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Realtime dependence on God…

March 22, 2012 in Bible, church, God, Jesus with 0 Comments

“How then, with our selfishly ambitious and cruelly destructive hearts, can we bear faithful witness to the gospel today? Is it even possible? Yes, but only if we walk by the Spirit moment by moment: “But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”
(Galatians 5:16).

That is not mechanical or formulaic. It is costly at a deeply personal level. But there is no other way. It means more than theological alertness. It means realtime dependence on God. It means putting ourselves – not others – under the judgment of his Word. It means being forgiven constantly, making endless mid-course corrections, and following Christ with daily crucifixions of our pride.”

[source]

I’ve just finished reading Paul’s Letter to the Galatians…immensely challenging…

‘Realtime dependence on God’ 

How might that look for you today?

True Religion

March 21, 2012 in Bible, Books, church, God, Jesus with 3 Comments

Lord God Almighty,
I ask not to be enrolled amongst the earthly great and rich,
but to be numbered with the spiritually blessed.
Make it my present, supreme, persevering concern
to obtain those blessings which are
spiritual in their nature,
eternal in their continuance,
satisfying in their possession.

Preserve me from a false estimate of the whole or a part of my character;
May I pay regard to my principles as well as my conduct,
my motives as well as my actions.

Help me never to mistake the excitement of my passions
for the renewing of the Holy Spirit,
never to judge my religion by occasional impressions and impulses, but by my
constant and prevailing disposition.

May my heart be right with thee,
and my life as becometh the gospel.

May I maintain a supreme regard to another and better world,
and feel and confess myself a stranger and a pilgrim here.

Afford me all the direction, defence, support, and consolation
my journey hence requires,
and grant me a mind stayed upon thee.

Give me large abundance of the supply of the Spirit of Jesus,
that I may be prepared for every duty,
love thee in all my mercies,
submit to thee in every trial,
trust thee when walking in darkness,
have peace in thee amidst life’s changes.

Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief and uncertainties.

[from The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan prayers & devotions]

Sometimes I can be a first-class chicken….

March 20, 2012 in Bible, church, God, Jesus, thoughts with 0 Comments

“Sometimes I can be a first-class chicken in dealing with the real issues. Jesus, speaking to the Jews in John 5:41 in the New Living Translation, says, “Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me.” That is where I want to be, by his grace, getting off the emotional yo-yo of others’ approval or disapproval. As a leader I need to be able to deal with being unpopular, temporarily disliked, or misunderstood. It goes with the territory!”

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Making a point is easy, making a difference is hard…….

March 8, 2012 in Bible, church, God, Jesus, technology, thoughts with 0 Comments

“If we want to make a point, we don’t need to pursue, know, or love someone. We can simply sit back, create a caricature of them, and shoot them. If we want to make a difference, we have to pursue them, get to know them, understand them, love them, and serve them. 

Making a point is easy. Making a point will get you a rabid online fan base that loves it when there’s someone else’s blood in the water.

Making a difference is hard. Making a difference will get you attacked by that rabid online fan base that loves it when your blood is in the water.

But in the end, it’s not about us. It’s about Jesus. And I’d rather make a difference for Jesus than make a point about him. How about you?”

[source]

Why so serious?

March 6, 2012 in Books, God, Jesus, thoughts with 0 Comments

‘God is serious in observing us, Christ is serious in interceding for us, the Spirit is serious in striving with us, the truths of God are serious, our spiritual enemies are serious in their endeavours to ruin us, poor lost sinners are serious in hell and why then, should not you and I be serious too?’ 

A mid-life crisis……….a phase of life that occurs as we stumble towards the joys of being ’middle-aged‘……..eh?

Here’s the facts……………I am increasingly challenged by friendships – old and new – that are centered around a shared faith which is being taken seriously……….yet, I often hear myself defending the very thought of sober thinking and thoughtfulness…..I often retreat into a corner, troubled and occasionally hurt by the cries of ‘why so serious?’  ‘it’s only a bit of fun’ and ‘it’s just harmless banter‘

Today, may you see your faith as a serious thing……. “ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established” [Proverbs 4:26]

[Quote: Thoughts for Young Men - JC Ryle - Calvary Press, p34]

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