I thought this was really beautiful. It's an excerpt from Joshua Harris's book, "Dug Down Deep" as he is quoting from one of his children's books.
The Jesus Storybook Bible
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should do and shouldn't do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what He has done.
Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you'll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean.
No, the Bible isn't a book of rules or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne, everything to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!
You see, the best thing about this story is—it’s true.
It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle—the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Every Race is Runnable
By Ray Ordlund:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2011/05/29/every-race-is-runnable/
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2
The amazing believers of the past — their lives make this undeniable statement: Every race is runnable.
We think, “My life is more than I can bear. God is asking too much of me. I’ve grown and changed and repented all I can. So, I’ll settle down. I’ll manage a church-going status quo. I’ll even call it ‘faithfulness.’” But that isn’t faithfulness. Not as Hebrews 11 defines living by faith. Not by a mile.
If we are feeling weighed down and exhausted, the problem isn’t Jesus. He is unfailingly an energizing presence. Nor is the problem the race he has called us to run. The problem is something else, even something non-sinful and allowable, but it prevents us from running an unleashed, all-out race. Getting clean rid of it, because our hearts are reaching for the promises of God — that is living by faith.
Living that way, we’ll be surprised at how near the Lord is and how much we can keep growing. Life will become an adventure again.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2011/05/29/every-race-is-runnable/
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2
The amazing believers of the past — their lives make this undeniable statement: Every race is runnable.
We think, “My life is more than I can bear. God is asking too much of me. I’ve grown and changed and repented all I can. So, I’ll settle down. I’ll manage a church-going status quo. I’ll even call it ‘faithfulness.’” But that isn’t faithfulness. Not as Hebrews 11 defines living by faith. Not by a mile.
If we are feeling weighed down and exhausted, the problem isn’t Jesus. He is unfailingly an energizing presence. Nor is the problem the race he has called us to run. The problem is something else, even something non-sinful and allowable, but it prevents us from running an unleashed, all-out race. Getting clean rid of it, because our hearts are reaching for the promises of God — that is living by faith.
Living that way, we’ll be surprised at how near the Lord is and how much we can keep growing. Life will become an adventure again.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Purification
The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions
Purification
Lord Jesus,
I sin-
Grant that I may never cease grieving because of it,
never be content with myself,
never think I can reach a point of perfection.
Kill my envy, command my tongue, trample down self.
Give me grace to be holy, kind, gentle, pure, peaceable,
to live for Thee and not for self,
to copy Thy words, acts, spirit,
to be transformed into Thy likeness,
to be consecrated wholly to Thee,
to live entirely to Thy glory.
Deliver me from attachment to things unclean,
from wrong associations,
from the predominance of evil passions,
from the sugar of sin as well as its gall;
that with self-loathing, deep contrition, earnest heart searching
I may come to Thee,
cast myself on Thee,
trust in Thee,
cry to Thee,
be delivered by Thee.
O God, the Eternal All, help me to know that
all things are shadows, but Thou art substance,
all things are quicksands, but Thou art mountain,
all things are shifting, but Thou art anchor,
all things are ignorance, but Thou art wisdom.
If my life is to be a crucible amid burning heat, so be it,
but do Thou sit at the furnace mouth
to watch the ore that nothing be lost.
If I sin wilfully, grievously, tormentedly, in grace
take away my mourning and give me music;
remove my sackcloth and clothe me with beauty;
still my sighs and fill my mouth with song,
then give me summer weather as a Christian.
Purification
Lord Jesus,
I sin-
Grant that I may never cease grieving because of it,
never be content with myself,
never think I can reach a point of perfection.
Kill my envy, command my tongue, trample down self.
Give me grace to be holy, kind, gentle, pure, peaceable,
to live for Thee and not for self,
to copy Thy words, acts, spirit,
to be transformed into Thy likeness,
to be consecrated wholly to Thee,
to live entirely to Thy glory.
Deliver me from attachment to things unclean,
from wrong associations,
from the predominance of evil passions,
from the sugar of sin as well as its gall;
that with self-loathing, deep contrition, earnest heart searching
I may come to Thee,
cast myself on Thee,
trust in Thee,
cry to Thee,
be delivered by Thee.
O God, the Eternal All, help me to know that
all things are shadows, but Thou art substance,
all things are quicksands, but Thou art mountain,
all things are shifting, but Thou art anchor,
all things are ignorance, but Thou art wisdom.
If my life is to be a crucible amid burning heat, so be it,
but do Thou sit at the furnace mouth
to watch the ore that nothing be lost.
If I sin wilfully, grievously, tormentedly, in grace
take away my mourning and give me music;
remove my sackcloth and clothe me with beauty;
still my sighs and fill my mouth with song,
then give me summer weather as a Christian.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Hungry for God's Word? Why or why not?...
Reckless Abandon: Hunger For God’s Word
Taken from “A Man Worth Waiting For” by Jackie Kendall
Reckless abandon impacts every aspect of a person’s life, including his or her relationship with those things that entertain and distract from eternal focus.
It astonishes me how many Christians watch the same banal, empty, silly, trivial, titillating, suggestive, immodest TV shows that most unbelievers watch- and then wonder why their spiritual lives are weak and their worship experience is shallow with no intensity. If you really want to hear the Word of God the way He means to be heard in truth and joy and power, turn off the television on Saturday night and read something true and great and beautiful and pure and honorable and excellent and worthy of praise. Then watch your heart un-shrivel and begin to hunger for the Word of God
I think we followers of Jesus need to be as concerned about the famine reflected in the souls of too many of God’s children.
Philippians 4:8 ”Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Taken from “A Man Worth Waiting For” by Jackie Kendall
Reckless abandon impacts every aspect of a person’s life, including his or her relationship with those things that entertain and distract from eternal focus.
It astonishes me how many Christians watch the same banal, empty, silly, trivial, titillating, suggestive, immodest TV shows that most unbelievers watch- and then wonder why their spiritual lives are weak and their worship experience is shallow with no intensity. If you really want to hear the Word of God the way He means to be heard in truth and joy and power, turn off the television on Saturday night and read something true and great and beautiful and pure and honorable and excellent and worthy of praise. Then watch your heart un-shrivel and begin to hunger for the Word of God
I think we followers of Jesus need to be as concerned about the famine reflected in the souls of too many of God’s children.
Philippians 4:8 ”Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
KNOW what you NEED to do to LIVE for Him and DO IT!
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." Ephesians 6:11
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1,2
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." Ephesians 6:11
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1,2
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Little children, guard yourselves from idols!
"And He said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'" Matthew 22:37
questions to consider:
-WHAT MUST I HAVE FOR LIFE TO BE MEANINGFUL AND HAPPY?
-WHAT ARE MY THOUGHTS, DESIRES, LONGINGS, AND EXPECTATIONS?
-WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF MY JOY?
-WHAT IS THE PRIMARY LOVE IN MY HEART?
-WHAT AM I TRUSTING IN TO MAKE ME HAPPY?
-AM I LOVING THE LORD OR SOMETHING/SOMEONE ELSE?
questions to consider:
-WHAT MUST I HAVE FOR LIFE TO BE MEANINGFUL AND HAPPY?
-WHAT ARE MY THOUGHTS, DESIRES, LONGINGS, AND EXPECTATIONS?
-WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF MY JOY?
-WHAT IS THE PRIMARY LOVE IN MY HEART?
-WHAT AM I TRUSTING IN TO MAKE ME HAPPY?
-AM I LOVING THE LORD OR SOMETHING/SOMEONE ELSE?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)