Why is purity such a struggle? Why is it so difficult to order our lives in a way that allows Christ to shine through us? ... We destroy purity by equating it with legalism and forgetting that it is first and foremost a work of the heart. Reducing it to a set of rules trivializes the purpose of purity and creates a veneer of purity without the genuine, underlying character. -- David Edwards
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
Malachi 3 16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. 17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession
NOW SOME THOUGHTS FROM MY LIVING FAITH BOOKS:
O GOD, IN THIS TIME OF CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION, IT IS EASY TO ASSUME THAT OUR SECURITY AND HAPPINESS DEPEND ON RECIEVING GIFTS AND SPENDING MONEY. BUT WE KNOW IN OUR HEARTS THAT IS NOT TRUE. PEACE AND JOY COME FROM KNOWING THAT THROUGH FAITH WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED BY A LOVING GOD WHO WAS BORN INTO OUR WORLD AS A HELPLESS CHILD, AND CHILD THAT WAS NOT ABORTED AND THROWN IN THE TRASH LIKE A USELESS PIECE OF GARBAGE, NEWBORN SAVIOR, PLEASE COME TO US AND FORGIVE US AND HELP US ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALL LIFE, YOUNG AND OLD, DISABLED AND HEALTY, IS PRECIOUS IN YOUR SIGHT, PLEASE COME AND BE OUR TRUE PEACE AND JOY, AMEN
LORD JESUS, STIR UP IN MY HEART THIS ADVENT, A LIVELY DESIRE FOR YOUR COMING, THOUGH I AM TEMPTED TO SETTLE FOR ILLUSIONARY HAPPINESS, HELP ME TO SEEK INSTEAD THE REAL THING IN YOU. AMID THE SOMETIMES FRANTIC PACE OF PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS AND YOUR COMING, GIVE ME THE GIFT OF YOUR JOY FILLED PRESENCE. wHEN I AM FACED WITH THE DARKNESS OF SUFFERING AND DEATH, AND THE GRAYNESS OF THE COMING MONTHS, WHEN YOU ARE PREPARING FOR SPRING, REMIND ME THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS ACCORDING TO YOUR PLANS AND NOT MINE, REMIND ME THAT YOU CAME TO BE A SAVIOR TO ALL AND I MEAN ALL OF THE HUMAN RACE, BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO GIVE US ALL THE CHRISTMAS GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE, AMEN.
BLESSINGS OF THE TRINITY
MAY THE LOVE OF THE FATHER ENFOLD US, THE WISDOM OF THE SON ENLIGHTEN US, THE FIRE OF THE SPIRIT ENFLAME US, AND MAY THE BLESSING IF THE TRIUNE GOD REST ON US, AND ABIDE WITH US FOR NOW AND EVERMORE----------------OWEN COLLINS
LORD GOD, I AM LONGING FOR YOUR NEW BIRTH IN MY HEART. MAY I FOCAS ON YOUR CARE AND PRESENCE IN MY LIFE. LET ME NOT BE DISTRACTED BY THE MATERIALISUM OF THE SEASON, AND GUIDE ME TO APPRECIATE MORE DEEPLY THE REAL VALUES OF ADVENT. SLOW ME DOWN SO THAT I MAY SAVOR THE SPIRITUAL RICHES OF THIS TIME OF WAITING FOR YOU ARRIVAL, ALLOW ME REXPIERIENCE THE WONDER AND AWE OF THE SEASON LIKE A CHILD, FOR YOU TRULY LOVE US, ALL OF YOUR CHILDREN.......AMEN.........JEAN ROYER
HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY EVERYONE...GOD BLESS YOU ALL...THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR EVERYTHING YOU GIVE TO ME.....
