Susanstudy's Blog

New security

susanstudy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:05:46 +0000

“And the miracle is not only the creation of our faith, but the securing of our faithfulness (see Jer.32:40). When Christ died, He secured for His people, not only new hearts but new security. He will not let them run from Him. He will keep them. They will persevere. The Blood of the covenant guarantees it.” John Piper

Ash Weds.2012

susanstudy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:13:35 +0000

“O gracious Saviour, we beseech Thee of Thy love and goodness to remember our manifold infirmities; give us full pardon of our sins and a new spirit. Give us grace, that we may always imitate Thy humility, resignation, purity, patience, charity and all virtues, that we may be well pleasing to Thee, and may hereafter dwell with Thee forever. For Thine own Name’s sake, we ask it. Amen.” from The Treasury of Devotion 1872

A Daring Venture

susanstudy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:14:20 +0000

“Prayer is a daring venture into speech that juxtaposes our word with the deeply alive words that pierce and divide souls and spirit, joints and marrow, pitilessly exposing every thought and intention of the heart (see Heb,4:12 and Rev.1:16). …. Prayer puts us at risk of getting involved in God’s work. …. Praying most often does not get us what we want, but what God wants, something quite at variance with what we conceive to be in our best interest.” Eugene Peterson

Continual Repentance

susanstudy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:53:30 +0000

“O God of grace, Thou hast imputed my sin to my Substitute, and hast imputed His righteousness to my soul, clothing me with a bridegroom’s robe decking me with jewels of holiness. Bit in my Christian walk, I am still in rags; my best prayers are stained with sin; my perennial tears are so much impurity; my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin; my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness. I need to repent of my repentance; I need my tears to be washed; I have no robe to bring to cover my sin, no loom to weave my own righteousness; I am always standing clothed in filthy garments, and by grace am always receiving a change of raiment, ,,,, Thou art always bringing the best robe. Every morning let me wear it, every evening return in it, go out to the day’s work in it, …. enter into heaven in it shining as the sun. Grant me never to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the exceeding righteousness of salvation, the exceeding glory of Christ, the exceeding beauty of holiness, and the exceeding wonder of grace.” from the Puritan Valley of Vision

“Alas and did my Saviour bleed?”

susanstudy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:58:05 +0000

“Alas and did my Saviour bleed? And did my Soveriegn die? Would He deviate the sacred head for such a worm as I …. Thus might I hide my blushing face while His dear cross appears, dissolve my heart in thankfulness and melt my eyes to tears. The drop of grief can never repay the debt of love I owe; here, Lord, I give myself away; tis all that I can do.” from the hymn by Issac Watts

Precious wounds

susanstudy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:45:34 +0000

“O five precious wounds (of Jesus on the Cross), supreme signs of incomparable love, abounding with Divine sweetness, it is from you the sinner learning abiding trust …. In those wounds we find medicine for life, abundant grace, full forgiveness, mercy and the gateway to promised glory. …. Most kind Jesus, come to my aid in all my needs and in every difficult moment. Stretch Your hands over me and with Your right arm protect me always. Instill devotion in my heart, put truth on my lips, and grant me strength in my labors. Cleanse me from sin’s corruption and by Your precious blood heal my wounds. Let nothing dark remain within me, nothing impure or what can defile me, but may Your sacred blood, that was shed so abundantly, cleanse me of everything harmful and sanctify all that I do.” Thomas a Kempis (from his book On The Passion of Christ)

The voice of Jesus

susanstudy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:38:53 +0000

Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavy-ladened, and I will give you rest.” Matt.11:28 “I heard the voice of Jesus say, Come unto Me and rest. Lay down, o weary one, lay down your head upon My breast. I came to Jesus as I was, so weary, worn and sad. I found in Him a resting place and He has made me glad.” from the hymn by Horatio Bonar 1846 See my earlier post God’s Light for more.

Covenant love

susanstudy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:10:33 +0000

“It is covenant love which is now darkening my earthly horizon. This hour He is the same as when He spared not His own Son. Oh, instead of wondering at my trials, let me rather wonder that He has borne with me so long. It is of the Lord’s unchaging mercies that I am not consumed. Had He been man, changeful, vascillating, as myself, long before now would He have spurned me away and consigned me to doom. But He says,’My thoughts are not your thoughts’.” John MacDuff (from his book Rainbow in the Clouds)

Cast your burdens

susanstudy — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:18:43 +0000

“It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we feel He cares for me. (see 1Peter 5:8) Christian, do not dishonor God by always wearing a brow of worry. Come, cast your burdens upon your God! You are staggering beneath a weight which Your Father would not feel. What seems like a crushing burden to you would be as small dust to Him. Nothing is so sweet as to ‘Lie passive in God’s hands and no will but His.’.” Charles Spurgeon

The Holy Spirit in us

susanstudy — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:51:59 +0000

“Dear Lord, even if I know everything about You, even when I have studied all the Scriptures with care, even when i have great desire and willpower to work in Your service, I can do nothing without the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Often I realize that the clearest vision of the true life, and the most sincere wish to live it, is not enough to make me a true disciple. Only when Your Spirit has enterd the depth of my being can I be a real Christian, a man who lives in and with and through You. “ Henri Nouwen