Archive for the ‘Thought for the Day / Quotes’ Category
The Question
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged disappointment, Holy Spirit, imagination, vision for the future on September 27, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Thought for the Day – Committed
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged committed, engaged, focused, more gifted, smarter on September 17, 2020| Leave a Comment »
When I was in school, and I saw someone doing better than me, I assumed that they were smarter, more gifted, or that the teacher just liked them better. But looking back, I can see that more often than not they were simply more focused, engaged and committed to the process. Now that I am old, I’ve noticed that same dynamic in marriages, careers, families, faith, communities…
Thought for the Day – Prosperity and Abundance
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged abundance, prosperity, rich young ruler on September 9, 2020| Leave a Comment »
In recent weeks, as I sat amongst brothers and sisters who minister in places that are openly hostile to the gospel message (e.g. Indonesia, Afghanistan, Somalia…), I listened intently to amazing testimonies of God’s faithfulness and power. And while it was wonderful to hear of the manifestation of the Lord’s glory, it was hard not to be struck by the dramatic contrast with what we see happening in western cultures. In the midst of praying about all this, I felt as though the Lord said that the church in America is a lot like the rich young ruler, described in the gospels (Matthew 19, Mark 10, Luke 18). Like him, she is endowed with material goods (e.g. buildings, sound systems, video equipment, church vans…) and some vague sense of authority, but she is poor in spirit; unwilling to trade the illusion of earthly prosperity for the abundant life of the Kingdom. Just as it was then, He is calling us to let go of our temporal trappings, and to genuinely follow Him.
Thought for the Day – Sacred Cows
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged redeemed, revelation, sacred, unclean on September 2, 2020| Leave a Comment »
What often hinders us from receiving revelation are the things we’re convinced that we already know (Acts 10:9-16). There are things that we’ve held sacred which are not sacred to Him; and things we’ve considered unclean which He calls redeemed.
Thought for the Day – Wet Basements
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged compromised, faulty foundation, foundation on September 2, 2020| Leave a Comment »
It doesn’t matter how beautiful or ornate the structure, if it is built on a faulty foundation, it is compromised.
Thought for the Day – Changing the Landscape
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged altars, change, change of heart, funeral, idols on September 2, 2020| Leave a Comment »
The change that needs to happen is not just to the setting, format or process, it must be a change of heart. The altars that need to be torn down & the idols that need to be smashed are not theirs, they are ours. We shouldn’t think that we are planning a graduation, we should be preparing for a funeral. (Jn 12:24)
Thought for the Day – Unchain My Heart
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged autonomy, free will, freedom, self rule, self sufficiency, slave on August 19, 2020| Leave a Comment »
When we speak of freedom we are most often referring to the exercise of our free will. Essentially, it is the ability to make our own choices, to speak our mind, and to act in whatever way seems right to us. In American culture it is a term synonymous with independence, self-sufficiency and self-rule. But these attributes do not describe the freedom that Christ died to give us (Gal. 5:1). Instead, He offers a love that never fails, a joy that can be our strength, a peace that surpasses understanding, and a hope that cannot be shaken. One is largely rooted in our external condition, while the other is established in our internal state of being. And while we can rightfully boast of living in a nation that affords us a high level of personal autonomy, we are a people plagued by hurt, fear, offense, anxiety, and addiction. Indeed, “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them” (2Pet. 2:19) and in this regard, we have largely been taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophies, which depend on human tradition, and the elemental spiritual forces of this world, rather than on Christ (Col. 2:8).. Sadly, it is our passion for the former that often keeps us from partaking of the latter.
Thought for the Day – Cuts Both Ways
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged double edged sword, truth on August 19, 2020| Leave a Comment »
The truth is a double edged sword. You can’t wield it’s blade toward someone else without turning one on yourself.
Thought for the Day – Follow the Leader
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged enemy, provocation on August 6, 2020| Leave a Comment »
When you react to the provocation of your enemy, you elevate them to a position of leadership & take on the role of a follower.