Common Proverbs and Wise Sayings

A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush.

A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

A friend in need, is a friend indeed.

A good beginning, makes a good ending.

A house divided cannot stand.

A house is not a home.

A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

A man is known by the company he keeps.

A man's home is his castle.

A penny for your thoughts.

A penny saved, is a penny earned.

A picture paints a thousand words.

A place for everything, and everything in its place.

A problem shared, is a problem halved.

A stitch in time saves nine.

A volunteer is worth twenty pressed men.

A watched pot never boils.

A woman's place is in the home.

A woman's work is never done.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Actions speak louder than words.

Advice when most needed, is least heeded.

After a storm comes a calm.

All good things must come to an end.

All roads lead to Rome.

All that glitters is not gold.

All is well, that ends well.

All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

A man's home is his castle.

An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure.

Appearances are deceptive.

April showers bring May flowers.

As soon as man is born, he begins to die.

As you make your bed, so must you lie in it.

As you sow, so shall you reap.

Ask no questions, and hear no lies.

Bad news travels fast.

Barking dogs seldom bite.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Beauty is only skin-deep.

Beggars cannot be choosers.

Behind every great man, there's a great woman

Better late, than never.

Better safe, than sorry.

Better die with honor, than live with shame.

Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't know.

Better to be alone, than in bad company.

Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Blood is thicker than water.

Boys will be boys.

Business before pleasure.

Charity begins at home.

Children are poor men's riches.

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

Count your blessings.

Crime does not pay.

Curiosity killed the cat.

Dead men have no friends.

Dead men tell no tales.

Death closes all doors.

Death is the great leveler.

Death pays all debts.

Diligence is the mother of good fortune.

Discretion is the better part of valor.

Divide and conquer.

Do not wear out your welcome.

Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Don't burn your bridges behind you.

Don't change horses in midstream.

Don't cross the bridge until you come to it.

Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

Don't judge a book by its cover.

Don't go near the water until you learn how to swim.

Don't put all yours eggs in one basket.

Don't rock the boat.

Don't try to walk before you can crawl.

Don't upset the apple-cart.

Don't wash your dirty linen in public.

Early to bed and early to rise, make a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Easier said, than done.

Easy come, easy go.

Empty vessels make the most noise.

Enough is as good as a feast.

Enough is enough.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining.

Every family has a skeleton in the closet.

Every garden has some weeds.

Every man has his faults.

Every man has his price.

Every man is his own worst enemy.

Every picture tells a story.

Every stick has two ends.

Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die.

Experience is the best teacher.

Experience is the mother of wisdom.

Failing to plan, is planning to fail.

Failure teaches success.

Faint heart never won fair lady.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

Fear of death, is worse than death itself.

Fight fire with fire.

Finders keepers, losers weepers.

First come, first served.

First things first.

First think, and then speak.

Fish and guests smell after three days.

Flattery will get you nowhere.

Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread.

Garbage in, garbage out.

Give credit where credit is due.

Give him an inch, and he'll take a mile.

Good fences make good neighbors.

Goodness is better than beauty.

Gray hairs are death's blossoms.

Great minds think alike.

Hard work never did anyone any harm.

Haste makes waste.

He who is master of himself, will soon be master of others.

He who knows nothing, doubts nothing.

He who marries for money, will earn it.

He who plants a tree, plants for posterity.

He who plants thorns, must never expect to gather roses.

He who seeks trouble, never misses.

He who laughs last, laughs longest.

He who would climb the ladder, must begin at the bottom.

Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.

History repeats itself.

Home is where the heart is.

Honesty is the best policy.

If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.

If God had meant us to fly, he'd have given us wings.

If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again.

If you can't beat them, join them.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

In the kingdom of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

In the midst of life, we are in death.

Into every life, a little rain must fall.

It never rains, but it pours.

It is a bold mouse that nestles in the cat's ear.

It is an equal failing to trust everybody--and to trust nobody.

It's best to be on the safe side.

It's better to give, than to receive.

It's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.

It's never too late.

It's no use locking the stable door, after the horse has bolted.

It's not worth crying over spilt milk.

It's the early bird that gets the worm.

It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

It takes one to know one.

