Have you ever known a person that touched your life immensely? Today we attended a Memorial Service for a dear man that passed away in April of this year, His name was Steven or as many called him, Fred. I had the privilege of meeting Steven at the church that I was attending when I first came to know the Lord as my Savior.
Steven attended the church with his father and mother Murray and Connie. Steven was born with Down Syndrome and his parents are two of the finest parents I've had the privilege of knowing. Steven was around 17 or 18 when I first met him but he always seemed like a child to me, even when he was in his 30s, he still seemed childlike. At the memorial service his brothers both stood up and commented on how loving and kind Steven was and how much of hole is in their lives now that he is not with them.He was such a gentle , kind soul. You would walk in their home and he would come towards you with the biggest smile you ever seen, with one tooth missing in the front,you would be looking into these beautiful smiling eyes and he would wrap his arms around you and tell you he loved you. He was never angry, always so happy to see anyone. At church he would stay in the Nursery and help out there, every church he attended the children loved him so and so did the congregation. At the memorial Service 8 children stood up front and sang Steven's Favorite song, " Jesus Loves Me This I know, for the Bible tells me so" I remember a few times that he came and spent the day with me while his dad and mom had things to do and it was easier for them to get it done on their own. I spend those times looking through His view Master at Scoobie Doo. He brought over his favorite VHS movies that we watched together. they are memories I will treasure forever.
At the service Stevens brother Dan shared a time that his dad told him about. One day there were kids playing outside their home and Stevie was out the front with them. A little girl that was with them fell down and hurt herself and all the other children just stood around and watched. Steven went over to the little girl and helped her up and asked her if she was ok. Tears came to my eyes hearing that because I could see Stevie doing just that. If you would have had the privilege of meeting this young man you would have loved him too.
We know God made Steven this way, for a purpose.You can not imagine the lives this young man has touched. Thank you Lord for bringing Stevie into my life, because I consider myself truly blessed by him. We can learn so much from folks like Stevie, they put us to shame sometimes.
Tonight as I type this out I am thinking Stevie is now whole, no more pain, no more ridicule from folks that are just plain ignorant. I am going to miss that beautiful smile on his face and in his eyes. Thank you Lord for Steven "Fred" Riordan! I Love you Steven! I will miss you but I know I will one day see you again, whole.
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.(Matthew 18:2-6 ESV)
Cristina
Saturday, May 23, 2009
SOUND THEOLOGIANS
from Spurgeon’s, "Plain Words with the Careless"
No. 778 Luke 8:28.
A man may know a great deal about true
religion, and yet be a total stranger to it.
He may know that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God, and yet he may be possessed of a devil.
Mere knowledge does nothing for us but puff us up.
We may know, and know, and know, and so
increase our responsibility, without bringing
us at all into a state of salvation.
Beware of resting in head-knowledge.
Beware of relying upon orthodoxy,
for without love to Christ, with all your
correctness of doctrine, you will be a
sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
It is well to be sound in the faith,
but the soundness must be in the
heart as well as in the head.
There is as ready a way to destruction by the road
of orthodoxy as by the paths of heterodoxy.
Hell has thousands in it who were never heretics.
Remember that the devils "believe and tremble."
There are no sounder theologians than devils,
and yet their conduct is not affected by
what they believe, and consequently they still
remain at enmity to the Most High God. A mere
head-believer is on a par therefore with fallen
angels, and he will have his portion with them
forever unless grace shall change his heart.
No. 778 Luke 8:28.
A man may know a great deal about true
religion, and yet be a total stranger to it.
He may know that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God, and yet he may be possessed of a devil.
Mere knowledge does nothing for us but puff us up.
We may know, and know, and know, and so
increase our responsibility, without bringing
us at all into a state of salvation.
Beware of resting in head-knowledge.
Beware of relying upon orthodoxy,
for without love to Christ, with all your
correctness of doctrine, you will be a
sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
It is well to be sound in the faith,
but the soundness must be in the
heart as well as in the head.
There is as ready a way to destruction by the road
of orthodoxy as by the paths of heterodoxy.
