A couple days ago I did the Halloween shopping at the local stores. As I walked around trying to find something that was not too sketchy or shady, I thought to myself, “Where’s the Halloween section at the local Christian Book Store?” Now I realize that this may be an oxymoron to some; however, I began to wonder what all one might find in the Christian Halloween store. Here’s some of our ponderings . . .

Definitely masks of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and William Carey. It is Reformation Day ya know.

A shepherd outfit, well it would stand out! lol

Probably some OT characters: Moses, David, maybe a prophet or two ... Now this might be scary!

Peanuts characters . . . Linus does quote the Christmas story, remember?

Bob the tomato and Larry the cucumber. I can see walking around as a giant cuke!!!!

Got to have some ladies: Mary, Martha, Ruth, Esther, Rahab (post fall of Jericho perhaps), Hey .... Maybe the Church Lady from Saturday Night Live!

You would also have to have some good accessories . . .

Big Baptist hair wigs

A Preaching Bible (KJV only)

A gigantic staff.

The armor of God (Eph 6) . . . gotta have that sword of the spirit

Offering plate

Anyway, kinda had fun thinking of these things. So now you tell us what things you would expect to find in the Christian Halloween store?

What Treat Should You Give Out For Halloween?

We bought several bags of candy (minus the Runts my wife snagged from our stash) in anticipation of the trick or treaters due this evening ...

http://blogthings.com/whattreatshouldyougiveoutforhalloweenquiz/com/whattreatshouldyougiveoutforhalloweenquiz/

You Should Give Out Gummy Bears

You are a very sensitive soul, and you want to give a big bear hug to everyone you're close to. People love you because you are so soft and squishy. You are naturally cuddly. The only downside to your personality is that you get hurt easily. It's not hard for someone to break your spirit. And while you can be crushed from time to time, you always bounce back. You're extremely resilient.

Gee ... We overlooked the Gummy Bears ... We loaded up on the chocolates instead!

In Awe of Wonder

Here is a cool quote from Joshua Abraham Heschel.

"Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Delight me to see how Christ plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his, to the Father through features in men's faces. each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all." Sometimes I think we spend to much time isolated in our living rooms, not to hot, not to cold and we lose the awesomeness, or wonder of the world around us.We lose the wonder in the little things, the seasons, a deer in the meadow, a child licking an ice cream cone ... Even in the mudane things He is there. (Something I tend to forget.) There is a tendency to live practical lives and miss the awe, reverence and wonder all around us. God intends for us to discover His presence in the world, and the people He loves around us.

Have a blessed day everyone! Tim

All Pharisees Were Hypocrites???

A person said this to me and it stopped me in my tracks! Let me quote it for you ...

"We, as Christians, need to step back from digging too deeply into the Word... from becoming Pharisees ourselves, and take the Scriptures for what they are.... our guidebook .."

Maybe this has happened to you too ... You are making a point about what God is leading you about a certain point, and you quote scripture, immediately there is a charge of you being a Pharisee! Sheesh!

However ... Not all Pharisees were hypocrites for sure! Many of the parables of Jesus are actually old Pharisaic stories -- sometimes with different endings. The Pharisees were not in trouble because they knew to much scripture its because they added to it and at times even changed what it said. Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus did not allow Jewish tradition to be elevated to the same level as Scripture. He was quick to discard any traditions that contradicted the Word of God. He placed compassion above the stringencies of tradition, and He rebuked hypocrisy and pretense whenever He saw it. But He did all of this from within traditional Judaism and as a part of traditional Judaism.

"Step back and not dig to deeply in the Word? How can anyone possibly love God and not dig into scripture, re dig and dig again! How could someone dig to deeply? I would say most don't dig enough! Being a Christian and not knowing Scripture would be like my 15 year old in a car ...If not now, it will soon be a disaster. A young unlearned young man behind the wheel of a car is a danger to himself as well to you who share the road with him. He is liable to crash injuring if not killing himself and just might take some others with him. This is how an unlearned Christian can be. He is a danger to himself and to those around him. Not because he seeks to destroy or hurt anyone, but because he doesn't have the experience and knowledge. The danger for misinterpretations would obviously be greater. When it comes to the knowing and living the Word of God, the spiritual payoff is enormous ... and freeing! Also scripture leads us to spiritual maturity.

