"As I came home I was robbed. The thieves took from me about ten or eleven shillings. My remarks upon it were,—1. What reason have I to be thankful to God, who have travelled so much, and yet was never robbed before. 2. What a deal of evil the love of money is the root of, that four men would venture their lives and souls, for about half a crown a piece. 3. See the power of Satan in the children of disobedience. 4. See the vanity of worldly wealth; how soon we may be stripped of it! How loose, therefore, we should sit to it."
— Matthew Henry
Source: Matthew Henry's diary, 8 March 1713, in J. B. Williams, Memoirs of the Life, Character, and Writings of the Rev. Matthew Henry
grateful
Views: 411
"Cheap grace is grace we give to ourselves; it is forgiveness without the requirement of repentance, baptism without church discipline, and communion without confession. It is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, and grace without the living, incarnate Christ."
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Source: The Cost of Discipleship
Grace, Repentance
Views: 460
"Are you fighting with the adversary today? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you? Be not discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence?"
— Charles H. Spurgeon
Source: Morning and Evening, June 2 (Morning)
Victory
Views: 429
"Our Father has reasons peculiar to himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show his power and his sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order that thy desires may be more fervent."
— Charles H. Spurgeon
Source: Morning and Evening, December 9 (Morning)
Disappointment, time
Views: 388
"But know one thing—"He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." All his corrections are sent in love, to purify thee, and to draw thee nearer to himself. Surely it must help thee to bear the chastening with resignation if thou art able to recognize thy Father's hand."
— Charles H. Spurgeon
Source: Morning and Evening, April 30 (Morning)
Holy, Heaven
Views: 412
"To do what Jesus said, or to keep the law, one does not try to keep the law. That is the way of the Pharisee, and always fails. Instead, one tries (with grace, always available) to become the kind of person who does what Jesus said ("keeps the law") because of who they have become through and through. To do this they must see the goodness of being that kind of person, decide to become that kind of person, and implement wise means to that end."
— Dallas Willard
Source: "The Need, Vision and Strategy of Growing in Christlikeness," plenary address at the European Leadership Forum, Eger, Hungary, May 2006