Closet talk

He (God) may shout His truths to strangers, but He whispers His secrets to His friends. He is an ever-present help, a constant Companion and the Lover of our soul! One important way God speaks to us is through our spirit. His whispered voice inside of us prompts us when we should or shouldn't do something. ~~ Bobby Conner

Bonhoeffer

This poem was written after the failure of the second attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler, of which Dietrich played a role.
Suffering
“A change has come indeed.
Your hands, so strong and active, are bound:
In helplessness now, you see your action is ended:
You sigh in relief, your cause committed to stronger hands:
So now you may rest contented.
Only for one blissful moment could you draw near to touch freedom:
Then, that it might be perfected in glory, you gave it to God.”

Let's talk

Jesus, you are my one and all. I want to talk with You and work for You. I want to think over everything with You and make all my decisions with You. Nothing shall be done without You. Bind me tightly to You, so that I constantly live in Your holy Presence. ~~ M. Basilea Schlink (1904-2001)

The Holiness of God

By faith and obedience, by continued meditation on the Holiness of God, by loving righteousness and hating iniquity, by a growing acquaintance with the Spirit of holiness, we can acclimate ourselves to the fellowship of the saints on earth and prepare ourselves for the eternal companionship of God and the saints above. ~~ A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Little word

When frightened by fire, someone's death, or something else, you cry for help. A person in danger won't pray a long string of words, or even a word of two syllables. Why? When desperate, you can't waste time. If you're scared to death, there's no babbling or big words—you scream, "Fire!" or "Help!" and this one-word outburst works best. Watch how this little word, "Fire!" penetrates a dangerous situation, getting the attention of those who can help you. The same is true spiritually. When a little word of one syllable isn't just thought or spoken but is an expression of your spirit's deepest intentions, it's the height of prayer. ~~ Anonymous 14th century Carthusian monk

Touches with the Lord

Here is the error, though, of the new Christian. Every person who desires to turn to God to abide with Him just naturally expects to feel the Lord’s presence and to experience Him outwardly.
This just cannot always be.
The outward experience is for the beginner! There are other experiences; these experiences are much deeper and far more inward. Such deeper experiences are laid hold of by those Christians who have progressed somewhat in spiritual experience.
...It is true that the outward acts are very weak touches with the Lord; and furthermore, they are of little value. For you to stop there is to deprive yourself of the deep experiences of a more mature Christian. But – and you should be very clear about this – it is a great error for a new Christian – for you – to attempt a deep, inner walk without first experiencing the outward turning to Christ and knowing that outward sense of His presence.
The writer of Ecclesiastes said it: “To everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). This is especially true of your soul. Every state of transformation the soul passes through has a beginning, a progress, and a consummation. To stop at the beginning of any one of these stages is foolish. You must go through a period of learning, then a period of progress. At first, you toil diligently, but at last you reap the fruit of you labor! ~~ Madame Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717)

Illusion of knowledge

Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 8:2 says, “If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.” Professor Herb Klem of Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN, tells his students, “I want you to know two things: One, there is absolute truth; Two, you know less of it than you think!” ~~ Kevin Jude McClure at
kmcclure730@comcast.net

Transformation

When we are so close to Him, does His presence change us? ~~ Mother Teresa

Self-congratulation

Nothing that comes from God will minister to my pride of self-congratulation. If I am tempted to be complacent and to feel superior because I have had a remarkable vision or an advanced spiritual experience, I should go at once to my knees and repent of the whole thing. I have fallen victim to the enemy. ~~ A. W. Tozer

Bonding

People desire God’s presence for numerous reasons. Some, however, dwell in God’s presence with only one purpose – Relationship. ~~ Bill Johnson senior pastor of Bethel Church

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is less a matter of understanding than of a more profound notion of the heart ~ a transcendence. The importance is not so much that it absolves the one forgiven as that it cleanses the one who forgives. ~~ Unknown

Formable thought

Scientific progress is not buying into every thought of intelligentsia. It is felt by some, that evangelical scholars have not fully succumbed to the mixing of the large world of academic ideas. Did the church not start doing that in Europe in the latter part of the 19th Century, and because of this liberal thinking us Evangelicals counter acted by maintaining an insularity and defensiveness that limits our effectiveness? All a long I thought that Christianity was to be a plumb line.

Reflection

A contemplative prayer life is obtained through reflection – full or deep consideration. It is a listening prayer; more listening and less talking. We are attentive with our ears tuned in to the Father. It is a communication all its own. We go before Him – just to listen. And when we learn to listen, HE satisfies our spiritual appetite. ~~ Brian Lake, Romancing the King

Healing

Healing is by Grace. People do not want to accept Grace. Grace is too much an unknown commodity, anything can happen. They want to figure out a way, not God’s way. He completed everything that needed to be done on the cross. That is for the past and for the future all in one. God’s schedule is on time. He has it all in control, there is nothing you can do to add to or subtract from to facilitate His purpose. It is by Grace that the Holy Spirit allows you to be apart of His plan and by Grace you do the work of the kingdom.