Hell has thousands in it who were never heretics.
Remember that the devils "believe and tremble."
There are no sounder theologians than devils,
and yet their conduct is not affected by
what they believe, and consequently they still
remain at enmity to the Most High God. A mere
head-believer is on a par therefore with fallen
angels, and he will have his portion with them
forever unless grace shall change his heart.
Friday, May 22, 2009
MERCY
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient to you." (2 Peter 3:9)
Do you look back at your life and see just how merciful Jesus has been in your life? I shake my head sometimes thinking how undeserving I am of his grace and mercy. Even now as His child I still fail Him and He still shows mercy on me. He is the one person that will love me the most, he will never let me stand alone. Folks can really hurt you at times, but you know, I never feel alone, not meaning I don't feel pain, but I know He feels my pain. I am so blessed.
Mercy is what grace offers. The grace of God comes to us in our poor sinful condition and offers us the mercy of God when we deserve His wrath. So grace comes to us giving us mercy. I admit it is somewhat semantical, and the terms are virtually interchangeable. There is a subtle difference in the two words. Mercy has meaning more synonymous with compassion.
" 'Grace' is more than mercy and love, it superadds to them. It denotes, not simply love, but the love of a sovereign, transcendently superior, one that may do what he will, that may wholly choose whether he will love or no. There may be love between equals, and an inferior may love a superior; but love in a superior, and so superior as he may do what he will, in such a one love is called grace: and therefore grace is attributed to princes; they are said to be gracious to their subjects, whereas subjects cannot be gracious to princes. Now God, who is an infinite Sovereign, who might have chosen whether ever He would love us or no, for Him to love us, this is grace." Thomas Goodwin
" Mercy is God's favour that holds back
"God hath in Himself all power to defend you, all wisdom to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to enrich you, all righteousness to clothe you, all goodness to supply you, and all happiness to crown you." Thomas Brooks
Do you look back at your life and see just how merciful Jesus has been in your life? I shake my head sometimes thinking how undeserving I am of his grace and mercy. Even now as His child I still fail Him and He still shows mercy on me. He is the one person that will love me the most, he will never let me stand alone. Folks can really hurt you at times, but you know, I never feel alone, not meaning I don't feel pain, but I know He feels my pain. I am so blessed.
Mercy is what grace offers. The grace of God comes to us in our poor sinful condition and offers us the mercy of God when we deserve His wrath. So grace comes to us giving us mercy. I admit it is somewhat semantical, and the terms are virtually interchangeable. There is a subtle difference in the two words. Mercy has meaning more synonymous with compassion.
" 'Grace' is more than mercy and love, it superadds to them. It denotes, not simply love, but the love of a sovereign, transcendently superior, one that may do what he will, that may wholly choose whether he will love or no. There may be love between equals, and an inferior may love a superior; but love in a superior, and so superior as he may do what he will, in such a one love is called grace: and therefore grace is attributed to princes; they are said to be gracious to their subjects, whereas subjects cannot be gracious to princes. Now God, who is an infinite Sovereign, who might have chosen whether ever He would love us or no, for Him to love us, this is grace." Thomas Goodwin
" Mercy is God's favour that holds back
"God hath in Himself all power to defend you, all wisdom to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to enrich you, all righteousness to clothe you, all goodness to supply you, and all happiness to crown you." Thomas Brooks
Sunday, May 03, 2009
FOR DEEPER VIEWS OF SELF
From Grace Gems
A wonderful prayer.........
"O Lord, in the morning I will direct my prayer to You."
"Search me, O God, and know my heart."—Psalm 139:23
O eternal, everlasting God, who have once more enlightened my eyes, and allowed me not to sleep the sleep of death, bestow upon me this day the riches of Your grace and love. Morning after morning is dawning upon me, with new tokens of Your mercy. Oh, may these be bringing me nearer the glorious day which is to know no night—that eternal noon-tide when all shadows and darkness are forever to flee away!