Let me quote here from Hebrews 5:13-14.

13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Mature believers are the one who can eat solid food and maturity comes when you can take the Word we are feeding on and use it to meet the various challenges, circumstances, issues and decisions of life. What renders a person mature? Being able to make responsible decisions on our own. Like with kids, when you don't have to tell them every little thing they are maturing. When they decide to do it on their own maturity is setting in!

Some thoughts on a Wednesday ...

Journey To Freedom

A poem to share ... Have a blessed day everyone!

Journey To Freedom

Rejection, hurt, and pain
They've left such a stain
You suddenly feel like you'll never love again
You gave it your all
You tried to stand tall
But then there it was, the inevitable fall
Your heart is so torn; your mind is so worn
From the thoughts of despair that are continuously born
So many feelings of doubt you just have to shout,
“Where are you, my Lord? Please, bring me out!”
My child I am here I told you never to fear
‘Cause I'll dry every tear
As for your hurt and your pain, your rejection stain
The feelings you have that you'll never love again
Reveal them to Me, the One who died on Calvary
Caused the blind man to see
Cured an advanced case of leprosy
See, “when you cast all your cares upon Me”
That alone will set you free
Those feelings of hurt and pain
Are turned into victories gained
And now you're ready to walk in the light
Although it’s still midnight
But remember, “these light afflictions are but for a moment”
It’s an opportunity for your atonement
‘Cause I already own it, your problem that is
Now your deliverance has come
Your victory’s been won
Your head is up high; your tears are all dry
Your pains and your stains can now be proclaimed
As broken bondage chains!
For I reign as the Lord God
“Thy staff and thy rod”; “Who preparest a table”
For I alone am able
To do the divine for those whom I call mine!
When I called you out of darkness
I told you, “I got this!”
So go and be free
Tell the world about me
Tell of how I brought you out and gave you a victorious shout
Now that’s somethin’ to talk about!

Nakia Hill

John Pipers Prayer For the Church

O Lord, by the truth of your Word, and the power of your Spirit and the ministry of your body, build men and women at Bethlehem . . .

Who don't love the world more than God,
who don't care if they make much money,
who don't care if they own a house,
who don't care if they have a new car or two cars,
who don't need recent styles,
who don't care if they get famous,
who don't miss steak or fancy fare,
who don't expect that life should be comfortable and easy,
who don't feed their minds on TV each night,
who don't measure truth with their finger in the wind,
who don't get paralyzed by others’ disapproval,
who don't return evil for evil,
who don't hold grudges,
who don't gossip,
who don't twist the truth,
who don't brag or boast,
who don't whine or use body language to get pity,
who don't criticize more than praise,
who don't hang out in cliques,
who don't eat too much or exercise too little;

But

who are ablaze for God,
who are utterly God-besotted,
who are filled with the Holy Spirit,
who strive to know the height and depth of Christ’s love,
who are crucified to the world and dead to sin,
who are purified by the Word and addicted to righteousness,
who are mighty in memorizing and using the Scriptures,
who keep the Lord’s Day holy and refreshing,
who are broken by the consciousness of sin,
who are thrilled by the wonder of free grace,
who are stunned into humble silence by the riches of God’s glory,
who are persevering constantly in prayer,
who are ruthless in self-denial,
who are fearless in public witness to Christ’s Lordship,
who are able to unmask error and blow away doctrinal haze,
who are tough in standing for the truth,
who are tender in touching hurting people,
who are passionate about reaching the peoples who have no church,
who are pro-life for the sake of babies and moms and dads and the glory of God,
who are keepers of all their promises, including marriage vows,
who are content with what they have and trusting the promises of God,
who are patient and kind and meek when life is hard.

Pressing for all there is in Christ,

Pastor John Piper

Ever Have One Of Those days?

You know, the ones where…

The driver in front of you feels a steady 16-17 miles per hour will get them where they want to in plenty of time for the New Year’s celebration?

The people standing in line in front of you aren’t really sure why they are in line, but imagine they’ll figure it out, once they get to the front.

