Quotes About Faith

Maybe this is not a come-down-from-the-ledge story. But I tell it with the thought that the woman on the ledge will ask herself a question, the question that occurred to that man in Bogota. He wondered how we know that what happens to us isn't good?

All I ever wanted in my life was to be treated as an individual. I have succeeded, to some extent. At least I'm sure that in the Lord's eyes, I am an individual. I am not a "colored" person, or a "Negro" person, in God's eyes. I am just me! The Lord won't hold it against me that I'm colored because He made me that way! He thinks I am beautiful! And so do I, even with all my wrinkles! I am beautiful! -Bessie

When Jesus told His followers, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3), He was pointing toward the vulnerability and openness that are essential for those of us who aren't children to inherit the kingdom of God. This identification with children was important to Fred.

I think that Fred felt that loved ones in heaven do help those they left behind. He once told me, 'I think of my mother and my dad, and they're both in heaven and have been for a long time, and I know that they still love me and they help me. I have friends who are in heaven, and I know that they inspire me to do all kinds of things in this life.

Writer and apologist C. S. Lewis isn't known for his philosophy on self-esteem or his musings on the legitimacy of feelings, but he did make an observation about Christians and their relationship to Christ that I think Fred would agree with: "When they are wholly His they will be more themselves than ever.

Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.

Cisterns are made to hold water, but there was no water in it at the time. Had there been, Joseph could have drowned. Instead he stayed relatively safe inside the cistern until his brothers inadvertently moved him toward his destiny in Egypt. Reflecting on my own cistern experience, I realized that God's intention was not to drown me, not to overwhelm me with illness, but only to hold me still for a while.

So perhaps the philosophers and politicians and poets are wrong; perhaps prayer isn't a crutch or an old man's bauble. Maybe it's a necessity for both the strongest and the weakest among us.

Prayer is not only a daily discipline that deepens our relationship with God; it also provides a way for us to be together in our aloneness.

Prayer is not only a daily discipline that deepens our relationship with God; it also provides a way for us to be together in our aloneness. Amen.

the essence of prayer is relationship

An old supply pastor, many years before, had taught him that: What is offered in faith by one person can be translated by the Holy Spirit into what the other person needs to hear and see. The space between them is holy ground, and the Holy Spirit uses that space in ways that not only translate, but transcend.

If we can learn to wait through the "natural silences" of life, he liked to say, we will be surprised by what awaits us on the other side.

Despite his strength, Jim lost his battle with cancer. Fred understood that sometimes God's answer to prayer is no. But he understood something else too: "Jim gave us all an enormous gift by helping us understand the many forms of healing (not just physical) in this life.

Let the little ones come to me and forbid them not," he told me, repeating Jesus' words, "because, boy, the kingdom of heaven is filled with little people, and that doesn't mean in size. That means people who are disenfranchised and know that they need God—that's who teaches us.

I think it's exactly like that. When you think you can't do it anymore. You have to ignore it and keep going. Trust in your training.

Sometimes I wonder if that's the thing that will break us in the long run. That it's so hard for you to trust in us.

My mom taught me to go after my dreams. I have this faith in myself that I must have gotten from her.

Then again, Einstein (pretty good at math) was also quite clear when he concluded, There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

I'm still not a god," he said apologetically. Crick stood behind him and pulled his shoulders back against that wide, strong chest. "Better than a god," Crick murmured. "You're the reason to have faith.

every vertebrae on his back was a prayer bead under my hands.

And the storm was my nemesis, my goddess, my salvation

Whatcha doing, Lieu?" she asked cautiously. "Praying," he muttered. "I suck at it." "Your doing it wrong," she said flatly. "I'm not big on church, but I'm pretty sure you're supposed to do it with a friend.

Turns out that sometimes, faith and a sense of humor really can be all you need.