Floodgates of Infinite Love

 Through Christ's perfect righteousness, He has opened the floodgates of God’s infinite love and favor toward us.

-- Jerry Bridges

Lovingly Demonstrating Your Weaknesses

 “If I’m a Christian, why are there so many things that make my life so difficult? God is lovingly demonstrating to you your weakness.” 

-Paul Washer

There's so much pain. Why are there so many things that I can't overcome? So many things that make my life so difficult. It's to demonstrate to you, God is lovingly demonstrating to you your weakness. Not to leave you in your weakness, but so that you might run to him. And then there will be times when he will sustain you in power.

And then all of a sudden, it just leaves. Why? Once again, to remind you lovingly, not in judgment, not to hurt you, but lovingly to remind you lovingly, not in judgment, not to hurt you, but lovingly to remind you once again, you're forgetting that this life and power comes from communion with me. Everything is about communion with him.

-Paul Washer

Jesus' Bosom

 You may go to him as often as you will and may pour out your love into his bosom and may embrace him and lean with John on Jesus' bosom, and never shall be unwelcome, always will be well entertained.

--Jonathan Edwards

None can ever ask too much

 You are coming to a king— 


large petitions with you bring.
 

For his grace and pow'r are such,
 

none can ever ask too much. 

-- John Newton

Gladness to this Heart

 Thy works, not mine, O Christ,

Speak gladness to this heart;

They tell me all is done;

They bid my fear depart.

Horatius Bonar

He sees you clothed

 Has it yet gripped you that when God looks at you today He sees you clothed in the perfect, sinless obedience of His Son?

Jerry Bridges

All Scripture

“All scripture must be received as if God, appearing in person, visibly and full of majesty, were himself speaking.”

—John Calvin

He knew the Worst

"Nobody can produce new evidence of your depravity that will make God change his mind. For God justified you with (so to speak) his eyes open. He knew the worst about you at the time when he accepted you for Jesus' sake; and the verdict which he passed then was, and is, final."

J.I. Packer: Knowing God, p.273

Merciful Lord

Valley of Vision.  entry entitled, "Sins"  p.158.

MERCIFUL LORD,

Pardon all my sins of this day, week, year,

all the sins of my life,

sins of early, middle, and advanced years,

of omission and commission,

of morose, peevish and angry tempers,

of lip, life and walk,

of hard-heartedness, unbelief, presumption,

pride,

of unfaithfulness to the souls of men,

of want of bold decision in the cause of Christ

of deficiency in outspoken zeal for his glory,

of bringing dishonour upon thy great name,

of deception, injustice, untruthfulness

in my dealings with others,

of impurity in thought, word and deed,

of covetousness, which is idolatry,

of substance unduly hoarded, improvidently

squandered,

not consecrated to the glory of thee,

the great Giver;

sins in private and in the family,

in study and recreation, in the busy haunts

of men,

in the study of thy Word and in the neglect

of it,

in prayer irreverently offered and coldly

withheld,

in time misspent,

in yielding to Satan's wiles,

in opening my heart to his temptations,

in being unwatchful when I know him nigh,

Hein quenching the Holy Spirit;

sins against light and knowledge,

against conscience and the restraints

of thy Spirit,

against the law of eternal love.

Pardon all my sins, known and unknown,

felt and unfelt,

confessed and not confessed,

remembered or forgotten.

Good Lord, hear; and hearing, forgive.

I wear His Robes.

 I wear the righteousness of the Son of God. I do not come as I am.

Withdraw His Hand

 “If God should withdraw His hand a little, all things would immediately perish and dissolve into nothing.”

-John Calvin

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

 Satan is the Accuser. His work is to turn your eyes in on yourself and despair. The Spirit is the Comforter. His work is to turn your eyes to Jesus, the rest for our souls.

Michael Reeves

Long for the Appearing of Christ

 Before Christ was come, good people were known by the desire of his coming ... they waited for the consolation of Israel ... But now the first coming is past, they desire as much his second coming ... [and are] such as love and long for the appearing of Christ

- Richard Sibbes

All that Jesus Did

 We can accurately say that when Jesus lived a perfect life, we lived a perfect life. When He died on the cross to suffer the penalty of sin, we died on the cross. All that Jesus did, we did, because of our legal union with Him.

Jerry Bridges

The Hand of God in Everything

Ah, dear reader, there is no real rest for your poor heart until you learn to see the hand of God in everything. But for that, faith must be in constant exercise.
—Arthur W. Pink

Discipline

 THE DAILY ROUTINE OF JONATHAN EDWARDS

1.Early Rising and Prayer (4:00–5:00 AM) Edwards normally rose between four and five in the morning. The first moments of the day were spent in private prayer, meditation on Scripture, and quiet reflection. He believed the mind was clearest before the world became busy. 2.Morning Study and Sermon Preparation (5:00–11:00 AM) These hours were devoted to deep intellectual work. Edwards studied Scripture in the original languages, read theology and philosophy, and prepared sermons. This period formed the backbone of his ministry. 3.Midday Meal and Brief Refreshment (11:00–12:00) He ate lightly because he believed heavy meals dulled the mind. After eating he often walked briefly or rested so that his mind would remain sharp. 4.Pastoral Ministry and Counseling (12:00–5:00 PM) Afternoons were used for pastoral duties. This included counseling people concerned about their souls, meeting with church members, visiting the sick, preparing lectures, and answering theological questions. During revival seasons many visitors filled his study seeking guidance. 5.Solitary Horseback Meditation (Late Afternoon) Edwards frequently rode horseback alone. During these rides he meditated on theological ideas. When a thought occurred, he wrote it on a small paper and pinned it to his coat so he could expand it later. 6.Evening Meal and Family Time (Around 6:00 PM) Evenings began with time at home. His household was orderly and hospitable, largely due to the careful management of his wife Sarah. The family often shared spiritual conversation and devotion. 7.Evening Study and Writing (7:30–10:00 PM) Edwards returned to his study during the evening to organize sermons, write theological reflections, and develop his arguments. Many of his major writings began during these quiet hours. 8.Sleep and Preparation for the Next Day (Around 10:00 PM) He retired at a moderate hour so he could rise early again the next morning and maintain his disciplined routine. 9.Weekly Instruction of Children (Sabbath Morning) Each Sunday morning Edwards catechized the children of the church, teaching them Scripture and doctrine and often giving them questions that required Bible study. 10.Regular Physical Exercise To maintain health he often walked, rode horseback, or cut wood during winter. He believed physical activity helped keep the mind strong for study.

God Plans it All

 "It is God and not blind fate, not a fickle "fortune " (or misfortune), Who has placed you in the very situation which you now occupy. He is the one who planned from all eternity the very environment which you are now in.....recognize God's shaping hand in your present lot....humble yourself and be content with what God has appointed, and not chafe and murmur at it, for that is nothing but a species of rebellion against the providential will of God.....the very lot you find so hard to bear only provides a suitable opportunity for you to prove the sufficiency of God's grace."

~ Arthur Pink, “The Doctrine of Sanctification"

A little Thing

 A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in that little thing is a great thing.

James Hudson Taylor

Contentment

 Discontent is an ungrateful sin, because we have more mercies than afflictions; And it is an irrational sin, because afflictions work for good.

Thomas Watson

Prayer

 "Every prayer is long enough if it be fervent and proceed from a heart that understands the necessity of the saints.”

Martin Luther

We are not little sinners.

 “If you see yourself as a little sinner, you will see Jesus as a little Savior.”

-Martin Luther