Thought of the Day

December 22, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Monday

How many observe Christ’s Birthday! How few, his Precepts! ‘Tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.
Benjamin Franklin

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Luke 1:26-33
The New Living Translation

Each year after Thanksgiving, Bonnie DeArmond and her family planned their annual Christmas “Ring and Run” celebration. First, the DeArmonds gathered together and began making a large assortment of homemade gifts. Then, when presents filled the dining room table to overflowing, each family member chose friends who would be the recipients of these gifts. Then, the fun began. On one special evening, the normally mild-mannered DeArmonds carried out a covert operation. With gifts in hand, they climbed into their family van. As they approached the targeted home, the van lights went dark and the side door quietly opened to let Sterling, Meagan, or Schaeffer sneak to the house. A gift was placed at the front door, the bell was rung, and the child raced back to the waiting van. Ring and run. Bonnie and family were far down the road before the friends discovered their gifts. After completing the drop-offs, the DeArmonds returned home to await the inevitable calls from delighted friends. Bonnie and her family made Christmas memories as they shared the gift of friendship.
Bonnie DeArmonds

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December 19, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Friday

To speak painful truth through loving words- that is friendship.
Henry Ward Beecher

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Matthew 19:30
The King James Version

God knows what’s in our hearts. We might as well get right to the point.
Bruce Bickel

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December 18, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Thursday

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.
Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address

The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and on them he has set the world.
1 Samuel 2:7-8
The English Standard Version

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December 17, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Wednesday

One of the misfortunes of our time is that in getting rid of false shame we have killed off so much real shame as well.
Louis Kronenberger

Don’t grumble about each other, brothers. Are you yourselves above criticism? For see! The great Judge is coming. He is almost here. [Let him do whatever criticizing must be done.]
James 5:9
The Living Bible

Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.
Mother Teresa

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December 15, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Monday

We give people a dose of religion, when they are looking for an encounter with the Living God.
Kenneth Pillar

Your justice is eternal for your laws are perfectly fair. In my distress and anguish, your commandments comfort me. Your laws are always fair; help me to understand them and I shall live.
Psalm 119:142-144
The Living Bible

The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.
Unknown

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December 12, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Friday

Life is not built for negative achievement, it is made for positive contribution, for outgoing love. He who loves not, lives not; and he who loves most, lives most.
E. Stanley Jones

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
The English Standard Version

When I was a new minister, a seasoned minister came into my office. She said, “How’s your day going?” I said, “I am so frustrated. I have the newsletter to work on, my sermon to write, and all these other things to do- but people keep calling with all these interruptions.” She said, “The interruptions are your ministry. The rest is just paperwork.”
Michelle Crouch

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December 11, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Thursday

You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.
Augustine of Hippo

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
Proverbs 29:5
The English Standard Version

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December 10, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Wednesday

Sometimes a neighbor whom we have disliked a lifetime for his arrogance and conceit lets fall a single commonplace remark that shows us another side, another man, really; a man uncertain and puzzled, and in the dark like ourselves.
Willa S. Cather

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”
Mark 11:25
The New King James Version

If you ever find happiness by hunting for it, you will find it, as the old woman did her lost spectacles- safe on her own nose all the time.
Josh Billings

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December 9, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Thanks from Greg and Eric!

Dear Fellow Subscribers, thank you for your continued support over these last weeks of 2014…and thanks for ALL your support over these many years together.
Each and every day, Eric and I are blessed by your comments, your prayers, and your individual stories…when we hear from you from all over the world, we are touched in so many ways…it just warms our hearts that the Lord has allowed us to be a small part of each of your lives, just as you have been such an important part of our lives.
We always prayerfully strive to remain good stewards with the financial resources you entrust us with, and we hope you will always feel satisfied and secure in knowing that we attempt to provide the best ministry we can, as just two individuals, (with some occasional help from valued volunteers), seeking to be as efficient and effective in expanding the Lord’s Kingdom.
Thus, combining your gracious support, our humble efforts here, and a lot of prayer asking for the Lord’s guidance and blessing over these efforts…those are the ingredients that make up the ministries we call This Day’s Thought at the Ranch, and The Ranch at large.
Thank you all for this blessing!
Greg Potzer

When I first became a Christian, I started to tithe, giving a tenth of my income and more to the church and to missionaries around the world who were encouraging others to put their faith in Christ for everything in their lives. I loved writing those monthly checks and praying for the people who would be touched by the gifts I sent. Now I’m a full-time missionary myself, sometimes going to other countries in person, but more often using my keyboard and computer to encourage people around the world to put their faith in Christ for everything in their lives.
My heart has always beat for missions, and I’m astounded when I look at our stats from time to time. This year, we’ve been able to reach an average of 37,373 people, 6 days a week, in over 162 countries! That’s over 10 million emails we’ve sent out this year! Although numbers themselves don’t matter much, people do! And each one of those numbers represents a person whom Jesus loves, died for, and wants to encourage in their faith. When Jesus said, “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” I wonder if those early disciples could have imagined that one day we’d be able to reach tens of thousands of people in a split second with the push of a button. Yet that day is here!
As we wrap up our fund-raising efforts for this year, I’d like to say thanks again to those of you have already sent donations, and I’d like to remind those of you who haven’t yet, but would like to join us in this outreach, to sign up to be one of our monthly supporters or send a significant one-time gift today. I don’t know whether I like sending donations or receiving donations more, because the bottom line is the same: to point people back to Jesus Christ!
If you’d still like to join us in this effort, please click the donate button below or send your gift to: Eric Elder Ministries, 25615 E 3000 North Rd, Chenoa, IL 61726 (or click this link for more donation options)

Keep putting your faith in Jesus for everything in your lives! He really is “Emmanuel,” God with us!
Eric Elder
P.S. We’ve posted 2 CD’s of soothing Christmas music on The Ranch website that you can listen to anytime day or night for free! Just click the links below to listen. Merry Christmas!

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December 9, 2014

This Day’s Thought from The Ranch- Tuesday

The morning watch is essential. You must not face the day until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His. You cannot expect to be victorious, if the day begins only in your own strength. Face the work of every day with the influence of a few thoughtful quiet moments with your heart and God. Do not meet other people, even those of your own home, until you have first met the great guest and honored Companion of your life, Jesus Christ.
Streams in The Desert

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20
The King James Version

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