Hardship

March 3, 2014

He that willingly submits to the cross, to him its whole burden is changed into a sweet assurance of divine comfort. And the more the flesh is broken down by the cross, the more the spirit is strengthened by inward grace. It is not in man by nature to bear the cross, to love the cross, to deny self, to bring the body into subjection, and willingly to endure suffering. If thou look to thyself, thou canst accomplish nothing of all this. But if thou trust in the Lord, strength shall be given thee from heaven, and the world and the flesh shall be made subject to thy rule. Set thyself, therefore, to bear manfully the cross of thy Lord, who out of love was crucified for thee.

– Thomas a’Kempis –

February 20, 2014

Yes, there lies before us a beautiful possible life – one that shall have a passion for giving: that shall be poured forth to God – spent out for man: that shall be consecrated for the hardest work and the darkest sinners.

– Lillias Trotter –

February 1, 2014

Just because it has sheep’s clothing doesn’t mean it’s a sheep.

– Mark Carnehl –

December 20, 2013

I hope, by God’s grace, that I am truly a Christian, not deviating from the faith, and that I would rather suffer the penalty of a terrible death than wish to affirm anything outside of the faith or transgress the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ.

– John Hus –

 

November 23, 2013

I will stay in this prison until moss grows on my eyelids before disobeying God.

– John Bunyan –

November 17, 2013

These wounds were meant to purchase me. These drops of blood were shed to obtain me. I am not my own today. I belong to another. I have been bought with a price. And I will live every moment of this day so that the Great Purchaser of my soul will receive the full reward of His suffering.

– Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf –

November 14, 2013

… this I know: you will regret nothing when you look back, except lack of faith or fortitude or love. You will never regret having thrown all to the winds in order to follow your Master and Lord. Nothing will seem too much to have done or suffered, when, in the end, we see Him and the marks of His wounds; nothing will ever seem enough.

– Amy Carmichael –

November 1, 2013

When the house churches heard about the arrest of 36 of the 39 workers, do you think they were disillusioned? Far from it! Believers all around the nation lifted up holy hands before the Lord and with tears streaming down their cheeks they thanked the Lord for performing the great miracle of getting three Chinese missionaries out of China! We have learned to be thankful for any advance of the gospel.

– from Back To Jerusalem: Three Chinese House Church Leaders Share Their Vision to Complete the Great Commission –

September 23, 2013

When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord’s choicest wines.

– Samuel Rutherford –