Obedient Son, Ultimate Purifier, All Providing Bridegroom
John Piper
A Perfect Groom
John 2:9-10 shows that the groom was finally responsible for the wine at his wedding. Which means it was his shortcoming that let the wedding run out of wine. Verse 9: “When the master of the feast [not the groom but the head waiter] tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom [now you see who is really in charge of the wine] and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’”
And of course, the point is: No, he didn’t. He let the wine run out. That’s the way it is with grooms on this earth. All husbands fail to be all that we ought to be. But quietly, omnipotently, Jesus plays the role of the perfect, all-providing Bridegroom. Out of water comes wine—better than any husband could provide.
So the third way that Jesus manifested his glory at this wedding was that he showed himself to be the all-providing Bridegroom for his bride, the great assembly of all those who trust in him.
22.12.08
12.12.08
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14
Perfect harmony comes at a high price. Forgivness, patience, compassion, kindness, humility - well, the list is right in these verses. We are to 'put it on', because we are chosen, holy, and beloved. Seems like it would be sufficient motivation. We are to live up to the character which has been imputed upon us by the new birth. Being washed in the blood of Christ, our new nature should reflect Christ. But we still have to 'put it on'.
I liked how John Piper put it...
"A Christian is not a person who experiences no bad desires. A Christian is a person who is at war with those desires by the power of the Spirit. Conflict in your soul is not all bad. Even though we long for the day when our flesh will be utterly defunct and only pure and loving desires will fill our hearts, yet there is something worse than the war within between flesh and Spirit—namely, no war within because the flesh controls the citadel and all the outposts. Praise God for the war within! Serenity in sin is death. The Spirit has landed to do battle with the flesh. So take heart if your soul feels like a battlefield at times. The sign of whether you are indwelt by the Spirit is not that you have no bad desires, but that you are at war with them! "
This battle within should produce amoung the people of God perfect harmony as we submit to the Spirit. Here comes that lovely word again - obedience. If we 'put on' the behaviours that the Spirit manifests in us we are being obedient to the voice of Jesus.
Should we use our willpower to obey? Yes. Mightily. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
Colossians 3:12-14
Perfect harmony comes at a high price. Forgivness, patience, compassion, kindness, humility - well, the list is right in these verses. We are to 'put it on', because we are chosen, holy, and beloved. Seems like it would be sufficient motivation. We are to live up to the character which has been imputed upon us by the new birth. Being washed in the blood of Christ, our new nature should reflect Christ. But we still have to 'put it on'.
I liked how John Piper put it...
"A Christian is not a person who experiences no bad desires. A Christian is a person who is at war with those desires by the power of the Spirit. Conflict in your soul is not all bad. Even though we long for the day when our flesh will be utterly defunct and only pure and loving desires will fill our hearts, yet there is something worse than the war within between flesh and Spirit—namely, no war within because the flesh controls the citadel and all the outposts. Praise God for the war within! Serenity in sin is death. The Spirit has landed to do battle with the flesh. So take heart if your soul feels like a battlefield at times. The sign of whether you are indwelt by the Spirit is not that you have no bad desires, but that you are at war with them! "
This battle within should produce amoung the people of God perfect harmony as we submit to the Spirit. Here comes that lovely word again - obedience. If we 'put on' the behaviours that the Spirit manifests in us we are being obedient to the voice of Jesus.
Should we use our willpower to obey? Yes. Mightily. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
6.12.08
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
That last bit of the text makes me think; is it a sign that you are walking in the light, if the 'labor pains' and other pointers of Jesus' return are of no surprise to you? Jesus expects us to be prepared, to be ready; he commands us to be ready. Because if we're not, he won't wait any longer (Matthew 25:1-13).
Interesting...
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
That last bit of the text makes me think; is it a sign that you are walking in the light, if the 'labor pains' and other pointers of Jesus' return are of no surprise to you? Jesus expects us to be prepared, to be ready; he commands us to be ready. Because if we're not, he won't wait any longer (Matthew 25:1-13).
Interesting...