Lord, I am unworthy to come into Your presence, and yet I have to mourn that I do not feel this deep unworthiness as I ought. I am unwilling to see into the unknown depths of my sin. I do not know myself. I have no depressing consciousness of the desperate wickedness of my own evil heart. I have buried many past transgressions in oblivion. I have deluded myself with the thought, that many were too trivial and unimportant to incur Your disapproval. Even any imperfect good which Your grace has enabled me to perform, I have been too prone to take the merit to myself, instead of ascribing all the praise to You. There has been pride in my humility. There have been mingled motives in my best services. My best resolutions have been fitful and transient. My purest and most unselfish actions could not stand the scrutiny of Your eye. The holiest day I ever spent, were I to be judged by it, would condemn me.
O You who "searches Jerusalem with lighted candles," "search my heart." Bring me to the publican's place of penitential sorrow, exclaiming, in self-renouncing humility, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"
I would seek to make a more entire and undivided surrender of all I am and have to You. Give me such a dreadful and affecting sense of my vileness, that I may never feel safe but when close to the atoning Fountain, drawing out of it hourly supplies. May mine be a daily heart and self and sin crucifixion—an eternal severance from those bosom traitors which have so long separated between me and my God. Make me more zealous for Your honor and glory—"Cleanse the thoughts of my heart, by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit"—"Let no iniquity obtain dominion over me." But may it be my daily ambition to become more like You, reflecting more of the image, and imbibing more of the spirit, of my Divine Redeemer, that thus the atmosphere of holiness and of heaven may be diffused all around me. May my own soul be pervaded with lofty and purified aspirations. May I be enabled to exhibit to the world the felt happiness of close walking with God.
And gracious Father, "send forth Your light and Your truth" to a darkened world. May Your own ancient people be speedily gathered in with the fullness of the Gentile nations, that all ends of the earth may see the salvation of God.
Bless all my dear friends, near or distant. May they have the heritage of those who fear Your name. Defend them now by Your mighty power, and at last number them with Your saints in glory everlasting. Amen.
"Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust."
A wonderful prayer.........
"O Lord, in the morning I will direct my prayer to You."
"Search me, O God, and know my heart."—Psalm 139:23
O eternal, everlasting God, who have once more enlightened my eyes, and allowed me not to sleep the sleep of death, bestow upon me this day the riches of Your grace and love. Morning after morning is dawning upon me, with new tokens of Your mercy. Oh, may these be bringing me nearer the glorious day which is to know no night—that eternal noon-tide when all shadows and darkness are forever to flee away!
Lord, I am unworthy to come into Your presence, and yet I have to mourn that I do not feel this deep unworthiness as I ought. I am unwilling to see into the unknown depths of my sin. I do not know myself. I have no depressing consciousness of the desperate wickedness of my own evil heart. I have buried many past transgressions in oblivion. I have deluded myself with the thought, that many were too trivial and unimportant to incur Your disapproval. Even any imperfect good which Your grace has enabled me to perform, I have been too prone to take the merit to myself, instead of ascribing all the praise to You. There has been pride in my humility. There have been mingled motives in my best services. My best resolutions have been fitful and transient. My purest and most unselfish actions could not stand the scrutiny of Your eye. The holiest day I ever spent, were I to be judged by it, would condemn me.
O You who "searches Jerusalem with lighted candles," "search my heart." Bring me to the publican's place of penitential sorrow, exclaiming, in self-renouncing humility, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"
I would seek to make a more entire and undivided surrender of all I am and have to You. Give me such a dreadful and affecting sense of my vileness, that I may never feel safe but when close to the atoning Fountain, drawing out of it hourly supplies. May mine be a daily heart and self and sin crucifixion—an eternal severance from those bosom traitors which have so long separated between me and my God. Make me more zealous for Your honor and glory—"Cleanse the thoughts of my heart, by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit"—"Let no iniquity obtain dominion over me." But may it be my daily ambition to become more like You, reflecting more of the image, and imbibing more of the spirit, of my Divine Redeemer, that thus the atmosphere of holiness and of heaven may be diffused all around me. May my own soul be pervaded with lofty and purified aspirations. May I be enabled to exhibit to the world the felt happiness of close walking with God.
