Some favorite quotes to ponder

"Genuine New Testament Christianity doesn't hang out at headquarters; it gets into the trenches with the wounded and weary" Charles Swindol

"Every word should be allowed to stand in its natural meaning and should not be abandoned unless faith forces us to it. The literal sense of Scripture alone is the whole essence of faith and of Christian theology." Luther

"Naturalism by its purpose engineers the displacement of the miracle and puts in its place explanations that defy reason." Ravi Zacharias

"Let us know that the true meaning of Scripture is the natural and obvious meaning. Let us embrace and abide it resolutely. It is the first business of an interpreter to let the author say what he does say instead of attribution to him what we think he ought to say." Calvin

"It is not common sense that the words of Jesus give us, but uncommon sense. Jesus turned the world's standards upside down, because into a mad world He brings the supreme sanity of God." William Barclay

"The skeptic, of course, will challenge such credulity that accepts wholesale such stories, not realizing that what they swallow in a glass of water is a miracle in and of itself" Ravi Zacharias

How long....

This has been a tough year-emotionally, spiritually, financially, physically. At times I have felt beset from all sides. I long for a period without trials, yet God in His goodness sustains me, and reminds me through His word that He is able., and it is through fire that gold emerges. God's sovereign love affirms me through my troubles so that even in the midst of chaos I can be at peace. I share this from John Pipers website.

1912 Psalter reflection on Psalm 42 ( DesiringGod.org)

How long wilt Thou forget me,
O Lord, Thou God of grace?
How long shall fears beset me
While darkness hides Thy face?
How long shall griefs distress me
And turn my day to night?
How long shall foes oppress me
And triumph in their might?

O Lord my God, behold me
And hear mine earnest cries;
Lest sleep of death enfold me,
Enlighten Thou mine eyes;
Lest now my foe insulting
Should boast of his success,
And enemies exulting
Rejoice in my distress.