Pricked

I am blessed to have God the Holy Spirit indwell me. He sovereignly leads me in my sanctification -- even when I am not expecting it. So, the following quotes are recorded for me - as a reminder of the work of the Spirit of God in me.

“Don’t just sit there by yourself or off to one side and hang your head, and shake it and gnaw your knuckles and worry and look for a way out, nothing on your mind except how bad you feel, how you hurt, what a poor guy you are. Get up, you lazy scamp! Down on your knees! Up with your hands and eyes toward heaven.”
~ Martin Luther

“Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.”
~ John Bunyan

“If I should neglect prayer but a single day, I should lose a great deal of the fire of faith.”
~ Martin Luther

“Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.”
~ Oswald Chambers

Good News

Jesus is the Redeemer. That is good news whether you are an unbeliever just meeting Jesus, or a believer who has known and loved Jesus for years.

Jesus brings me hope... and that hope has so many different shades. Every part of my life and every part of my day is sustained and strengthened by the hope I have in Jesus.

As a pastor, that gives significance and purpose to my ministry. I have this living hope within, and I have the privilege and responsibility to share that and apply that to those I minister to. What a freedom to have a Jesus-focused, gospel-centered ministry. It is the power of God to salvation to those who believe.

This isn't simple news, or even old news... this is still, to me, such rich and good news!!!!