And gracious Father, "send forth Your light and Your truth" to a darkened world. May Your own ancient people be speedily gathered in with the fullness of the Gentile nations, that all ends of the earth may see the salvation of God.
Bless all my dear friends, near or distant. May they have the heritage of those who fear Your name. Defend them now by Your mighty power, and at last number them with Your saints in glory everlasting. Amen.
"Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust."
Friday, May 01, 2009
ONE WRONG STEP--AND DOWN WE GO!
We are so blessed to have men and women that encourage us and remind us that God will never ever falter in His love for us, Charles Spurgeon is one.
What a gift from God He has been to so many many people,for me......
"How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life!" Matthew 7:14
In some sense, the path to heaven is very safe--but in other respects, there is no road so dangerous! It is beset with difficulties. One wrong step--and down we go! And how easy it is to take that treacherous step--if grace is absent!
What a slippery path is that--which some of us have to tread! How many times have we to exclaim with the Psalmist, "But as for me, my feet were slipping--and I was almost gone!"
If we were strong, sure-footed mountaineers, this would not matter so much; but in ourselves, how weak we are!
Even in the best roads--we soon falter!
In the smoothest paths--we quickly stumble!
These feeble knees of ours--can scarcely support our tottering weight!
A straw may trip us up--and a pebble can wound us!
We are mere infants, tremblingly taking our first steps in the walk of faith. Our heavenly Father holds us by the arms--or we would soon tumble down!
Oh, if we are kept from falling, how must we bless the patience, power and wisdom of God--who watches over us moment by moment--and day by day! Think--
how prone we are to sin,
how apt to choose dangerous paths,
how strong our tendency to cast ourselves down
--and these reflections will make us sing more sweetly than we have ever done, "Glory to Him, who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy!" Jude 24
We have many foes--who try to push us down, and destroy us!
The road is rough--and we are weak!
But in addition to this, enemies lurk in ambush, who rush out when we least expect them, and labor to trip us up, or hurl us down the nearest deadly precipice!
Only an Almighty arm can preserve us from these unseen foes, who are seeking to destroy us at every step! Such an arm is engaged for our defense. He is faithful, who has promised, and He is able to keep us from falling, so that with a deep sense of our utter weakness, we may cherish a firm belief in our perfect safety!
What a gift from God He has been to so many many people,for me......
"How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life!" Matthew 7:14
In some sense, the path to heaven is very safe--but in other respects, there is no road so dangerous! It is beset with difficulties. One wrong step--and down we go! And how easy it is to take that treacherous step--if grace is absent!
What a slippery path is that--which some of us have to tread! How many times have we to exclaim with the Psalmist, "But as for me, my feet were slipping--and I was almost gone!"
If we were strong, sure-footed mountaineers, this would not matter so much; but in ourselves, how weak we are!
Even in the best roads--we soon falter!
In the smoothest paths--we quickly stumble!
These feeble knees of ours--can scarcely support our tottering weight!
A straw may trip us up--and a pebble can wound us!
We are mere infants, tremblingly taking our first steps in the walk of faith. Our heavenly Father holds us by the arms--or we would soon tumble down!
Oh, if we are kept from falling, how must we bless the patience, power and wisdom of God--who watches over us moment by moment--and day by day! Think--
how prone we are to sin,
how apt to choose dangerous paths,
how strong our tendency to cast ourselves down
--and these reflections will make us sing more sweetly than we have ever done, "Glory to Him, who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy!" Jude 24
We have many foes--who try to push us down, and destroy us!
The road is rough--and we are weak!
But in addition to this, enemies lurk in ambush, who rush out when we least expect them, and labor to trip us up, or hurl us down the nearest deadly precipice!
Only an Almighty arm can preserve us from these unseen foes, who are seeking to destroy us at every step! Such an arm is engaged for our defense. He is faithful, who has promised, and He is able to keep us from falling, so that with a deep sense of our utter weakness, we may cherish a firm belief in our perfect safety!
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