love — Warrior of The Presence

Forgiven, Restored, Accepted. Jun 2, 2022 It is written that we shall “stand before” Him, shall appear, shall be inspected. The promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible and only possible by the work of Christ, that some of us, that…

Lifebuilders – James 2 Mar 13, 2022 Click for: Audio of James 2 Slideshow (before class): Main Lesson Presentation Deck Videos and other Resources ● https://bit.ly/pardes2 – John Delhousaye’s PARDES work on the book of Hebrews Kenyan Traditional Dance Video 🙂 – Utange…

De Civitate Dei – The City of God vs. The City of Self Aug 31, 2021 He that becomes protector of sin shall surely become its prisoner.― Augustine of Hippo, City of God For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of…

Fear’s Antidote: Home Now, And Home Forever Aug 16, 2020 Jesus did not come from heaven to earth just to get us out of hell and into heaven — though He is the only One Who can do that. He also came to get Himself out…

First Things First: Love G_d, Love People, And Fear Not Jul 2, 2020 God gives His communion to all who love Him. Communion with God is life and light and sweetness with all the good things that He has. But those who of their own will forsake Him, He…

Impossible Love Aug 17, 2019 Let Love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor… ~ Paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Romans 12…

Living G_d’s Dream Feb 6, 2019 The Moravian Slaves, a popular story about Christian Missions concerning Johann Leonhard Dober and David Nitschmann, describes how these two young Moravian Brethren from Herrnhut, Germany, were called in 1732 to minister to the African slaves…

Eternity in A Song Feb 5, 2019 Earth breaks up, time drops away,In flows heaven, with its new day.~Robert Browning (1812-1889) After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to…

Ad Ora with Love Himself Jan 2, 2019 On a dark night, Inflamed by love-longing – O exquisite risk! – Undetected I slipped away. My house, at last, grown still. Secure in the darkness, I climbed the secret ladder in disguise – O exquisite…

Too Much Jesus? The Joy of Being An Ex-Addict Oct 27, 2018 From morning to night keep Jesus in your heart, long for nothing, desire nothing, hope for nothing, but to have all that is within you changed into the spirit and temper of the Holy Jesus. ~William…

Out of The Black Hole of Self-Regard Oct 4, 2018 Hans Urs von Balthasar said it best: we do not live in an ego-drama. We live in a Theo-drama. Life does not work any other way.

Avoiding Philanthropy: Go All The Way Instead Aug 14, 2018 A good way to avoid the snare of empty religious activity is to appear before God every once in a while with our Bibles open to the thirteenth chapter of first Corinthians. This passage, though rated…

The Best Part of My Team Jul 16, 2018 How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal…

Power or Relationship? May 24, 2018 “Yes!” Han-el’s voice had become a lament. “Even now he (Adam) could not stop himself from bending away from God toward power and dominion. He named her (Eve) ‘weak and fragile’— the truth about his own…

Speaking The Truth in Love May 3, 2018 When we are speaking the truth in love, we are not putting someone down nicely—we are elevating someone brilliantly. We are saying to people, “You don’t need to be doing that because this is who you…

Love Loses Apr 15, 2018 We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. ~ Maya Angelou And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil…

Dying Again for The 71st Time Feb 14, 2018 If you asked twenty good men today what they thought the highest of the virtues, nineteen of them would reply, Unselfishness. But if you had asked almost any of the great Christians of old, he would…

Huios: Fully Mature Sons Jan 3, 2018 We are becoming fully mature sons. ~ Graham Cooke Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until…

“God Is in Sovereign” – The Breath of A Quintillion Suns Dec 26, 2017 Always be cautious about invoking the “God is in control” card. Of course He is. But, it is His card to play, not ours. Personal responsibility matters. A lot. ~ Makala Barnabas Doulos For we know…

A Love Grown Large to Heal The Evil Within Oct 25, 2017 I think one may be quite rid of the old haunting suspicion—which raises its head in every temptation—that there is something else than God—some other country . . . into which He forbids us to trespass—some…

Sudah (Already): The Nature of Truth Oct 12, 2017 The beauty of truth is that it needs no defense. ~ Makala Barnabas Doulos Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not…

