Ahab: “From storm to storm! So be it, then. Born in throes, 't is fit that man should live in pains and die in pangs. So be it, then! Here's stout stuff for woe to work on. So be it, then.” Moby Dick, by Herman Melville
Psalmist: “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God...” Psalm 84:5-7
Showing posts with label quotes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quotes. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
For Jonathan
When you went to Iraq the first time we sent you off with Psalm 20:4-5 and I thought I would send these words to you again.
“May he (the Lord) give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests." (NIV)
Warren W. Wiersbe says about this passage, “Before the army went out to battle, the Jewish law of warfare required the officers and soldiers first to dedicate themselves to the Lord (Deut 20:1-4), and this psalm speaks of such a dedication service. "Battles are won the day before," said Marshall Loch, commander of the Allied forces in World War I.”
The Message paraphrase has a nice wording of verse five: “When you win, we plan to raise the roof and lead the parade with our banners. May all your wishes come true!”
Took the picture of the flags at the rest stop between Cheyenne and LaGrange
“May he (the Lord) give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests." (NIV)
Warren W. Wiersbe says about this passage, “Before the army went out to battle, the Jewish law of warfare required the officers and soldiers first to dedicate themselves to the Lord (Deut 20:1-4), and this psalm speaks of such a dedication service. "Battles are won the day before," said Marshall Loch, commander of the Allied forces in World War I.”The Message paraphrase has a nice wording of verse five: “When you win, we plan to raise the roof and lead the parade with our banners. May all your wishes come true!”
Took the picture of the flags at the rest stop between Cheyenne and LaGrange
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Who I Am In Christ
Who I Am In Christ
by Dr. Neil Anderson
I am accepted...
John 1:12, I am God's child.
John 15:15, As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1, I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17, I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27, I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3-8, I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14, I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10, I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16, I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
I am secure...
Romans 8:1-2, I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28, I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39, I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22, I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4, I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6, I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20, I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7
I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18, I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am significant...
John 15:5, I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16, I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16, I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21, I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6, I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10, I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12, I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
"The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!" (From Victory Over the Darkness , by Dr. Neil Anderson)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
God Knows the Way!
I am looking forward to being home on Friday. During the trip I have been listening to poems by Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) who served in India for fifty-five years. (Toni got them for our sabbatical.)"Thou dost Know the Way" is one of the poems that has caught my spiritual imagination: "My Father, to my heart I take, Thy simple word of truth today; I shall not lose me in the break, for Thou dost know the way... Around me various voices call, but thou wilt never let me stray; for Thou, my Father, knowest all the windings of the way." The poem concludes … "I am contented not to know, since Thou dost know the way."
Her poem "By Thy Cross and Passion" goes to the heart of ministy. "O God of burning altar fire, O God of love´s consuming flame, make pure the flame of our desire, to win the lost, to seek Thy name... Now by Thy cross and passion, Lord, Grant us this plea, this sovereign plea, save us from choosing peace for sword, and give us souls to give to Thee!"
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Strong Comfort
A couple of months ago Dad wrote wrote the following when describing this current journey:
"The boat is different, the lake is different and the storm is different but the voice that beacons us from the boat sounds the same, the eyes we look into are the same and the hand that lifts us as we sink is the same. The walk back to the boat is still just as humbling! (Matthew 14:28-33)"
About a month later I sat in a quaint country house in Ramona, Kansas with some dear friends for a class on Prayer and Retreat. And on a quiet Sunday morning with our coffee in hand we sat together and pondered that same passage. I sat and listened to God's word read; I listened to what others had heard God say in that passage. And as I pondered these things something struck me: Jesus insisted his disciples go into those waters. He sent them to the place where they were totally overwhelmed; to a place where they feared the waves would overtake them.
I sometimes get caught up in my own skewed view of God - the one that says if I do what God wants me to, he'll give me what I want. Of course I know this isn't true, but I still have a hard time fathoming that it is possible that I went where God would have me go and I did as he would have me do, and still my life got harder. "What?!? Seriously?!? God can't you see that the storm here is raging, the water is climbing higher and hirgher around me, and the waves are threatening to overtake me. Don't you know I am overwhelmed. I am so afraid." But inevitably the gentle response comes. "Yes child. I know these waves seem huge to you, but they are nothing to me. Do not be afraid. I am here. I never left."