1.12.08
In my care group and in Sunday School, we are constantly reminded to consider the context of the scripture portion in which we are reading. Our teacher is pretty passionate about Biblical literacy. The reminders have got me thinking...
My sister (Julie) is in ladies Bible study on Thursdays, they were looking at the very same passage which our Sunday School was to memorize last week.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
Julie said that her teacher said something interesting about the context of this verse; context? ... my ears perked up. Consider what precedes these verses.
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:3-11
Paul is boasting in his accomplishments and knows that we too boast about how great we are. But look what he says; your heritage of faith, your good job parenting, your learned ways from Bible school, your degree, your incredible good looks, your great family, your good works for charity or for your family - Paul says put no confidence in any of that. Instead we are to forget them and focus on Jesus. We are to count all of that as a loss; even more so if it interferes with you knowing Christ Jesus. We have no righteousness of our own, but only that which comes from God through faith. Paul seeks to share in Christ's suffering in order that he may attain the ressurrection from the dead.
Are we seeking suffering? Do we value our relationship with Jesus this much?
We are to be humble as we seek after the 'goal for the prize', remembering that we have not attained it yet. And this is our motivation - the lack of achieving it should make us press on toward the goal. It seems all so backwards.
Julie said that in her Bible study, the teacher pointed out that so often when we read Philippians 3:13-14, we are thinking that Paul is telling us to forget the bad stuff in the past and press on toward all the 'blessings' that are ahead. The context does not reveal that at all. Not only that, our distorted view of what a 'blessing' is needs to change in the church of the Western world. In Philippians 3, Paul is essentially saying that it's a blessing to suffer for Christ as it will attain for him Christ likeness.
Should we not consider his words in our own lives?
Context; it changes everything.
My sister (Julie) is in ladies Bible study on Thursdays, they were looking at the very same passage which our Sunday School was to memorize last week.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
Julie said that her teacher said something interesting about the context of this verse; context? ... my ears perked up. Consider what precedes these verses.
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:3-11
Paul is boasting in his accomplishments and knows that we too boast about how great we are. But look what he says; your heritage of faith, your good job parenting, your learned ways from Bible school, your degree, your incredible good looks, your great family, your good works for charity or for your family - Paul says put no confidence in any of that. Instead we are to forget them and focus on Jesus. We are to count all of that as a loss; even more so if it interferes with you knowing Christ Jesus. We have no righteousness of our own, but only that which comes from God through faith. Paul seeks to share in Christ's suffering in order that he may attain the ressurrection from the dead.
Are we seeking suffering? Do we value our relationship with Jesus this much?
We are to be humble as we seek after the 'goal for the prize', remembering that we have not attained it yet. And this is our motivation - the lack of achieving it should make us press on toward the goal. It seems all so backwards.
Julie said that in her Bible study, the teacher pointed out that so often when we read Philippians 3:13-14, we are thinking that Paul is telling us to forget the bad stuff in the past and press on toward all the 'blessings' that are ahead. The context does not reveal that at all. Not only that, our distorted view of what a 'blessing' is needs to change in the church of the Western world. In Philippians 3, Paul is essentially saying that it's a blessing to suffer for Christ as it will attain for him Christ likeness.
Should we not consider his words in our own lives?
Context; it changes everything.
18.11.08
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to make this true in what I do and in my attitude.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Philippians 3:13-14
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to make this true in what I do and in my attitude.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
16.11.08
Driving to work or teacher training, I'm usually listening to R.C. Sproul, Ravi Zacharius, or John Piper preach at me through my iPod. I had to teach two blocks the other morning for my first observation and wanted to keep my lesson in my head; so instead I listened to some music, quietly playing so I could go over my lesson out loud in the car. I must be quite the site for those who drive next to me.
Anyhow, Ode to a Friend by Jann Arden just happened to come on in the shuffle. I just started to weep; I couldn't stop. There are only a few songs out there that will remind me of Sandra, this is one of them. I said these very words to her in my heart and hopefully somewhere in there I said them out loud to her. She is with Jesus and I envy that. I don't wish her back here; except I do. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense... it will be a sweet pleasure of heaven to see her again.
Here's the lyrics with my own words thrown in. I wish I new how to embed the song onto my blog.
