Wednesday, November 15, 2006

11/19/06 - "the Bible is a love letter"

The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.
A.W. Tozer

It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit & with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to Him.
C.S. Lewis

You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.
John 5:39-40 (New Living Translation)

Thursday, November 09, 2006

11/12/06 - "Prayer as Conversation"

Spiritual people are not those who engage in certain spiritual practices; they are those who draw their life from a conversational relationship with God.
Dallas Willard

Someone is there...More, someone is there who loves me. It was a startling feeling of wild hope, a feeling so new and overwhelming that it seemed fully worth risking my life on.
Philip Yancey

And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.
Matthew 6:5-8 (The Message)

Friday, November 03, 2006

11/05/06 - "24/7/365"

I'm coming back to the heart of worship... and it's all about you, all about you, Jesus. I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it when it's all about you, all about you, Jesus.
Matt Redman, "The Heart of Worship"

Worship is first and foremost for His benefit, not ours, though it is marvelous to discover that in giving Him pleasure, we ourselves enter into what can become our richest and most wholesome experience in life.
Graham Kendrick

So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This "insider world" is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name.

Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of "sacrifice"—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.
Hebrews 13:13-16 (The Message)