Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith by Charles R. SwindollMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of my favorite authors and Bible Teachers is Chuck Swindoll. I am currently teaching the life of Abraham to my Sunday School class. The book is an excellent resource. Some many lessons to be learned from Abraham's life. I highly recommend this book. I hope the quotes below will help you in your walk with our Savior.
Scripture doesn't presume to tell fairy tales. It's a book about real life. ~Charles R. Swindoll
While each person's faith journey is unique, Abraham blazed the trail for the rest of us; his faith journey tells us about our own. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Truly enlightened thinking builds upon the truth that God, as described in the Bible, not only exist but also actively governs his creation (see Psalms 111:10 and Proverbs 1:7 ). When life is viewed through this lens, scientific discoveries become clearer, and the world - with all of its chaos and danger - becomes a less frightening place. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The God of the Bible loves you and has been actively involved in your life from the day you were born - and even before. This is true whether or not you recognize His activity or choose to acknowledge Him. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God has a plan for you, and this plan includes blessings greater than your ability to imagine. Many centuries ago, He established a plan to redeem the world from evil, and He has made a place for you in His grand design. This redemption plan began with His choice of one man, Abraham. Because his story is the archtype for my story, and your story, let's walk in his sandals as we learn about this God who loves us so much. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The Lord chose Abram for reasons known only in heaven. Abram did nothing to earn or deserve God's favor. ~Charles R. Swindoll
We don't like waiting, but that's when God does some of his best work on our souls. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The Lord doesn't expect anyone to exercise perfect faith. Instead, He meets us where we are and then helps us cultivate increasingly more mature trust in Him. So, I don't mind telling you that God isn't finished with me yet. He continues to stretch my faith muscle so that it will become even stronger with use. And He's doing the same for you. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Trusting in God rarely involves easy choices. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Every choice to follow God's leading involves sacrifice - at least the sacrifice of our own desires. Do you trust the Lord's character enough to obey Him without having all the details worked out? Are you willing to accept a short-term loss in order to receive divine blessings you cannot yet see? ~Charles R. Swindoll
If you know what God wants you to do, obedience isn't complicated. It may be difficult, but it's not complicated. Stop hoping it will be easy, and give up the search for alternatives. Don't wait any longer for all the details to be worked out. The Lord has given you an opportunity to grow in faith. He wants you to trust in his faithful care and rest in his unfaltering power. The time to obey has come. Now . . . Go! ~Charles R. Swindoll
God doesn't use difficult circumstances to find out what we'll do. He already knows what the future holds. He uses tests to reveal us to ourselves! ~Charles R. Swindoll
How many people have yet to embrace the God of the Bible because they continue to live in the shadows created by our moral failures? ~Charles R. Swindoll
The Lord's favor on Abraham didn't depend upon the man's good behavior. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Most of us rise to meet adversity with our best character. However, our true character comes out when things go really well. It's easy to become arrogant, self-sustaining, conceited, greedy, and condescending at such times. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The best remedy for the disease of greed is generosity. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Our biggest problem is it that we don't see and hear God; is that we struggle with doing what He has commanded! ~Charles R. Swindoll
Even great men and women struggle with temptation. Even wealthy people can be lured by the prospect of more riches. ~Charles R. Swindoll
If I were to boil down all the characteristics of greatness to a single word, it would be humility. ~Charles R. Swindoll
No one can argue with the One who made the stars. God’s omnipotence makes anything possible. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Don't consider a delay a cancellation. ~Charles R. Swindoll
When the consequences of sin begin to fall, relationships always suffer. ~Charles R. Swindoll
When we're forced away, the Lord helps us acquire an appetite for the blessing to come. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Holiness cannot be acquired at once; holiness takes time. Time to be still, and patience to accept the silence of God. ~Charles R. Swindoll
People of depth are rare. Not many people have the foresight or the patience to cultivate spiritually deep roots. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Slowing down will help you avoid a lifetime strewn with the litter of regrets. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Slow down. Learn to wait on God. Deliberately devote yourself to walking with Him instead of making decisions and then expecting Him to ratify your choices. Let Him be your advocate. Let Him remove your anxiety as you lean on Him for everything. Surrender to Him control over every matter; you have little control over them anyway. Slow down. Grow deep. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God doesn't need to go anywhere together information. Yet He chose to come down to earth from heaven, and He elected to wear the skin of humanity. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Be aware that some people you encounter may be angels (Hebrews 13:1-2). Here's the point: treat everyone like he or she is a representative of heaven. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Be confident that nothing is too difficult for the Lord. Nothing is too difficult for Him! ~Charles R. Swindoll
Remain sensitive to the Lord. Remaining sensitive to His leading will allow you to trust Him when He does things you don't understand. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Be passionate in prayer. There's something about praying that softens the soil of our souls, keeping us in tune with God's perspective, which is always compassionate, realistic, hopeful, wise, and full of grace. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The One who did wondrous things for Abraham and Sarah is the One who loves you as His own child. ~Charles R. Swindoll
