God’s Timetable

God, Life, Trials 0

Did you realize that time could possibly be the stander’s greatest obstacle?  Charlyne could report, “Bob delivered hurricane supplies across the state today,” and be correct.  What she did not tell you was that it was a six-hour trip.  I encountered heavy traffic, post-hurricane congestion, rude drivers, and so much more.  The Bible is exactly like that.  We are told of an event, and assume it happened all at once, when in truth decades passed.  May we each learn that God’s timetable is far different from our timetable.

— Robert E. Steinkamp, The Prodigal’s Pen, p. 170

Let Our Light Shine

Life, Truth 0

Let us remember that we are not here to convince men, but to let our light shine.

Knowledge is not necessarily light.  And it is light, not knowledge, that we have to spread.  The best thing we can do — infinitely the best, indeed the only thing — that men may receive the truth, is to be ourselves true.  Beyond all doing of good is the being good, for he that is good not only does good things, but all that he does is good.

— George MacDonald, Your Life in Christ, p. 213

My Ability to Hear from God

God, Guidance, Life 0

We don’t know on any given day all that’s playing into why we can’t seem to hear from God. . . .  But I do know this:  it can’t be the verdict of how I’m doing with God or how he feels about me in this moment. . . .

My ability to hear God’s voice on any given day does not change my position in Christ one bit.  I share this because the last thing I want to introduce into your faith is shame or doubt or some other attack because you’re not hearing clearly right now.  Taking the journey toward an intimacy with God that includes conversational intimacy is a beautiful thing, full of surprises and gifts from him.

But it can also send us reeling if we are basing our relationship with God on our ability to hear from him in this moment or on this particular issue. . . .

So, if you’re not yet hearing, don’t worry.  It’s okay.  Keep praying.  Keep listening.  Notice what God might be up to other than answering the immediate question.

— John Eldredge, Walking with God, p. 48-50

Let Your Light Shine.

Life, Love, Truth 0

It is not, Let your good works shine, but Let your light shine.

Let it be the genuine love of your hearts, taking form in true deeds, not the doing of good deeds to prove that your opinions are right.  If you are thus true, your very talk about the truth will be a good work, a shining of the light that is in you.  A true smile is a good work and may do much to reveal the Father who is in heaven.  But the smile that is put on for the sake of looking right, or even for the sake of being right, will hardly reveal him because it is not like him.

— George MacDonald, Your Life in Christ, p. 210

Getting It Done

Inspiration, Life, Trials 0

“It’s not about prophecies, boy.  Or magic swords, or any of that nonsense.  It’s about getting it done.  Always is.  You’re going to be king someday.  Seen a lot of kings come and go.  I know what makes them.  What breaks them.  Save your friends and kill the dragon.  Or you won’t be worth a cracked copper to Idris.  Or to yourself.  That’s what it’s really about . . . in the end.  About you.”

— The Prophecy, by Hilari Bell