In the drive-through behind someone who just ordered lunch for their 32 co-workers, then has to change 9 of them at the second window?

Ah …. Today is a new day ….

I said a silent prayer in the middle of the night ...

I said a silent prayer in the middle of the night
I needed to know if you could hear me,
I needed to stand within your light.
I need rest within your arms
to feel tranquility and hope
I need you, Lord, within my life
to aid my struggle and help me cope
I would like to know if you can hear me
when I'm praying in the night
Sometimes I feel so alone
and want to give up the fight
I need to know if you can hear me
in the middle of the night
To know if you can hear my prayers
to rest within your loving light
And when I feel all is lost
and am tempted to give it up
I feel your loving sweet caress
I feel you holding me up
You pick me up and dust me off
and wipe my tears away
You tell me not to fear a thing;
You're with me throughout the day.
I know you have surrounded me
with your angels, saints and light
and because you have surrounded me
I can endure the lonely night
I know sometimes my faith may slip
and I begin to doubt
But then I feel your sweet caress
and your love washes my fear right out
When I say a silent prayer
in the darkness of the night
I know that you can hear me
and I can rest within your light.

~Patrick Stalinski

Baloon Boy: Aftermath

I have to admit I was all taken in on the balloon boy thing. What a story .... With the happy ending we all love to see! I believed in Balloon Boy. Or, rather, I believed that his parents believed that he was in the balloon. And I hoped that they were wrong, that he was hiding under the bed, or in a box. And I was happy - genuinely happy - when I learned that, in fact, he was. Alas ....

IT WAS A HOAX!!!!!!

How naive could I have been? Undoubtedly, my own fond childhood memories coupled with a pretty good set of parents has mislead my thinking on the aims of other families. Did I actually think that lil Falcon Heene was throwing up for no reason on the morning show? (Just nervous I suppose ...) However ... The lies and scam that his parents perpetrated would make anyone vomit. It makes me sick thinking about it. So much for the piety of parenthood. Fame, money and the lure of reality television trumps holding a regular job any day of the week.

Heaven help us. But most of all, help Falcon Heene and his brothers.

Morning Poem

Morning Poem

Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange

sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again

and fasten themselves to the high branches —
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands

of summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails

for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it

the thorn
that is heavier than lead —
if it’s all you can do
to keep on trudging —

there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted —

each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,

whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.

-Mary Oliver

Cannot Do This Alone

In the world of mystics and mysticism, these virtues set Christian mystics apart: mourning and the perseverance of suffering. Much of “pop-mysticism” is about avoiding suffering and “thinking happy thoughts”, while Christian mysticism takes a more head-on approach. The perseverance of suffering is required because much suffering is caused by our own misplaced desires and worldly attachments, so therefore, much suffering takes place as God purges us of those attachments.

As St. John of the Cross would explain, the darkness is not from God but from the light of God exposing our own darkness. The Dark Night of the Soul is the point at which most people give up, and usually take medication. For those who preserver, God rewards them with the secrets of His Kingdom.

The world tells us that sadness and pain is an unnatural state of being that we must escape at all costs (Prozac anyone?). The mystic heart knows that sadness and suffering are often the gateways to discovering the light of truth. Do not run from the darkness, for it brings the light.

With that ... Allow me to share this poem/prayer by Dietrich Bonhoeffer ...

Cannot Do This Alone O God,
early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and double-minded. your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” - James 4:8-10

A quiz I just had to check out ...

Click here: Blogthings - Are You a Tortured Genius?

My result:

You Are 64% Tortured Genius

You are smart. Brilliant in fact. And while it's a blessing, it's also a curse.

Your head is filled with everything - grand ideas, insufferable worries, and a good deal of angst.

Some Brother Lawerence For A Tuesday ...

"There's no greater lifestyle and no greater happiness than that of having a continual conversation with God."

~Brother Lawrence

God twisted his lips ....

From a book titled "Mortal Lessons," by Richard Selzer, M.D.

"I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, the one to the muscles of her mouth, has been severed. She will be thus from now on. The surgeon had followed with religious fervor the curve of her flesh; I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor in her cheek, I had to cut the little nerve. "

Her young husband is in the room. He stands on the opposite side of the bed and together they seem to dwell in the evening lamplight, isolated from me, private. Who are they, I ask myself, he and this wry mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously, greedily?