I don't mind if you stay longer
It was never long enough
You have not been any trouble
She brought out the server in me
I don't want you to go home yet
I don't want you to go to your eternal home yet
can you stay just stay ten more minutes
can you stay just stay ten more years...
You are my best friend
Always
I don't know how I'd live
I don't know how I'm living sometimes
How I love you
every square inch
Love your brown eyes
your forgiveness
yeah...
Don't go home now
Don't take her yet Lord...
It's past midnight
Our greatest chats were just past midnight
You can sleep here
we'll have breakfast
Yes
I woke her up trembling one morning... will she get up?
You are my greatest gift
A gift from Jesus to all who knew her
I don't know how I'd live
I'm living and so is she...
You are my saving grace
You are by heart my true friend
Sisters joined not by blood but by the Spirit
Steve Bell has a song that washed over me, reminding me of worshiping alongside Sandra when she was here with us. Once at one of our yearly weekend retreats, we built an altar from the rocks by the river. It was really more a pile of rocks, but we tried. We built it to mark our time together in prayer and to leave something solid as a reminder and in honour of God's faithfulness to us. I heard Here by the Water on the sample CD that the church gave out before his concert and cried. At the concert, he sang the song and for some reason it surprised me; I had forgotten about it. So, there I sat; tears streaming down my face, loving the song. Sandra would love to sing it in praise to our God. Maybe we will someday...
Soft field of clover
Moon shining over the valley
Joining the song of the river
To the great giver of the great good
(the good news - the gospel!)
As it unfolds me
Somehow it holds me together
And I realize I've been singing
Still it comes ringing clearer than clear
Here by the water
I'll build an altar to praise Him
Out of the stones that I found here
And I'll set them down here,
Rough as they are
Knowing you can make them holy
Knowing you can make them holy
Knowing you can make them holy...
There's more to the song, but this is the part I like; Sandra would too.
Anyhow, Ode to a Friend by Jann Arden just happened to come on in the shuffle. I just started to weep; I couldn't stop. There are only a few songs out there that will remind me of Sandra, this is one of them. I said these very words to her in my heart and hopefully somewhere in there I said them out loud to her. She is with Jesus and I envy that. I don't wish her back here; except I do. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense... it will be a sweet pleasure of heaven to see her again.
Here's the lyrics with my own words thrown in. I wish I new how to embed the song onto my blog.
I don't mind if you stay longer
It was never long enough
You have not been any trouble
She brought out the server in me
I don't want you to go home yet
I don't want you to go to your eternal home yet
can you stay just stay ten more minutes
can you stay just stay ten more years...
You are my best friend
Always
I don't know how I'd live
I don't know how I'm living sometimes
How I love you
every square inch
Love your brown eyes
your forgiveness
yeah...
Don't go home now
Don't take her yet Lord...
It's past midnight
Our greatest chats were just past midnight
You can sleep here
we'll have breakfast
Yes
I woke her up trembling one morning... will she get up?
You are my greatest gift
A gift from Jesus to all who knew her
I don't know how I'd live
I'm living and so is she...
You are my saving grace
You are by heart my true friend
Sisters joined not by blood but by the Spirit
Steve Bell has a song that washed over me, reminding me of worshiping alongside Sandra when she was here with us. Once at one of our yearly weekend retreats, we built an altar from the rocks by the river. It was really more a pile of rocks, but we tried. We built it to mark our time together in prayer and to leave something solid as a reminder and in honour of God's faithfulness to us. I heard Here by the Water on the sample CD that the church gave out before his concert and cried. At the concert, he sang the song and for some reason it surprised me; I had forgotten about it. So, there I sat; tears streaming down my face, loving the song. Sandra would love to sing it in praise to our God. Maybe we will someday...
Soft field of clover
Moon shining over the valley
Joining the song of the river
To the great giver of the great good
(the good news - the gospel!)
As it unfolds me
Somehow it holds me together
And I realize I've been singing
Still it comes ringing clearer than clear
Here by the water
I'll build an altar to praise Him
Out of the stones that I found here
And I'll set them down here,
Rough as they are
Knowing you can make them holy
Knowing you can make them holy
Knowing you can make them holy...