If I have learned anything in these past few months, it is that God shows up--that he is always near. He is quick to reach out, grab my hand, and carry me back to the boat. He is quick to comfort. I read this quote from John Owen recently:
The holy spirit comforts and strengthens the hearts of believers...this comfort is strong. As we experience strong opposition and trouble, so our comfort or consolation is strong and so unconquerable. It confirms and strengthens the heart under any evil. It fortifies the soul and makes it able cheerfully to undergo anything that it is called to undergo. This comfort is strong because he who brings it is strong.
"The boat is different, the lake is different and the storm is different but the voice that beacons us from the boat sounds the same, the eyes we look into are the same and the hand that lifts us as we sink is the same. The walk back to the boat is still just as humbling! (Matthew 14:28-33)"
About a month later I sat in a quaint country house in Ramona, Kansas with some dear friends for a class on Prayer and Retreat. And on a quiet Sunday morning with our coffee in hand we sat together and pondered that same passage. I sat and listened to God's word read; I listened to what others had heard God say in that passage. And as I pondered these things something struck me: Jesus insisted his disciples go into those waters. He sent them to the place where they were totally overwhelmed; to a place where they feared the waves would overtake them.
I sometimes get caught up in my own skewed view of God - the one that says if I do what God wants me to, he'll give me what I want. Of course I know this isn't true, but I still have a hard time fathoming that it is possible that I went where God would have me go and I did as he would have me do, and still my life got harder. "What?!? Seriously?!? God can't you see that the storm here is raging, the water is climbing higher and hirgher around me, and the waves are threatening to overtake me. Don't you know I am overwhelmed. I am so afraid." But inevitably the gentle response comes. "Yes child. I know these waves seem huge to you, but they are nothing to me. Do not be afraid. I am here. I never left."
If I have learned anything in these past few months, it is that God shows up--that he is always near. He is quick to reach out, grab my hand, and carry me back to the boat. He is quick to comfort. I read this quote from John Owen recently:
The holy spirit comforts and strengthens the hearts of believers...this comfort is strong. As we experience strong opposition and trouble, so our comfort or consolation is strong and so unconquerable. It confirms and strengthens the heart under any evil. It fortifies the soul and makes it able cheerfully to undergo anything that it is called to undergo. This comfort is strong because he who brings it is strong.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
THE BRANCH
The eyes are brighter today! Some relief from the deep bone aches! Flu combined with chemo is a bad, very bad, extremely very bad mixture!
The True Vine by Andrew Murray has been a wonderful encouragement to me (Richard) over the years. I recently re-read the meditation on THE BRANCH and found great encouragement in being reminded that I am a branch in Christ, The True Vine!
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away --John 15:2 (NKJV)
Here we have one of the chief words of the parable--branch. A vine needs branches: without branches it can do nothing, can bear no fruit. As important as it is to know about the Vine, and the Husbandman, it is to realize what the branch is. Before we listen to what Christ has to say about it, let us first of all take in what a branch is, and what it teaches us of our life in Christ. A branch is simply a bit of wood, brought forth by the vine for the one purpose of serving it in bearing its fruit. It is of the very same nature as the vine, and has one life and one spirit with it. Just think a moment of the lessons this suggests.
There is the lesson of entire consecration. The branch has but one object for which it exists, one purpose to which it is entirely given up. That is, to bear the fruit the vine wishes to bring forth. And so the believer has but one reason for his being a branch--but one reason for his existence on earth --that the heavenly Vine may through him bring forth His fruit. Happy the soul that knows this, that has consented to it, and that says, I have been redeemed and I live for one thing--as exclusively as the natural branch exists only to bring forth fruit, I too; as exclusively as the heavenly Vine exists to bring forth fruit, I too. As I have been planted by God into Christ, I have wholly given myself to bear the fruit the Vine desires to bring forth.
There is the lesson of perfect conformity. The branch is exactly like the vine in every aspect--the same nature, the same life, the same place, the same work. In all this they are inseparably one. And so the believer needs to know that he is partaker of the divine nature, and has the very nature and spirit of Christ in him, and that his one calling is to yield himself to a perfect conformity to Christ. The branch is a perfect likeness of the vine; the only difference is, the one is great and strong, and the source of strength, the other little and feeble, ever needing and receiving strength. Even so the believer is, and is to be, the perfect likeness of Christ.
