stephaniewm

mind clippings

[stephaniewm]

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and I am free.

Wendell Berry

[stephaniewm]

Everything else may become blurred, but this relationship with Jesus Christ must never be.

Oswald Chambers

[stephaniewm]

Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?

Oswald Chambers

[stephaniewm]

I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after the wind. The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

[stephaniewm]

If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them. After all, a king who cultivated the field is an advantage to the land.

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

[stephaniewm]

Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness wickedness. I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

Ecclesiastes 3:16-17

[stephaniewm]

I want to make it clear at this point that no one can live entirely out of the pure impulse to serve the interests of other people at all times. Even the most lovingly, morally beautiful people fall prey to motives of self-interest, fear, and glory seeking. Our acceptance of our own brokenness - and the world’s - keeps us going back to God to remember what we cannot do on our own.

Tim Keller; Every Good Endeavor

[stephaniewm]

For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’

Deuteronomy 15:10-11

[stephaniewm]

From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Luke 12:48b

[stephaniewm]

For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:28

[stephaniewm]

Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.

Luke 12:15

[stephaniewm]

For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.

Deuteronomy 4:31

[stephaniewm]

It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God— but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people— and this is not learned in five minutes.

Oswald Chambers

[stephaniewm]

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:12-13

[stephaniewm]

We don’t obey sometimes bc of the cost of obedience, but we forget that the cost of disobedience is far greater.

[stephaniewm]

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Numbers 23:18

[stephaniewm]

As God reveals Himself to us we often experience a crisis of belief that calls for major adjustments in our lives so that we can relate to Him and His mission.

Henry Blackaby and Avery Willis, Jr.