“In the mystery of the Word made Flesh, the Maker of the stars was born.”
Madeleine L’Engle
“The Christian life is a pilgrimage from earth to heaven, and our task is to take as many possible with us as we make this journey.”
~Warren W. Wiersbe~
The Christian experience, from start to finish, is a journey of faith.
~Watchman Nee~
While imprisoned in a tiny prison cell sixteenth-century Spanish mystic, St. John of the Cross, composed poems titled The Dark Night of the Soul.
I’m a pastor with faith, knowledge, and experience in walking with God. I teach the Bible, one of the great joys of my life. But suddenly I faced what has been described as “the dark night of the soul.”
The Dark Night
by St John of the Cross
The Dark Night narrates the journey of the soul from her bodily home to her union with God. It happens during the night, which represents the hardships and difficulties she meets in detachment from the world and reaching the light of the union with the Creator. There are several steps in this night, which are related in successive stanzas. The main idea of the poem can be seen as the painful experience that people endure as they seek to grow in spiritual maturity and union with God. The poem of this title was likely written in 1578 or 1579. In 1584-5, John wrote a commentary on the first two stanzas and the first line of the third stanza of the poem.
One dark night, fired with love's urgent longings - ah, the sheer grace! - I went out unseen, my house being now all stilled.
In the darkness, and secure, by the secret ladder, disguised, - ah, the sheer grace! - in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled.
Christians acting like jerks is the devil’s best advertisement for atheism. But when we call upon God and make concerted efforts to live in humble love and unity, people will see Jesus. By His grace, some will believe in Him.
Randy Alcorn
The incarnation is not a subtraction. Jesus doesn't cease being God by becoming a man.
Jesus is truly God and truly man.
Dustin Benge
We can’t say “He just doesn’t get it or care,” because God’s love comes to us soaked in divine blood. Christ’s suffering on the cross atoned for our sins, but His suffering, tests, and temptations allowed Him to understand, empathize and help us.
Randy Alcorn
O wondrous love, that out of love to us He should take our nature upon Him, taking up Himself the shame and suffering that was involved in our redemption, and becoming one of us that He might die for us and redeem us!
R.A. Torrey
The immense step from the Babe at Bethlehem to the living, reigning triumphant Lord Jesus, returning to earth for His own people––that is the glorious truth proclaimed throughout Scripture. As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce His return, when we shall always be with Him?
~Alan Redpath~
“Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
~Charles Wesley~
Manger empty. Cross empty. Tomb empty.,Throne occupied for eternity!
PR.
By his own descent to the earth, he has prepared our ascent to heaven. —
John Calvin
The gift we didn’t deserve, the gift we didn’t earn, but the gift that was freely given to us, bringing us peace and salvation. Thank you, Jesus.
Luke Lezon
Without God, morality is simply the product of sociobiological evolution and basically a question of taste or personal preference. For instance, rape may become taboo in the course of human development because it’s not socially advantageous, but it’s also conceivable that rape could have evolved as something that’s beneficial for the survival of the species. In other words, without God, there is no absolute right or wrong that imposes itself on our conscience. But we know deep down that objective moral values do exist —
Lee Strobel
The simple shepherds heard the voice of an angel and found their Lamb...
~Fulton John Sheen~
You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father’s face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.
~John R. Rice~
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Translated from Latin (Veni Emmanuel, chant) by John Mason Neale
Look to the Cross, and hate your sin, for sin nailed your Well-Beloved to the tree.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
“Darkness comes. In the middle of it, the future looks blank…But with God, nothing is impossible. He has more ropes and ladders and tunnels out of pits than you can conceive. Wait. Pray without ceasing. Hope.”—John Piper
We have to proclaim the bad news:
God judges sinners.
So we can proclaim the good news:
God forgives sin, in Christ.
Anything less is a false gospel.
Dustin Benge
Happiness is found in loving God and our neighbor. Loving others is God’s design and command. All He wants us to do, including personal sacrifices, is ultimately in our best interest. That’s true often in the present and always true in eternity.
Randy Alcorn
You can fake a lot of things… but you can’t fake the fruit of the Spirit.
PR.
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