Confessions

I’ve shared this quote on my blog in the past; but, as there is no rule against posting something twice, I’m going to go ahead and…you guessed it!…post it again.  I’ve found it to be a very helpful thought; plus, it brings to mind one of the things I’m hoping to say in this post.

“Much praying is not done because we do not plan to pray.  We do not drift into spiritual life; we do not drift into disciplined prayer.  We will not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray.  That means we must self-consciously set aside time to do nothing but pray. 

What we actually do reflects our highest priorities.  That means we can proclaim our commitment to prayer until the cows come home, but unless we actually pray, our actions disown our words. ”

(D. A. Carson, “A Call to Spiritual Reformation”)

Recently, I had several conversations with people in our church, the topics either being prayer or something that prayer was closely tied into.  I came away from both conversations encouraged–encouraged because I’d learned some things, encouraged because I’d been reminded of some important things, and encouraged because of the fellowship with other believers who took of their time to discuss things with me.  It was good.  I saw more clearly my need to seek God more through prayer in many and various aspects of my life.

But here’s the confession.  I didn’t do much of anything about it. 

I intended to spend more time in prayer.  I knew I needed to.  But I was busy with other things.

A few days (nights) later, and night owl that I am, I was up later than the rest of my family doing somthing…can’t remember what.  But then I ‘happened’ (i.e. God providentially made me) to read a blog post about prayer. 

It hit me very hard. 

I suddenly knew that if I just continued on this summer keeping busy with everything I had to do, I’d never find myself spending more time in prayer.  Just because I had good resolutions and did desire to pray, it wasn’t going to happen because I wasn’t placing much of a priority upon it.

And then God reminded me of this verse:

“…Apart from Me, you can do nothing”
-John 15:5

How often do I truly live with my actions portraying to others that I believe the reality of these words of Christ?  How often am I driven to my knees as I see my deep inadequacies for the tasks that the Lord has called me to do? 

I do not want to spend my life only learning and conversing about prayer while not actually experiencing it.  I do not want to spend my life hearing about people who knew God in very real ways.  I do not want to know intellectually these things.  I want to know God deeply and personally.  I want to be changed by the living God.

Monday, June 13th

“If we are faithful to God in little things, we shall gain experience and strength that will be helpful to us in the more serious trials of life.”
~Hudson Taylor

Another Quote…

…just because it encouraged me today!

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
~Corrie ten Boom

Pray

“Always respond to every impulse to pray.
The impulse to pray may come when you are reading
or when you are battling with a text.
I would make an absolute law of this,
always obey such an impulse.”
~Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Quote from the Books Tuesday {2.15.11}

 Anyone notice something has been missing around here for the past number of months?  It’s been a long time since I last did a “Quote from the Books Tuesday”…but I’m going to try to revive this tradition.  Let’s see if we can get it going again, shall we? 

{A quick note: I’m not going to be simply quoting books from now on…books, sermons, hymns…these posts will probably contain quotes from a number of different sources.  But we’ll stick with the title “Quote from the Books Tuesday” — because I like it :)  Now, with that said…}

Today’s quote comes from a sermon by Paul Washer, the “Shocking Youth Message”.  You may have heard/read this before, but it’s really good and definitely worth hearing again!

Let’s imagine that I show up late and I run up here on the platform, and all the leaders are angry with me and say, “Brother Paul, don’t you appreciate the fact you’re given an opportunity to speak here and you come late?”

And I’d say, “Brothers, you have to forgive me.”

“Well, why?”

“Well, I was out here on the highway, and I was driving and I had a flat tire and I got out to change the tire, and when I was changing the tire, the lug nut fell off, and I wasn’t paying attention that I was on the middle of the highway, I stood up and there was a 30-ton logging truck going 120 miles an hour about ten yards in front of me, and it ran me over and that’s why I’m late.”

Now, there would only be two…I know no one studies logic anymore, but there would only be two logical conclusions. One, I’m a liar or two, I’m a madman. You would say, “Brother Paul, it’s absolutely absurd. It is impossible, Brother Paul, to have an encounter with something as large as a logging truck and not be changed.”

And then my question would be to you — What is larger? A logging truck or God? How is it that so many people today profess to have had an encounter with Jesus Christ, and yet, they are not permanently changed?”

  (Photo from Microsoft Office Clipart)

 

My God is Faithful, This I Know

Recently I have been blessed by listening to some of the poetry of Amy Carmichael.  In particular, a couple lines from a poem “His Faithfulness” have caused me to reflect quite a bit upon the faithfulness of God. 

