Tag Archives: Christianity

Crafted By Human Hands

Psalms Logo

Psalm 115:1-8Β The Voice

Not for us, O Eternal One; this glory is not for usβ€”but for Your name
because of Your loyal love and truth.
Why should the nations ask,
β€œWhere is their God now?”
Our God is in heaven
doing whatever He chooses.
Those nations worship idols of silver and gold,
crafted by human hands:
They have given their gods mouths, but they cannot speak;
eyes, but they cannot see.
They have provided their idols with ears, but they cannot hear;
noses, but they cannot smell.
They have fashioned hands, but the idols cannot reach out and touch;
feet, but they cannot walk.
Their idols cannot make a sound in their finely crafted throats.
The people who make idols will become useless like them,
like all who trust in idols.

Wounds Of The Spirit

Quote Logo

There are wounds of the spirit which never close and are intended in God’s mercy to bring us nearer to Him, and to prevent us leaving Him by their very perpetuity. Such wounds then may almost be taken as a pledge, or at least as a ground for a humble trust, that God will give us the great gift of perseverance to the end. This is how I comfort myself in my own great bereavements.

John Henry Newman

Seek For No Other Footsteps

Quote Logo

Be guided, only by the healer of the sick, the raiser of the dead, the friend of all who were afflicted and forlorn, the patient Master who shed tears of compassion for our infirmities.Β  We cannot but be right when we put all the rest away, and do everything in remembrance of Him…There can be no confusion in following Him, and seeking for no other footsteps, I am certain!

Β 

Charles Dickens

The Means To New Life For Others

Verse Logo

2 Corinthians 4:1-12Β The Voice

Drawing from Exodus 32–34, Paul uses Moses as a model of one who has been transformed by God’s glory, but in a limited way. Moses encountered God (the Lord) through the Spirit on that mountain, but the Spirit nowβ€”as a fulfillment of the new covenantβ€”dwells in the hearts of believers and continually transforms them. This transformation is based on a new way of understanding God’s revelation: Jesus Himself, the One who reveals God’s glory, is the very image of God. Through this Spirit-enabled encounter, believers experience a new way of living and therefore come to resemble the Anointed One as they reflect His glory.

Since we are joined together in this ministry as a result of the mercy shown to all of us by God, we do not become discouraged. Instead, we have renounced all the things that hide in shame; we refuse to live deceptively or use trickery; we do not pollute God’s Word with any other agenda. Instead, we aim to tell the truth plainly, appealing to the conscience of every person under God’s watchful eye. Now if our gospel remains veiled, it is only veiled from those who are lost and dying, because the evil god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers. As a result the light of the good news, the radiant glory of the Anointedβ€”who is the very image of Godβ€”cannot shine down on them. We do not preach about ourselves. The subject of all our sermons is Jesus, the Anointed One. He is Lord and Master of all. For Jesus’ sake we are here to serve you. The God who spoke light into existence, saying, β€œLet light shine from the darkness,”[a] is the very One who sets our hearts ablaze to shed light on the knowledge of God’s glory revealed in the face of Jesus, the Anointed One.

But this beautiful treasure is contained in usβ€”cracked pots made of earth and clayβ€”so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us. We are cracked and chipped from our afflictions on all sides, but we are not crushed by them. We are bewildered at times, but we do not give in to despair. We are persecuted, but we have not been abandoned. We have been knocked down, but we are not destroyed. We always carry around in our bodies the reality of the brutal death and suffering of Jesus. As a result, His resurrection life rises and reveals its wondrous power in our bodies as well. For while we live, we are constantly handed over to death on account of Jesus so that His life may be revealed even in our mortal bodies of flesh. So death is constantly at work in us, but life is working in you.

Jesus’ death is the means to new life for others. Similarly when believers suffer for others as Jesus did, their suffering is an avenue for God’s life to transform situations.

Find Rest For Your Soul

Verse Logo

Matthew 11:28-29Β ~Β The Voice

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon your shouldersβ€”it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest.

