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...

There has been much conversation about the Asbury Revival in Kentucky. And as it is often with social media-proliferated 'news', especially with spiritual matters (for all are looking for hope somewhere, but only a few looking for it in Christ)—there are three camps: the Easily Excited, the Rarely Ignited, and the Wisely Incited. The Easily Excited are all heart with no head; ready to believe, praise, and support Kanye West, Benny Hinn, and other well-known people and groups who profess repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Emotion is prime and easy believism is promoted, though it may be unintentional. The Rarely Ignited are all head with no heart; ready to disparage and discredit claims that any well-known person or groups can truly be converted. Detached opinions are prime while a gate narrower than Christ ordained is promoted, though it may be unintentional. The Wisely Incited are head and heart; ready to test all matters with the Word of God (1 Jn 4:1, 2 Pt 2:1-3),...

When my heart breaks, what do I do? To whom or from where do I first run and seek comfort, protection, warmth, love? Today, my darling husband and I received a text with enormously distressing news. A text filled with bitterness, slander, ungodly opinions given as facts—falsehood presented as truth and poison poured into an open and already painful wound. A wound that has never been given a chance to recover before more poison is poured into it and thus overruns it. When a loved one professes Christ, yet considers it a small thing (if he considers it at all) to sin against God; confesses this is wrong, yet remains apathetic, and therefore, continues to sin without cause, what is one to do? All I had the strength to do, was to cry out, “LORD, help me!” And immediately, the Holy Spirit put Psalm 121 in my mind. So immediately, I opened the Word of my Lord, and this is what I received from Him, In my distress I called to the LORD,    and He answered me. Deliver me, O LO...

Part of my reading and study today was 1 Corinthians 11 and Hebrews 6. It still awes me to consider how carefully and lovingly the LORD, my God and Father, supplies all I need ever before I know I need it. And by His loving-kindness and faithfulness, He teaches me more about Him as He exalts (by lifting up to Himself) everyone who humbles themselves to seek His face. For a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart, He will never despise (cf. Ps 51:16-17). As I type this, my heart is broken and deeply grief-stricken for my loved ones who are far from God. Some who know it, and others who are (more than likely), self-deceived in their religiosity rather than truly saved by the cleansing of their conscience with the blood of Christ Jesus. Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1, NASB95) The Apostle Paul repeats this commandment from 1 Corinthians 11:1 elsewhere in Scripture—1 Corinthians 4:16, Philippians 3:17-19. We know this commandment is weighty be...

I’m sitting here thinking, “How may I wisely and prudently share all the good the LORD, my God and Father, my Savior, my Rock and my Redeemer—my greatest and preeminent love and life, has done for me?” It’s not possible to share it all because there’s just not enough time or room in this world to be able to encapsulate the goodness of God in just one little life, for the past 53 years (Ps 40:5). So what shall I share, and how shall I share it? What is most edifying and what is the least useful for you to consume? I want to feed, comfort, and strengthen you with the former rather than starve, discourage, and burden you with the latter. Thanks be to God for His Holy Spirit who always testifies to Christ! “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Eph 4:29) and, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my...