Hey Guys,
In my effort to keep sharing great books and resources for everyone to grow in faith, I am sharing a book that actually affected the formation of American culture. My ancestors read this book as did most all German pioneers in America.
The author wrote much of original Lutheran and Pietist works.
You can find more on him on Wikipedia, here.
His name is: Johann Arndt, and his book is: “True Christianity”
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Isn’t it amazing that we view our reality through the lenses in which we wear? I mean, if you wake in the morning with a headache, is the day a “headache” kind of day? If we wake in the morning and there are storm clouds and pouring cold drenching rain, does that affect the way you see the day? I mean, really it’s hard to see the sun when the clouds are blocking it.
However, isn’t it true that the sun is always shining whether the clouds block or not?
This is the way I see the days and times in which we live. The sun is shining whether or not there are clouds in the way of my view. I awake and choose to remember the sun is shining whether I see it or not! The clouds don’t change the reality. They simply impede my view of reality.
I have learned over the years that fads and movements have a tendency of running their course and where one generation a pendulum swings one way, the very next will in rebellion swing that pendulum the opposite way.
Does the pendulum’s swing change anything about the reality that what is in the Bible is what it is? No. Truth is truth. The WORD is the WORD.
Let’s ask another question. Is Christ on the throne? Is HE? Is HE on the throne when the Nero’s of the world rule? Is HE on the throne when the church is under pressure or persecuted? Is HE on the throne when we are afraid or things are unknown? Yes. HE has NOT fallen off the throne!!!!! HE has NOT changed, shaken or even been surprised.
Jesus is on the throne. Here is the reality… Christus Victor! Christ is already Victor! HE is victor in our atonement. HE is victor in our struggle. HE is victor. Enough said. People can say what they want. Nothing changes HIS victory.
Therefore I can live in that reality. Nothing else matters. Are there clouds some days when we wake? Yes! Do they change the fact that the sun is still shining and burning and alive?
NO!
Grrrrrrrrrrr!
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I wanted to share this devotion from Oswald Chambers’ book, “My Utmost for His Highest.” It spoke to me today. I wonder if we can identify with this passage?
Read on:
The Spiritually Lazy Saint
Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . . -Hebrews 10:24-25
We are all capable of being spiritually lazy saints. We want to stay off the rough roads of life, and our primary objective is to secure a peaceful retreat from the world. The ideas put forth in these verses from Hebrews 10 are those of stirring up one another and of keeping ourselves together. Both of these require initiative- our willingness to take the first step toward Christ-realization, not the initiative toward self-realization. To live a distant, withdrawn, and secluded life is diametrically opposed to spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.
The true test of our spirituality occurs when we come up against injustice, degradation, ingratitude, and turmoil, all of which have the tendency to make us spiritually lazy. While being tested, we want to use prayer and Bible reading for the purpose of finding a quiet retreat. We use God only for the sake of getting peace and joy. We seek only our enjoyment of Jesus Christ, not a true realization of Him. This is the first step in the wrong direction. All these things we are seeking are simply effects, and yet we try to make them causes.
“Yes, I think it is right,” Peter said, “. . . to stir you up by reminding you . . .” (2 Peter 1:13). It is a most disturbing thing to be hit squarely in the stomach by someone being used of God to stir us up- someone who is full of spiritual activity. Simple active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing. Active work can actually be the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The real danger in spiritual laziness is that we do not want to be stirred up- all we want to hear about is a spiritual retirement from the world. Yet Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of retirement- He says, “Go and tell My brethren . . .” (Matthew 28:10).
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Happy fourth folks!
No matter what anyone says, this nation was fashioned on values that were based on the Word of GOD. Having some of the ancestry and stories in my own family from Jamestown, Plimoth, revolutionary patriot heritage, war of 1812, even officers in Washington’s colonial militia and more, the stores paint the picture of people coming to a country and a land free of persecution, filled with opportunity, facing extreme challenges and at all costs, fighting for freedom.
So, with true Patriotic ancestry, I simply want to speak with authority as a blue blooded American and say that I am thankful for those with the faith and courage to found this amazing nation. Their blood shed and lives given were not in vain.
And to those that protect those freedoms for us, may you know that I am praying for you. You are our real heroes. Freedom is never free! It has cost greatly!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Jesus for the passionate GOD chasers that gave us freedom first. Thank you LORD for listening to the cry of the revolutionary flag, “An Appeal to Heaven…” May we turn back to this heart. We may be in a different era, but foundational values are always the same!
Happy Fourth!
Dustin
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