abandoned to Christ.

The Lord Jesus told us that all who belong to Him, truly belong to Him (Mt 7:21) enter through the narrow gate and continually walk the narrow way (Mt 7:14). The original Greek word for “narrow” used in this passage is θλίβω (transliterated thlíbō), which means: to afflict, distress. This is why only a few find it, delight in it, and abide in it (Ps 119:47, 72). The narrow gate and the narrow way isn’t difficult for the many to find or see because it’s minuscule and dull. For all things of the Great I AM is as He is—exceptional in grandeur and magnificent in structure! Only a few find the narrow gate and remain on the narrow way, because it is the gate and way of affliction. [W]e have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that ...

  “[L]earn to set a high price upon the quiet and sweetness of your spirit, set a high price upon it, account it to be a rich jewel of great worth, as we told you, that God accounted the meek spirit to be of great price; ‘tis one way to get it, to have a right esteem of the rest of spirit, and quietness that meekness will cause in the soule…therefore saith Christ, learn of me who am humble and meek, and you shall find rest to your souls…I have found this, that when I have been able to overcome my passion, I have had the sweetest time that ever I have had in all my life: when I could deny my selfe, and exercise meekness, O the quiet of any heart, it was worth a world, and shall I loose this for a trifle, now for a toy, O the poore trifles and toyes that men and women do cast away the quietness of their spirits for, as if they were nothing worth.” ~Jeremiah Burroughs, The Saints Happinesse; Sermon XIII Ah…the sweetness of meekness is far more impressive and far more glorious and far ...

I had an interesting conversation with a brother in Christ today. One of the things we discussed was: Is it possible to memorize too much of God’s Word? And if it is, what determines this oddity? It’s not the first time I’ve heard this before. It’s not the first time I’ve had this exact conversation with others in my Family in Christ. This topic of “too much of God” has come up more often than I’d like. And every time, it disconcerts me. If you’re wondering what I mean by “too much of God” here it is: Asking someone to read, memorize, meditate on, and/or study too much Scripture. But how much is too much? Is it even possible for any of us to spend too much time with God? Too much time thinking about Him, considering Him, praying and waiting for Him to answer: yes, no, wait, etc.? Is asking someone to read the entire Bible in three months, six months, one year, or two years too much for any Christian? Did you know that even for a slow reader and comprehender like me, it only takes ...

Bemoaning God’s kindness sounds a bit strange, doesn’t it? Do you know why? Because it is. Sadly, many, if not most of us, bemoan God’s kindness daily…and we’ve practiced it so much, rarely are we aware of it. We bemoan God’s kindness when: Someone gives us a gift with all their heart, but it doesn’t meet our standards of what we most value; We’re envious and unkind to anyone our loved ones (parents, spouse, children, friends) give honor and respect to, because we feel their admiration belongs to us; We give a gift, serve, etc. and we don’t receive the measure of gratitude we feel our giving deserves; Someone loves us enough to not sin with us; We reject someone (with or without their knowledge) that God uses  to reprove or admonish us of sin we are entertaining/practicing; We won’t even greet someone because we are envious of the spiritual gifts or natural talents God gave to them and not to us; Our first instinct is to complain and criticize rather than to consider it all joy whe...