At times, God honors the motives of our prayer but did not the specific petition in order to give us something better. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God can't shower you with blessing or grant your request while you're in rebellion; it’s not good for you. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God's “no” can become our opportunity to grow deeper in our relationship with Him. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Immorality is poisonous. You could never become immune to its deadly potency. ~Charles R. Swindoll
We need beliefs. Beliefs fuel our doctrinal knowledge and help establish us in faith. Beliefs form a major part of the Christian conscience and provide direction for our faith journeys. Our beliefs sharpen the edge of discernment. But convictions. . . . What you know is one thing, but what you do with your knowledge defines your character and establishes your reputation. It takes guts to develop deep, firmly rooted inner principles regarding integrity, morality, ethics, and faith. That is what we need in government and so rarely fine. That is what we need in churches and schools. But even those institutions may lack such convictions. You can make a major difference in your part of the world by determining and then holding a set of convictions derived from God's Word. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Convictions must be clearly established before God, or they will be twisted and weakened before others. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Convictions must be affirmed and modeled in the home, are there will be compromised on the street. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Convictions must mean everything to us personally, or they'll mean nothing when we're under pressure. ~Charles R. Swindoll
What comes into our minds when we think about God it's the most important thing about us. ~A. W. Tozer
The world is temporary; God's Kingdom is forever. ~Charles R. Swindoll
If it's wrong, it's a big deal. If it's a habitual wrong, it's a bigger deal. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God is still a God of holiness; take Him seriously . ~Charles R. Swindoll
We are still creatures of immortality; take Him seriously. ~Charles R. Swindoll
We are still at the mercy of God's grace; take Him seriously. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Our culture has a dangerous moral undertow current. If we're unaware of that and fail to respond effectively, immorality will drag us under. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Recognize that no one is immune to the dangers. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The deadly downward drag of immorality can overcome anyone, just as a strong riptide can overwhelm an excellent swimmer. Repeat to yourself, I am vulnerable. This could happen to me and to my family. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Pay attention to subtle hints. Stay alert. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Get into the habit of asking yourself, will I be a better person because of this? Is this the kind of thing that will make me healthier? Are my children going to benefit from this? Is this spiritually wholesome and healthy? ~Charles R. Swindoll
Declare and model your standard repeatedly . ~Charles R. Swindoll
Discuss your values, model your values, and encourage your children to do the same. Being proactive is essential in today's world! ~Charles R. Swindoll
Guard against passivity. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Be alert! Pay attention! Step up! Parent up! The next generation needs you! ~Charles R. Swindoll
The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, the manufacture of a saint is the task of a lifetime. ~Alan Redpath
Abraham is a forerunner of faith for the rest of us. His journey of faith blazed the trail we all follow, and Genesis tells his story for our benefit. Each of our journeys is unique, but we will find in Abraham’s story episodes that resonate with their own. And that includes the continual struggle to rise above old temptations and conquer repeat sins. In Abraham's case, this means fighting the compulsion to lie when the truth might jeopardize his life. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Never think that a person who doesn't worship God can't have integrity or behave morally. Candidly, some nonbelievers have more integrity than Christians do. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Abraham fell back on his old nature. Yet his failure didn't make him any less God's man or any less a prophet. ~Charles R. Swindoll
When we as God's people fail to trust him and then sin to protect ourselves or to provide for our own needs, we look exactly like unbelievers. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Never presume on your own weaknesses. Accept your vulnerabilities and plan ahead. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Never rely on your own crutches. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Get rid of any well-worn crutch. Toss it aside and stop relying on phony excuses to get around admitting your weaknesses. Call it what it is, repent of your sin, claim God's forgiveness, ask for strength to get beyond it, and seek help from others. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Never lean on your own understanding. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The chronic dependence upon self as opposed to living by faith is referred to as carnality by many theologians. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God is not in a hurry. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God isn't constrained by time or human perspective. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The people who have grown deep in their relationship with God have learned to wait with anticipation instead of worry. They know that God keeps his promises, so they don't fret over whether the fulfillment will come but only when it will take place. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God never forgets his promises. God is always trustworthy. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God's promises are linked to their context. All the Lord's promises are not universal. Not every promise is for everyone. When reading a promise, we have to ask a few questions: To whom is He speaking? In what circumstance did He make the promise? Who will be affected by the promise? Is the promise universal, affecting everyone who ever lived? Or did God direct the promise to a specific person or group? ~Charles R. Swindoll
