Quotes

I have for a long time wanted to do a post of different quotes. Now that I am finally getting around to it, I have forgotten most of the quotes I wanted to use. Yet here are some great quotes that have spoken to me recently. 

I would like to buy about three dollars worth of gospel, please. Not too much – just enough to make me happy, but not so much that I get addicted. I don't want so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust. I certainly don't want so much that I start to love my enemies, cherish self-denial, and contemplate missionary service in some alien culture. I want ecstasy, not repentance; I want transcendence, not transformation. I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broad-minded people, but I myself don't want to love those from different races – especially if they smell. I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected or my giving too greatly enlarged. I would like about three dollars worth of gospel, please. ~D. A. Carson

For eons human beings have tried to find less destructive ways to live together. ~Margaret Wheatly

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.” 

~Timothy Keller

“A vast horde of souls were rumbling toward heaven.  There were whole companies of white-trash, clean for the first time in their lives, and bands of black niggers in white robes, and battalions of freaks and lunatics shouting and clapping and leaping like frogs. And bringing up the end of the procession was a tribe of people whom she recognized at once as those who, like herself and Claud, had always had a little of everything and the God-given wit to use it right.  She leaned forward to observe them closer.  They were marching behind the others with great dignity, accountable as they always had been for good order and common sense and respectable behavior.  They alone were on key.  Yet she could see by their shocked and altered faces that even their virtues were being burned away.” ~Flannery O'Connor

Forgiveness says you are free from your penalty. You may go. Justification says you free from your sin.... You may come. ~Timothy Keller

"The benefits of the new birth- the pardon of our sins and our relationship with Christ- do not remove us from the battle. Instead, they guarantee our victory!" ~Dave Harvey

"till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet." ~Thomas Watson

Loneliness

Loneliness is a demon
It fills my upper chest
Clawing at my throat
So it burns from the inside scratch marks


Loneliness is a burden
It cannot be shared with others
It grows in solitude
It feeds on hidden thoughts and feelings


Loneliness is a reminder of You
You were alone on the cross
You were separated from the Father
You did so to bring unity to me

Ephesians 6:10-24

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings

²¹ So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

²³ Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Paul ends with instructions on how to with stand spiritual warfare. In these last few weeks I feel like have with stood great spiritual warfare, yet I struggle with how to tell people about it. I have second guessed myself saying it's only this emotion that I need to deal with, it's my hormones acting up, or I'm merely frustrated with this situation. After I read this passage, I feel like Paul is speaking directly to me. I am not dealing with flesh and blood. I am dealing with thoughts, emotions, insecurities, authorities, and things unstable. I have heard many pastors say, if the bible says "therefore" you ask what it's "there for." Here Paul is telling us how to be strong in the Lord. God has given us spiritual armor. Truth is hard to hear, but people don't have a leg to stand on when you present them with truth. If you are righteous, then they have nothing to accuse you of. If your feet a quick to point to the gospel and a peaceful gospel, they have nothing with which to attack you. It will take faith and perseverance in God to stand against the doubts that we have in our heads and the words that others say. Salvation is key to protect our heads from doubts. Salvation is so key to our theology. We need to understand how to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. He is our helper and advocate now. He is how we should fight spiritually. He is the word of God in our hearts. We not only should be praying for ourselves to persevere in the faith, but also for others as well. 
I love how Paul sends someone to encourage the hearts of the Ephesian church. One of my hearts desires is to encourage people. In their faith, in their health, and their hearts. The fact that Paul thought that was so important shows that we need to be doing that for each other. Often our language is full of criticism and sarcasm, yet how much more effective would I be if I used my words to encourage and not to tear down.   
Holy Spirit, I  ask that you would work on my heart, my tongue, my lips today. May I encourage people today and point them to You and Your awesome gift of salvation. May I be strong in You. As You advocate for me before God, I ask that You would protect my mind from doubts and worry. Would You show me Your will so that I can firmly walk in Your way. Help me to firmly walk in Your way. I ask that You would do the same for my brothers and sisters in Christ. May the words of our mouths and meditations of our hearts be focused on You. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Ephesians 6:5-9

English Standard Version (ESV)

Bondservants and Masters

⁵ Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹ Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

I think of this as Paul's Guide to the Workplace. We don't really have bondservant's anymore, but the same principles can apply to the current employee/employer relationships. I am suppose to have sincere, respectful heart. I am a people pleaser. I put alot of my self-worth in how people see me, yet this is not a pure motive for doing God's work. I am called to do everything with my faith and Lord in mind. 

Colossians 3:17

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

When I am in charge at work I need to have the same grace with my co-workers as God had for me. God offers the people who don't like the same grace and mercy that He did me. I need to carry that in my heart. 


Holy Father, I need You to change my attitudes and my relationships with people. I need Your grace and power. I don't want to ruin Your witness, but I also can testify to You using the weak thing in this world. I feel very weak. Please use me to witness and draw nigh to You the people I work with. Thank you for the grace that You have had with me and continue to have. May You enable me to pass on that same grace. Please focus my heart not on what others think of me, but give me a sincere heart to do Your work. Amen.