Monday, May 30, 2011

Amy Carmichael - "If" Quote

"If . . .  I sympathize weakly with weakness, and say to one who is turning back from the cross, 'Pity thyself'; if I refuse such a one the sympathy that braces and the brave and heartening word of comradeship, then I know nothing of Calvary love."

- from Amy Carmichael in If

You might also be interested in my
 first post about Amy Carmichael. 

Friday, May 27, 2011

What I'm Reading This Week - May 27

I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!  Enjoy!

Why Some of Us Get More Done at Coffee Shops | Lifehacker
Great read!  This is something I can completely relate to.  How about you?

5 Free E-Books Every Writer Needs | There Are No Rules
They're free - so at least take a look and see if you find them helpful.


Let's talk! Have any finds that you would like to pass on? Post a comment below or send me an email.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

A Relationship with God


"If you have heard Jesus Christ's voice on the waves of the sea, you can let your convictions and your consistency take care of themselves by concentrating on maintaining your intimate relationship to Him." - J. Oswald Chambers

In all our church going, activity pursuing, evanglising, mission trip participating, I think that sometimes we lose sight of the fact that God desires a relationship with us.  A personal relationship.

Think back to the beginning: Adam, Eve, and God.  No church assembly.  No Bible studies or church fellowships.  No mission trips.  Now of course, you can argue that we have all the above because a) Adam and Eve sinned and caused thereby mankind to be out of fellowship with God and b) all the above are good - and some are even explicitly commanded.  I'm not denying that.  But I am saying that we need to remember that we have churches and Bible studies and mission trips in order to help us to have a personal relationship with God.

In fact, you can participate in each of those and NOT have a personal relationship with God.

So the question is, how is your personal relationship with God?  Do you have a personal relationship with God?

Do you talk to Him?   Not just a formulaic prayer.  Not just a "grocery list."  But real conversation.  Real talking.  Pouring out your heart and knowing that you are heard.  Intimate prayer.  The kind you don't want to share with anyone - not even your closest friend.

Does He talk to you?  Not in a mystical, vision appearing way.  But in a way that Scripture comes to your mind.  (note: you have to be familiar enough with Scripture for it to come to your mind)  In a way that throughout the day you are aware of His presence.

If you're not sure that you have a personal relationship with God, or you aren't sure how to have a personal relationship with God, here's how to start.

- The only way to have a personal relationship with God is through Jesus the Christ.  As 1 John 4:15 says, "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God" (ESV).

- The way to draw closer to God is by spending time in His word.  God gave us the Bible so that we can know Him.  "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18 ESV).

"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this."  (1 Timothy 4:16 ESV)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

John G. Paton - on Following God's Will

"The opposition was so strong from nearly all, and many of them warm Christian friends, that I was sorely tempted to question whether I was carrying out the Divine will, or only some headstrong wish of my own. This also caused me much anxiety, and drove me close to God in prayer."

- from John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides: An Autobiography Edited by His Brother quoted in Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ by John Piper, page 59

Monday, May 23, 2011

Amy Carmichael - "If" Quote

"If . . .  I have not the patience of my Savior with souls who grow slowly; if I know little of travail (a sharp and painful thing) till Christ be fully formed in them, then I know nothing of Calvary love."

- from Amy Carmichael in If

You might also be interested in my
 first post about Amy Carmichael. 

Friday, May 20, 2011

What I'm Reading This Week - May 20th

I hope this has been a good week for you. Here in Minnesota the weather has finally turned beautiful, and I have been enjoying it tremendously. Here are this week's finds. Enjoy!

The Future of the Library | Seth Godin 
A brief look at the history of the library - specifically public libraries - and a projected view of the future of the library. Do you agree or disagree?

Do the Work by Steven Pressfield | Amazon 
You can get the Kindle edition of Steven Pressfield's newest book for free from Amazon. Click here to read an interview with Pressfield about his writing.

The Essential Owen 
The tag line says it all: "John Owen, one morsel at a time."


Let's talk! Have any finds that you would like to pass on? Post a comment below or send me an email.  

Monday, May 16, 2011

Amy Carmichael - "If" Quote

"If . . .  I cast up a confessed, repented, and forsaken sin against another and allow my remembrance of that sin to color my thinking and feed my suspicions, then I know nothing of Calvary love."

- from Amy Carmichael in If

You might also be interested in my
 first post about Amy Carmichael. 

Friday, May 13, 2011

What I'm Reading This Week - May 13th


Just two articles this week.  Enjoy!

Live a Resurrection Life | blueletterbible.org
Thoughts from Horatius Bonar on how the resurrection of Christ should be changing your life.

Take the Initiative by Oswald Chambers
"We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do."

Let's talk: What do you think?  I'd love to hear your ideas and thoughts!

Monday, May 09, 2011

Amy Carmichael - "If" Quote


"If . . .  my attitude be one of fear, not faith, about one who has disappointed me; if I say, "Just what I expected," if a fall occurs, then I know nothing of Calvary love."
- from Amy Carmichael in If

You might also be interested in my
 first post about Amy Carmichael. 

Friday, May 06, 2011

What I'm Reading This Week - May 6th


Happy first week of May!  I don't know about you, but I'm finding it hard to believe that April is already past and that we're now into May.  If only the weather here in Minnesota could catch up . . .

Here We Go Again | koinoniablog.net (via challies.com)
Here's a heartfelt post by Bill Mounce.  Definitely worth a read.

Gracious Uncertainty by Oswald Chambers
Does your life seem uncertain?  Are you wondering what the next bend in the road holds?  Maybe that's just the way it's supposed to be.

Kickstart Your Creativity by Writing 750 Words a Day | Lifehack.org
Here's a great idea on how to get those creative juices flowing.

Freebies
Everyone loves free stuff!  Here are some that I found this week.
The Next Story by Tim Challies (audio book)| christianaudio.com
A Praying Life by Paul Miller (Kindle edition)

Let's talk! Have any finds that you would like to pass on? Post a comment below.



Monday, May 02, 2011

Amy Carmichael - "If" Quote


"If . . .  I cannot catch 'the sound of noise of rain' long before the rain falls, and going to some hilltop of the spirit, as near to my God as I can, have not faith to wait there with my face between my knees, though six times or sixty times I am told 'there is nothing,' till at last 'there arises a little cloud out of the sea,' then I know nothing of Calvary love."
- from Amy Carmichael in If

You might also be interested in my
 first post about Amy Carmichael. 

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