J.R. Miller Quotes

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Christ is building His kingdom with earth's broken things. Men want only the strong, the successful, the victorious, the unbroken, in building their kingdoms. But God is the God of the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filling with earth's broken lives, and there is no bruised reed that Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take the life crushed by pain or sorrow — and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth's saddest failure up to Heaven's glory.

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Everyone carries an influence about him. It may be healthful and invigorating — or it may be unwholesome and depressing. It may make a little spot of the world a sweeter, better, safer place to live in — or it may make it harder for those to live worthily and beautifully who dwell within its circle.

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The only thing that walks back from the tomb with the mourners and refuses to be buried — is the character of a man. What a man is — survives him. It can never be buried.

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It is impossible to estimate full influence of the reading of the Word in a home day after day and year after year. It filters into the hearts of the young. It is absorbed into their souls. It colors all their thoughts. It is wrought into the very fiber of their minds. It imbues them with its own spirit. It's holy teachings become the principles of their lives, which rule their conduct and shape all their actions.

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Nothing else in all life is such a maker of joy and cheer, as the privilege of doing good.

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The happiest, sweetest, tenderest homes are not those where there has been no sorrow — but those which have been overshadowed with grief, and where Christ's comfort was received. The very memory of the sorrow is a gentle blessing that broods ever over the household, like the silence that comes after prayer. There is a blessing sent from God in every burden of sorrow.

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The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies. A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness. God sends many beautiful things to this world, many noble gifts; but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows in a mother who has learned love's lessons well, and has realized something of the meaning of her sacred calling.

In the last analysis, home happiness depends on the wife. Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere. Her hands fashion its beauty. Her heart makes its love. And the end is so worthy, so noble, so divine, that no woman who has been called to be a wife, and has listened to the call, should consider any price too great to pay, to be the light, the joy, the blessing, the inspiration of a home.

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The new year on which we are about to enter is unopened, and we know not what shall befall us; but if we follow Christ we need have no fear. So let us leave the old year with gratitude to God for its mercies, and with penitence for its failures and sins. Let us enter the new year with earnest resolve in Christ's name to make it the holiest and most beautiful year we have ever lived.

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A true home is one of the most sacred of places. It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world's perils and alarms. It is a resting-place to which at close of day the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow. It is the place where love learns its lessons, where life is schooled into discipline and strength, where character is molded.

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God made childhood joyous, full of life, bubbling over with laughter, playful, bright and sunny. We should put into their childhood days just as much sunshine and gladness, just as much cheerful pleasure as possible. Let them be happy, encourage all innocent joy, provide pleasant games for them, romp and play with them — be a child again among them. Then God's blessing will come upon your home, and your children will grow up sunny-hearted, gentle, affectionate, joyous themselves and joy-bearers to the world.

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With all the infinite possibilities of spiritual life before you, do not settle down on a little patch of dusty ground at the mountain's foot in restful content. Be not content until you reach the mountain's summit.

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The only business in the world bigger than gambling is religion — but gambling is not nearly so corrupt.

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We can bear the heavy load without asking to have it lightened. We can keep the sorrow now and endure it. We can go on in quiet peace without the new blessing which we thought so necessary. We have not been saved from the battle we shrank so from entering — but we have sought and have gained the victory.

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As God loves us — He would have us love others. We say men are not worthy of such friendships. True, they are not. Neither are we worthy of Christ's wondrous love for us. But Christ loves us — not according to our worthiness — but according to the riches of his own loving heart! So should it be with our giving of friendship — not as the person deserves — but after the measure of our own character.

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We speak much of the duty of making others happy. No day should pass, we say, on which we do not put a little cheer into some discouraged heart, make the path a little smoother for someone's tired feet, or help some fainting robin unto its nest again. This is right. We cannot put too great emphasis upon the duty of giving happiness and cheer to others. But it is no less a duty that we should be happy and cheerful ourselves.

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Every young woman should dress well, that is, neatly, tastefully, modestly, whether she is rich or poor. Conspicuous dressing is crude. True refinement avoids anything showy and flashy — it never dresses better than it can afford, and yet it is always well dressed, even in simple and plain clothes.

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Men with fine gifts think it worth while to live to paint a few great pictures which shall be looked at and admired for generations; or to write a few songs which shall sing themselves into the ears and hearts of men. But the woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies.

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The all-victorious Christ is like a great rock in a weary land — to whose shelter we may flee in every time of sorrow or trial, finding quiet refuge and peace in him.

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Success depends upon staying power. The reason for failure in most cases is lack of perseverance.

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It is supposed by some, that religion makes people solemn, and takes the sunshine out of their life, the joy out of their heart, the song out of their mouth. But the reverse of this is the truth. No other one in the world has such secrets of joy as has the Christian. Christ teaches his followers to rejoice. He bids them rejoice even in sorrow and trial.

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We have a mission to others — to add to their cheer. This we cannot do unless we have first learned the lesson of cheerfulness ourselves.

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A woman whose heart is not touched by the sickness of sorrow, and whose hands do not go out in relief where it is in her power to help — lacks one of the elements which make the glory of womanhood.

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This world is not a place merely to live in, nor a place in which to do certain kinds of business — it is a great workshop in which to make godly men.

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No book is really worth reading, which does not either impart valuable knowledge, or set before us some ideal of beauty, strength, or nobility of character. There are enough books to occupy us during all our short and busy years. If we are wise, we will resolutely avoid all but the richest and the best.

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Every moment brings us some blessing. The rough hand of trial always holds in its clasp, some treasure of love for us.

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A devotional book, which takes a Scripture text, and so opens it for us in the morning — all day long it helps us to live, becoming a true lamp to our feet, and a staff to lean upon when the way is rough — is the very best devotional help we can possibly have. What we need in a devotional book which will bless our lives — yet is the application of the great teachings of Scripture to common, daily, practical life.

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A verse of Scripture in the morning, may become a blessing for all the day. It may sing in the heart as a sweet song, from morning until evening. It may become a liturgy of prayer in which the soul shall voice its deepest needs and hungers — amid toils, struggles, and cares. It may be a guide through perplexing tangles, God's voice whispering cheer, a comforter breathing peace in sorrow.

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God does not give His grace as He gives His sunshine — yet pouring it out on all alike. He discriminates in spiritual blessings. He gives strength according to our need. His eye is ever on us in tender, watchful love — and what we need He supplies.

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Mothers of young children, your work is most holy. You are fashioning the destinies of immortal souls. The powers folded up in the little ones that you hushed to sleep in your bosoms last night, are powers that shall exist forever. You are preparing them for their immortal destiny and influence. Be faithful. Take up your sacred burden reverently. Be sure that your heart is pure and that your life is sweet and holy.

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Too many of us never understand what we owe to our dear ones — until there remains no further opportunity of paying love's debt.

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Nothing does so much to help those who suffer — as to know that somebody cares.