There's more to the song, but this is the part I like; Sandra would too.
9.11.08
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 6:2b-10
sorrowful yet always rejoicing... so may it be with us.
2 Corinthians 6:2b-10
sorrowful yet always rejoicing... so may it be with us.
26.10.08
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud
and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
and will be glorified in Israel.
Isaiah 44:22-23
I love the extention of this promise to Israel to the ends of the earth, in chapter 45. Jesus blotted out our sin once and for all!
"Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
'To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.'
Isaiah 45:22-23
and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
and will be glorified in Israel.
Isaiah 44:22-23
I love the extention of this promise to Israel to the ends of the earth, in chapter 45. Jesus blotted out our sin once and for all!
"Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
'To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.'
Isaiah 45:22-23
25.10.08
He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
"What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
John 1:7, 8, 22, 23
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
John 3:30
Oh, that I would be witness such as the man called John sent by God.
Dear Heavenly Father, may I not be so consumed with the things of this earth - worries about money, clothes, education and time - that I fail to see what you see. May I be the voice of one calling in the widerness of this place, pointing people to the Lamb of God, our saviour Jesus Christ. Remind me daily of your faithfulness and forgive me for my insolence. Restore my hope and renew my strength.
In Jesus name, Amen.
"What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
John 1:7, 8, 22, 23
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
John 3:30
Oh, that I would be witness such as the man called John sent by God.
Dear Heavenly Father, may I not be so consumed with the things of this earth - worries about money, clothes, education and time - that I fail to see what you see. May I be the voice of one calling in the widerness of this place, pointing people to the Lamb of God, our saviour Jesus Christ. Remind me daily of your faithfulness and forgive me for my insolence. Restore my hope and renew my strength.
In Jesus name, Amen.
22.10.08
Since we are to...
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
So then even in times of trouble, depression, and fear, we must give thanks; as part of our spiritual act of worship.
"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!"
Psalm 50:23
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
So then even in times of trouble, depression, and fear, we must give thanks; as part of our spiritual act of worship.
"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!"
Psalm 50:23
11.10.08
Thanksgiving...
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
5Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
Psalm 105
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Psalm 43
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
5Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
Psalm 105
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Psalm 43
Lost!
Coldplay
Just because I’m losing
Doesn’t mean I’m lost
Doesn’t mean I’ll stop
Doesn’t mean I won't cross
Just because I’m hurting
Doesn’t mean I’m hurt
Doesn’t mean I didn’t get
What I deserved
No better and no worse
I just got lost
Every river that I tried to cross
Every door I ever tried was locked
Ohhh, and I’m…
Just waiting ’til the shine wears off
You might be a big fish
In a little pond
Doesn’t mean you’ve won
‘Cause along may come
A bigger one
And you’ll be lost
Every river that you tried to cross
Every gun you ever held went off
Ohhh, and I’m…
Just waiting until the firing stopped
Ohhh, and I’m…
Just waiting ’til the shine wears off
Ohhh, and I…
Just waiting ’til the shine wears off
Ohhh, and I..
Just waiting ’til the shine wears off
4The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. 6My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
7"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
10Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
Ezekial 34 (ESV)
7So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."
John 10 (ESV)
Are you losing or are you lost?
Coldplay
Just because I’m losing
Doesn’t mean I’m lost
Doesn’t mean I’ll stop
Doesn’t mean I won't cross
Just because I’m hurting
Doesn’t mean I’m hurt
Doesn’t mean I didn’t get
What I deserved
No better and no worse
I just got lost
Every river that I tried to cross
Every door I ever tried was locked
Ohhh, and I’m…
Just waiting ’til the shine wears off
You might be a big fish
In a little pond
Doesn’t mean you’ve won
‘Cause along may come
A bigger one
And you’ll be lost
Every river that you tried to cross
Every gun you ever held went off
Ohhh, and I’m…
Just waiting until the firing stopped
Ohhh, and I’m…
Just waiting ’til the shine wears off
Ohhh, and I…
Just waiting ’til the shine wears off
Ohhh, and I..
