I've been reading "The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life" by Charles Spurgeon, compiled by Robert Hall. I highly recommend it! The following quote it from the book, and I just loved it!
We come to a throne to be approached with devout joyfulness. If I find myself favored by divine grace to stand among those favored ones who frequent His courts, shall I not feel glad? I might have been in His prison, but now I am before His throne. I might have been driven from His presence forever, but I am permitted to come even into His royal palace, into His secret chamber of gracious audience. Shall I not then be thankful? Shall not my thankfulness ascend into joy, and shall I not feel that I am made recipient of great favors when I am permitted to pray? Why, then, is your countenance sad when you stand before the throne of grace? If you were before the throne of justice to be condemned for your sins, your hands might well be at your sides. But now that you are favored to come before the King in His silken robes of love, let your face shine with sacred delight. If your sorrows are heavy, tell them to Him, for He can comfort you. If your sins are multiplied, confess them, for He can forgive them. O you courtiers in the halls of such a monarch, be exceedingly glad and mingle praises with your prayers. -Charles Spurgeon-
My husband showed me this article from John Pipers web site desiringgod.org You can view the actual article here: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/beware-the-bible-is-about-to-threaten-your-smartphone-focus
Beware: The Bible Is About to Threaten Your Smartphone Focus February 21, 2011 | by: John Piper | Category: Commentary
Are apps a threat to God-focus? Yes. But it works both ways. Fight fire with fire.
If you are reading your Bible on your computer or your smartphone or your iPad, the presence of the email app and the news apps and the Facebook app threaten every moment to drag your attention away from the word of God.
True. Fight that. If your finger offends you, cut it off. Or use any other virtuous violence (Matthew 11:12) that sets you free to rivet your soul on God.
But don’t take mainly a defensive posture. Fight fire with fire.
Why should we think of the Facebook app threatening the Bible app? Why not the Bible app threatening the Facebook app, and the email app, and the RSS feeder, and the news?
Resolve that today you will press the Bible app three times during the day. No five times. Ten times! Maybe you will lose control and become addicted to Bible! Again and again get a two-minute dose of life-giving Food. Man shall not live by Facebook alone.
I’m serious. Never has God’s voice been so easily accessible. The ESV app is free. The OliveTree BibleReader app is free. And so are lots of others. Let the Bible threaten your focus. Or better: Let the Bible bring you back to reality over and over during the day.
I tried this beauty last night for dinner. The recipe is from the amazing Jamie Oliver... if you don't know who he is you really need to google him, his style of fresh real food cooking, and try one of his tasty recipes. I have never once been disappointed by any recipe of his that I have tried. Here is the link to the recipe if you'd like to try it; http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/perfect-roast-beef#
While spending time with the Lord this morning. I read the following passage from Luke. I hope you'll take a moment... a long quiet moment and really consider the birds and lilies like Jesus is asking his disciples to. If you do, I know that you will get a glimpse of His love for you. I did.
*top photo from National Geographic
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:22-34 ESV)
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7 ESV)
After reading the Luke passage, it made me think of this song from Jon Foreman. I especially love the first 2 verses.
Your Love is Strong by Jon Foreman
Heavenly Father You always amaze me Let your kingdom come In my world and in my life You give me the food I need To live through the day And forgive me as I forgive The people that wronged me Lead me far from temptation Deliver me from the evil one
I look out the window The birds are composing Not a note is out of tune Or out of place I look at the meadow And stare at the flowers Better dressed than any girl On her wedding day
So why do I worry? Why do I freak out? God knows what I need You know what I need
Chorus (3x): Your love is Your love is Your love is strong
The kingdom of the heavens Is now advancing Invade my heart Invade this broken town The kingdom of the heavens Is buried treasure Will you sell yourself To buy the one you've found?
Two things you told me That you are strong And you love me Yes, you love me
(Chorus 3x)
Our God in heaven Hallowed be Thy name above all names Your kingdom come Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven Give us today our daily bread Forgive us wicked sinners Lead us far away from our vices And deliver us from these prisons
Thanks for reading this long post. Hope your weekend is lovely and amazing, and full of lots of special moments with those that you love.
So I didn't realize that I had the settings to where only google/gmail account users could leave comments. I'm so sorry! I think I have fixed that so now you can comment even if you dont have a google account :-)
I woke up grumpy this morning. My husband headed to teach at the fire academy and when he came home he brought these happy flowers home to me. Dave is a good man, and I am so in love with him. I thank the Lord for him and the blessing he is to me. Im so undeserving!