O birds of God, come sing with me
My God is faithful, this I know
My Father, I have all in Thee
~”His Faithfulness”

The line “My God is faithful, this I know” sticks with me.   Many things have transpired in the year which is quickly coming to a close.  So many unexpected things have arisen this year, but through it all the Lord God has been faithful!  Consider the faithfulness of God displayed all around you.  The changing seasons, the rising and setting of the sun each morning and evening proclaim the unchanging faithfulness of God.  The growth you see in your life toward Christ-likeness shows the loving faithfulness of God.  The fulfilment of promises in Scripture shine the steadfast faithfulness of God.  Trials have come this year, trials will come next year.  Through each happening in your life rest in the faithfulness of God.  Rest in the fact that God knows, God cares, God controls, God is faithful.  

**How have you seen the faithfulness of God demonstrated this year? 
Please feel free to share!**

Quote from the Books Tuesday {10.12.10}

 Today’s quote comes from an unlikely source – Jensen’s Grammar by Frode Jensen.  It’s kind of unusual to go to a grammar book when looking for a helpful quote to share…but yes, this is a great quote, and from a grammar book :D…

 May you use your ability with language to glorify God, the great Creator of all things including language.

This quote is one of my favorites!  Writing is to be done for the glory of God!  All things, even our school work, must be done for the glory of God! 

Oh, and while thinking about doing school for God’s glory, take a look at this helpful article that one of the elders in my church wrote: Back to School for the Glory of God.

(Photo from Microsoft Office Clipart)

Quote from the Books Tuesday {10.5.10}

This past week I received a blessing in the mail…a package of books from some friends! One of these books was Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot.  I have definitely been enjoying that book – a wonderful biography of Jim Elliot!  Just reading about his passion for God and diligence in seeking Him has been a great blessing. 

So of course, today’s quote is from Shadow of the Almighty:  

Of the flesh and its false emotions I have quite had my fill.  Of Jesus I cannot seem to get enough.  Thank God, though, He does not thwart the soul’s desire for Himself, but only whets the desire, intensifying, sublimating. 

Throughout the whole book, you can see this quote lived out.  He lived continually seeking diligently to know God more.  I want that in my life – to care less and less for the world, to not pursue the things of this life, but to follow earnestly after God, knowing Him more, loving Him more!   Seek only to be filled with God.  He is the One who truly fills and the One who truly satisfies!

(Photo from Microsoft Office Clipart)

Quote from the Books Tuesday {9.28.10}

Can you believe it’s Tuesday already?  The days sure go by fast!  Anyway, I’m ready to share another quote with you today.  I’m having a lot of fun doing “Quote from the Books Tuesday”  Average reading consists of about a book a week for me, these days.  There’s just so many good books out there and I haven’t read nearly as many of them as I would like to…but hey, I suppose I’m making progress =)

Today’s quote is from Tread Upon the Lion by Sophie de la Haye.  It’s the story of Tommie Titcombe who was a missionary to Africa. 

Give yourself to God, that out of your service, whether long or short, some light may break on people still in darkness, and some glory come to Christ our Lord.

It’s a short quote, but a good challenge for all of us.  As Jim Elliot once said,  “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. “  So today, freely give what you can’t truly keep!  Serve God completely and unreservedly, and glorify Christ who is worthy of all glory.   Only when we do that, are we living for any true, eternal purpose.

(Photo from Microsoft Office Clipart)

Quote From the Books Tuesday {9.21.10}

Time for another “Quote From the Books Tuesday”.  Today’s quote is on prayer…I’ve found it very helpful, and I hope that you do too.   From A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D. A. Carson:

“Much praying is not done because we do not plan to pray.  We do not drift into spiritual life; we do not drift into disciplined prayer.  We will not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray.  That means we must self-consciously set aside time to do nothing but pray. 

What we actually do reflects our highest priorities.  That means we can proclaim our commitment to prayer until the cows come home, but unless we actually pray, our actions disown our words. ”

What a good thought!  It’s definitely easy to talk about prayer, but we need to make sure that, more importantly than talking, we are actually praying!

Hope that you all are having a great day!  I’ve been keeping busy so far working on writing the October-November newsletter, doing school, and reading through Matthew. 

God is good!  Praise Him today!  Praise Him always!

(Photo from Microsoft Office Clipart)