Category: quotes

soldier, robbed, and fuel

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Lick it, flip it, clip it, quote it. A thumb lick is a term used to describe the action taken when turning the page of a book. Have you ever know someone who licks their thumb to grip the pages of a new book? While reading I often find great one-liners, statements and paragraphs that are golden nuggets of biblical wisdom. These thumb licks are quotes that must be shared. So Thumb Lick Thursday is a way to pass along great tidbits of truth.

followership is not for the faint of heart

“Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause, or blush to speak His Name?
Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas?”
– Isaac Watts, I Am a Soldier of the Cross

robbed or robber

“I thank Thee first I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life; third, although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, and not I who robbed.” – Matthew Henry

make me Thy fuel

“Give me the love that leads the way,
the faith that nothing can dismay,
the hope no disappointments tire,
the passion that will burn like fire,
let me not sink to be a clod;
make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.”
– Amy Carmichael

together 4 the gospel

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Random thoughts on what it means to stand together for the gospel:

The church is the proof of the gospel. The Church reflects and defines the gospel. What Kind of gospel is our church making visible? To follow Jesus is to see others follow Him too. [Mark Dever]

This is how the gospel becomes mine: I am an alien of righteousness and any righteousness I have is given to me by Christ. The gospel is who Jesus is and what He does. The person and work of Christ on the cross is the nonnegotiable data about the gospel. You cannot improve upon the gospel. You cannot prove the gospel. The gospel is our only hope in life and death. [RC Sproul]

To love Christ is to contend for the gospel. The cross is beautiful, not pretty. The gospel is credible, Jesus makes it so. [Al Mohler]

Do not sow synthetic seed reaping mutations of another gospel. [John MacArthur]

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ. Hallelujah! Jesus is my life. [John Piper]

Will you stand together for the gospel with me?

Note: These quotations are personal highlights from the T4G 2010 Conference The [Unadjusted] Gospel in Louisville, Kentucky.

I am not

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“I am not what I ought to be. Ah! How imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be. I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good. I am not what I hope to be. Soon, soon, I shall put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was—a slave to sin and Satan. And I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, ‘By the grace of God, I am what I am.’”

–Quoted in John Whitecross, The Shorter Catechism Illustrated (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1968), question 35.

doubt

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Doubting Thomas

A good friend of mine Ben Houchen posed some curious questions:

What if doubt is not the opposite of faith? What if Thomas was simply the only one willing to ask the question? What if doubt is not the opposite of belief? What if I am simply willing to ask the question? What if doubt is not the abandonment of truth? What if Jesus wanted us to hold mystery and truth together? What if doubt is not against God? What if we stopped pretending to know the answer, to hold the key, and once again look to Jesus for the strength to find answers where we can, and where we cannot, to praise Him all the more? What if doubt is not the opposite of faith? Thomas held the hand of Jesus on his way to belief, what if there is still power in the wounded hands of Christ?

“Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted. Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,_ baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”

What if Doubt is not the opposite of faith???

thankfulness

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dsc02957I have a lot to be thankful for. Yet sometimes it is difficult to have an attitude of gratitude. Thankfulness is the attitude that displaces my sinful tendency to complain and thereby release joy and blessing into my life.

The Bible has much to say about the attitude of thankfulness: “Oh, that men would give thanks…” (Psalm 107:8)

In 2003, I had the opportunity to visit the Ukraine in the middle of a cold winter. While I was there I had the opportunity to meet the Sekret Family. Pastor Sekret is a minister that pastors a few small churches outside of Kiev. He had to work a job outside the church to support his family. During my visit they made me feel so welcome. Little did I know until I left that they feed me the best they had day for dinner. It wasnt much, a loaf of bread, spicy mustard, and a ring of sausage. Their kitchen table was partially a bed that overflowed into their kitchen. What I remember the most was the prayer Mr. Sekret gave before we ate. The family stood, and gathered behind their chairs and held hands with one another. The prayer was simple, but heart felt: “Slava Bog, doosha smachna,” which means ‘praise God for this great food.’ These were truly thankful people.