God’s Perfect Love

Quote Logo

It would seem, after having been a Christian for almost 80 years, that I would no longer do ugly things that need forgiving.Β  Yet I am constantly doing things to others that cause me to have to go back and ask their forgiveness.Β  Sometimes these are things I actually do- other times they are simply attitudes I let creep in which break the circle of God’s perfect love.

Corrie ten Boom

How Great Is The Contrast?

Β 

How great is the contrast between that forgiveness to which we lay claim from God towards us, and our temper towards others!Β  God, we expect, will forgive us great offences, offences many times repeated; and will forgive them freely, liberally, and from the heart.Β  But we are offended at our neighbor, perhaps, for the merest trifles, and for an injury only once offered; and we are but half reconciled when we deem to forgive.Β  Even an uncertain humor, an ambiguous word, or a suspected look, will inflame our anger; and hardly any persuasion will induce us for a long time to relent.

Β 

Henry W. Thornton

β€œI am loved”

Love Logo

My Thoughts πŸ’­Β 

Last night during the evening service at our church, Nik our Minister read the following and asked us to discuss which one from the bullet list really stood out to us, and why?:

β€œI am loved”

but what does this mean to you?

β€’ The whole of me my body, mind heart and soul, that is my strength, my thoughts my deepest longings and all my emotions are loved by God.
β€’ God knows me AND loves me (not God knows me but loves me)
β€’ I am loved for who I am. Completely, Utterly, For Ever.
β€’ Others may dislike me, but God loves me
β€’ I may hate myself, but God continues to love me
β€’ He loves me for what I am and what I will be.
β€’ He loves me because he understands me.

it was really interesting hearing the different answers from the diverse brothers and sisters in our congragation.

So I wondered if you could comment with your answers/thoughts to the same question above?

The Most Beautiful Part

Quote Logo

A traveler, as he passed through a forest, saw a part of a huge oak, which appeared misshapen, and almost seemed to spoil the scenery. “If,” sad he, “I was the owner of this forest, I would cut down that tree.” But when he had ascended the hill, and taken a full view of the forest, this same tree appeared the most beautiful part of the landscape. “How erroneously,” said he, “I judged when I saw only a part!” The full view, the harmony and proportion of things, are all necessary to clear up our judgment.

Unknown

Come Together In Agreement

Verse Logo

1 Corinthians 1:10-14Β (VOICE)

My brothers and sisters, I urge you by the name of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed, to come together in agreement. Do not allow anything or anyone to create division among you. Instead, be restored, completely fastened together with one mind and shared judgment. I have heard troubling reports from Chloe’s people that you, my siblings, are consumed by fighting and petty disagreements. What I have heard is that each of you is taking sides, saying, β€œI am with Paul,” or β€œI am with Apollos,” or β€œI am with Cephas,” or β€œI am with the Anointed One.” Has the Anointed One been split up into many small pieces? Do you think Paul was crucified for you? Were you ceremonially washed through baptism[a] into the name of Paul? Absolutely not!

Paul knows that if the work of Jesus’ gospel degenerates into a cult of personality, it will hardly resemble true Christianity. If the focus is on Paul, Cephas, Apollos, or any famous religious leader, then that distracts from the person and central message of Jesus. Any cult of personality is intoxicating, and it is often easier to claim to follow a person who can be seen and touched. But Christianity is founded upon the belief that Jesus is the head of the church and that all of His followers serve His will as a part of the royal priesthood.

$5 Bill

Quote Logo

A few years ago I had managed to screw up my life so badly that I found myself without a home and without hope. I’m ashamed to admit it, but even then I was so absorbed by my own self-pity that all I could think of was begging enough money to buy the cheapest drink I could find. One day I was sitting in front of a store panhandling when a woman walked by with a small boy in tow. She ignored my pitch and hurried away. As I watched them go down the sidewalk the small boy broke free and came running back. He stood in front of me, fumbling in his coat pocket; he pulled out a five-dollar bill that was almost certainly more money than he had ever held before, and handed it to me. I was completely dumbstruck and just sat there staring at him with the money in my hand. By then his mother had returned and with tears in her eyes gently led the boy away. He turned back once to wave and they were gone. I don’t know how long I sat there, but I have not had another drink since then.

