"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
~ Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~ Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."
~ Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."
~ 1 Corinthians 10:24 (NIV)
"Following Christ takes time.
Growing in maturity takes time.
Character building takes time.
Resolving most problems takes time.
Building strong families and relationships takes time."
- Jim Liebelt
"Picture yourself tied to a tree,
condemned of the sins of eternity.
Then picture a spear, parting the air,
seeking your heart to cut your despair.
Suddenly—a knight, in armor of white,
stands in the gap betwixt you and its flight,
And shedding his 'armor of God' for you—
bears the lance that runs him through.
His heart has been pierced that yours may beat,
and the blood of his corpse washes your feet.
Picture yourself in raiment white,
cleansed by the blood of the lifeless knight.
Never to mourn, the prince who was downed,
For he is not lost! It is you who are found."
- Johnny Hart, late cartoonist (B.C.)
"Costly grace is the hidden treasure in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has.... Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of His Son: 'ye were bought with a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon His Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered Him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God."
- Dietrich Bonheufer, The Cost of Discipleship
"I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for but everything I had hoped for....
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed."
- Unknown Confederate Soldier
"This is the way God works: He calls upon us to give away what we don't have -- thus we rely upon him to be the source of what is needed."
- Pastor Steven Sjogren
"None have such cause to be cheerful as good Christians have; it is a pity but that they should always have hearts to be so."
- Matthew Henry
"We dare not write off the power of God because of the failures of man."
- Brent Barnett
"If Christianity is a psychological crutch, then Jesus Christ came because there was an epidemic of broken legs."
- Bob Prall
"Ultimately, faith is only as valid as its object."
- Rusty Wright
"We somehow think that the Church is here for us; we forget that we are the Church, and we’re here for the world."
- Erwin McManus
"Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world."
- Martin Luther
"Discernment is our defense; love is our offense."
- Russ Bremeier
"Where there is true, strong love to Jesus, it will cost us something. Love is the costliest of all undertakings . . . But what shall we mind if we gain Christ? You cannot give up for Him without regaining everything you have renounced, but purified and transfigured."
- Meyer
"Jesus paid the price. You get to keep the change."
- Anonymous
"Christians must be very careful to hate the sin but love the sinner."
- Brent Barnett
Chris Taylor: "Symphony"
I'm in the mood for a breakdown,
A slowing down of all the things in my mind
That keep on trying to figure out how to pin You down;
In desperate need of a shakedown,
A blowing down of all the ways that I try
To talk You into a corner until You look like me.
But when I finally see what You see,
There's a symphony;
I hear a symphony.
Words cannot define
What it means to be
In Your symphony,
In Your symphony.
A long awaited letdown,
A burning through that's calling me back to You
With a beautiful melody of all You love...
It's welling deep inside of me;
It's springing out, the song that I'm meant to sing.
So teach me the harmony to all You love.
Hearts in unison,
I'm drawn into Your love.
Hearts in unison,
I understand Your love.
-- Reeg.