Although Henri Matisse was nearly 28 years younger than Auguste Renoir, the two great artists were dear friends and frequent companions. When Renoir was confined to his home during the last decade of his life, Matisse visited him daily. Renoir, almost paralyzed by arthritis, continued to paint in spite of his infirmities using a brush strapped to his arm.

One day as Matisse watched the elder painter working in his studio, fighting torturous pain with each brush stroke, he blurted out: “Auguste, why do you continue to paint when you are in such agony?”

Renoir answered simply: “The beauty remains, the pain passes.” 

And so, almost to his dying day, Renoir put paint to canvas.  One of his most famous paintings, Bathers, was completed just two years before his passing, 14 years after he was stricken by this disabling disease.

            -The Best of Bits and Pieces

When God is going to do something wonderful, He begins with a difficulty. If it is going to be something very wonderful, He begins with an impossibility.

             -Reverend Charles Inwood

If, after my removal, anyone should think it is worth his while to write my life, I will give you a criterion by which you may judge its correctness. If he gives me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly. … I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit.

            -William Carey, often considered the father of modern Christian missions

If people knew how hard I worked at my art, they would not consider me a genius.

            -Michelangelo

I’ll take a “5” with a “10” attitude over a “10” with a “5” attitude any day.

             -Author unknown

Faith to keep on going

Faith is standing your ground when all others desert. Faith is burning your bridges so you cannot go back. Faith is willing to pay any price. Faith is doing what God tells you to do today and believing Him for tomorrow. Faith is the opposite of fear. Faith is choosing God in spite of all other possibilities. Faith is standing on God’s Word and not your feelings. Faith is willing to die trusting. That’s the kind of faith that works miracles!

2. John 20:29 - Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

3. Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

4. 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7-8  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the

faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

5. Hebrews 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

            If you really have the compassion of the Holy Spirit, the love of God and the love of Christ in your heart, you’re going to be like Jesus. And if you want to know how Jesus is, just read the Gospels! It’s beautiful! — We read His life story in the Bible about the man who went about everywhere doing good. — Striving to lead God’s little children back to the worship of the true Father; His little lambs back into the one and only true fold of the Great Shepherd and the way of simple truth and love and peace — the true kingdom of God, whose only laws are love.

            Study the Gospels and see how Jesus did it. Study the Master Teacher — Who only taught and lived love and sharing — Who came for love and lived in love and died for love that we might live and love forever!

            This is why I always liked the words of Jesus better than any other part of the Bible! He was almost always the peacemaker. When they didn’t like His message, He didn’t force it on them. It was all voluntary, all “whosoever will.” — Jesus was patient, loving, kind, sympathetic and forgiving, always loving, always leading, not pushing or driving, and always feeding and encouraging and strengthening His little lambs.

            Lord, You are the greatest sample of all — The greatest of all samples of humility and mercy. Help us to be like You, Lord Jesus.

Love Makes the World Go Round  - from Jesus with Love

Love is such a powerful force—it makes the world go round! Stop and think about the love you have in your life today. Because of your parents’ love for each other, you were born. Because of their love for you, you were cared for, provided for‚ and protected. As you grew older, this love matured in you. Now, because of the love you have received, you want to give love to others as well and help them to change their lives for the better.

All of this love originated from Me, for I am the giver of all true, lasting love. I so want to pour more of My love out to others, yet I need you to give it. I know sometimes you feel like such a small, insignificant person, and you wonder what you can possibly do to change things. Just like a little bit of water poured upon the dry ground can bring to life the dormant seeds hidden under the surface, so too can your small amounts of love poured out upon others change them and bring them back to life.

Lots of love to you

Andrew and Hanna

 The Lord Really Leaves a Lot Up to Us and Our Prayer – the Daily  Might

            You’d be surprised how much God depends on our prayers, how concerned we are & how interested we are. When we are faced with a needy situation, He wants us to show concern & pray specifically about it. If we really believe, every prayer is heard & answered. But if we don’t pray, it is not done! God can do anything, but He puts the responsibility of prayer on us!

            The very intensity with which we pray & really mean it or desire it is reflected in the answer! The recipients of our prayers are not going to receive any more than we send. We have to visualise the people or situations we’re praying for & pray with that thought on our heart, asking the Lord specifically for what we want Him to do.–And then our prayer will reflect or be answered with the same intensity as it originated. Like a beam of light focused on a mirror, it will bounce back with as much power as it began with. If we only pray with half a heart we only get half an answer. But if we pray with our whole heart, we get a whole-hearted strong answer!

            Are you using prayer power?–Heaven will reveal what good we have done–or could have done–through prayer!

Anybody Can Find Love If They Have Love – the Daily Might

            If you show a real love for people, you won’t have a hard time winning friends, because love begets love! If you’re sincerely concerned about others, & you show them love, they’ll be concerned about you & show you love. If you sow love, you’re going to reap love. If you sow friendship, you’re going to reap friendship. You’ll always get enough love if you give enough love–it’s a two-way street! (Gal.6:7)

            Love cannot fail! It makes no difference where it is bestowed, it always brings in big returns. You can’t give without getting, you can’t reward without receiving in return, & the more you give, the more you get!–It multiplies & grows like the bread & the fish, & the cruse of oil & the barrel of meal! (Mat.15:32-38; 1Kg.17:10-16)

            There are many others around you who are just as lonely & longing for love as you are, & just waiting for you to make the first move! So love someone today! Step out by faith & try to make someone else happy & you’ll find out what wonders love can do! You’ll find a whole new World of love you’ve only dreamed of. There are wonders of love that you can enjoy along with some other lonely soul–if you will only try. If you give love you’ll get love!