It’s Impossible: That’s Why It’s Called Love Oct 10, 2017 Truth is not a thought, not a word, not a relationship between things, not a law. Truth is a Person. It is a Being which exceeds all beings and gives life to all. If you seek…

Living A Grown Up Love Aug 27, 2017 Perfect love is a kind of self-dereliction, a wandering out of ourselves; it is a kind of voluntary death, wherein the lover dies to himself, and all his own interest, not thinking of them, nor caring…

The Only Power to Change: Goodness And Kindness Aug 13, 2017 Like faith and hope, trust cannot be self-generated. I cannot simply will myself to trust. What outrageous irony: the one thing that I am responsible for throughout my life I cannot generate. The one thing I…

The Presence of G_d: Blue Skies in The Storms of Life. Jul 25, 2017 The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within. ~Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by…

Death and Life in Our Tongue Jun 13, 2017 Jesus… says it’s murder when we destroy people with our words. It’s murder when we put people down and treat them as insignificant. ~Rebecca Manley Pippert For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does…

Total Disillusionment Jun 2, 2017 The disillusionment with our own abilities is, perhaps, one of the most important things that can ever happen to us. ~Tim Hansel A large measure of disappointment with God stems from disillusionment with other Christians. ~Philip…

Surrounded by G_d’s Goodness And Mercy May 29, 2017 “To say to an Orthodox Jew, “I would like to have dinner with you,” is understood as “I would like to enter into friendship with you.” Even today, members of Orthodox Jewry will share a donut…

Proclaiming The Mystery of The Gospel Apr 27, 2017 In what way, or by what manner of working God changes a soul from evil to good—how he impregnates the barren rock with priceless gems and gold—is, to the human mind, an impenetrable mystery. ~Samuel Taylor…

Loving Beyond Pain Mar 25, 2017 I know that God is loving and that God’s loving is trustworthy. I know this directly, through the experience of my life. There have been plenty of times of doubt, especially when I used to believe…

Friendship with God: Let’s Do This Together Mar 13, 2017 The Christian is called upon to be the partner of God in the work of the conversion of men. ~William Barclay (1907-1978) I always thank my God for you because of the grace that God has…

Chesed: Love Is Stronger Than Death Mar 7, 2017 Love is swift, pure, tender, joyful, and pleasant. Love is strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, vigorous, and never self-seeking. For when a man is self-seeking, he abandons love. Love is watchful, humble, and upright. Love is…

Mysterium Tremendum Mar 5, 2017 Hollywood has not yet recognized what truly tingles the spine, buckles the knees, quakes the heart, and turns bones into jelly. To meet God is a terrifying adventure. ~Terry Lindvall In the year that King Uzziah…

The Enormity of Providence Feb 23, 2017 God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them. ~ John Piper He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by…

Pain And Beauty Feb 15, 2017 Bloody nose and burning eyes Raised in laughter to the skies I’ve been in trouble but I’m ok Been through the wringer but I’m ok Walls are falling and I’m ok Under the mercy and I’m…

God’s Attributes: Love Beyond Our Thoughts Feb 12, 2017 This entry explores how G_d is so much beyond our ability to understand…. And yet, we know Him.

Just Say No Jan 17, 2017 Christianity happens when men and women accept with unwavering trust that their sins have been not only forgiven, but forgotten, washed away in the blood of the Lamb. Thus, my friend archbishop Joe Reia says, “A…

What? Like You Are Gonna Lose? Jan 4, 2017 Sing aloud, children! sing to the glorious King of Redemption, who sits on the throne, for the seraphim high veil their faces, and cry, and the angels are praising the Son. With His raiment blood-dyed, and…

Relentless Reminders of The New Creation Dec 20, 2016 The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creation. Not to make people with…

Resolved: To Live in Love Dec 10, 2016 I repent me of the ignorance wherein I ever said that God made man out of nothing: there is no nothing out of which to make anything; God is all in all, and he made us…

The Humiliation of Acceptance Nov 6, 2016 What a weak comfort is the praise of men. Upon such a frail ledge do we mortals build our happiness. ~ Francis Frangipane Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has…