It takes two to tango.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

Keep your mouth shut, and your ears open.

Kill not the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.

Laughter is the best medicine.

Lend your money, and lose your friend.

Let bygones be bygones.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Let the buyer beware.

Let the punishment fit the crime.

Life is what you make it.

Like father, like son.

Like mother, like daughter.

Live and learn.

O, Christ, in Thee My Soul Hath Found!

John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

What a breath-taking truth! “I am come,” Just another way of saying “Before Abraham was, I AM.” All others began to be; our Lord is pre-temporal, definitely coming out
of the eternities for a definite purpose: “That they might have life.”This quality of life which the Biologist from Eternity gives, 
increases in quantity forever – Abundantly!”

The abundant life which Christ offers is the possession alone 
of those whom He designates “My Sheep.” It is not an entering into
material blessedness. It is a spiritual fullness conditional altogether 
upon likeness to the Lord, and walking in that obedience 

toward God wherein He walked. Its first condition is the acceptance
of the Cross whereby the world is crucified unto the believer and
the believer unto the world. But, as this separation is recognized 
and accepted, and the life is wholly yielded and kept subject
to the will of the Father, the Master’s incoming and indwelling meets
every longing and every need. Then alone will be understood the meaning
of the promise of our text: “I am come that they might have life, 
and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Have we come to the fountain of life? Are we drinking of its fullness?
Are we living in His love? This is the life of our spirit; the health 
of our body; the secret of our joy!

May we seek this overflowing life, and become “channels only,” with “
all His wondrous power flowing through us” so that He can use us
every day and every hour! 


Rev. Evan H. Hopkins

Come to the everlasting spring and drink freely. It never runs dry!
“Though millions their thirst are now slaking,
It never runs dry,
And millions may still come partaking,
It never runs dry!”

Springs in the Valley, 

Behold the Lamb of God-Part 2

Behold the Lamb of God! He is set forth for this end. He is presented to us for this purpose. The gospel places him before the sinner's eye, and keeps him there, as God's only ordinance of salvation, and cries, "Look and be saved! Look and be saved, all you ends of the earth!" Let us then fix the mind on Jesus, and keep it fixed there. Let us make him the daily, hourly object of our faith. Life comes by looking. Peace comes by looking. Joy in the Lord comes by looking. In a word, looking to Jesus as dying for our sins, in our stead--will . . .
bring a sense of pardon into the conscience,
spread joy and peace over the soul, and
fill the heart with love.
in life, and all its joys;
in sickness, and all its pains;
in adversity, with all its sorrows;
and in death, with all its agonies.

Let us behold the Lamb--and trust in his blood alone, for the present, complete, and everlasting pardon of all our sins.

Let us behold the Lamb--and love him for taking our nature, that he might save our souls.

Let us behold the Lamb--and make use of him to remove our guilt, banish our fears, and deliver us from the dread of death.

Let us behold the Lamb--and recommend him to all around us, as able to save to the uttermost, and as willing to save them, if they are willing to be saved by him.

"Behold the Lamb of God!" beloved reader, for God bids you, and commands you to believe on his name. Behold the Lamb of God, for it will greatly benefit you, and always benefit you too. Behold the Lamb of God, for it will please the Father if you do--he takes an infinite delight in his beloved Son--and he wishes us to take a delight in him also. Behold the Lamb of God, for in so doing you will be enabled to conquer Satan, overcome the world, and surmount the fear of death.

By this we conquer, namely, "Looking unto Jesus." Let us therefore look to him . . .

Behold the lamb of God! Part 1

Behold the Lamb of God!

Jesus Is God's Lamb. In his nature and character, we may see all the excellent qualities of the Lamb. He is holy--free from all blemish. In him is no defect. He is without sin, and full of grace. His entire nature is pure, and spotless--an offering fit for God. He is meek--none need fear him. Bruised, humbled, and afflicted, he has learned what suffering is, and is now able to sympathize with sufferers. He is not a lion--but a lamb. Who would fear to approach, to touch, or to become familiar with a lamb? He is patient, bearing the opposition and contradiction of sinners, without complaint; and bearing the wrath of God in solemn silence, or with deep submission.

