?
10. What do new ideas, arguments, etc. mean to you?
11. Is it important to share your perspective?
12. How can you help others think with an open mind?

Remember, some decisions we make won’t make sense to other people. Intuitive decision-making works best when greed is separated from discernment. An open-minded person is willing to consider that he’s made a ‘wrong’ decision, turn from it and strive for what is right. We are all human and can learn from mistakes.

What does it mean to be open-minded?

• unprejudiced
• liberal
• free
• balanced
• catholic
• broad
• objective
• reasonable
• enlightened
• tolerant
• impartial
• receptive
• unbiased
• even-handed
• dispassionate
• fair-minded
• broad-minded

Satisfy your curiosity. If you’re open-minded, watch “180movie” NOW!

More info on the movie at heartchanger.com
More info on life issues, abortion and adoption at Lutherans For Life

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