Category: Healing

Holiness is…’fearsome’ otherness.

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3). This holiness is the devastating divinity of God. Isaiah is undone by this fearsome otherness.” It’s Good to be a Man book by Michael Foster & Dominic Bnonn Tenant, pg. 135. (Italics and bold added by me, and: “I’ve never heard holiness defined in quite these wonderful terms before = WOW!”)

Hallowed, RELATIONAL Holiness & Wholeness…

“Holiness is not God asking us to ‘be good‘. Rather, it’s an invitation to ‘be His‘.” Lisa Bevere, as quoted in small book, First Cup Devotions for Couples, pg. 57.

First Love Fire?

“Paul said elsewhere, we should not quench or extinguish the Spirit in our lives (I Thess. 5:19). In the sermon “Reigniting Your Passion for God,” Rick Warren highlights seven passion killers:

  1. An Unbalanced Schedule
  2. An Unused Talent
  3. An Unconfessed Sin
  4. An Unresolved Conflict
  5. An Unsupported Life
  6. An Unclear Purpose
  7. An Undernourished Spirit

“So many forces are capable of stifling the work of God in our lives. That’s why we must pray without ceasing. It is through prayer we draw close to the God Who is a consuming fire, and we become illuminated (empowered and connected to His People) in His Presence,” as found in The Book on Prayer, by Ken Gurley, pg. 158 (words in parenthesis added by me, dkb).

Masqueraders

In thinking re. my ‘cutting-edge’ yet faltering laptop…and our current fixation on ‘smart’ phones, the thought came to me, ‘it sure is a phone-ey world’! (I know, corny, right? But true, w/our addiction to virtual ‘reality’ and the ‘god’ of technology!)

‘Easy’…or ‘the Ultimate’?

“‘Easy’ is not always ‘good’, much less ‘best.’” Ivan Keim, Amish Homesteader, Speaker, Educator, Entrepreneur, who did Q & A ‘Panel’ with Homesteader, Country Music songwriter, musician and singer, Rory Feek, after intro by (neighbor/friend/homesteader &) non-profit founder/publisher of Plain Values magazine/ministry, Marlin Miller.

Lip-service…or Life-surrender?

“Zephaniah, a contemporary of Judah’s King Josiah, represents a type of leader that every organization needs. Josiah was the godly king who, as a 20-year-old monarch, began to initiate much-needed national reforms. He restored the worship practices of old, ordered the Book of the Law to be read aloud, and required everyone to bow down and repent for their sin and (un)spiritual drifting. “Merely external reforms, however, remain incomplete. You cannot perfume a skunk and expect to transform him! Many in Josiah’s day performed the repentance rituals but continued in their secret sins. Many never acknowledged their private sinfulness, nor did they inwardly repent of their personal wickedness. John Maxwell, in his NKJV Leadership Bible, pg. 1111.

Crucify the Critic!

“Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” To become like Christ is to become like a little child. The implications and applications of this one statement are kaleidoscopic, but it refers to approaching life with childlike humility, childlike wonder, childlike faith (and childlike obedience). You need to stay in-touch with your ‘inner child,’ no matter how old you get. To do that, you’ve got to ignore your ‘inner critic.’ Mark Batterson, Win the Day, ppgs 165-166.

Greatness by Consistency.

The Key to True Greatness is NOT normally achieved by doing great things well now and then or before the eyes of man but, rather, by doing ordinary things excellently, day-in and day-out, especially when no one (human) is watching. (Epiphany to me, DKB.)