When we finally receive what we desire most, we will see that no time earlier and no time later would have been right. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Remember that God is never accidentally late. His plan unfolds right on time, even though on our timetable, the next step has been delayed for a long time. From our perspective, God's actions come later than what we want or expect. But His timing is perfect - He's never too late. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Forget about your own schedule and plans. Your agenda cannot take into account all the details that affect other people, and you cannot see how future events will unfold. Fortunately, God has the perspective we lack, and He loves us more than we love ourselves. So, His plan will give us greater joy than anything we could devise for ourselves. It could be said, then, that God answers the prayers we would pray if we could see what He sees. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Ask Lord for sustaining strength and divine wisdom. I know that sounds elementary, but we often forget that we can't do life on our own. We need divine help from one day to the next. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Forgive yourself for being short sighted and and for missing the big picture. Forgive yourself for clinging when you should have released. Forgive yourself for failing to be excited about what's ahead when God's plan doesn't include your plans. Repent of your failings, receive God's forgiveness, and then forgive yourself. ~Charles R. Swindoll
While God forgives our sins and wipes the slate clean in terms of our relationship with Him, our wrongdoing may have lingering consequences with others. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Though every act of sin is forgivable, the effects of some sins are not erasable. ~Charles R. Swindoll
While you may feel all alone, you are not alone. God sees you. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Lessons that we need to learn often come through the person we're married to, if we're not too stupid to hear what he or she is saying. ~Charles R. Swindoll
He didn't understand the situation, but he knew the righteous character of his God, and he believed the promise He had made. ~Charles R. Swindoll
When you release your treasures to the Lord, He will honor your risk by giving you something or someone far more valuable than what you release. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Because of our fallen nature, we tend to rely upon God's gifts for happiness and forget to trust the Giver. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God established marriage as a sheer journey of faith. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The bond of marriage creates opportunities for mutual spiritual growth unlike any other relationship. ~Charles R. Swindoll
God established marriage to make new generations of faithful men and women ~Charles R. Swindoll
Five guidelines for people seeking a mate today:
1. Hear and heed the counsel of godly parents.
2. Saturate the entire process in prayer.
3. Look for qualities that reveal true character.
4. Proceed cautiously; Think deeply. First impressions can be deceiving.
5. Determine if there is a mutual interest in spiritual things. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Rebekah committed herself to a life of faith, not knowing where it might lead or what she might find along the way. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Many die long before they draw their last breath. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Do your given while you're living, then you're knowing where it's going! ~Charles R. Swindoll
Each morning you wake up with a fresh opportunity to live that day well, to see your next 24 hours as a series of choices. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Faithfully remember that each day offers opportunities for staying young at heart. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Diligently refused to give up. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Abraham’s many imperfections reveal that he was a man with a nature like ours, yet more than half the world has judged him great. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Great rewards await if you obey without knowing all the details. It's a principle God wants each of His followers to experience. Learning to trust Him is like making a journey step after step. Faith builds upon faith. When we trust, we receive unexpected blessings. This strengthens our confidence and inspires us to trust God again as we take another step. It isn't complicated, but it goes against our nature. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Trusting God never fails to satisfy. The rewards along the way are exhilarating. ~Charles R. Swindoll
The only valid reason for anyone to make more than they need is to give away the surplus. God graciously provides an overabundance for one purpose: so that we might share it. So . . . share it! ~Charles R. Swindoll
Take care to hear the people who love you, and give consideration to their opinions, but always examine the counsel you receive under the white-hot lightning of scripture. Make your decision a matter of prayer, and resist the urge to believe what you're told and rush ahead. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Wherever God leads, follow. Be sure your decision is based on God's leading. Our journey of faith requires us to go where we should be and do what we should be doing. If we don't - if we reject God's leading - we forfeit his best and accept mediocrity. That's never a good trade. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Whatever God promises, believe. Never doubt in the dark what God gave you in the light. God's promises are given for you to believe, not merely to quote. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Whenever God test, trust. A test usually makes us feel vulnerable. We get weak. We begin to panic. We try to find safety in the familiar. We avoid taking risks. But tests of faith call for boldness. You may have heard it said that, “God never gives us more than we can handle.” That's absolutely wrong! He frequently challenges us to trust Him more by giving us far more than we can handle on our own. He wants us to turn to Him in desperation and ask for His assistance. He's always willing to help, but He wants us to recognize our need and to want Him. ~Charles R. Swindoll
However God blesses, share. How easy it is for us to receive God's blessings yet fail to balance receiving would giving. Resolve to become a generous person. I will warn you, however, that giving generously requires faith - trust that the Almighty will look after your needs. ~Charles R. Swindoll
Wherever God leads, follow.
Whatever God promises, believe.
Whenever God test, trust.
However God blesses, share. ~Charles R. Swindoll
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