Madeleine L’Engle said: “God will help us, even if it’s in an unexpected and shocking way, by swooping down on us to wrestle with us. And in the midst of the wrestling we, too, will be able to cry out, “Bless me!” I am certain that God will bless me, but I don’t need to know-how. When we think we know exactly how the one who made us is going to take care of us, we’re apt to ignore the…
Jesus said: “Instead, be concerned about his Kingdom, and he will give you these things. Try not to be apprehensive, little flock, for your Father is satisfied to provide you with the Kingdom. Sell every one of your items, and give the cash to poor people. Accommodate yourselves handbags that don’t wear out, and spare your wealth in heaven, where they will never diminish because no hoodlum can get to them, and no moth can obliterate them. For your heart…
William Willimon said: “The needs of the world are too great, the suffering and pain too extensive, the lures of the world too seductive for us to begin to change the world unless we are changed, unless conversion of life and morals becomes our pattern. The status quo is too alluring. It is the air we breathe, the food we eat, the six-thirty news, our institutions, theologies, and politics. The only way we shall break its hold on us is…
Regularly we have to settle on a large number of decisions. A few choices have more effect on our lives than others. Some require more idea. Some may even require the contribution of others. Making Jesus, an incredible Lord, is the ideal decision you would ever make! Notwithstanding, when you do, you have the open door every day to settle on decisions that help that decision. For instance, would you say you are deciding to serve the Lord with your…
Yes, “the praise the LORD from the heavens” of Psalm 148 is similar in practice to “the heavens declare the God” of Psalm 19. Simply put, the heavens declare the glory of God by their very nature and being corresponding to the psalmist in Psalm 148 speaks to the heavens that they continue this praise. As God in crafting the world began above and wrought downward, so does all creatures must recognise Him with praises; let all the living in the…
Scripturally put: “Have a similar burden for everybody. Try not to be pleased; however, acknowledge humble obligations. Try not to consider yourselves astute. If somebody has treated you terribly, don’t reimburse individuals with a wrong. Attempt to do what everybody believes to be acceptable. Do everything conceivable on your part to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:16-18 [self paraphrasing]
Amy Carmichael said: “Don’t say it doesn’t matter about anything (except your own feelings), for everything matters. Everything is important, even the tiniest thing. If you do everything, whether great or small, for the sake of your Savior and Lord, then you will be ready for whatever work he has chosen for you to do later.”
It is a great idea to sing praises to our God. It was directly in Psalm 147 that the psalmist knows and did sing praises to God, and encourage others to praise the LORD, and he accepted that God’s kin would do it with singing. The integrity of acclaim originates from the reality that it is, in itself, charming and delightful. Truly, praise from the upstanding is excellent. Genuine appreciation is lovely to God, to His kin as a network,…
Simply put: “Love each other heartily as Christians, and be anxious to show regard for each other. Try sincerely, and don’t be lethargic. Serve the Lord with a heart brimming with commitment. Let your expectation keep you euphoric, show restraint in your difficulties, and pray consistently. Offer your assets with your penniless individual Christians, and open your homes to outsiders.” Romans 12:10-13 [self paraphrased]
Thich Nhat Hanh said: “When we look into the heart of a flower, we see clouds, sunshine, minerals, time, the earth, and everything else in the cosmos in it. Without clouds, there could be no rain, and there would be no flower. Without time, the flower could not bloom. In fact, the flower is made of entirely non-flower elements; it has no independent, individual existence. When we see the nature of inter-being, barriers between ourselves and others are dissolved, and…