Living An Ascended Lifestyle Oct 28, 2016 Worldy people imagine that the saints must find it difficult to live with so many restrictions, but the bondage is with the world, not with the saints. There is no such thing as freedom in the…

The Stunning Ferocity of Grace Oct 24, 2016 Salvation of the Lord alone; Grace is a shoreless sea. ~ C.H. Spurgeon When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared…

Understanding Our Confession of The Trinity Oct 9, 2016 In Christianity God is not a static thing—not even a person—but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama. Almost, if you will not think me irreverent, a kind of dance. The union…

Fallen from Grace – And into His Mercy Sep 24, 2016 Falling from grace does not mean losing your salvation. It means losing your sanity…. But if you are in His grace, and you fall from grace… You land right in mercy! OH, that has got to…

Logic’s Limit: Locking out The Truth Sep 2, 2016 The God of Christians is not a God who is merely the author of mathematical truths and the order of the elements—that is the point of view of heathens and Epicureans. He is not simply a…

Co-heirs, Co-sufferers, Co-glorified Aug 30, 2016 Co-heirs—co-sufferers—co-glorified with Christ—that is really the word here. We are side by side with Christ. We are sons of God, even as He is the Son of God—not in His eternal Sonship, but in the place…

The Father’s Heart Aug 6, 2016 For Ragamuffins, God’s name is Mercy. We see our darkness as a prized possession because it drives us into the heart of God. Without mercy our darkness would plunge us into despair – for some, self-destruction.…

Goodness Always Grows Jul 31, 2016 Good, the more communicated, more abundant grows. ~John Milton (1608-1674) Goodness Always Grows… The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall…

You Will Be Ravaged if You Love Jul 25, 2016 I will never forget the day I realized that both God and the devil wanted me to die but for different reasons. Satan wanted to destroy me through slander while God wanted to use these same…

Peace in Betrayal Jul 19, 2016 But thou, through good and evil, praise and blame, Wilt not thou love me for myself alone?Yes, thou wilt love me with exceeding love, And I will tenfold all that love repay;Still smiling, though the tender…

Living Large Jul 13, 2016 Here, monks, a disciple dwells pervading one direction with his heart filled with loving-kindness, likewise the second, the third, and the fourth direction; so above, below and around; he dwells pervading the entire world everywhere and…

What Fools These Mortals Be Jul 10, 2016 To hold on to the plough while wiping our tears—this is Christianity.~Watchman Nee (1903-1972)Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the…

Just Doin’ My Job Jun 19, 2016 Really great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in them but through them.~John Ruskin (1819-1900)The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like…

Trusting The Weaver Jun 9, 2016 Imagine that Jesus is calling you today. He extends a second invitation to accept His Father’s love. And maybe you answer, “Oh, I know that. It’s old hat.” … And God answers, ‘No, that’s what you…

Living Life Beyond The Platitudes: Loving The Lovable May 22, 2016 Suddenly I feel myself transformed and changed; it is joy unspeakable. My mind is exhilarated; I lose the memory of past trials; my intelligence is clarified; my desires are satisfied. I grasp something inwardly as with…

Utterly Convinced Apr 27, 2016 Speculations? I have none. I am resting certainties. I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which have committed unto him against that day.~ Michael Faraday Therefore do…

Forever in His Thoughts: Eternal Planning for You Apr 26, 2016 The Bible is a universe of revelation facts which have no meaning for us until we are born from above; when we are born again we see in it what we never saw before. We are…

Loved by A King Apr 18, 2016 Don’t miss this beloved. The air of Heaven is real. The waters of the River of Life are the wettest and freshest and alivest there will ever be. And the most real part will not be…

The 90 / 10 Rule Mar 29, 2016 I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when my fear…

Beyond A Civilized Existence Mar 18, 2016 Jesus taught, first, that a man’s business is to do the will of God; second, that God takes upon himself the care of that man; third, therefore, that a man must never be afraid of anything;…

Lent Reflection: Understanding The Love of A Father Mar 18, 2016 Be content to be a child, and let the Father proportion out daily to thee what light, what power, what exercises, what straits, what fears, what troubles he sees fit for thee.~Isaac Penington (1616-1679)Now Jesus was…

