Category: Compassion

Happy Hunger

Happiness comes in the Hunger (for God/Righteousness/being in right standing or relationship with Him and others).

NEW God…

GOD is new every morning (and moment), just like His mercies are (toward us).

Fast, Toward Home!

“Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God.” John Piper.

LIFE is Love.

The LIFE of God IS the LOVE of God and, therefore, His extravagant, exhilarating and transformative Power. dkb. “God IS Love.” Apostle John, in I John 4:8, 16.

‘Fast’ POWER!

“God’s chosen fast changes the spiritual climate (in your life and world). Fasting, along (or coupled) with prayer (though fasting in and of itself can be a form of powerful, silent praying), can move you from being a cloud-watcher to (becoming) a rainmaker, from being reactive to proactive, from being a thermometer (in)to (becoming) a thermostat. Fasting can change everything! Pastor/Writer Ken Gurley, The Book on Prayer, pg. 280 (italics, words in parenthesis and exclamation point added by me, Denny Beckham, 4/11/25).

When GOD Weeps

“When the city came into view, He wept over it. ‘If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead, your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome (but instead refused)  God’s personal visit’ (Me).” Jesus, weeping over Jerusalem (and us), Luke 19:41-44, MSG Bible. (Words in parenthesis and italics added by me, dkb.)

The ULTIMATE Experience in Life

“The only thing that will remain in Heaven of our earthly time is our prayers.” (Vesta Mangun.) “Yet, why do so many struggle with prayer? Prayer is the ultimate experience of life; it reaches into eternity. It is our opportunity to become a part of the eternal purpose of God. Prayer is often constricted to a narrow focus or it may sprawl in our mind without parameters. The ‘sweet hour of prayer’ becomes a dreaded responsibility instead of a privileged relationship. Prayer has been perceived as drudgery, when it is a pleasure- as a hard self-discipline, when it is a self-rewarding sacrifice – as a commitment you can never quite keep, when it is an unlimited communion with God. A lot depends on how our prayer life is conducted.” Teri Spears and Thetus Tenney, in loose-leaf (note/work) book, ‘…first of all…Prayer’ pg. 1 (Introduction). (Italics and bold added by me.)

Priceless, Efficacious Tears.

“In one of the six ‘Golden Psalms’ (michtam, in Hebrew), David describes how God values tears:

Psalm 56:8-‘You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?’ God is an avid collector of tears. Tears are the silent, eloquent testimonies to God’s nearness: “He remains close to those who are brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Did you know what’s physiologically in our tears? A tear is comprised of more than ‘just’ water and includes proteins, enzymes, lipids, metabolites, electrolytes, and even our DNA! If our eyes get irritated, tears are more aqueous (comprised of water). If we are under high stress, our tears are filled with stress-related hormones.

But the chemistry of tears pales in comparison to their (spiritual) value (to God…and us): “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable (hope and) love.” Unknown.

Contrition. Unspeakable love. Not ordinary, everyday words…nor occurrences, sadly, though tears might be.

Is that why God has a supreme interest in…and pays undying attention to…our tears? He is love personified and, therefore, “near to the brokenhearted.” The Psalmist said that ‘God collects tears, even stores them in his bottles.’ ” The Book on Prayer, pg. 248, by Psr. Ken Gurley (italics and words in parentheses, etc., added by me, dkb).

“Try Tears.” General William Booth, The Salvation Army.

“Grown men don’t cry. Again, life lies. Jesus wept. Shouldn’t I?” Ken Gurley, in The Book on Prayer, pg. 258 (italics added by me, dkb, and: I have, time and again, personally experienced powerful breakthroughs to Christ…when I’ve sought Him with all my heart, by His Grace!).