It is, indeed, certain, that all the senses of our nature are so formed, that every trial produces in us grief and sorrow; and no one of us can so far divest himself of his nature as not to grieve and be sorrowful whenever he feels any evil. But this does not prevent the children of God to rise, by the guidance of the Spirit, above the sorrow of the flesh. Hence it is, that in the midst of trouble they cease not to rejoice.
~ John Calvin (1509-1564)
We Ask You
We ask you, Master, be our Helper and Defender. Rescue those of our number in distress; raise up the fallen; assist the needy; heal the sick; turn back those of your people who stray; feed the hungry; release our captives; revive the weak; encourage those who lose heart. Let all the nations realize that you are the only God, that Jesus Christ is your Child, and that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture.
~ Prayer of Clement of Rome (c. 96AD)
What Is A Christian?
A Christian is one who recognizes Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, as God manifested in the flesh, loving us and dying for our redemption; and who is so affected by a sense of the love of this incarnate God as to be constrained to make the will of Christ the rule of his obedience, and the glory of Christ the great end for which He lives.
~ Charles Hodge (1797-1878)
Prayer That Moves
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
~ James 5:16b (NKJV)
It has been said that “prayer moves the arm that moves the world”. And if there is anything that can prevail with God, it is the prayers of His people. Their humble, fervent, earnest petitioning. We have no power to control the Lord; nor can the creature dictate to the Creator. But we may ask Him for what we desire, and He has graciously said that such asking may effect much for our own good and the good of others. Prayer has no inherent intrinsic power. It is no magical incantation. It is an appeal, a petition, to an Almighty God who is pleased to lovingly work His will in and by the effective fervent prayers of a people who place their sincere faith in Him.
~apl
A Prayer For Advent
Loving Father,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Babe & King
The love and mercy,
that was shown,
when Christ our God,
left His thrown.
For me to come,
donned in flesh,
that I through Him,
‘scape second death.
Worship the babe,
praise the King,
now through eternity,
forever I sing!
Humility & Love
Humility and love are precisely the graces which the men of the world can understand, if they do not comprehend doctrines. They are the graces about which there is no mystery, and they are within reach of all classes… [The poorest] Christian can every day find occasion for practicing love and humility.
~ J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
The Father’s Dream
You [Christian] have within you now all the elements that are necessary to make you all that the Father dreamed that you would be in Christ.
~ E. W. Kenyon (1867-1948)
God With Us
They shall call his name Emmanuel…
~ Matthew 1:23b (KJV)
The most wonderful thing about Advent is the Incarnation of God. The birth of Jesus was God taking on human flesh, intimately identifying with mankind, and entering into our condition. He did so in order to redeem us. Jesus’ life, and ultimately His death opened the door of peace and hope pronounced at His Advent. Emmanuel is God with us. He came to us so that by faith, we will one day go to Him.
~ apl
Faith Makes Us
Other graces make us like Christ, faith makes us members of Christ.
~ Thomas Watson (1620-1686)
A Prayer Life 