Staying On Mission Feb 23, 2016 Jesus Christ is the Son of God.He died to atone for men’s sin,and after three days rose again.This is the most important fact in the universe. I die believing in Christ.~ Watchman NeeNow I would remind…

Dead Man Loving Feb 16, 2016 We become what we love. When we are fixed and focused on who God is in His essential nature then the presence of His agape love in us sets us free to love in the same…

He Finds Us Lovely Feb 14, 2016 As for that which is beyond your strength, be absolutely certain that our Lord loves you, devotedly and individually, loves you just as you are…. Accustom yourself to the wonderful thought that God loves you with…

Fighting Into The Light Feb 5, 2016 When you are lovers in a dangerous time, nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight. You have to kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight. ~ Bruce Cockburn Thus says the LORD: For…

The Gospel: So Much Bigger Than We Can Comprehend Jan 24, 2016 The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creation. Not to make people with…

Catastrophic Success Jan 19, 2016 The first thing that Jesus promises is suffering: “I tell you… you will be weeping and wailing… and you will be sorrowful.” But he calls these pains birth pains. And so, what seems a hindrance becomes…

The Enormity of The Gospel in Christmas Dec 22, 2015 Advent. The coming of quiet joy.Arrival of radiant light in our darkness.Breath, mouth, ears, eyesHe is curtailed who overflowed all skies, all years.Older than eternity, now he is new.Now native to earth as I am,nailed to…

Love Across All Time Dec 1, 2015 I am. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come;…

Doomed by Theology Nov 26, 2015 Jesus extends mercy beyond theology.~ Andy Stanley The most blessed result of prayer would be to rise thinking, But I never knew before. I never dreamed… I suppose it was at such a moment that Thomas…

Knowing G_d Audaciously Nov 25, 2015 We know God easily, if we do not constrain ourselves to define him.~Joseph Joubert (1754-1824)But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of…

Tough Curves on The Path Nov 5, 2015 Before I am asked to show compassion toward my brothers and sisters in their suffering, He asks me to accept His compassion in my own life, to be transformed by it, to become caring and compassionate…

Living in The Truth Oct 25, 2015 What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization.~ Abraham MaslowHe flattered himself on being a man without any prejudices, and this pretension itself is a very great prejudice.~Anatole France (1844-1924)This is…

Magnificent Drumbeat – Learning to Live Loved All The Time Oct 22, 2015 Our resistance to the furious love of God may be traced to the church, our parents and pastors, and life itself. They have hidden the face of a compassionate God, we protest, and favored a God…

Sunrise of Faith Oct 14, 2015 How does God take a Christian who lives one-half inch from hell and make him live one-half inch from heaven? It is not easy. There is a price to be paid. The divine Surgeon must be…

A Good Day to Die Oct 10, 2015 Perhaps Today Is A Good Day to Die~ Klingon Proverb The Lord loves you, devotedly and individually, loves you just as you are…. Accustom yourself to the wonderful thought that God loves you with a tenderness,…

The Consuming Fire of A Father’s Love Oct 3, 2015 … a repost on the consuming Love of God.When (the Scripture) says that God loves man, it means that God loves man: not that He has some ‘disinterested’, because really indifferent, concern for our welfare, but…

The Voluntary Entrapment of Sin Sep 30, 2015 Sin is not wrong doing; it is wrong being, deliberate and emphatic independence of God.~Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.…

Pervasive Obedience Aug 28, 2015 Consecration is the narrow, lonely way to overflowing love. We are not called upon to live long on this planet, but we are called upon to be holy at any and every cost. If obedience costs…

Alabaster Jar Aug 24, 2015 Our notion of sacrifice is the wringing out of us something we don’t want to give up, full of pain and agony and distress. The Bible idea of sacrifice is that I give as a love-gift…

The Messiness of Graceful Living Aug 5, 2015 There will be no “knights in shining armor” in God’s kingdom; our armor will have many dings and dents. No, no perfect Hollywood heroes will ride to save the day; just wearied saints to look to…

