July books, quotes, thoughts, etc

I always thought this quote was just the first line, "blood is thicker than water," but just learned that this, pictured here, is the actual original quote. It means something very different than I originally thought, and reminded me of these verses from my Bible reading yesterday. .
. "But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” #mark3
#youlearnsomethingneweveryday
#superinteresting

This verse from my reading this morning was encouraging to me as I was imagining what it would be like to have Jesus say that about our efforts. Then I read Matthew Henry on it and was also encouraged by how he pointed out Jesus putting the best possible construction on her efforts to serve him, and how kind he was to her. ❤
#mark148
#matthewhenryquote 
#samepagesummer

"In general, our prayers must always be seconded with our endeavours. The dresser seems to say, "Lord, it may be I have been wanting in that which is my part but let it alone this year, and I will do more than I have done towards its fruitfulness" Thus in all our prayers we must request God's grace, with a humble resolution to do our duty, else we mock God, and show that we do not rightly value the mercies we pray for.
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In particular, when we pray to God for grace for ourselves or others, we must follow our prayers with diligence in the use of the means of grace. The dresser of the vineyard engages to do his part, and therein teaches ministers to do theirs. He will dig about the tree and will dung it. Unfruitful Christians must be awakened by the terrors of the law, which break up the fallow ground, and then encouraged by the promises of the gospel, which are warming and fattening, as manure to the tree. Both methods must be tried the one prepares for the other, and all little enough."
#matthewhenryquote 
#biblereadingchallenge 
#samepagesummer

"You will permit me to say that when you speak contemptuously of the vocation of maternity, you dishonor not only the mother who bore you but the Lord Jesus Himself, who chose to be born of woman and to be ministered unto by her through a helpless infancy."
#steppingheavenward
#elizabethprentiss

"Perhaps God sees it is better for you to live in a continual dependence upon him, and not to know what your condition shall be on the morrow, than for you to have a more settled condition in terms of comfort of the creature. Christ does not teach us to pray, "Lord, give me enough to serve me for two or three years," but, "This day our daily bread." This is to teach us we must live upon God in a dependent position every day."
Jeremiah Burroughs