Category: Odds & Ends

“The goal of prayer is the ear of God, a goal that can only be reached by patient and continued and continuous waiting upon Him, pouring out our heart to Him and permitting Him to speak to us. Only by so doing can we expect to know Him, and as we come to know Him better we shall spend more time in His presence and find that presence a constant and ever-increasing delight.” – E.M. Bounds

“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” – Corrie ten Boom

“The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become — because he made us.” — C. S. Lewis

God created music with an innate ability to affect us at our core. Music has the power to fill us with peace, joy, and anger; it can cause tears to well up in our eyes and even make the most mundane events beautiful. Martin Luther said, “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.” By consistently engaging in worship through beautiful music, we provide a framework for the Holy Spirit both to till the soil of our hearts and to fill us with the seeds of God’s presence and perfect character. – first15.org

“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”

“Witnessing is that deep-seated conviction that the greatest favor I can do for others is to introduce them to Jesus Christ.” — Paul Little

“A Christian knows that death shall be the funeral of all his sins, his sorrows, his afflictions, his temptations, his vexations, his oppressions, his persecutions. He knows that death shall be the resurrection of all his hopes, his joys, his delights, his comforts, his contentments.” – Thomas Brooks

“Every Christian a missionary; every non-Christian a mission-field.” — Winkie Pratney

“If God should have no more mercy on us than we have charity to one another, what would become of us?” — Thomas Fuller

“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.” – G. K. Chesterton

We are clearly to love both. Jesus insisted: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). His words can be translated literally from the Greek, “Continually and unconditionally love those who hate you and ask God for their best even as they are persecuting you.”

Our Lord went even further when He taught us, “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). To translate again, “To the exact same degree that I have loved you, you also are to continually love one another.”

Our Savior’s love was unconditional (Romans 8:35–39), sacrificial (1 John 3:16), and empathetic (John 11:35). Now we are commanded to love others, including those who hate us, in the same way.

However, Jesus never intended me to do so. He wants to continue His earthly ministry through me as His “body” (1 Corinthians 12:27), which includes His ministry of love. He wants to forgive those who sin, comfort those who grieve, and heal those who hurt through me.

My part is to stay submitted to His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and then measure success by what Jesus does through me (John 15:5). When my words and deeds express His love for those I serve, I love my neighbor well. When they do not, I do not.

This works in every dimension of life. If you’re a teacher, Jesus loves your students and wants to love them through you. If you’re a doctor, lawyer, pastor, or business person, He wants to love your patients, clients, congregation, and customers through you. If you’re a parent, He wants to love your children through you. If you’ve been hurt by someone, He wants to love even your enemy through you.

I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself. – Dr. Jim Denison

Of all the wonders our Creator provides us, boundless and unadulterated relationship with Jesus vastly exceeds them all. Jesus is the best thing we will ever know. His love restores, satisfies, transforms, and heals. His grace empowers and brings transcendent peace. His nearness resolves the great fears of our hearts. And his Kingship calls us to a right lifestyle of living for heaven rather than a pursuit of that which is worldly and fleeting.

You and I have limited space in our hearts. When we choose to fill our lives with the things of the world, we crowd out that which will fill us with pure and abounding relationship with Jesus.

As disciples of Jesus, we must learn to lead different lives than others around us. Instead of looking to others as our standard for what is good or right, we must look to Jesus. Instead of setting the bar for our lives by looking at successful people, even successful Christians, we must set our bar at living like Jesus. Jesus valued relationship with the Father above all else. He valued obedience to the Father’s will above all other pursuits. Every breath he breathed was done to the glory of God the Father and in fulfillment of his plans, and you and I are to do the same. – first15.org