Difficulties, dangers, disease, death or divisions don’t deter any but (Chocolate Soldiers) from executing God’s will. When someone says there is a lion in the way, the real Christian promptly replies, “That’s hardly enough inducement for me; I want a bear or two besides to make it worth my while to go.” Missionary C. T. Studd “I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit and placed my...
“When small men begin to cast big shadows, it means that the sun is about to set.”- Walter Savage Landor We look for big men, men of character, leaders who have integrity and will not compromise their principles no matter what it costs them; leaders who have the wisdom to tackle the tremendous challenges of our day. We look for them, but, we find few. Most of our leaders are small. The fact that our country has elevated them to leadership...
“Even if I turn out to be wrong, I shall bet my life on the assumption that the world is not idiotic, neither run by an absentee landlord, but that today, this very day, some stroke is being added to the cosmic canvas that in due course I shall understand with joy as a stroke made by the Architect who calls Himself Alpha and Omega.” Claude Kilby “In Him we have been chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him...
“Love is helping people toward the greatest beauty and the highest value and the deepest satisfaction and the most lasting joy and the biggest reward and the most wonderful friendship and the most overwhelming worship- love is helping people toward God. We do this by pointing to the greatness of God. And God does it by pointing to the greatness of God.” John Piper- Let the Nations be Glad, p. 28 “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we...
At the center of all of life is The Glory of God. God created the heavens to “declare the glory of God.” (Psalm 19:1) He chose us before the creation through Jesus Christ, “to the praise of his glorious grace.” (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14) The focus of Jesus’ life was captured in one prayer: “Father, glorify your name. (John 12:28). As children of God, we have one mandate: “do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) And,...
“What counts is what people want. People don’t know what they want. Experts know what they want. People are told what they want. People want what they are told.” -John Lucas “Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened...
“For the sake of your name forgive my iniquity, though it is great.” (Psalm 25:11) “It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself.” John Piper One thing I discovered while beating on Psalm 25 these past 8 months. David is convinced that God has bound himself to him in an unbreakable union. What happens to David somehow reflects upon the glory of God. God Cherishes His...
“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just. The word of God is in his heart. His feet do not slip.” Psalm 37 Note: I wrote this in the fall of 2019 while on furlough in the US. Returning to the US is always a time of struggle and adjustment. In Malawi, things are much more simple. Attractions and distractions are minimal. Where we live there is no theater, no television, no malls and few restaurants. The...
How to Squeeze out of Psalm 37 all of its sweet flavor and spiritual nourishment. “The will of God is always a bigger thing than we bargain for, but we must believe that whatever it involves, it is good, acceptable and perfect.”― Jim Elliot One of the most valuable Bible tools I have discovered in my 76 years upon this planet, is the deliberate saturating of my mind with one text over an extended period of time. I would have to say it...
“Who stands fast? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, or his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all this when he is called to obedient and responsible action in faith and in exclusive allegiance to God- the responsible man, who tries to make his whole life an answer to the question and call of God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let...