Why are we not thankful people? We are told that the great danger lies precisely in our constant contact with “stuff”. To many our things may seem too common, and become customary. B.B. Warfield once said to his students, “As the average man breathes the air and basks in the sunshine without ever a thought that it is God in His goodness who makes the sun to rise on him…It is your great danger. But it is your great danger, only because it is your great privilege. Think of what privilege it is when your greatest danger is that the great things of religion may become common to you!” Emerson said, “If the stars would come out only once a year, everyone would stay up all night to behold them (we see the stars so often we don’t bother looking at them anymore).”

Thankfulness is a decision no matter how common or crazy the circumstances are around you. A thankful person decides that there is no better option than to be thankful. Thankfulness comes ONLY when we decide to have faith in God as our PROVIDER. The PROVIDER is always at work in our lives and for this be thankful!

Think about how crazy it would be to be stuck on an island alone your entire life. As hard as it may be there are many things to be thankful for. In Daniel Defoe’s depiction of Robinson Crusoe he shares these examples. “I have been on this deserted island for 27 years, but it is beautiful! I am sick of these coconuts, but it is food! I am all alone, but at least I don’t have to worry about others in my business.”

I might not be on a deserted island, but daily I have a decision to have the attitude of thankfulness. I certainly have a lot to be thankful for: I have a home, a loving family, enough food, clothes for my back, a pluthera of possession, and I have a God who is utterly amazing.

make me your fuel

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We live in a day that has high fuel prices, would it be great if we had this kind of fuel?

“Give me the love that leads the way, the faith that nothing can dismay, the hope no disappointments tire, the passion that will burn like fire, let me not sink to be a clod; make me Your fuel, Flame of God.” Amy Carmichael

The Gift of Worship

Posted in cross, faith, God, Jesus, music, quotes, worshipTagged , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
Worship
Worship s a huge thing.
We look forward to worship every week.
When the music includes one of our favorites, we say, “The worship was great!”
When the music stinks, we yawn and wonder why the worship wasn’t very good.
We leave churches because of the “worship style”.
Worship s a huge thing. 
 
Have you ever wondered if we’re more concerned with what worship does FOR us
And less concerned with the Object of our worship?
It seems like it’s more about what we GET not what we GIVE.
It would be like taking a gift to a friend’s birthday party, but keeping it for ourselves.
 
Worship is all about GIVING our lives (again) to God. 
Worship is not about the feeling we receive when we sing.
Worship is not about convincing God to bless us.
Worship is not about whether or not the guitar is too loud.
Worship is not about what’s happening on the stage.
Worship is not about entertainment, lighting or sound.
 
Worship is not about us at all.
IT’S NOT ABOUT US.
It’s about Him.
And we enter through the gateway of the cross.
At the cross, we surrender, love, cry, dream, give up, shut up, kneel, confess.
We look to God, and place Him about all else
Because He is worth it! 
 
Live gets crazy and painful.
No one can deny that.
Job stress, divorce, death, addictions, parenting, loneliness.
No one is asking you to pretend that those things aren’t affecting you.
DON’T PRETEND.
You’re just being invited to bring that stuff to the cross, and to simply gaze at Jesus.
And as you look at Him, allow your response to be
Worship 
 
-unknown
 
 

I am Resolved

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The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

(1722-1723)

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

 

 

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

(Resolutions 1 through 21 written in on setting in New Haven in 1722)

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to east away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is

perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peace_able, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14′ and July ‘3’ 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723

End.

 

the LIGHTS of CHRISTmas

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Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

 

A New Meaning

For many of us, lighted Christmas trees awaken our tender holiday hopes and memories: quiet moments of family togetherness, child-like anticipation of special gifts, and shared celebrations across generations. The lights also remind believers of the starlit heavens over the birthplace of our savior, Jesus Christ.

However, there is another story in each strand of Christmas lights, told in the little paper tag on the cord: Made in China. This story also has a powerful link to Jesus; Chinese pastors and believers, imprisoned for sharing their faith, perform much of the tedious manual labor. Many believers in China are persecuted and suffer greatly for professing Jesus as Lord and sharing His message of hope with others. For these Chinese pastors and believers, the same Christmas lights that remind Westerners of joy, togetherness, and peace are a harsh reminder of prison, pain and beatings.

The Facts

Most of the world is unaware of the torture that Chinese believers suffer.

