Friday, May 30, 2008
time
If you want time make time.
You will never find time.
You will never find time.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
works, rewards & grace
We teach that rewards have been offered and promised for the works of believers. We teach that good works have merit, not for forgiveness of sins, for grace, or for justification (for these we receive only through faith), but for other rewards, bodily and spiritual, in this life and after this life. For Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:8, "Each will receive his wages according to his labor." There will be different rewards according to different labors. But forgiveness of sins is given alike and equal to all people, just as Christ is one, and is offered freely to all who believe that for his sake their sins are forgiven.
-Apology V.73f (Concordia, 2nd edition, p112)
Sunday, May 25, 2008
music
I was blessed today at the piano concert by Ivan Konev, the organist at Cross of Glory.
His spectacular & inspirational performance reminded me of the saying:
It is no good being able to read music if you are unable to feel it.
His spectacular & inspirational performance reminded me of the saying:
It is no good being able to read music if you are unable to feel it.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
prayer
If a man wants God to hear his prayer quickly, then before he prays for anything else, even his own soul, when he stands and stretches out his hands towards God, he must pray with all his heart for his enemies. Through this action, God will hear everything that he asks.
-- Abba Zeno
-- Abba Zeno
Friday, May 23, 2008
What should I do?
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment and light riseth up in darkness for the godly; grant us in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what Thou wouldst have us do; that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in Thy light we may see light, and in Thy straight path may not stumble, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-- William Bright
-- William Bright
Thursday, May 22, 2008
the righteous
. . . the righteous
will flourish
like
green leaves.
-- Proverbs 11:28
will flourish
like
green leaves.
-- Proverbs 11:28
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
humility
Yet, Lord, you know my weakness. Each morning I take up my resolution to practice humility and, by evening, I realize I have still committed many failings of pride. Seeing this, I am tempted to discouragement. However, as I well know, discouragement is also an act of pride! And so, O my God, what I want to do is to base all my hope on you alone. You can do all things, so be pleased to bring to birth in my soul the virtue I am looking for. And to obtain this grace from your infinite mercy, I will say repeatedly: "O Jesus, meek and humble of heart: make my heart gentle and humble as yours!"
-- Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite
-- Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite
Monday, May 19, 2008
For whom shall we pray?
We bring before thee, O Lord, the troubles and perils of peoples and nations, the sighing of prisoners and captives, the sorrows of the bereaved, the necessities of strangers, the helplessness of the weak, the despondence of the weary, the failing powers of the aged.
O Lord draw near to each; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-- Anselm
O Lord draw near to each; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-- Anselm
Sunday, May 18, 2008
seeking God
God wants you to seek God.
Begin with the prayer, "Help me, God, to find you in the world."
Saying it once is enough.
-- Rev. Juris Rubenis
Begin with the prayer, "Help me, God, to find you in the world."
Saying it once is enough.
-- Rev. Juris Rubenis
Saturday, May 17, 2008
work
What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if you say you have faith but do not have works?
Can faith save you?
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,
and one of you says to them,
"Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,"
and yet you do not supply their bodily needs,
what is the good of that?
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
-- James 2:14-17
The highest reward for work is not what you get for it, but what you become by it.
if you say you have faith but do not have works?
Can faith save you?
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,
and one of you says to them,
"Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,"
and yet you do not supply their bodily needs,
what is the good of that?
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
-- James 2:14-17
The highest reward for work is not what you get for it, but what you become by it.
Friday, May 16, 2008
happiness
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
-- Dalai Lama
-- Dalai Lama
Thursday, May 15, 2008
here it comes
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
death & evil
For two problems ... no politician dares offer a solution: death and evil. ... God's grace, the only solution to death and evil, comes free of charge, apart from law, apart from any human efforts toward self-improvement. For a free gift, we need only hold out open, needy hands -- the most difficult gesture of all for a self-righteously evil person.
-- Philip Yancey
-- Philip Yancey
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
your life
Monday, May 12, 2008
work with Jesus
There are so many religions! Each one follows God in its own way. But I follow the way of Christ: Jesus is my God, Jesus is my Spouse, Jesus is my only Love, Jesus is my All for me in everything, Jesus is all for me.
This is why I'm never afraid. I do my work with Jesus; I do it for him, offering it to him; so the results are his, not mine. If you need a guide, you have only to turn your eyes to Jesus. You have to hand yourself over to him and rely entirely on him. If you do that then doubt vanishes away and assurance takes over. But Jesus said: "Unless you turn and become like children, you cannot come to me." (Matt. 18:3)
-- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), Foundress of the Missionary Sisters of Charity
This is why I'm never afraid. I do my work with Jesus; I do it for him, offering it to him; so the results are his, not mine. If you need a guide, you have only to turn your eyes to Jesus. You have to hand yourself over to him and rely entirely on him. If you do that then doubt vanishes away and assurance takes over. But Jesus said: "Unless you turn and become like children, you cannot come to me." (Matt. 18:3)
-- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), Foundress of the Missionary Sisters of Charity
Sunday, May 11, 2008
dreams
Never give up on a dream just because of the length of time it will take to accomplish it.
The time will pass anyway.
The time will pass anyway.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
seeking God
The God we seek out there we usually find right here.
-- Rev. Juris Rubenis
-- Rev. Juris Rubenis
Friday, May 09, 2008
Psalm 42
As a deer longs for lowing streams,so my soul longs for you, O God.
-- Psalm 42:1
Thursday, May 08, 2008
the Church
Holy Church, although diverse in multiplicity of persons, is brought into unity by the fire of the Holy Spirit. If, from the physical point of view, she seems to be divided among several families, yet the mystery of her profound unity loses nothing of its integrity: "[B]ecause the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Rom 5:5) There is no question that this Spirit is both one and many at the same time: one at the core of its majesty; many in the gifts and charisms granted to the Holy Church filled by his presence. And it is this same Spirit that enables the Church to be at one and the same time single in its universal extent yet wholly present in each of its members.
-- Saint Peter Damian (1007-1072), hermit, then a Bishop, Doctor of the Church
-- Saint Peter Damian (1007-1072), hermit, then a Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
be holy
As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct.
1 Peter 1:15
1 Peter 1:15
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
time
But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day.
-- Benjamin Disraeli
-- Benjamin Disraeli
The Lord
Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart;
for consider what great things he has done for you.
-- 1 Samuel 12:24
for consider what great things he has done for you.
-- 1 Samuel 12:24
Thursday, May 01, 2008
time
The biggest thief of time is procrastination.
