At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of the morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumor that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in.
– C.S. Lewis
-Grace and Peace
“There shall be more wonder at the going to heaven of the weak believers than at the stronger ones. Mr. Greatheart, when he comes there, will owe his victories to his Master and lay his laurels at his feet; but fainting Feeblemind and limping Ready-to-Halt with his crutches, and trembling Little-Faith—when they enter into rest, will make heaven ring with notes of even greater admiration that such poor creeping worms of the earth should win the day by mighty grace.
Suppose that one of them should be missing at the last? Stop the harps! Silence the songs! No beginning to be merry while one child is shut out! I am quite certain if, as a family, we were going to sing our evening hymn of joy and thankfulness, if mother said, ‘Where is the little mite? Where is the last one of the family?’ there would be a pause. If we had to say, ‘She is lost,’ there would be no singing and no resting till she was found.
It is the glory of Jesus that as a shepherd he has lost none of His flock, as the Captain of salvation, he has brought many sons to glory and has lost none.”
—Charles Spurgeon
-Grace and Peace
No surprise here…
Ok, they’re not intrinsically evil or anything, but they do impress unrealistic relationship expectations on us, whether we realize it or not. The danger comes in not actively examining our own actions and emotions, taking care to keep from letting these expectations become normal in our minds.
Another person can’t complete you, and he or she can not read your mind (all the time). Expect a lot, sure. Just talk about what you expect first. Then show a ridiculous amount of grace, and stop thinking about yourself. We were designed to take care of others first, not ourselves.
Happily ever after.
-Grace and Peace
Here’s another photo-essay from The Big Picture. This one is long and absolutely breathtaking. Nearly three million people made the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this year, all following the same paths and rituals that have been practiced there for centuries.
The images are stunning first because we don’t usually see this number of people in one place, much less in orderly formations as in many of the images here. The only thing I can think to compare it with would be the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The difference being that these people are here out of religious devotion instead of entertainment.
These people have an incredible level of devotion and obedience to their religious beliefs. I pray that they would come to know the true God, Jesus, and that their devotion could be given to Him just as fully. I also pray the Church would give Him no less of our attention, commitment, and service.
-Grace and Peace
Posted in Bible, MikeThoughts, News, Photography, Theology
Jesus, unlike the founder of any other major faith, holds out hope for ordinary human life. Our future is not an ethereal, impersonal form of consciousness. We will not float through the air, but rather will eat, embrace, sing, laugh, and dance in the kingdom of God, in degrees of power, glory, and joy that we can’t at present imagine.
Jesus will make the world our perfect home again. We will no longer be living ‘east of Eden,’ always wandering and never arriving. We will come, and the father will meet us and embrace us, and we will be bought into the feast.
-Tim Keller
-Grace and Peace
Posted in Artist, Bible, MikeThoughts, Quotes
Read this this morning. It set my mind on our almighty King.
God Is King over All the Earth
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. SelahGod has gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!
-Grace and Peace
Posted in Artist, Bible, MikeThoughts, Quotes, Theology
deep thoughts…
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