Father, I don’t want to be conformed to the futile and dissolute thinking of the world. Renew my mind, help me to stop polluting it with the things the world wants me to see and hear. Transform me according to what is true about my true identity and my new self. Amen.
Give Me All Of You!!!
“Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self—in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Poisonous Thoughts
Once upon a time a man whose ax was missing suspected his neighbor’s son. The boy walked like a thief, looked like a thief, and spoke like a thief. But the man found his ax while digging in the valley, and the next time he saw his neighbor’s son, the boy walked, looked, and spoke like any other child.
Lao Tzu
The Gladness Of The Man Of Sorrows
As he sees us day by day more conformed to his image, he rejoices in us. Just as you see the sculptor with his chisel fetching out the statue which lies hidden in the block of marble, taking off a corner here, and a chip there, and a piece here—see how he smiles when he brings out the features of the form divine—so our Saviour, as he proceeds with his graving tool, working through the operation of the Spirit, and making us like unto himself, finds much delight in us. The painter makes rough drafts at first, and lays on the colours roughly; some do not understand what he is doing, and for three or four sittings the portrait is much unlike the man it aims at representing; but the painter can discern the features in the canvas; he sees it looming through that mist and haze of colour; he knows that beauty will yet beam forth from yonder daubs and blotches. So Jesus, though we are yet but mere outlines of his image, can discover his own perfection in us where no eye but his own, as the Mighty Artist, can perceive it. Dear friends, it is for this reason, because we are the work of his hands, that he takes delight in us. We are his brethren—and brothers should delight in brothers. We are his spouse—and where should the husband find his comfort but in his bride? We are his body—shall not the head be content with the members? We are one with him, vitally, personally, everlastingly one; and it is little marvel, therefore, if we have a mutual joy in each other, so that his garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces of his church, wherein he has been made glad.
As yet we do not see The Lord Jesus Christ or what we will be as the finished product of his work for us and in us, but that fact should not lessen our joy Our Saviour is totally satisfied with the fruit of his work for sinners.
Faith & Wisdom
James 1:2-8 Easy-to-Read Version
Faith and Wisdom
My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.
Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom. But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind. People like that are thinking two different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.
Salt & Light
We come on our own, we come together. We come with our excitement and with our lack of expectation.
We come with our lamps burning brightly and with our lamps hidden.
We come with our longing and with our pride.
We come with our words and with our silence.
We come with our music and with our resentments.
We come to you, God of truth, with our hands open
and ask that you reach out to us afresh.
Lord forgive our hardness of heart
Forgive us for those times when we think we can do it without you
Forgive us for our coldness towards you and others
Melt the ice of our coldness and breathe your new life into us
Generous God,
we thank you that a small amount of salt
can season a whole meal;
a small candle can light a whole room,
a small act of kindness inspire a whole life,
a small community transform a whole city,
a small prayer bring near a whole kingdom.
We thank you, Lord, we thank you.
Please show me the areas of my life which have become flavourless?!
Show me in what ways can I be salt in my world?
We pray, gracious God, for your Church throughout the world, for your Church in this nation, in this place, that we would be light bearers and truth bearers. May we shed the light of encouragement where there is disappointment; the light of integrity where there is corruption; the light of clarity where there is uncertainty; the light of challenge where there is complacency; the light of acceptance where there is rejection. And may we always walk and pray and serve in the light of humility and in the strength of your name, that others may see you in us and give you the glory.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
May you be as salt where there is staleness;
light where there is darkness;
truth where there is unbelief
and love where there is great need.
And may you know the blessing of God the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit,
close to you each moment and each day.
Tomorrow
Always put off until tomorrow what you shouldn’t do at all.
Morris Mandel
Not Necessarily Doubting
We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.
C. S. Lewis
In His Hands
Those who put themselves in His hands will become perfect, as He is perfect- perfect in love, wisdom, joy, beauty, health, and immortality. The change will not be completed in this life, for death is an important part of the treatment. How far the change will have gone before death in any particular Christian is uncertain.
C. S. Lewis
Erroneous Thinking Of The World
Father, I don’t want to be conformed to the erroneous thinking of the world. Renew my mind, transform me according to what is true about my TRUE identity and my new self. Amen.
Through The Eyes Of A Dog
“God, make me the person my dog thinks I am.”
Church sign
Nothing Transcends The Power Of God
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