The young woman speaks. "Will my mouth always be like this?" she asks. "Yes," I say, "it will. It is because the nerve was cut."

She nods and is silent. But the young man smiles. "I like it," he says, "It is kind of cute."

All at once I know who he is. I understand and I lower my gaze. One is not bold in an encounter with a god. Unmindful, he bends to kiss her crooked mouth and I am so close I can see how he twists his own lips to accommodate to hers, to show her that there kiss still works."

Touching story. Brennan Manning makes an observation on this passage which I thought was so cool. In 2 Corinthians 5:19 it says, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." KJV

Even though in this world we are touched by our own consequences and the consequences of others action, sickness, alcoholism, broken relationships, insecurity, hatred, jealously, cancer and on and on. This was all experienced by our Lord, "a thing despised and rejected by men" Isaiah 53:3. Its as though God twisted his lips to accommodate our sinful selves, scripture shows He loves us so!

Just thought I would bring this up ... Tim

Sowing the Greed

This is the kind of stuff that drives me nuts! What does God’s word say about such things?

Off of TBN a few weeks ago ...

“You need to send a thousand dollars. If you cannot send a thousand, send five hundred… if all you have is a nickel, wrap it in tissue and put it in an envelope. If all you have is your clothes, send them.”

“If you want the power, you have to sow the seed”

“We are going together into a spirit of wealth.”

“Last night, you sowed to your ability. Tonight, you sow beyond your ability.”

“I need to give because I need favor. I need it because I need an anointing. I need it because I need power.”

“‘I am giving because I want my daughters to be daughters of Zion.’”

“You have got three days to get that into your mailbox. I am not afraid to say this. I am walking in my authority… if you do not postmark it by the tenth, we will not accept it. God says you have three days to get your thousand-dollar seed in the mail.”

“Give it to me and you will live. Give it to me and you will have more than enough.”“If all you have is $79.36, I double-dare you to empty your bank account. Close your account.” ~ Juanita Bynum

It is saying that when you get blessed you will have to look back and say, “When I gave that thousand dollars, God blessed me” Where does God get any glory, if you have to pay him to bless you? As a Christian, I am ashamed that the idea of “sowing seed” has been used to finance use and abuse of hard earned money to support a lavish lifestyle. This kind of thing comes up all the time in talking to and witnessing to those who do not know Jesus as Lord and savior. It’s really sad how even the unsaved can spot a con before we Christians do!

Tim, ending vent before he really gets worked up ...

There is a new tomorrow ...

If there is a future there is time for mending-

Time to see your troubles coming to an ending.

Life is never hopeless however great your sorrow-

If you’re looking forward to a new tomorrow.

If there is time for wishing then there is time for hoping-

When through doubt and darkness

you are blindly groping.

Though the heart be heavy and hurt you may be feeling-

If there is time for praying there is time for healing.

So if through your window there is a new day breaking-

Thank God for the promise,

though mind and soul be aching,

If with harvest over there is grain enough for gleaning-

There is a new tomorrow and life still has meaning.

~ Author unknown~

Look and Feel Canadian!!!!

What will they think of next??? lol

LOOK AND FEEL CANADIAN BREATH SPRAY

Why do I like hockey now?

You may have read about Canadians in books or watched documentaries about their country on TV. Discover the simple pleasures like trout fishing, snowshoeing, moose and maple syrup appreciation.

Peppermint Flavor .25 fl. oz./ 7.5ml

http://www.perpetualkid.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2190

Does this stuff work?

beyond the bitterness

Just some thoughts ... One thing thing God seems to be driving home in me lately is the importance that I move beyond the bitterness that I have held against some people in the church that I've came across over time. I feel like one of the steps that I need to take in order to wade through this issue is to express thankfulness for the ways that God did draw me to him through church.

I don't know if any of you all want to join me in doing this, if not, that's totally ok. But here goes....

The church I grew up in taught me that it was possible to know God. There were some beautiful, normal, messy people who took the time to let me into their lives. I saw in them that it was possible to live for something bigger than myself, and I saw the freedom that it brought those people. Looking them, I knew that all this church and God stuff was not just something we talked about or used to make a place in society, but it was a relationship with a living, breathing God. They made me want to live that way too.