While China presents a picture of increasing religious tolerance, Christians face constant harassment and the most intense persecution in the world.What is so Torturous About Making Christmas Lights?Imagine sitting on cold or muddy ground with only a huge box of lights and wire in front of you. Without tools of any kind, you must assemble 3000–5000 lights per day. There is no time for rest or breaks. Quickly, your fingers become numb and bloody. Your teeth serve as your only crimping tools. Even as you work to complete your tasks, you know that you will be beaten severely if you don’t get it all done.

 
Should We Boycott the Sale and Use of Christmas Lights?
These Pastors say no; let the lights be reminders to pray. If believers aren’t making lights, they will be mining coal, making syringes or bricks, or performing other forms of hard labor. These believers turn their focus onto the eternally significant message of Christ, and we are asking you to do the same.
 
These Pastors say no; let the lights be reminders to pray. If believers aren’t making lights, they will be mining coal, making syringes or bricks, or performing other forms of hard labor. These believers turn their focus onto the eternally significant message of Christ, and we are asking you to do the same.

 
In the Midst of this Hardship, How Do They Persevere?
While we pray diligently for their release, many persecuted believers testify, “I want the world to know I am willing to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ.” Even in prison, these pastors share the Gospel with others. Many even leave prison tearfully, because they leave behind new believers that they led to Christ while in prison together. Clearly, the Lord is using the persecution to draw others to Himself. Even with the rise of suffering, the Chinese underground church has experienced its most dramatic surge ever, with upwards of 80 million believers following Christ today. The brave servants declare, “We are not about self, but rather we are about the kingdom of God and bringing Him glory!”
 
While we pray diligently for their release, many persecuted believers testify, “I want the world to know I am willing to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ.” Even in prison, these pastors share the Gospel with others. Many even leave prison tearfully, because they leave behind new believers that they led to Christ while in prison together. Clearly, the Lord is using the persecution to draw others to Himself. Even with the rise of suffering, the Chinese underground church has experienced its most dramatic surge ever, with upwards of 80 million believers following Christ today. The brave servants declare, “We are not about self, but rather we are about the kingdom of God and bringing Him glory!”

 
Prayer Requests
For imprisoned pastors, pray that they would:

 

  • be allowed to visit their families.
  • receive good news about their families.
  • be given an extra measure of food.
  • experience God’s comfort, peace, and protection.
  • have the energy to endure hard labor.
  • resist temptations to deny the Lord in exchange for food and comforts.
  • effectively witness to other prisoners and guards.
  • be released.

For the guards, pray:

  • their hearts will be filled with compassion.
  • they will turn to Jesus Christ.

For the house churches in China, pray: 

  • ministries continue to flourish while their pastors are gone. 
  • Bibles will be protected and new Scriptures provided.
  • meetings will be uninterrupted and safe for newcomers.
  • training schools will not be discovered by authorities.

For the families of persecuted pastors, pray:

  • authorities will inform them where their loved ones are being held and allow visitation. 
  • clothing, food, and shelter will be provided. 
  • they remain healthy and strong.
  • a sense of safety will calm their spirits. 
  • neighbors can and will support them.
  • that families will be able to stay together. 
  • the children can go to school.
  • the children will recognize their parents’ obedience.

This article was taken from: http://www.thelightsofchristmas.org/christmas/index.html

 

what time is it?

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Lately, there hasn’t been enough days in a week or hours in a day. As a wise man once told me keeping busy also keeps me “off the street and out of trouble”. Yes, but my mind has been troubled with the thought of ‘time’.

 

Time. I love it and hate it. Time means deadlines, appointments, curfews, and other so-called restrictions. However, time means being with those you care about, accomplishments, usefulness, and more. Time can be wasted or valuable.

 

What does God think of time? Does He have a watch?

 

What is time to God? Psalm 90:4; II Peter 3:8. Isaiah says that God “inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57:15), so time to God takes on different dimensions. He can function outside of time if He so desires.

 

Time is always and only a gift from God. The clock causes me to forget that.

 

God is never seen to be in a hurry. Jesus refused to be hustled and He lived on the same time-laden planet we do. 

 

If that’s so, all the more should I find liberty in affirming I am made to be finite.

 

Of course, that’s the rub: I hate my finitude. My DayTimer (or “brain-in-my-butt” as our secretary calls it) is a human invention to try and avert that fact. I simply don’t want to admit the basic limits of my time.

