#nutpie

[nutpiesandhotchoco]

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. -Matthew11:28

[nutpiesandhotchoco]

You may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

[nutpiesandhotchoco]

Indeed, while He reproves them for their little faith, He does not cast them out from the ranks of His disciples or count them among unbelievers, but urges them to shake off that fault. Therefore, we repeat what we have already stated: that the root of faith can never be torn from the godly breast, but clings so fast to the inmost parts of that, however faith seems to be shaken or to bend this way or that, its light is never so extinguished or snuffed out that it does not at least lurk as it were beneath the ashes.

John Calvin

[nutpiesandhotchoco]

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made-- I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifices, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And, when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear.

~The Fellowship of the Unashamed, although written anonymously, it's believed to be by a pastor from Zimbabwe as he was martyred

Romans1:16 (ESV) For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

[nutpiesandhotchoco]

Remember that all worlds draw to an end and that noble death is a treasure which no one is too poor to buy.

C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle

[nutpiesandhotchoco]

The Christian knows that the storm has a bit in its mouth. -C.H. Spurgeon

I had painted this for one of my best friends since we’re both huge Pokémon fans. While making this postcard, it had reminded me of the times when a physical storm had hit and devastated parts of where I lived. The most recent one on December 16, 2022, by Typhoon Odette. I, along with two other housemates and our security guard, tried our best to secure everyone in the house, as well as neighbors who were taking refuge when the winds were blowing. I had never felt so powerless in my life.

I had sung the song, “With Christ in my Vessel,” before it had hit, but I didn’t completely understand the gravity of it until the actual storm came. There wasn’t a lot of smiling going on, and I had just recovered from surgery too. It had seemed preposterous, in the moment, that I was safe, but the knowledge and security that I can rest sovereignty of God had kept my comfort afloat. Somehow I knew that everything would turn out okay, even if I did not like it. God is still good. That was enough. Christ is enough.

[nutpiesandhotchoco]

Everything I have, I count as loss

Everything I have is stripped away

Before I starter building

I counted up these costs

There's nothing left for you to take away

[nutpiesandhotchoco]

As Your love in wave after wave

Crashes over me