Christian Life

May 26, 2012

This is what is so unique about the kingdom of heaven. In other kingdoms, the kings rule from without. Jesus rules from within [us]. Other kings are satisfied as we supply them; Jesus wants to supply us. Other kings desire that we defend them; Jesus wants to be our defense. Other kings want us to serve them; Jesus wants to serve through us. In our absolute poverty, helplessness, we have nothing to offer Him. He can be our total supply and source His life through us. The only blockade to this relationship is our own self-sourcing.

– Stephen Manley –
from “The Poor” (Matthew 5:3)

May 25, 2012

These days of ours have sore need of a generation of praying men, a band of men and women through whom God can bring his great and his greatest movements more fully into the world. The Lord our God is not straitened within himself, but he is straitened in us, by reason of our little faith and weak praying. A breed of Christian is greatly needed who will seek tirelessly after God–who will give him no rest, day and night, until he hearkens to their cry. The times demand praying men who are all athirst for God’s glory, who are broad and unselfish in their desires, quenchless for God, who seek him late and early, and who will give themselves no rest until the whole earth be filled with his glory.

 – EM Bounds –

May 24, 2012

Does your one goal, one drive, all of your plans day and night focus on how to redeem your world? What you cry about, what upsets you, your tiredness, is it all focused on the one thing that beats in the heart of God? Do you see every person with the question of how you can be a redemptive force in their lives? Is every situation of your life viewed with a focus on redemption for the world? May I boldly say that if this is not true for you, you have missed the impact of the Gospel of Matthew and especially this initial call to His disciples [Matthew 4.19].

– Stephen Manley –
from his chapter “A Call to Continuity” in Commentary on Matthew 3-4

May 23, 2012

It was out of His goodness that He created you, and it is out oh His goodness that He will give you everything you need at the precise moment you need it. That is providence. He will oversee your life at all times and provide for you. He is the reason that you are breathing. And He is the reason you keep breathing.

– Steve Farrar –

May 22, 2012

You will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling wilderness.

– Robert Murray M’Cheyne –

May 21, 2012

Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God.

– Oswald Chambers –

May 20, 2012

We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ”Blessed are they that mourn.”

— CS Lewis –

May 19, 2012

The greatest Old or New Testament saints were on a level that is quite within our grasp. The same power that was available to them is also available to us.

– Dr. Goulburn –
Dean of Norwich

May 18, 2012

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?

– Corrie ten Boom –