 

Time is not primarily for the sake of doing more. Time is God’s gift for being and doing what matters. For this reason, my goal should not necessarily be to manage my time in order to do more, but perhaps to gratefully honor God’s gift by doing less. This is no excuse for laziness.

 

We live in the active acknowledgement of the God who holds all things, which means the Lord holds whole lives, not just individual moments. I do not hold eternity, but eternity holds me, and those I am called to serve.

 

Psalm 39 gives us some perspective. In David’s complaint to God, he said, “You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You” (V. 5). He meant that to an eternal God our time on earth is brief, but under the guidance of the eternal God (Ps.90:2).

 

On frantic days, this helps me breathe. It helps me daily to drink in the simple assurance that God has created a world in time, and that today, as every day, there will be enough of it for what matters. Not enough for all I could imagine doing. Or for all that is needed. Or for all that will be asked of me. I am made to be finite, so I am free to live in a finite way. Only my insanity about time says otherwise.

 

What matters is that the God of all time breathes eternity into our moments.

 

“A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity. The same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever. Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny. How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness?! It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked.” – Adoniram Judson


  

playing pretend

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I was watching PBS this morning and had a flashback to my childhood. I again found myself captivated by the imagination of Fred Rogers. Mr. Rogers loved to play make-believe (ding-ding, ding-ding). There is a part of all of us, whether kid or grown-up, that wishes we were somewhere else, someone else in some other time. Let’s pretend!

From a football star to beauty pageant winner, from boys WWF wrestling in the backyard to girls dressing up in mothers bedroom, kids are pretending all the time. I reminisce about the times I would dream as a kid that I was Michael Jordan with a basketball in my hands or a racecar driver in my wagon screaming down the street or superhero with a garbage can lid rescuing the neighbors from impending danger. The imagination never stopped.

Something’s do not change. As an adult I still pretend I am Brett Favre with a football in my hands, an opera singer in the shower, a world famous artist in my idea book, and the list goes on. As we grown-up pretending comes in different shapes, sizes and sometimes becomes more complicated.

The Bible refers to a holy make-believe. It speaks of a divine dress-up of ‘putting on’ Christ and living as ‘sons of God’. Or being ‘clothed in righteousness’ and thinking not ‘of this world’, but the one beyond.

There is a good and bad kind of pretending. A bad kind is where the pretence is there instead of the real thing. A good kind is where the pretence leads up to the real thing. For example, I ‘think of things above’ because one day I will be there or I try to be like Christ because one day I will be completely like Him.

“The Christ Himself, the Son of God who is man (just like you) and God (just like His Father) is actually at your side and is already at that moment beginning to turn your pretence into a reality.” C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity, 189) Christ has taken us tin soldiers and turned us into real men. God is not some cosmic Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, fairy godfather, magician or Mr. Rogers. He is the real deal. He is the divine Creator and Sustainer of all things. This includes my life.

I want pretend and play divine make-believe in order to make His pretence a reality. God looks at me as if I were a “little Christ”. And He is within in me to help me become more like Him.

“Anything God has ever done, He can do now. Anything God has ever done anywhere, He can do here. Anything God has ever done for anyone, He can do for you.” – A.W. Tozer

It’s such a good feeling to know you’re alive. It’s such a happy feeling: You’re growing inside. And when you wake up ready to say, “I think I’ll make a snappy new day.” – Fred Rogers

disturb us

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Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.
 
Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.
 
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.
 
Sir Frances Drake
 

 

a loyal friend

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I had a great talk with my great friend this week. What would a brother do without him? Thank You, Ben.
 
How could I have landed such an amazing friend? You could never buy a friend as good as he nor be good enough to earn his loyalty. Howard Hughes, when worth about 4 billion dollars, said, “I’d give it all for one good friend.” Of loyal friends Poet Ralph Wald Emerson said, “the glory of friendship is not in the outstreched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is in spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.”
 
A friend is a person with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. A friend understands those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can share your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities which, disappear on the white ocean of their loyalty. They understand. You do not have to be careful. It makes no matter. They are like fire that purges to the bone. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them, pray with them. A friend is a person with whom you dare to be yourself.
 
Praise God, for the path to great friends.