Just waiting ’til the shine wears off
4The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. 6My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
7"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
10Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
Ezekial 34 (ESV)
7So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."
John 10 (ESV)
Are you losing or are you lost?
7.9.08
New Beginnings
September always seems like the beginning of a new year for me and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.
I'm going back to school. Teacher training, with three children in school. My children are starting new things too; first time ever in before and after school care so I can be at school; first time I'll be busy with more than just them, the house, and their father. I'm going back to school without the support of my husband; not financially or emotionally. He doesn't want me to go. But I am going ahead anyway, and it's right, and it's good.
Fresh and new is such a great feeling; but change can also bring anxiety and stress. I need to spend extra time in prayer and studying the word to ensure that my eyes are open to what Jesus has in store in the midst of all that is going on. I want to see with His eyes so that my worry disappears. I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that I can walk in His strength.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7
Jesus says;
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Matthew 6:25-34
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17
Jesus also says;
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
John 14:27
"Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."
Isaiah 35:3-4
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Hebrews 12:12-13
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:1-6
September always seems like the beginning of a new year for me and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.
I'm going back to school. Teacher training, with three children in school. My children are starting new things too; first time ever in before and after school care so I can be at school; first time I'll be busy with more than just them, the house, and their father. I'm going back to school without the support of my husband; not financially or emotionally. He doesn't want me to go. But I am going ahead anyway, and it's right, and it's good.
Fresh and new is such a great feeling; but change can also bring anxiety and stress. I need to spend extra time in prayer and studying the word to ensure that my eyes are open to what Jesus has in store in the midst of all that is going on. I want to see with His eyes so that my worry disappears. I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that I can walk in His strength.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7
Jesus says;
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Matthew 6:25-34
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17
Jesus also says;
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
John 14:27
"Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."
Isaiah 35:3-4
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Hebrews 12:12-13
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:1-6
12.8.08
I misplaced my Bible. I have others here at home, but the one I'm missing is my only ESV translation and has all my recent meanderings marked. It is lovingly autographed by my friend Sandra who gave it to me. I went nuts yesturday looking for it. I think I left it in the pew at church... but this thought didn't come to me until 11pm.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." Colossians 3:16. It's in me, I just want it back in my hands.
A Psalm for this time and season...
The LORD Is My Light and My Salvation
Of David.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, "Seek my face."My heart says to you,
"Your face, LORD, do I seek."
Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the LORD will take me in.
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
Psalm 27
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." Colossians 3:16. It's in me, I just want it back in my hands.
A Psalm for this time and season...
The LORD Is My Light and My Salvation
Of David.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, "Seek my face."My heart says to you,
"Your face, LORD, do I seek."
Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the LORD will take me in.
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
Psalm 27
29.7.08
"If you are following Jesus, if you've committed your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, he may discipline you - with a purpose - but he is not punishing you.
The follower of Jesus does not have a burden of guilt wondering 'What did I do wrong?' There is no karma in the Christian life. What goes around doesn't come around to me; it comes around to the cross and stops there. If I confess my sin and forsake my sin, it stops at the cross.
It doesn't mean I never have trouble it means I never have punishment."
Ted Klassen "Hope When It's Hopeless" Culloden Church 2008
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
The follower of Jesus does not have a burden of guilt wondering 'What did I do wrong?' There is no karma in the Christian life. What goes around doesn't come around to me; it comes around to the cross and stops there. If I confess my sin and forsake my sin, it stops at the cross.
It doesn't mean I never have trouble it means I never have punishment."
Ted Klassen "Hope When It's Hopeless" Culloden Church 2008
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
23.7.08
"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
Matthew 7:11 (ESV)
"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Luke 11:13 (ESV)
... how much more... what a thing our Saviour said to us.
Ask and see how much more. I'm going to.
Matthew 7:11 (ESV)
"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Luke 11:13 (ESV)
... how much more... what a thing our Saviour said to us.
Ask and see how much more. I'm going to.
3.7.08
NANCY HECHE
the truth comes out
The Story of My Hearts Transformation
Read it!!
" ... I know that He works together all of the things of my life to make me more like Jesus (Romans 8:28)...