There is the lesson of absolute dependence. The vine has its stores of life and sap and strength, not for itself, but for the branches. The branches are and have nothing but what the vine provides and imparts. The believer is called to, and it is his highest blessedness to enter upon, a life of entire and unceasing dependence upon Christ. Day and night, every moment, Christ is to work in him all he needs.
And then the lesson of undoubting confidence. The branch has no cure; the vine provides all; it has but to yield itself and receive. It is the sight of this truth that leads to the blessed rest of faith, the true secret of growth and strength: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
What a life would come to us if we only consented to be branches! Dear child of God, learn the lesson. You have but one thing to do: Only be a branch--nothing more, nothing less! Just be a branch; Christ will be the Vine that gives all. And the Husbandman, the mighty God, who made the Vine what it is, will as surely make the branch what it ought to be.
Lord Jesus, I pray Thee, reveal to me the heavenly mystery of the branch, in its living union with the Vine, in its claim on all its fullness. And let Thy all-sufficiency, holding and filling Thy branches, lead me to the rest of faith that knows that Thou works all.
The True Vine: Meditations for a Month on John 15:1-16, by Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
Christian Classics Ethereal Library
The True Vine by Andrew Murray has been a wonderful encouragement to me (Richard) over the years. I recently re-read the meditation on THE BRANCH and found great encouragement in being reminded that I am a branch in Christ, The True Vine!
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away --John 15:2 (NKJV)
Here we have one of the chief words of the parable--branch. A vine needs branches: without branches it can do nothing, can bear no fruit. As important as it is to know about the Vine, and the Husbandman, it is to realize what the branch is. Before we listen to what Christ has to say about it, let us first of all take in what a branch is, and what it teaches us of our life in Christ. A branch is simply a bit of wood, brought forth by the vine for the one purpose of serving it in bearing its fruit. It is of the very same nature as the vine, and has one life and one spirit with it. Just think a moment of the lessons this suggests.
There is the lesson of entire consecration. The branch has but one object for which it exists, one purpose to which it is entirely given up. That is, to bear the fruit the vine wishes to bring forth. And so the believer has but one reason for his being a branch--but one reason for his existence on earth --that the heavenly Vine may through him bring forth His fruit. Happy the soul that knows this, that has consented to it, and that says, I have been redeemed and I live for one thing--as exclusively as the natural branch exists only to bring forth fruit, I too; as exclusively as the heavenly Vine exists to bring forth fruit, I too. As I have been planted by God into Christ, I have wholly given myself to bear the fruit the Vine desires to bring forth.
There is the lesson of perfect conformity. The branch is exactly like the vine in every aspect--the same nature, the same life, the same place, the same work. In all this they are inseparably one. And so the believer needs to know that he is partaker of the divine nature, and has the very nature and spirit of Christ in him, and that his one calling is to yield himself to a perfect conformity to Christ. The branch is a perfect likeness of the vine; the only difference is, the one is great and strong, and the source of strength, the other little and feeble, ever needing and receiving strength. Even so the believer is, and is to be, the perfect likeness of Christ.
There is the lesson of absolute dependence. The vine has its stores of life and sap and strength, not for itself, but for the branches. The branches are and have nothing but what the vine provides and imparts. The believer is called to, and it is his highest blessedness to enter upon, a life of entire and unceasing dependence upon Christ. Day and night, every moment, Christ is to work in him all he needs.
And then the lesson of undoubting confidence. The branch has no cure; the vine provides all; it has but to yield itself and receive. It is the sight of this truth that leads to the blessed rest of faith, the true secret of growth and strength: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
What a life would come to us if we only consented to be branches! Dear child of God, learn the lesson. You have but one thing to do: Only be a branch--nothing more, nothing less! Just be a branch; Christ will be the Vine that gives all. And the Husbandman, the mighty God, who made the Vine what it is, will as surely make the branch what it ought to be.
Lord Jesus, I pray Thee, reveal to me the heavenly mystery of the branch, in its living union with the Vine, in its claim on all its fullness. And let Thy all-sufficiency, holding and filling Thy branches, lead me to the rest of faith that knows that Thou works all.
The True Vine: Meditations for a Month on John 15:1-16, by Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
Christian Classics Ethereal Library
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