a work in progress

"“Do not think you are getting no good from the Bible, merely because you do not see that good day by..."

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:43:10 -0500

“

“Do not think you are getting no good from the Bible, merely because you do not see that good day by day. The greatest effects are by no means those which make the most noise, and are most easily observed. The greatest effects are often silent, quiet, and hard to detect at the time they are being produced.

“Think of the influence of the moon upon the earth, and of the air upon the human lungs. Remember how silently the dew falls, and how imperceptibly the grass grows. There may be far more doing than you think in your soul by your Bible-reading.”

”

- (J. C. Ryle, Practical Religion, 136)

"If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe, but precisely because I cannot do..."

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:58:28 -0500

““If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe, but precisely because I cannot do this, I must believe.””

"Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply; and at length, by repeated..."

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:09:49 -0500

“Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply; and at length, by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object of her choice, by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone, relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day, but had stood the test of many months suspense, and enumerating with energy all his good qualities, she did conquer her father’s incredulity, and reconcile him to the match.”

- Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin

Who do you believe when you can’t get throughWhen everything you know seems so untrueWhen...

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 22:23:28 -0500

Who do you believe when you can’t get through
When everything you know seems so untrue
When I’m lost in a place that I thought I knew
Give me some way that I might find you

“Through Smoke” | Needtobreathe

"‎”It is a risk to love. What if it doesn’t work out? Ah, but what if it does?"

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:30:21 -0400

“‎”It is a risk to love.
What if it doesn’t work out?
Ah, but what if it does?””

- Peter McWilliams

"[Doubting my devotion to Christ] is so scary when that happens because if that took hold and..."

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 12:50:41 -0400

“

[Doubting my devotion to Christ] is so scary when that happens because if that took hold and conquered, then you would be over. Your faith would be over, your ministry would be over, and it would be terrifying.

So I plead with the Lord to open my eyes. I plead with him to incline my heart to his testimonies. I plead with him to pour out the love of God into my heart. I plead with him to help me see the glory of Christ as self-authenticatingly real and compelling. And I go to those places in the Bible that speak of his subjectively-experienced and objectively-grounded love for me.

”

- John Piper

"The truth is that I am not good. By nature, I am shaky and inconsistent. Why then do I return to the..."

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 02:35:48 -0400

“The truth is that I am not good. By nature, I am shaky and inconsistent. Why then do I return to the old man in me, to sit at his feet and learn as if he had something good to say?”

- someone random

"Don’t doubt in the dark what God showed you in the light."

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:58:12 -0400

“Don’t doubt in the dark what God showed you in the light.”

And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside...

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:55:41 -0400

And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.

[1 Samuel 12:20-22 ESV]

"You may fear that the Lord has passed you by, but it is not so: he who counts the stars, and calls..."

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:41:34 -0400

“You may fear that the Lord has passed you by, but it is not so: he who counts the stars, and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting his own children. He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature he ever made, or the only saint he ever loved. Approach him and be at peace.”

- Charles Spurgeon (via —thefearofgod)

Battling the Unbelief of Despondency

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:51:00 -0400

Battling the Unbelief of Despondency:

“The lesson of Jesus’ life and the lesson of the Psalms is this: every cave that you’re in—wandering along, feeling the rocks, stumbling, stepping, bumping your head—every cave that you are in is a tunnel that opens into glory. It opens into a day like today in Heaven, with the sun shining, and the grass green, and the waters flowing—as long as you don’t sit down in the cave and blow out the candle of faith.” - John Piper

"Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove With all thy quickening powers, Come, shed abroad a Savior’s..."

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 23:38:52 -0400

““Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove With all thy quickening powers, Come, shed abroad a Savior’s love, And that shall kindle ours.””

"Not without design does God write the music of our lives. Be it ours to learn the tune, and not be..."

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:32:32 -0400

“Not without design does God write the music of our lives. Be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the “rests.” They are not to be slurred over, not to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the keynote. If we look up, God Himself will beat the time for us. With the eye on Him, we shall strike the next note full and clear.
If we sadly say to ourselves, “There is no music in a ‘rest,’” let us not forget “there is the making of music in it.” The making of music is often a slow and painful process in this life. How patiently God works to teach us!
How long He waits for us to learn the lesson!”

- Ruskin (via set-apartgirl)

"If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and..."

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:33:25 -0400

““If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full.””

- John Piper

Foreknown & Destined In The Son

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:42:00 -0400

Foreknown & Destined In The Son:

About a trillion centuries
Before the world was made, and seas
Of deep and empty space were not
Yet there to make an endless spot
For nothingness, nor Gabriel,
Nor Lucifer, nor flames of hell,
Nor beasts and elders round the throne,
But only God the Lord alone—
No element of any kind,
Nor…

"The more robust, the more detailed your theology, the more humble you should become. Why? Because..."

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:54:40 -0400

“

The more robust, the more detailed your theology, the more humble you should become. Why? Because you did not figure God out; he revealed himself to you. Don’t you remember the words of Jesus to Peter when the disciple correctly acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah? “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 16:17) The theologian owes his knowledge to God himself, who has not only made himself known in creation and Scripture but has also opened our eyes to understand and embrace the truth.

The proud theologian has somehow convinced himself, or at least acts as if, he discovered God. But you understand that you did not uncover the truth of God like some kind of rock star archeologist. He sought you, caught you, and gave you sight, knowledge, and life. Humility should be borne out of your theology because you are so entirely dependent on God for it.

”

- Joe Thorn

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear...

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:56:24 -0400

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

Psalm 116:1-2, 5-7

Seriously overwhelmed by the evidences of God’s faithfulness across all areas of my life. He is good and sovereign.

In light of the Gospel, as our only hope and treasure- count everything as loss compared to the...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:00:07 -0400

In light of the Gospel, as our only hope and treasure- count everything as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ. The way is hard, but the reward is great.

Mercy’s robe, a ring of graceSuch favor undeservedYou sing over...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:58:38 -0400

Mercy’s robe, a ring of grace
Such favor undeserved
You sing over me and celebrate
The rebel now Your child

I bless the Christ of God;I rest on love divine;And with unfaltering lip and heart,I call this...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:34:23 -0400

I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
And with unfaltering lip and heart,
I call this Savior mine.
His cross dispels each doubt,
I bury in His tomb
My unbelief,
And all my fear,
Each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace,
I trust His truth and might
He calls me His, I call Him mine,
My God, my joy, my light
’Tis He Who saveth me,
And freely pardon gives
I love because
He loveth me,
I live because He lives!

- Indelible Grace, Not What My Hands Have Done