Unknown

Humility

Verse Logo

1 Peter 5:1-9Β (VOICE)

Now for the elders of the church. I want to encourage you. As you know, I am an elder, too, like you. I have witnessed firsthand the sufferings of the Anointed One as well as shared in the glories which are soon to be revealed. When you shepherd the flock God has given you, watch over them not because you have to but because you want to. For this is how God would want it not because you’re being compensated somehow but because you are eager to watch over them. Don’t lead them as if you were a dictator, but lead your flock by example; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will be crowned with honor that will shine brightly forever. You who are younger in the faith: do as your elders and leaders ask. All of you should treat each other with humility, for as it says in Proverbs,

God opposes the proud
but offers grace to the humble.

So bow down under God’s strong hand; then when the time comes, God will lift you up. Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries.

Humility is rarely a virtue that our culture values. We’re trained from an early age to show our strengths and hide our weaknesses. This type of thinking also spills over into our models of leadership, as we learn to dictate to others how they should perform. Peter, however, says that we should be humble in our relationships with one another and not lead as dictators. In fact, this humility before one another and God is actually the position of the greatest strength. Our enemy desires to consume us, but we find strength to resist him when we are dependent upon God for His strength.

Most importantly, be disciplined and stay on guard. Your enemy the devil is prowling around outside like a roaring lion, just waiting and hoping for the chance to devour someone. Resist him and be strong in your faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are fellow sufferers with you.

The Special Ox

Quote Logo

There was a man who heard about a very special ox and determined to have it for his own. He traveled all over the world. He spent his entire fortune. He gave his whole life to the search for this ox. At last, just moments before he died, he realized he had been riding it all the time.

Thomas Aquinas

Don’t You Know, Havn’t You Heard?

Verse Logo

Isaiah 40:21-31Β (VOICE)

Don’t you know, haven’t you heard or even been toldΒ from your earliest memories how the earth came to be?Β Who else could have done it except God, enthroned high above the earth?Β From such a vantage people seem like grasshoppers to Him.Β Who else but God could stretch out the skies as if they were a curtain,Β draw them tight, suspend them over our heads like the roof of a tent?Β 

God reduces the rulers and judges,Β the rich and powerful of the earth, to nothing;Β They scarcely are planted, take root and start growing,Β before God blows a withering breath,Β And storm winds carry them away like chaff.Β The Holy One asks, β€œDo you really think you can findΒ someone or something to compare to Me? My equal?” Look at the myriad of stars and constellations above you.Β Who set them to burning, each in its place?Β Who knows those countless lights each by name?Β They obediently shine, each in its place,Β because God has the great strength and strong power to make it so.

Why, then, do you, Jacob, inheritors of God’s promise,Β you, Israel, chosen of Godβ€”Why do you say, β€œMy troubled path is hidden from the Eternal;Β God has lost all interest in My cause”?Β Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?Β The Eternal, the Everlasting God,Β The Creator of the whole world, never gets tired or weary.Β His wisdom is beyond understanding.Β God strengthens the wearyΒ and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care.Β Young people will get tired;Β strapping young men will stumble and fall.

But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength.Β They will soar on wings as eagles.Β They will runβ€”never winded, never weary.
They will walkβ€”never tired, never faint.

Smile From The Heart Out

Quote Logo

A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody until it is given away. Keep smiling- and let your smile be one of sincerity. Don’t just force it out to make a sale, to keep out of a fight, or for similar reasons. But smile from the heart out, making those who see you smile do likewise in a feeling of good fellowship.

James M. Tulloch

Loving Perfectly

Quote Logo

Every single person in our lives will disappoint us at some level. Some days they’ll be busy when we need them to be still; other days they’ll be self-centered when we need them to concentrate on us. Sometimes they’ll bruise us with hard words aimed right for the soft places in our soul. They won’t meet all our emotional needs. They can’t; they have too many needs of their own. They’re sinners just like us. Only our Creator can love us perfectly, the way He created us to be loved. His love is the only thing that can define us without destroying us.

Lisa Harper