He is the gentle One. He calls a child to him, and makes it his text. He receives children from mothers and relatives, heals and blesses them. He allows children to follow him, proclaim him, and sing hosannas to him. The bruised reed he will not break, the smoking flax he will not quench--nor one applicant for mercy, will he refuse.

As a lamb, he was intended to be a sacrificial victim. He was to die, the just for the unjust. A lamb was to make atonement for sinful human lions, bears, and a generation of vipers. O mystery of mercy! O wondrous love! God required a lamb, whose life was equivalent to all the lives that had been forfeited by sin. He demanded blood, worth all the blood that had been or would be shed. The victim he required could not be found, therefore he promised to provide one. On that promise, the hope of all believers hung. On that promise, the faith of all that were saved was built.

God himself was to provide a lamb. That lamb was to be put to death. The putting to death of that lamb, was to atone for, and put away sin. That lamb was to be an all-sufficient sacrifice for sin, an infinite atonement for transgression. The lamb promised, was now provided. John saw him, pointed him out, and directed his hearers to him, crying with a loud voice, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

That lamb was sacrificed, was sacrificed for us, and is now presented to us, is now placed before us. He is evidently and clearly set forth, as though he was crucified among us. He is man's accepted substitute. He is God's obedient servant. He is the sacrifice to satisfy God's justice for man's sin. He is God's Son, who did his Father's will; by which all believers are sanctified, by the offering of his precious body once. The Lamb is God--God in our nature--God with us--God in our place--God atoning for our sin--God putting away our sins by the sacrifice of himself! O mystery of mysteries! O wonder of wonders! Let us

Things That Make You GO Hmmm!

Early in 2006 God showed me in a beautiful vision how those who belong to His army have to be trained here and now and not after death. He emphasized in the preparation taking place right here as we live this life. The past month has been so hard for me and every step I take has been a major challenge. I am tired of the training, tired of the hardship and wish I could live a Christian life more relaxed. So, I guess, in my own way, I have been rebelling. This morning, I fought tears while meditating on His word, purpose and His way. Then the Holy Spirit said to me:

"The more things changed the more they stay the same.

• Adam and Eve thought they could take over for God, they let Satan direct them. As a result, they lost their spiritual blessings and became separated from God.

• The Israelites were saved by God, but rejected His way in the wilderness. So, they all died there,  never tasted the blessings God had in mind for them through Canaan’s life.

• Most of those who claim to believe in Christ, reject His way and purpose as well. So, you too you are free to choose.  Immediately, I found strength, no more teary eyes and I stopped feeling pity for myself. I was surprised to see what I was going through the past month was a form of pity party as well."

Believe it or not, until the Spirit of God enlightened me, I truly felt that it was okay for me to be tired because I am just a human being. I never realized I was living with a rebellious heart where I was questioning the wisdom, His plan and purpose. In essence, I was telling Him that I am tired of carrying the cross as I follow. I was telling Him that I was tired of living by faith and wish that I could live by sight too. Living by faith and not by sight is hard because God is not bound by time, does not owe us an explanation and He does not have to keep our comfort in mind. We simply have to keep trusting and keep walking in spirit, knowing that He is faithful.

We can never know God too much or too well and we can never take this journey for granted or relax through it. Because if we do, Satan will have the last word. The more we become spiritually mature,  the craftier Satan becomes. Unless the Spirit shows us, we have no idea that we are being duped by him.

This morning, the Spirit of God was really abrupt with me. I thought to myself, what's up with that? You are supposed to be gentle. The truth is, I was being disrespectful to God and the Spirit's business and allegiance is to God first and does not take kindly those who do not revere Him constantly. So, sometimes,the Spirit of God simply does not cajole us.He simply put the rude reality of our choices in front of us and tells us to go wild, but choose well......

The Valley of Vision A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions - Purification

Lord Jesus, I sin. Grant that I may never cease grieving because of it, never be content with myself, never think I can reach a point of perfection. Kill my envy, command my tongue, trample down self. Give me grace to be holy, kind, gentle, pure, peaceable, to live for You and not for self, to copy Your words, acts, spirit, to be transformed into Your likeness, to be consecrated wholly to You, to live entirely to Your glory.

