dW 03.28.08

scripture

 

Philippians 1:27
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

 

quote

 

Because we are the handiwork of God it follows that all our problems and their solutions are theological.
A. W. Tozer

 

thoughts

 

Tozer is my hero today. When right theology is applied then right orthopraxy will result. Boy, does this speak to me today. To deny this is evidence of compromise and an unwillingness to confront whatever issue there might be.

 

In my mind I picture two farmers leaning on their spades talking. One farmer says to the other, “That there spade is in great condition.” With indignation the other farmer responds, “How dare you call this a spade! This is an excavation tool.”

 

I believe that the church is in grave danger when it lacks the ability to call out its members, let alone the world when it comes to that which is ungodly.

dW 03.27.08

scripture

 

Matthew 12:34

Jesus said, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

 

quote

 

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. -Brennan Manning

 

thoughts

 

Calling yourself a Christian is different than being a Christian.

dW 03.26.08

scripture

 

Colossians 3:2  

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  

 

quote

 

O God, who dost prefer before all temples the upright heart and pure, and who dost instruct us in all truth: we know that if we walk with Thee what in us is dark Thou wilt illumine; what is low, raise and support; what is shallow, deepen; so that every chapter of our lives will witness to Thy power, and justify the ways of God to men.

Westminster Abbey Prayer

 

Today’s dW scripture and quote pairing was taken from www.thisdaysthought.org.

dW 03.25.08

scripture

 

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

 

quote

 

There are many fine things which you mean to do some day, under what you think will be more favorable circumstances.  But the only time that is surely yours is the present.  Hence this is the time to speak the word of appreciation and sympathy, to do the generous deed, to forgive the fault of a thoughtless friend, to sacrifice self a little more for others.  Today is the day in which to express your noblest qualities of mind and heart, to do at least one worthy thing which you have long postponed, and to use your God-given abilities for the enrichment of some less fortunate fellow traveler.  Today you can make your life significant and worthwhile.  The present is yours to do with it as you will.

Grenville Kleiser

dW 03.24.08

scripture

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

 

quote

 

Let this be thy whole endeavor, this thy prayer, this thy desire,--that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only.

Thomas Kempis

dW 03.21.08

scripture

 

John 14:1-4

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

 

quote

 

And He departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him.  For He departed, and behold, He is here.

Augustine

dW 03.20.08

scripture

 

1 John 4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

 

quote

 

The beginning of atonement is the sense of its necessity.

Lord Byron

dW 03.19.08

scripture

 

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

quote

 

Christ and his cross are not separable in this life; howbeit, they part at heaven’s door.  There is no storage place for crosses in heaven.

Samuel Rutherford

dW 03.18.08

scripture

 

Matthew 28:1-7

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

 

quote

 

Easter not only happened; it happens.  It is not only a past event to be celebrated with new hats and hallelujahs; it is an eternally present fact to be appropriated by faith and obedience.

Leonard Griffith

dW 03.17.08

scripture

 

1 Corinthians 15:16-19

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

 

quote

 

Jesus’ death and resurrection cannot be separated. Good Friday would not be good if there was no Resurrection Sunday.

Michelle Ferguson