It's not just that God waves a magic wand over my troubles and abracadabra! it's all better. It's God and Nancy working together. He does His work - holding, illuminating, guiding - and I do my work - praying, reading His Word, obeying - and I grow and heal and learn to wait and be patient, and then I become more like Jesus. " pp. 134
" It's not fair! Not fair? Leif Enger in his beautiful book Peace Like a River, writes, 'Fair is whatever God wants to do.'
" I cried and yelled and screamed at God and told Him I would not do this. Period. I would not do this. This is more than I can bear. Don't You get it? THIS IS MORE THAN I CAN BEAR.
Is this what I was being prepared for when I sang those songs and prayed those prayers about the fellowhip of Christ's sufferings? Did you take me at my word, really? I didn't mean it to happen this way... why me? " pp. 135
Acts 3:26
God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.
Read that verse again.
" God sent Jesus to bless me, and that blessing turned me from my wicked ways! I wondered if I had ever read that verse before. God's blessing is what turns me from my ways to His way. "
... I thought in my 'Christian' lingo, that blessing [her] would be the same as agreeing with [her]. I didn't agree with [her] position, but I loved [her] and longed to have a relationship with [her]. It was so hard. Most of the time I didn't know what to do or say.
... I confessed my hard heart and I blessed [her], and I blessed [her] friends. "
pp 138 ( []brackets mine)
" I believe that the Bible is a book of what God is doing, what is happening, not just what God did, or what happened hundreds of years ago. God did not speak in Bible times and then go mute! He is speaking things into existence all the time. "
" I learn what to expect today by reading what God did yesterday. It's very scientific, actually. If a scientist performs an experiment over and over and gets the same result each time, she can expect that the same things can and will happen each and every other time. "
" I got out my Greek lexicon to study the word 'blessing'. Here's what I read: to bless is to ask God to interfere, to take action in one's life, to bring them to the desired relationship with Himself so that they are truly blessed and fully satisfied. "
" To bless is to ask God to interfere, to take action in one's life, to bring them to the desired relationship with Himself. . . Do you get how powerful that is?
... blessing releases God's power to change the character and destiny of the one being blessed. WOW! "
" I wanted us to learn to bless each other,... with a knowing, informed, passionate, intentional "BLESS YOU!" We committed to blessing those who annoyed us in traffic, collegues who frustrated us at work, friends and family who hurt us at home. "
" God bless you. God bless me. " pp. 139,140
Seriously, read the book!
the truth comes out
The Story of My Hearts Transformation
Read it!!
Nancy's story has something for everyone.
Blessing - from the book...
" That's me. That's me when I'm stuck in self pity and frustration I can see only the sting of the moment. I can't stand back far enough to get God's perspective,... I'm right in the middle of it, feeling hopeless and angry, not a plan in sight. " pp.132,133" ... I know that He works together all of the things of my life to make me more like Jesus (Romans 8:28)...
It's not just that God waves a magic wand over my troubles and abracadabra! it's all better. It's God and Nancy working together. He does His work - holding, illuminating, guiding - and I do my work - praying, reading His Word, obeying - and I grow and heal and learn to wait and be patient, and then I become more like Jesus. " pp. 134
" It's not fair! Not fair? Leif Enger in his beautiful book Peace Like a River, writes, 'Fair is whatever God wants to do.'
" I cried and yelled and screamed at God and told Him I would not do this. Period. I would not do this. This is more than I can bear. Don't You get it? THIS IS MORE THAN I CAN BEAR.
Is this what I was being prepared for when I sang those songs and prayed those prayers about the fellowhip of Christ's sufferings? Did you take me at my word, really? I didn't mean it to happen this way... why me? " pp. 135
Acts 3:26
God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.
Read that verse again.
" God sent Jesus to bless me, and that blessing turned me from my wicked ways! I wondered if I had ever read that verse before. God's blessing is what turns me from my ways to His way. "
... I thought in my 'Christian' lingo, that blessing [her] would be the same as agreeing with [her]. I didn't agree with [her] position, but I loved [her] and longed to have a relationship with [her]. It was so hard. Most of the time I didn't know what to do or say.