Eternally Adored Jul 28, 2015 Nothing lasts here. Storms come, people die, hearts break and sin abounds. And two weeks (or two years) is not enough to kill the pain. Nothing is able to meet our heart’s most desperate desire for…

Wasted, Drained, Done Jul 15, 2015 If Satan cannot distract you with worldliness, he will seek to drain you with weariness.~ Francis FrangipaneAt that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things…

Training in Goodness: Finding Life in Facing Death Jul 10, 2015 Blessing those who have hurt you is a decision of your will that may go against how you feel.~ Tony Evans Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and…

ὑπερπλεονάζω (hyperpleonazō): The Exceedingly Abundantly Normal State of Grace Jun 30, 2015 There is within the limitless confines of the Trinity, a Love so real as to shatter any conception we have ever had of the word. The Love of G_d, is the very substance of who He…

Boldly Proclaiming The Mystery of The Gospel Jun 30, 2015 The Bible is a stream wherein the elephant may swim and the lamb may wade.~Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming…

Loved And Lovable Jun 23, 2015 Love is a believing creature.~OvidYou’re so beautiful, my darling, so beautiful, and your dove eyes are veiled by your hair as it flows and shimmers, like a flock of goats in the distance streaming down a…

Joy in The Skill He Gives Jun 18, 2015 In spiritual matters, human reasoning certainly is not in order; other intelligence, other skill and power, are requisite here—something to be granted by God himself and revealed through his Word.~Martin Luther (1483-1546) He who loves purity…

Last Entry from Indonesia: Where Three Years Can Lead Jun 14, 2015 In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a…

The Kingdom of Heaven Is Yours May 31, 2015 As his child, you are entitled to his kingdom, the warmth, the peace, and the power of his presence, the wisdom, the insight, and the guidance of his Spirit, the goodness, the joy, and every supreme…

Separation And Restoration May 27, 2015 We have not to do with a God who is off there above the sky, who can deal with us only through the violation of physical law. We have instead a God in whom we live…

His Merciful Voice May 6, 2015 Kyrie Eleison (Gr. Lord have mercy)~ Ancient words of the ChurchAnd you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power…

A Warrior’s Rest Apr 29, 2015 A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does~Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful WarriorWhen Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and…

Fathers Feel Things Too Apr 7, 2015 For those who feel their lives are a grave disappointment to God, it requires enormous trust and reckless, raging confidence to accept that the love of Jesus Christ knows no shadow of alteration or change. When…

Love And Our Needs Mar 17, 2015 We really have to understand the person we want to love. If our love is only a will to possess, it is not love. If we only think of ourselves, if we know only our own…

Love Never Fails Mar 15, 2015 In Love’s service, only wounded soldiers can serve.~Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate BelongingIf I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a…

The Deep Joy of A Father’s Love Mar 3, 2015 At any moment in life we have the option to choose an attitude of gratitude, a posture of grace, a commitment to joy.~Tim HanselIf therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation…

The Inherent Pain of Love Mar 1, 2015 I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.~ Mother Teresa of CalcuttaWe should all like life to be free from suffering, and our…

Tough Faith in A Tough Jesus Feb 22, 2015 Faith is blind—except upward. It is blind to impossibilities and deaf to doubt. It listens only to God.~Samuel Dickey Gordon (1859-1936) And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling…

The Truest Freedom: Love as The Law Jan 21, 2015 Love God and Do As You Please!! ~St. Augustine of Hippo By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen…

Joy and Strength in His Steadfast Love Jan 18, 2015 Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or on earth…. A lover flies, runs, rejoices…. Love often knows no limits but is fervent…

Learning to Be Loved Jan 18, 2015 God completely understands every struggle that you have, and every weakness that you fear about yourself. In His great love for you He has set aside a place in His Beloved for you to enjoy and…

Loving in Interruption. Jan 13, 2015 The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s “own,” or “real” life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s…

Down Through The Hopelessness – And into Love Dec 26, 2014 A re-post on remembering the poor this Christmas.Hopelessness is anticipated defeat.~Karl Theodor Jaspers (1883-1969)Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let…

