Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • Paradigm Questions +

    Paradigm Questions To which of the following commands of Christ’s do you only pay only lip service? Love your enemies Read More
  • July 27 Devotional: FB Meyer +

    He suffered thee to hunger. Deuteronomy 8:3 Read More
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4 1 11bThese days all of us are accutely aware of the job market, the stock market, the real estate market, or the status of our current earnings. Our son Charley talked with God one day about his "balance sheet."

Heavenly Father, I have a large surplus and a great deficit. I have a surplus of selfishness and wanting my own way, right now. I have a great deficit of obedience and, by extension, love for You. You said, "If you love Me, do the things I command you." I haven't been loving You like I should. It shows to me, if to no one else.

Bankrupt me of my surplus. Remove from me the selfishness and disobedience that I so readily choose. Replace it with a deep and growing love for You and teach me to know You more deeply. Help me keep my mind set on things above, not on earthly things.

God, I feel small and needy. I need You infinitely more than You need me. Yet You chose me before I knew You. Amazing! Hold on to me. Keep me in Your love, in Your will, and in Your way. Help me to live for You today. I can't change what was, and I can't control what will be. Help me to value the time that You give me, moment by moment, so that I will spend it doing things of eternal value, not storing up treasures on earth, not entertaining myself, not indulging my selfishness, not passing the time to pass the time. Put me to work doing Your work, whatever You would have me do. I'm willing and available, even if not qualified or able.

You are my strength, my rock, my fortress, my refuge, and my shield. Of whom then shall I be afraid? You love me with a perfect love, more than I could ever earn or deserve. Thank You, Father. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Think about this:
Can't we all identify with this true accounting of the state of our hearts? Let God audit your current spiritual "books" and give you an accounting of your heart's assets and liabilities. You might want to discuss your spiritual "balance sheet" with Him.

Reflections to Consider

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Publications

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Music

  • Jesus be the centre

    Center is a song that speaks of the essence of our life in Christ, and echoes the words the Christ Read More
  • I Lift My Hands

    A powerful hymn of adoration and praise Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir. This succinctly captures the joy of knowing our savior. Read More
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Audio & Video

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Favorites

  • Transforming this World: The Hope of Glory by NT Wright +

    Wright confronts the perspective that this world doesn’t matter, and that we live only to be in heaven. He shows Read More
  • What is Good in a World that Defies Hope: a talk by NT Wright +

    This is the second part of three talks by NT Wright at Harvard University in November, 2008 on the topic Read More
  • The Stream, the Lake and the River: NT Wright +

      Acts 2.1-21; John 7.37-39; a sermon at the Eucharist on the Feast of Pentecost, 11 May 2008, by the Read More
  • Jesus in the Perfect Storm by NT Wright +

    Zechariah 9.9-17; Luke 19.28-48; A sermon for Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011, In the University Chapel of St Salvator, St Read More
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Hidden Blessings

  • Christ is a Great Savior: a review of the movie Amazing Grace +

    Amazing Grace is a historical drama about William Wilberforce who was elected to British Parliament at the age of 21 Read More
  • Wilberforce, Hollywood's Amazing Grace, Charlotte Allen +

    William Wilberforce's relentless campaign eventually led the British Parliament to ban the slave trade, in 1807, and to pass a Read More
  • Making Beauty out of Ugly Things: Grace by U2 +

    Grace, she takes the blame She covers the shame Removes the stain It could be her name Grace, she carries Read More
  • The True Nature of Grace and Love: a movie review of the Soloist +

    The 2009 movie The Soloist is based on a book by the same name, written by Los Angeles Times columnist Read More
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