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The Might of a Dandelion Saints are never giants Who hoped to do God favors. They are only souls Whose needs took root In shallow dust, Becoming redwoods grown From dandelion spores. —Calvin Miller in Symphony in Sand |
Down Before Up
Growing spiritually can be like a roller coaster ride. Take comfort in the knowledge that the way down is only preparation for the way up.
—Rebbe Nachman of Breslow in The Empty Chair When All Else Fails Faith is what you have in the absence of knowledge. —Flannery O’Connor, quoted in Refresh My Heart |
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We Know Who Holds the Future
When was the last time you thanked the Lord for not showing you the future? I’m convinced that one of the best things God does for us is to keep us from knowing what will happen beyond today. Just think of all the stuff you didn’t have to worry about just because you never knew it was coming your way!
—Charles Swindoll in David: A Man of Passion and Destiny The Chisel’s Pain We must offer ourselves to God like … a piece of stone. Each blow from the sculptor’s chisel makes it feel—if it could—as if it were being destroyed. As blow upon blow descends, the stone knows nothing of how the sculptor is shaping it. All it feels is a chisel chopping away at it, cutting it, and mutilating it. … [I]t might [say]: ” … I have no idea what he is doing, nor do I know what he will make of me. But I know his work is the best possible. It is perfect and so I welcome each blow of his chisel as the best thing that could happen to me, although, if I’m to be truthful, I feel that every one of these blows is ruining me, destroying me, and disfiguring me.” —Jean Pierre de Caussade, quoted in The Inner Treasure Move on Ahead Don’t stay locked in your past. Don’t keep focusing on yesterday with its heartaches and problems. It’s not important how many people have disappointed you, failed you, and done you wrong. The crucial issue now is not what they did, but what God has done … and what He’s going to do. Go forward. Keep believing. Keep moving! —Andrew Merritt in My Faith Is Taking Me Someplace Use the Right Standard The best way to show a stick is crooked is not to argue about it or spend time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick alongside it. —Ugandan Archibishop Janani Luwum when challenged about his “friendship” with tyrant Idi Amin; shortly afterward he was abducted and executed |
Beyond Hypocrisy
It is not well for a man to pray cream, and live skim milk.
—Henry Ward Beecher in Life Thoughts A Superior Royalty Christ brought to the world a new conception of royalty. He rules by love and not by force. That, as he expressly said, is the difference between his Kingdom and the kingdoms of this world. His most regal act was the supreme self-sacrifice whereby he would draw all [people] to himself and make them willingly obedient to him forever. —Archbishop William Temple, from “Inasmuch,” sermon at Westminster Abbey, August 17, 1919 Keep on Keeping On God grant me the courage to change the things I can change; the serenity to accept those I cannot change; the wisdom to know the difference—but God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it hopeless. —Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, quoted in You Can Say That Again(after Reinhold Niebuhr) Loving God Some people want to see God with their eyes as they see a cow, and to love Him as they love their cow. They love their cow for the milk and cheese and profit it makes them. This is how it is with people who love God for the sake of outward wealth or inward comfort. They do not rightly love God when they love Him for their own advantage. Indeed, I tell you the truth. Any object you have in your mind, however good, will be a barrier between you and the inmost truth. —Meister Eckhart, quoted in Heirlooms |
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