I was taught that "personal purity" or "holiness" issues are not just personal, just-you-and-God issues, but that they were things that would affect my relationship with my family, my friends and my (then-future) spouse. I think this is something that has helped me from just saying "screw-it" to these issues when I started questioning certain aspects about Christianity. They didn't know it, but they were teaching me that to live in community, all your dirty laundry affects those you love in some way or another. We are all connected in that way. (Thanks Pastor Hank)

Probably the most important thing that I took away from church (besides finding Jesus of course!) was the conviction that God could be sovereign and loving at the same time. It wasn't that the doctrine was explained to me extremely well, (not bad either) but I really understood it from watching how others trusted God. Especially trusting Him in the face of situations that seemed cruel and hopeless at the time. Thanks to Melissa, Bob, people here ... the list goes on ....

That's hopefully just a start.... Give me strength to bear the fatigue of this coming day with all that it shall bring.

Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray You Yourself in me.

Amen. Tim

Love Psalm

I just punched in the word "love" in a keyword search at Bible Gateway ... And this is what I got from the Psalms. Enjoy!

Psalm 5:11)But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 11:7)For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.

Psalm 13:5)But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

Psalm 17:7)Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Psalm 18:1)I love you, O LORD, my strength.

Psalm 21:7)For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Psalm 23:6)Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 25:6)Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Psalm 25:7)Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.

Psalm 26:3)for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.

Psalm 26:8)I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.

Psalm 31:7)I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

Psalm 31:16)Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Psalm 31:21)Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.

Psalm 31:23)Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.

Psalm 33:5)The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Psalm 33:22)May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 36:7)How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 40:10)I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

Psalm 40:16)But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"

Psalm 42:8)By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 48:9)Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.

Psalm 57:3)He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness.

Psalm 57:10)For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Psalm 59:16)But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 63:3)Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/emot-heartbeat.gif)

Psalm 66:20)Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Psalm 70:4)But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"

Psalm 86:5)You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Psalm 86:15)But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Psalm 89:1-2)I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Psalm 89:14)Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

Psalm 94:18)When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me.

Psalm 97:10)Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 98:3)He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Psalm 100:5)For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 101:1)I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

Psalm 103:8)The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 103:11)For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

Psalm 106:1)Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1)Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 107:43)Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.

Psalm 108:4)For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Psalm 115:1)Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Psalm 116:1)I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

Psalm 117:2)For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 118:1)Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 119:29)Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 119:48)I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.

Psalm 119:64)The earth is filled with your love, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119:97)Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

Psalm 119:165)Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

Psalm 119:67)I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.

Psalm 136:2)Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:

1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2) Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3) Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4) to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

5) who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

6) who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

7) who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

8) the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

9) the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10) to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.

11) and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.

12) with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13) to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.

14) and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.

15) but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16) to him who led his people through the desert,
His love endures forever.

17) who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.

18) and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.

19) Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.

20) and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.

21) and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

22) an inheritance to his servant Israel;
His love endures forever.

23) to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.

24) and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.

25) and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26) Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Psalm 138:2)I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

Psalm 143:8)Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Psalm 145:8)The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger

... Yet they behold the world

My heart is so small
it’s almost invisible.
How can You place

such big sorrows in it?

“Look,” He answered,

“your eyes are even smaller,

... yet they behold the world.”
~ Rumi ~

Another Christian Atlas

"God's love is based on nothing (we do), and the fact that it is based on nothing makes us secure. Were it based on anything we do, and that "anything" were to collapse, then God's love would crumble as well. But with the God of Jesus no such thing can possibly happen. People who realize this can live freely and to the fullest. Remember Atlas, who carries the whole world? We have Christian Atlases who mistakenly carry the burden of trying to deserve God's love. Even the mere watching of this lifestyle is depressing. I'd like to say to Atlas: 'Put that globe down and dance on it. That's why God made it.' And to the weary Christian Atlases: "Lay down your load and build your life on God's love." We don't have to earn this love; neither do we have to support it. It is a free gift. Jesus calls out: "Come to me, all you Atlases who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you."

- Brennan Manning