I love pretty journals and notebooks. I just smile when I see one, and the feel of it in my hands is comfortable and happy. Of course I do write in them too! I have one for quotes that I collect, one for the current Bible Study that I'm involved in, and one for random thoughts and quotes from the devotionals, radio & TV broadcasts, podcasts etc. I just looked over what I've collected over the past couple months and found several on encouragement that I'd like to share with you.
The gospel alone can triumph over the many challenges we are facing in our culture and our world at this hour. Spiritual warfare is real, and it's growing more intense as time grows shorter. We cannot be discouraged, not a bit! "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place." 2 Corinthians 2:14
One recent news report said, "the gospel is spreading through Iran at a sizzling pace." Another report said "the Holy Spirit is on fire in Iran."
David Jeremiah recently said, "We can have unwavering joy, even in these last days, because the gospel is triumphant, and Jesus is victorious. Nothing can stop him, and no one can stall his work on earth. As the apostle Paul said, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:14. "As followers of Christ, we read the news differently than other people. When you hear reports of the Iranian nuclear deal or the ayatollahs apocalyptic threats, remember there's more going on than meets the eye. The Lord is at work behind the headlines, and the gospel is spreading into every corner of the earth with its message of triumph."
We have no reason to be discouraged and cast down if the religion we profess is not popular and few agree with us. We must remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: 'The gate is narrow'. Repentance, and faith in Christ, and holiness of life, have never been fashionable. The true flock of Christ has always been small. It must not move us to find that we are reckoned singular, and peculiar, and bigoted, and narrow minded. This is the 'narrow way'. Surely it is better to enter into eternal life with a few—than to go to Hell with a great company. JC Ryle
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.” ~Romans 8:35-39