Romance

Divine romance is Jesus kissing on me. I don’t know how sacred it is but I love it.

Just a dream

This dream I have could it be of God. I have been informed that nothing happens but first a dream. A dreamer, I have been all my life and often this has kept me from a complete breakdown. I envision what God is doing and then it is developed deep within my soul. Many days later, I begin to get confirmations from other servants of God and in the distance; I begin to see a plan. The Holy Spirit puts it in picture form and later I witness it in reality by the grace of my Father.
Carl Sandburg said, “Our dreams are whispers from our soul searching for our true purpose in life. When we stop dreaming in many ways, we... stop living.”

Our Creator

David wrote, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalms 8:3-4).
...He observed that our Creator is creative. David described the heavens as “the work of your fingers,” as though God weave or knits or paints. Our Creator didn’t just make one moon or one star, which would have been far more than any of us could do. He made the moon, billions of stars, humans, flocks, herds, fish, and birds – to name a few. Oh, and that’s not to mention what’s implied. He created the heavenly beings too. What vast variety!
David also observed that our Creator is omnipotent. After He made the moon and stars, He set them in place. And He makes them stay there! How does He do that?
Upon further observation of the night sky, David considered it a further marvel that God would take such care for little, tiny humans: “You made man a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas” (vv. 5-8).
Someone who could make planets and order them to remain where they’re supposed to be – who are we to Him, the psalmist wondered. When one considers the enormity of our universe and humanity’s tininess in comparison, why should He give a rip about people? Yet, unfathomable as it might seem, our Creator cares deeply for us. ~~ Charles R. Swindoll, Chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary

Love begins

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in that action. ~~ Mother Teresa, (1910-1997)

An incidence

Time does not change all; it just allows hurts to continue to fester in the dark recesses of the memory.

Fastidious

There are those who tell me that my Father is fastidious (hard to please). I do not believe them. In fact, I know that is not true for He has made it as easy as possible for me to connect with Him. All He asks is to have faith in Him. For example, God gave me only Ten Commandments to keep me from doing myself in. Only ten simple guidelines that is all. Not hard to figure out – easy isn’t it. Then with His grace...

A morning prayer

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day. Preserve me with your mighty power that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of you purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen. ~~ http://explorefaith.org/prayer/prayer/index.php

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is not a promise – but a chance. ~~ Columbine Martyr, Rachel Scott

Once long ago

You are worried about how you will get through the desert stretches in your life — how you will cope with loneliness, illness, difficulties, hopeless situations. But God is not worried that we go through such periods. His message to us could be summed up like this: ‘If you are in the wilderness, I will prove Myself as your Father. Once long ago I provided the children of Israel with quails and manna when they were in the desert and had nothing to eat. I am the same today. I will go before you, too, by day in the pillar of cloud and by night in the pillar of fire. I will pave the way for you. With My presence, I will bring you comfort and new strength. What more do you need?’ ~~ Mother Basilea Schlink (1904-2001)

Inspection

Mother Mary Angleica founder of Eternal Word Television Network said there would be a day of inspection. “The building inspector inspects each section. Is God going to find in his searching fire that we have built on his foundation some project of our own? We say but look at the numbers and he will say you were called to disciple not to make converts. You were to emulate me. I am the finisher.”

In the Thick of Things

“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end, all his disciples deserted him. On the cross, he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes.” ~~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)

Tell It Slant

Evil that masquerades as an angel of light is commonplace. We need help. And we need help even when we don't know we need help. Especially when we don't know we need help. ~~ Eugene H. Peterson, Tell It Slant

Apocalyptic age

Today the consequences of not taking God’s commands seriously are glaringly obvious. These are not normal times. The apocalyptic age has begun. The conflict between good and evil is reaching a climax. On the one side is the lawless one, whose forerunners are already dominating the world. On the other side are those who keep the commands of God. In this apocalyptic age, good and evil each take on distinct, recognizable features. Today it is impossible to be neutral. When we opt out of God’s kingdom rule, we come under the dominion of Satan. Either we belong to God and His followers, who consider His commands as binding, or else we belong to the lawless one, whose followers discard them as irrelevant. ~~ M. Basilea Schlink (1904-2001)

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is not a promise – but a chance. ~~ Columbine Martyr, Rachel Scott

Flee

There is no resistance to Satan other than flight. … Flee—that can indeed only mean, Flee to that place where you find protection and help, flee to the Crucified. ~~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Creation and Fall/Temptation

Worth noting

“...the first-century Christians did not out-debate the pagans. They out-lived them. They sought to reach people one by one. They prayed and preached and proclaimed the message of Christ – on the Cross, risen from the dead and ready to change lives. They backed up their message with actions to match. Instead of attempting to conquer paganism and dead religion by reacting blow for blow, the Christians of the first century out-prayed and out-lived the unbelievers. ~~ Greg Laurie, senior pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship.