“Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.”

St. Francis of Assisi

“Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us 
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us 
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

“He spoke rightly who said that his friend was ‘half his soul.’ I felt that my soul and my friend’s were one soul in two bodies, and life filled me with horror, as I had no wish to live on, a mere half of myself….

This is the source of our grief if someone dies; this is why we are darkened with sorrow, why sweetness is turned to bitterness, why the heart streams with tears.  It is the dead who have lost their life, but the living experience death.”

Augustine

“If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn’t surprise me.  It would be just like Him.  It would be totally in keeping with His generous character….Exorbitant.  Excessive.  Extravagant in grace after grace.  Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing [Tigger] would be pure whimsy–utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous…..Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness and joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on His children.”

Joni Eareckson Tada

“The tree of faith grows only in the heart that craves the supreme gift that Christ died to give: not health, not wealth, not prestige~but God!  Test yourself here.  There are many professing Christians who delight in God’s gifts, but not God.  

Would you want to go to heaven if God were not there, only His gifts?”

John Piper

Desiring God

“Grasping the reality of God’s love will provide every answer to every question we have about him and ourselves.  It will tell us who we are, why we’re here, and how we’re supposed to do what we’re supposed to be doing.  Delighting in God’s love will transform everything about us, including who we are, our identity.”

Elyse Fitzpatrick

“What you believe will inevitability determine how you live.  Make sure the ideas and convictions to which you become devoted are derived from Scripture alone.  There is no other way to stand firm in the the faith.”

Dr. Tom Ascol

“I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. 
Surely I am too stupid to be a (w0)man.”

“Thank you for the cross, Lord

Thank you for the price You paid

Bearing all my sin and shame

In love You came

And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love, Lord

Thank you for the nail pierced hands

Washed me in Your cleansing flow

Now all I know

Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb 

Seated on the throne

Crown You now with many crowns

You reign victorious

High and lifted up

Jesus Son of God

The Darling of Heaven crucified

Worthy is the Lamb 

Worthy is the Lamb”

Hillsong