Same and Different

As a father of multiple kids, I forget at times that I treat my kids differently.

Why, God?

Why, God?. – Great insights here.

Personal vs. Individualistic Faith

…American Christianity is mired in this individualistic mindset right along with the rest of the culture. Most American Christians confuse Christianity being a personal faith with its being an individualistic faith.

While each one of us must respond personally to God’s grace, the result of that response is incorporation into Christ’s body, the Church. There, as Chuck Colson constantly reminded us, we are called to live for others and not for ourselves.

http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/20819

~ Eric Metaxas

Thankful Tree 2012

 

It’s Thanksgiving this week, and while there are always a plethora of things to be thankful for, here are a few I shared around the dinner table with the family this past week…

You have loved us first…

You have loved us first, O God, alas! We speak of it in terms of history as if You have only loved us first but a single time, rather than without ceasing You have loved us first many times and every day and our whole life through. When we wake up in the morning and turn our soul toward You — You are the first — You have loved us first; if I rise at dawn and at the same second turn my soul toward You in prayer, You are there ahead of me, You have loved me first. When I withdraw from the distractions of the day and turn my soul toward You, You are the first and thus forever. And yet we always speak ungratefully as if You have loved us first only once.

~ Soren Kierkegaard

Mercy

…For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.
(Daniel 9:18 ESV)

Worship

Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see Exodus 16:20). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.

~ Oswald Chambers