... I confessed my hard heart and I blessed [her], and I blessed [her] friends. "
pp 138 ( []brackets mine)
" I believe that the Bible is a book of what God is doing, what is happening, not just what God did, or what happened hundreds of years ago. God did not speak in Bible times and then go mute! He is speaking things into existence all the time. "
" I learn what to expect today by reading what God did yesterday. It's very scientific, actually. If a scientist performs an experiment over and over and gets the same result each time, she can expect that the same things can and will happen each and every other time. "
" I got out my Greek lexicon to study the word 'blessing'. Here's what I read: to bless is to ask God to interfere, to take action in one's life, to bring them to the desired relationship with Himself so that they are truly blessed and fully satisfied. "
" To bless is to ask God to interfere, to take action in one's life, to bring them to the desired relationship with Himself. . . Do you get how powerful that is?
... blessing releases God's power to change the character and destiny of the one being blessed. WOW! "
" I wanted us to learn to bless each other,... with a knowing, informed, passionate, intentional "BLESS YOU!" We committed to blessing those who annoyed us in traffic, collegues who frustrated us at work, friends and family who hurt us at home. "
" God bless you. God bless me. " pp. 139,140
Seriously, read the book!
7.6.08
In Psalm 42 "...the psalmist preaches to his own soul. Verse 5: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” O how crucial this is in the fight of faith. We must learn to preach the truth to ourselves. Listen to Lloyd-Jones take hold of this verse:
John Piper, June 1, 2008. Spiritual Depression in the Psalms
Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says,: “Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you.” (Spiritual Depression, 20-21)On this side of the cross, we know the greatest ground for our hope: Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and triumphant over death. So the main thing we must learn is to preach the gospel to ourselves:
Listen, self: If God is for you, who can be against you? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for you, how will he not also with him graciously give you all things? Who shall bring any charge against you as God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for you. Who shall separate you from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:31–35 paraphrased)Learn to preach the gospel to yourself. If this psalmist were living after Christ, that is what he would have done. "
John Piper, June 1, 2008. Spiritual Depression in the Psalms
4.6.08
A REAL CHRISTIAN IS AN ODD NUMBER, ANYWAY.
HE FEELS SUPREME LOVE FOR ONE WHOM HE HAS NEVER SEEN;
TALKS FAMILIARLY EVERY DAY TO SOMEONE HE CANNOT SEE;
EXPECTS TO GO TO HEAVEN ON THE VIRTUE OF ANOTHER;
EMPTIES HIMSELF IN ORDER TO BE FULL;
ADMITS HE IS WRONG SO HE CAN BE DECLARED RIGHT;
GOES DOWN IN ORDER TO GET UP;
IS STRONGEST WHEN HE IS WEAKEST;
RICHEST WHEN HE IS POOREST AND HAPPIEST WHEN HE FEELS THE WORST.
HE DIES SO HE CAN LIVE; FORSAKES IN ORDER TO HAVE;
GIVES AWAY SO HE CAN KEEP;
SEES THE INVISIBLE;
HEARS THE INAUDIBLE;
AND KNOWS THAT WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE.
A. W. TOZER
HE FEELS SUPREME LOVE FOR ONE WHOM HE HAS NEVER SEEN;
TALKS FAMILIARLY EVERY DAY TO SOMEONE HE CANNOT SEE;
EXPECTS TO GO TO HEAVEN ON THE VIRTUE OF ANOTHER;
EMPTIES HIMSELF IN ORDER TO BE FULL;
ADMITS HE IS WRONG SO HE CAN BE DECLARED RIGHT;
GOES DOWN IN ORDER TO GET UP;
IS STRONGEST WHEN HE IS WEAKEST;
RICHEST WHEN HE IS POOREST AND HAPPIEST WHEN HE FEELS THE WORST.
HE DIES SO HE CAN LIVE; FORSAKES IN ORDER TO HAVE;
GIVES AWAY SO HE CAN KEEP;
SEES THE INVISIBLE;
HEARS THE INAUDIBLE;
AND KNOWS THAT WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE.
A. W. TOZER
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