Quotes from Charles Swindoll

When you have a sense of calling, whether it's to be a musician, soloist, artist, in one of the technical fields, or a plumber, there is something deep and enriching when you realize it isn't just a casual choice, it's a divine calling. It's not limited to vocational Christian service by any means.

As far back as I can remember, my mother would have me down by the bed at night with her, praying. I can still hear her voice calling my name to God and telling him that she wanted me to follow him in whatever he called me to do.

'We really shouldn't look like a church.' I've heard that so much I want to vomit. 'Why?' I ask. 'Do you want your bank to look like a bank? Do you want your doctor's office to look like a doctor's office, or would you prefer your doctor to dress like a clown?'

Sometimes I wake up before dawn, and I love sitting up in the middle of the bed with all the lights off, pitch-black dark, and talking to the Father, with no interruptions and nothing that reminds me that there's anything in life but me and Him.

What is God looking for? He is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely His - completely.

Who can ever measure the benefit of a mother's inspiration?

The past is over... forget it. The future holds hope... reach for it.

Patience is a bitter plant that produces sweet fruit.

It's the nature of the beast within us to keep going back to the familiar rather than to strap on faith and face the future.

Vision is the ability to see God's presence, to perceive God's power, to focus on God's plan in spite of the obstacles.

When we have God in clear focus, His powerful presence eclipses our fear.

God is a specialist at making something useful and beautiful out of something broken and confused.