Heart Ripped Out Thankful Dec 24, 2014 Poverty is the load of some, and. wealth is the load of others, perhaps the greater load of the two. Bear the load of your neighbor’s poverty, and let him bear with you the load of…

The Bitterness of The Soul Dec 17, 2014 When outward strength is broken, faith rests on the promises. In the midst of sorrow, faith draws the sting out of every trouble and takes out the bitterness from every affliction.~Robert Cecil (1563-1612)I am the man…

Jesus: All in All Dec 14, 2014 I repent me of the ignorance wherein I ever said that God made man out of nothing: there is no nothing out of which to make anything; God is all in all, and he made us…

Planting for An Astounding Harvest: Participation in The Divinity of G_d Dec 10, 2014 It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which,if you say it…

The Difficulty of Compassion Dec 2, 2014 Let us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But…

Dust in The Wind: The Futility of Ministry Nov 6, 2014 And all your money, won’t another minute buy.~ Kansas, Dust in The Wind We live less than the time it takes to blink an eye, if we measure our lives against eternity…. I learned a long…

A Pragmatic Grace Nov 5, 2014 A man must completely despair of himself in order to become fit to obtain the grace of Christ.~Martin Luther (1483-1546) So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a…

An Extravagant Paradigm Nov 4, 2014 We can now hear the voice of the One who tore His very Triune Self apart that we might have ears to hear. And this same One has knit us to His very heart with the…

Right Action from A Heart of Great Love Oct 27, 2014 The norm or measure by which any thought or action is to be judged a success or failure, right or wrong, is love.~Joseph Fletcher“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for…

The Self Righteousness of Perfectionism Oct 22, 2014 He had no qualms; “for”, said he, “when I fail in my duty, I readily acknowledge it, saying, ‘I am used to doing so; I shall never do otherwise if I am left to myself’. If…

Behind Grace… The Love of G_d Oct 13, 2014 I have always been filled with the fires of the love of a God not old, and now to this has been joined the passion of the love of a young man. That love, dear earth,…

Total Reconciliation Oct 5, 2014 Only in seeing ourselves as both completely full in Him and, totally desperate for more of Him, can we find the beginning of the infiniteness of our relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ.~Makala Barnabas DoulosHe…

The Futility of Service Sep 22, 2014 God must bring us to a point – I cannot tell you how it will be, but he will do it – where, through a deep and dark experience, our natural power is touched and fundamentally…

Warrior Diet – Avoiding Junk Food Sep 9, 2014 Christ is full and sufficient for all his people. He is bread, wine, milk, living waters, to feed them; he is a garment of righteousness to cover and adorn them; a Physician to heal them; a…

A Warrior’s Freedom Aug 11, 2014 We have been born under a Monarchy; to obey God is freedom.~ Seneca (4 B.C. – 65 A.D.)So they said to Him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you…

Factional Disaster Aug 9, 2014 Show a man his failures without Jesus, and the result will be found in the roadside gutter. Give a man religion without reminding him of his filth, and the result will be arrogance in a three-piece…

Can’t Fight The Love: The Way to Win The Culture Jun 23, 2014 Love isn’t like a reservoir. You’ll never drain it dry. It’s much more like a natural spring. The longer and the farther it flows, the stronger and the deeper and the clearer it becomes.~Eddie Cantor (1892-1964)To…

Lavish Grace Jun 17, 2014 Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving. It is a self-existent principle inherent in the divine nature and appears to us as a self-caused propensity to pity…

A Father’s Day Tribute – Gyne Jun 16, 2014 Winton de Ruyter Woods was my grandfather. He went home to be with Jesus and many friends and family many years ago. The following were some thoughts this writer shared at his funeral. ________________________ I come…

Prime Directive Jun 13, 2014 When you live above fear, it becomes a weapon in your hand and you drive it into the heart of your enemy.~ Graham CookeBy this we know that we abide in Him and He in us,…

The Love of The Prodigal Father Jun 2, 2014 Never cease loving a person and never give up hope for him, for even the Prodigal Son who had fallen most low could still be saved. The bitterest enemy and also he who was your friend…

What if You Had No “Why?” May 22, 2014 Shall we think that with our tiny brains we can unravel the mysteries of Him who made the whole vast cosmos? He who causes things to be must smile in great pity when He hears men…

