Rise

“If anything can make us rise off our beds of sloth and serve God with all our might, it should be this,

the hope of our near enjoyment of God forever.”

-Thomas Watson

Just some thoughts

“Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes.”

1 Samuel 12:16

Matthew Henry’s commentary on this verse convicts me:  ”If we consider what great things the Lord hath done for us, especially in the great work of redemption, we can neither want motive, encouragement, nor assistance in serving him.”

• Why do we struggle to find time in our schedules to read His Word, serve His people, or share His gospel?
• Why do we seek praise and validation for every good work?
• Why do we turn first to others and not to Him, who is able to do exceedingly more?

Today I am reminded of a C.T. Studd quote that breaks me each and every time I read it:

“I am getting desperately afraid of going to heaven for I have had the vision of the shame I shall suffer as I get my first glimpse of the Lord Jesus; His majesty, power and marvellous love for me, who treated Him so meanly and shabbily on earth, and acted as though I did Him a favour in serving Him!  No wonder God shall have to wipe away the tears off all faces, for we shall be broken-hearted when we see the depth of His love and the shallowness of ours.”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s take a stand, watch for His mighty works with expectancy, and respond properly –  praising God from whom all blessings flow!

Ministry verse for 2012

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Prayer

Lord, I want 2012 to be a year devoted to more prayer  – pressing, praising, persistent prayer.

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work” – Oswald Chambers

“It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believingly, continue in prayer until we obtain an answer.” – George Muller

“Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a minister.  Pray; then my dear brother.  Pray, pray, pray.” – Edward Payson

“As is the business of tailors to make clothes, and cobblers to make shoes, so it is the buisness of Christians to pray.” – Martin Luther

“When you pray, let your heart be without words than your words without heart.”  – John Bunyan

Winter Books

Do you have summer books & winter books?  I do.

Reading is such a pleasure for me year-round, but is nearly a necessity in the winter.  Living in Montana, our winters are typically long, snowy, cold, and windy, and I don’t want to be outdoors very much.  However, this current winter season has been an exception, and we are still anticipating the first blanket of snow.

In this last week of December, I worked only two days, which granted me enough time off to write an article, spend five nights in a row with family, visit friends, do a little shopping, and, of course, celebrate the birth of Christ.  It has been wonderful!

But tonight, as we usher in the new year, I would delight in a snowstorm.  With the holidays over, loved ones safely home, and the decorations coming down tomorrow, the familiar longing has returned.  I want the temperatures to drop and lovely flakes to fall from the heavens above and fill my yard, so that I can sit on my couch by the window, sip a cup of hot coffee, and lose myself in a good winter book of adventures in the Scottish countryside and a love so real.

Don’t Waste Your Life

Recommended from a friend on twitter, I watched this 8 minute video clip three times tonight, this final day of 2011.  It’s a great reminder from John Piper to not squander the days, weeks, or years God has left for us on this earth, but to make much of Him and live with great intention and purpose.  With that being said, in 2012:

 ”let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

Noble Heart

“You may speak but a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come.” – Charles Spurgeon

Spiritual Secret

On a mission trip to the interior of Brazil six months ago, I read Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor from the soft sway of a hammock.  The truth is that it had been sitting on my shelf for years.  Highly recommended from a mentor, I had bought it along with some other Christian classics in 2006, but, as passionate readers tend to do, I had set it aside for other books on my reading list.   As I was packing my carry-on backpack for Brazil, I decided that reading a missionary story while on a short-term mission trip would be a good idea … and it was.

Some of the lines in this book are so personally meaningful to me, as I was going through two big transitions this past summer- a career change from higher education to ministry, and finally experiencing a breakthrough from a stronghold in my life, thanks be to God!  The fact that I boarded that Frontier Airlines jet for a mission trip was pure, solid evidence that God had drawn me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure (Psalm 40:2).  He alone is responsible for the victory!

Let these quotes sink in, and I’m sure that they’ll inspire, encourage, convict, or humble you too.

- “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.”

- “I saw Him and I sought Him, I had him and I wanted Him.”

- “We may have more wealth in these days, better education, greater comfort in traveling and in our surroundings even as missionaries, but have we the spirit of urgency, the deep, inward convictions that moved those who went before us; have we the same passion of love, personal love for the Lord Jesus Christ?  If these are lacking, it is a loss for which nothing can compensate.”

- “Pray the Lord ever to give me the single eye, the clear judgment, the wisdom and gentleness, the patient spirit, the unwavering purpose, the unshaken faith, the Christlike love needed for the efficient discharge of my duties.”

- “The Holy Spirit never creates hungerings and thirstings after righteousness, but in order that Christ may fill the longing soul.”

- “There was no thought of imitation now!  It was in blessed reality “Christ liveth in me.”  And how great the difference! – instead of bondage, liberty; instead of failure, quiet victories within; instead of fear and weakness, a restful sense of sufficiency in Another.”

- “It is no small comfort to me to know that God has called me to my work, putting me where I am and as I am.  I have not sought the position and I dare not leave it.  He knows why He places me here – whether to do, or learn, or suffer.”

Good tunes.

I’ve been enjoying these lately.  What are you listening to right now?

Many waters cannot quench love.