Deliver me from attachment to things unclean, from wrong associations, from the predominance of evil passions, from the sugar of sin as well as its gap; that with self-loathing, deep contrition, earnest heart searching I may come to You, cast myself on You, trust in You, cry to You, be delivered by You.

O God, the Eternal All, help me to know that all things are shadows, but You are substance, all things are quicksands, but You are mountain, all things are shifting, but You are anchor, all things are ignorance, but You are wisdom.

If my life is to be a crucible amid burning heat, so be it, but sit at the furnace mouth to watch the ore that nothing be lost. If I sin wilfully, grievously, tormentedly, in grace take away my mourning and give me music; remove my sackcloth and clothe me with beauty; still my sighs and fill my mouth with song, then give me summer weather as a Christian.

Let This Mind Be in You,Which Was also in Christ Jesus

by John Angell James

"Let this mind be in you, which was 
also in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5

You know full well, that the seat of all true religion is in the soul; and that it forms the character and guides the conduct by the power of an inward principle of spiritual life. True godliness is, in short, being right-minded. A question, however, arises as to what a right mind really is, and what kind of prevailing disposition the gospel requires in those who profess to believe it. This is answered by the apostle, where he says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," Phil. 2:5-9. 

And he then goes on to show what Christ's mind was. This whole passage deserves your closest attention, both on account of its doctrinal truth and its practical bearing, for it shows in a very striking manner the intimate connection between Christian truth and Christian practice—and how the truth is employed by the sacred writers to enforce Christian practice. The most sublime doctrines of our holy Christian religion, are all practical in their design and tendency—they are not mere theory or academics—but are all of them "the truth which is according to godliness." 

If there is any mystery of religion which is great and high above the thoughts of men and angels, it is, without doubt, the incarnation of the Son of God; and if there be any place where this important truth is clearly and magnificently represented, it is this passage. The terms are at once so sublime and majestic, that it is impossible anything more sublime or majestic could be said; the meaning is so noble and so well established, that nothing more powerful could be imagined.

God is Love

James Smith, 1842

"God is love!" 1 John 4:8

Believer, the author of your present affliction, is Jehovah (Amos 3:6); it comes at the command of the Lord Almighty, who is excellent in counsel and wonderful in working. But though He afflicts you, His heart is not, and cannot be turned against you — for He has revealed himself in His word, as LOVE. He does not merely tell you that He loves you, but that He is LOVE ITSELF — infinite, eternal, unchangeable love. Fury has no place in Him; His anger is turned away from you, by the sacrifice of Jesus; and He has sworn by himself, because He could swear by no greater — that He will not be angry with you; but in blessing, He will bless you. His love is immutably fixed upon every sinner who . . .
looks to Jesus for salvation; 
relies upon His precious promises; 
and trusts in His glorious propitiation.

You have . . .
loved His name; 
adored His perfections; 
aimed at His glory; and 
endeavored to do good to His people.

These are evidences of your love to Him. You have loved Him — because He first loved you.

Your present affliction flows from His love; though occasioned by your sin — or called for by the circumstances in which you are placed. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve His redeemed children without cause. But while He puts you to pain, while He lays His rod upon you — He loves you with an inconceivable love! There is nothing but love in His heart toward you! Every affliction is absolutely necessary, and could not be dispensed with. He must afflict you — or neglect you. He will never fail you nor forsake you, and therefore he lays His rod upon you. The discipline may be sharp — but the design is truly gracious. He seeks your good — the good of your immortal soul; and designs only your welfare — even your sanctification.

Do not think that He has turned against you, or that He never loved you — these are unworthy thoughts. He intends to . . .
remind you of your follies, 
bring you to reflection, and 
lead you back to himself from whom you have probably wandered.

Or else He intends to prevent your falling into some real evils, to which you were fast hastening. He intends, in a word . . .
to conform you to Jesus; 
to answer your prayers; and 
to show you, your absolute need of His presence, power, and love.

It was Divine love which chose the trial. It was Divine love which sent it. And the God of love is waiting to hear your confessions, your prayers, and your complaints.