Slavery, Truth and Trust May 12, 2014 In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.~ Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai LamaYou shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.~ Jesus, King of the Universe, in John 3And…

No One to Blame – No Need Either May 6, 2014 Self-pity… cuddle and nurse it as an infant and you’ll have on your hands in a brief period of time a beast, a monster, a raging, coarse brute that will spread the poison of bitterness and…

The Freedom to Love Apr 10, 2014 To say that God justifies the ungodly means quite simply that God in his amazing love treats the sinner as if he was a good man. Again, to put it very simply, God loves us, not…

Unexpected Kingdom Moments Mar 27, 2014 The kingdom of God does not exist because of your effort or mine. It exists because God reigns. Our part is to enter this kingdom and bring our life under his sovereign will.~T. Z. KooBut thanks…

Unspeakable Joy Mar 3, 2014 We are like deep sea divers moving slowly and clumsily in the dim twilight of the depths, and we have our work to do. But this is not our element, and the relief of the diver…

Giving Heaven And Earth for Love Feb 25, 2014 I have always been filled with the fires of the love of a God not old, and now to this has been joined the passion of the love of a young man. That love, dear earth,…

Immeasurable Mercy Feb 13, 2014 It is certain that of all those present at the meal, the one who most honors the Lord is Mary Magdalene, who is so persuaded of the infinite mercy of God that all her sins appear…

The Hammer and Anvil of Grace Feb 12, 2014 Part 2 of 2… some of the logistical details are unclear, but the core and moral of the story stand. Grace. Stunning. Abundant. It is that unmerited gift of G_d that gives us EVERYTHING we need…

Strongholds Jan 28, 2014 A spiritual stronghold is a mindset impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept as unchangeable something that we know is contrary to the will of God. ~UnknownNow there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate…

Gap-Standing in An Avalanching Culture Dec 24, 2013 There will be times where you simply know you can and must stand in faith. When they occur, stand. The whole world may come down around your ears. You stand in Christ. ~ Thoughts inspired by…

Growing An Enormous Faith in An Even Bigger God Dec 18, 2013 Faith and sight are set in opposition to each other in Scripture, but not faith and reason…. True faith is essentially reasonable because it trusts in the character and the promises of God. A believing Christian…

Adding Value to The Infinite? Oct 23, 2013 You asked for a loving God; you have one. The great spirit you so lightly invoked, the “lord of terrible aspect,” is present; not a senile benevolence that drowsily wishes you to be happy in your…

Redemption And Lift Oct 13, 2013 You have much to learn…. Life will not be long enough to learn all, but you are gaining that Spirit-Vision which replaces the eyes of your mortal body when you enter into a life of fuller…

Him, Him Alone Aug 25, 2013 You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have. ~Corrie ten Boom. …. And when Jesus is all you have, He becomes all that you want.~ UnknownKeep Me safe,…

The Vertical Assures The Horizontal Aug 19, 2013 Not only do we know God through Jesus Christ, we only know ourselves through Jesus Christ.~Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus…

Even More Than Infinite Love? Aug 2, 2013 I have always been filled with the fires of the love of a God not old, and now to this has been joined the passion of the love of a young man. That love, dear earth,…

Love’s Invincibility Jul 12, 2013 Your success and happiness lie in you. External conditions are the accidents of life. The great enduring realities are love and service. Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence, aglow.…

One Year with Princess Sarah Jun 6, 2013 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but…

Dual, Triple, and Quad G_d Apr 28, 2013 If you are a Christian, a power accompanies your life. This power is greater than great; its nature is “surpassing greatness.” It is not human power but the actual “strength of God’s might.” The Almighty demonstrated…

He Spoke Your Name Apr 21, 2013 Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, If he’s not born in thee, thy soul is still forlorn.~Angelus Silesius (1624-1677) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God,…

Edgeless Wonder Apr 15, 2013 To Love recklessly right up to the edge of pain, and then to find that there is no pain – only more Love to be found along an ever-growing frontier… this is Love.Greater love has no…

