Week Fifty-Two, 2024
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).
It all began thirty years ago, back in 1995, as a way to communicate with a Sunday school class that I was teaching. Few had email so we used the old-fashioned U.S. Mail. There were only about seventy-five copies. Soon the mail list grew, especially with the availability of email. Now, it has gone international to several thousand and through CRU, it is reproduced to about 22,000.
It begins as I get an idea and mull it through my mind for several days and once it is mentally structured, I sit down at the computer and type it out. Then my wife edits my spelling and punctuation and then it goes to my publisher in the Philippines. Each Saturday at six in the morning, the button is pushed, and it is on its way. People read and often will comment.
As I write this, it is a Saturday evening and I have had many emails, including one from India and one from Africa. People are blessed with now over 1,500 editions, but not as much as I am blessed with the satisfaction of spreading the Word to others. Space is not large enough in this writing to tell the stories of people who have been impacted. I claim no credit but am blessed to know that God has blessed me by allowing me to have this ministry.
The most important reason to share the Gospel is to help save souls. In Mark 16:15, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Sharing the good news of the gospel isn’t simply a suggestion. It’s a command that Jesus set out for us: to be the catalyst for eternal heart change in our neighbors and throughout the world as we share God’s Word with others.
One of my most treasured verses is 2 Timothy 4:2… Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. The Bible calls us to be ready to share the gospel at all times and in all circumstances.
We can “preach” in writing and by voice or by the lifestyle we demonstrate to others. The key is to be ready.
So, to all who read my weekly words, thank you for reading and thank you for sharing. I trust the 52 editions of Thoughts on Life for 2025 will bless many as much as I am blessed by writing.
May each and every one of those who follow this writing have a most prosperous, healthy and joyous 2025.
John and Beverley Grant
Sometimes True Stories
“For You formed me in my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:13-14
When the sperm and the ovum come together, the miracle of birth, that God intended to be, happens. In that nanosecond, that human being has DNA unlike any other person who ever lived or ever will live. Already determined is the sex, color of the eyes, color of the hair, the body type, the general appearance, the intellect and even the personality. (Just ask the parents of twins) It is a masterpiece that could only have been orchestrated by God Himself.
This is not a political statement. It is a moral one. All that baby needs from that point on is nourishment and protection which happens in the mother’s womb. But nourishment and protection are what we all need….at one year old, at fifteen years old, at thirty-five, and at eighty. Nourishment and protection. May we all have both. Rich Jensen
– 0 –
One of the reasons Jesus gained such a diverse and devoted following throughout his ministry is that his words and actions demonstrated how much he loved and valued the people who crossed his path. They felt accepted by him, even while he challenged their thoughts and confronted their sins. As his ambassadors to the world around us, we need to do the same. Will you? Jim Denison
– 0 –
The riches Jesus desires to share with you are eternal riches, which cannot be measured by temporal things like gold or silver. Dan Shock
Quotes You Can Use
God is working in you because you are His workmanship. May we yield to His touch.
A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits. Dan Shock
Jesus’ presence in the world offers hope to all.
Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. George Washington
Affliction often results in our greatest spiritual growth. Dan Shock
Don’t be afraid to start all over again. This time you are not starting from scratch. You are starting from experience.
God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart. Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Bad companions ruin good character. 1 Cor 15:33
God has already prepared the way. Now He is just preparing you.
It is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error. Thomas Paine
We have roadmaps back to traditional America. We just need to follow them. Michael Smith
Without God, we can only bluff our way through unknown territory; with God, we can see The Master’s plan and be part of the solution. Dwight Short
There are many things that I don’t know or understand… but I do know the importance of trusting an unknown future to a known God. Marty Stubblefield
Morality may keep you out of jail, but only the Gospel will keep you out of hell.
It is through the Word of God that I gain truth about God and about myself. Dan Shock
The Gospel is only good if it gets there in time. Carl Henry
Not all those who wander are lost. J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
Selected portions of Thoughts On Life can also be read at TheLife.com.
Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2024