Believe that He is love; believe that your sickness flows from love; and go to Him with this assurance, and entreat Him to sanctify it — and then remove it. But seek its sanctification before its removal.

Sanctified afflictions are among our choicest blessings! They . . .
wean our hearts from earth, 
direct our affections above, and 
give energy and fervor to our prayers.

Many have had to say, "It is good for me, that I have been afflicted! Before I was afflicted I went astray — but now I keep your precepts." The Lord watches over you in love, while you are in this furnace — He is about your bed. Do not forget the God of love is present with you — present to . . .
hear your groanings, 
number your pains, 
mark your tears, 
listen to your prayers, 
and bless you indeed.

You may not have the comfort of His presence — but you have the benefit of it. Endeavor to realize that God is with you — with you as a kind and gracious Father, watching over you to do you good.

By this affliction, He calls you . . .
to self-examination; 
to surrender yourself afresh to Him; 
to seek your happiness alone in Him; 
to cast all your cares upon Him; 
to make known your request to Him!

He says, "I will be very gracious unto you at the voice of your cry. When I hear you — I will answer you." His eye is fixed upon you for good! He is full of compassion, and plenteous in mercy unto all who call upon Him in truth. Call then upon the Lord, in this day of trouble; He will deliver you — and you shall glorify Him.

Beware of indulging hard thoughts of Him, or of conceiving of Him otherwise than He has revealed Himself to you in His word. He says to you, "I AM LOVE!" Dare not then, to indulge any thought of Him which would contradict Him; but believe His word, and expect Him to illustrate and confirm this truth in His dealings with you.

The characteristics of the modern Christian pulpit!

J. C. Ryle

"John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath! Produce fruit in keeping with repentance!" Luke 3:7-8

Well would it be for the Church of Christ, if it possessed more plain-speaking ministers like John the Baptist.
  A morbid dislike to strong language;
  an excessive fear of giving offence;
  a constant flinching from directness and plain speaking — 
are, unhappily, too much the characteristics of the modern Christian pulpit!

Uncharitable language is no doubt always to be deprecated. But there is no 'charity' in flattering unconverted people — by abstaining from any mention of their vices, or in applying smooth names to their damnable sins!

There are two texts which are too much forgotten by Christian preachers. In one it is written, "Woe unto you — when all men shall speak well of you!" (Luke 6:26)

In the other it is written, "Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people — I would not be Christ's servant." (Galatians 1:10)

Our Attitude Toward God’s Sovereignty – Part5

One of Godly fear.

Why is it that, today, the masses are so utterly unconcerned about spiritual and eternal things, and that they are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God? Why is it that even on the battlefields multitudes were so indifferent to their soul's welfare? Why is it that defiance of heaven is becoming more open, more blatant, more daring? The answer is, Because "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:18). Again, why is it that the authority of the Scriptures has been lowered so sadly of late? Why is it that even among those who profess to be the Lord's people, there is so little real subjection to His Word, and that its precepts are so lightly esteemed and so readily set aside? Ah! what needs to be stressed today, is that God is a God to be feared!

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7). Happy the soul who has been awed by a view of God's majesty, who has had a vision of God's awesome greatness, His ineffable holiness, His perfect righteousness, His irresistible power, His sovereign grace. Does someone say, "But it is only the unsaved, those outside of Christ, who need to fear God"? Then the sufficient answer is that the saved, those who are in Christ, are admonished to work out their own salvation with "fear and trembling." Time was, when it was the general custom to speak of a believer as a "God-fearing man"—that such an appellation has become nearly extinct—only serves to show where we have drifted. Nevertheless, it still stands written, "Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him" (Psalm 103:13)!

When we speak of godly fear, of course, we do not mean a servile fear, such as prevails among the heathen in connection with their gods. No! we mean that spirit which Jehovah is pledged to bless, that spirit to which the prophet referred when he said, "To this man will I (the Lord) look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My Word" (Isaiah 66:2). It was this the apostle had in view when he wrote, "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king" (1 Peter 2:17). And nothing will foster this godly fear—like a recognition of the sovereign Majesty of God.

What ought to be our attitude toward the Sovereignty of God? We answer again,

By: Arthur Pink