The Real You Mar 7, 2013 A Re-post on Love…Agape love is… profound concern for the well-being of another, without any desire to control that other, to be thanked by that other, or to enjoy the process.~Madeleine L’Engle (1918- ) Love never…

Talking And Walking Mar 5, 2013 I come to the garden aloneWhile the dew is still on the rosesAnd the voice I hear, falling on my earThe Son of God disclosesAnd he walks with meAnd he talks with meAnd he tells me…

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus! Mar 5, 2013 Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. ~Anne-Louise-Germaine de Staël (1766–1817) You’ve captured my heart, dear friend. You…

Epicenter of The Gospel Feb 19, 2013 And since then, O Kings and Ladies, I have been wandering to find him and my happiness is so great that it even weakens me like a wound. And this is the marvel of marvels, that…

Avalanche Jan 15, 2013 Jesus redefines the meaning of love for neighbor; it means love for any man in need.~George Eldon Ladd (1911-1982)For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will…

Treasured Nov 18, 2012 God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.~Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430)The sweet, fragrant curves of your body, the soft, spiced contours of your flesh invite me, and I come. I…

He Will Show Us The Paths of Life Oct 6, 2012 Holy Spirit of God, visit now this soul of mine, and tarry within it until the eventide. Inspire all my thoughts. Pervade all my imaginations. Suggest all my decisions. Lodge in my soul’s most inward citadel,…

Announcement Jun 13, 2012 How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal…

The Triumph of Love May 27, 2012 The enemies of Christ are triumphant, Christianity is a failure, they say, and the church of God herself looks on in pain at the shortcomings in her midst. But lo, at length from the very heart…

To Be Full May 18, 2012 A heart in every thought renewed And full of love divine,Perfect and right and pure and good,A copy, Lord, of thine.~Charles Wesley (1707-1788)Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually…

The Speed of Relationship May 17, 2012 Beware of believing that the human soul is simple, or that human life is simple. Our relationship to God in Christ is the only simple thing there is. If the devil succeeds in making this relationship…

Intense Love Does Not Measure Apr 28, 2012 Love is doing someone good at my expense with affection for God’s Glory Love never fails. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:8 Morpheus: … What you know you can’t explain, but you feel it. You’ve felt it your…

Children of Light Mar 20, 2012 It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. In every cloud he brings, God wants us to unlearn something. God’s purpose in the cloud is to simplify our…

Relentless Love Feb 14, 2012 When all thy mercies, O my God,My rising soul surveys,Transported with the view, I’m lostIn wonder, love, and praise.~Joseph Addison (1672-1719) You are all fair, my love, And there is no spot in you. Come with…

By The Book… Or A Sky On Fire… Jan 18, 2012 A repost about His Word follows:Spirit-filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They believe with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with…

As You Wish… Dec 4, 2011 Love never fails.~G_d Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things – with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.~Corazon…

For Love Of You Aug 26, 2011 Oh my. Sometimes an artist says something amazing with the work they allow G_d to do through them. Young Audrey Assad hits one out of the park with the debut song on her debut album, The…

The Easy Life Aug 25, 2011 An entire surrender of spirit, soul and body to His control in a life of inevitable obedience may look hard to a soul ignorant of God. To those who know Him, it is the happiest and…

Don’t Block The Flow Jul 30, 2011 As for that which is beyond your strength, be absolutely certain that our Lord loves you, devotedly and individually, loves you just as you are. . . . Accustom yourself to the wonderful thought that God…

Glorious Love Jul 25, 2011 I’m so bored of little gods while standin’ on the edge of something large. While standin’ here so close to you… we – could – be – consumed. What a glorious day… I rest my face…

Needless Desire Jul 16, 2011 Only God can meet our deepest need because only God has no need Himself. And as we more fully understand that God needs nothing, perhaps we as his children can more fully know the depths of…

Turn Off the TV? May 16, 2011 Anchored to the Rock: Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the…

Not A Thing Apr 27, 2011 The love of G_d. Never ending. Unstoppable. Without Measure. So like, “Absolutely, Really Super-Mega-Ultra Awesome Love” comes up just pitiful in comparison to Him. Here’s the point: There is no comparison. When we speak of Him,…