Coslett: expecting gratitude

Saturday, July 16, 2011
    Commemoration of Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, 1099
Meditation:
    Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
    —Luke 17:17-18 (NIV)
Quotation:
    There were ten lepers healed, and only one turned back to give thanks, but it is to be noticed that our Lord did not recall His gift from the other nine because of their lack of gratitude. When we begin to lessen our acts of kindness and helpfulness because we think those who receive do not properly appreciate what is done for them, it is time to question our own motives.
    ... Evan S. Coslett, Leaves of Gold, Clyde Francis Lytle, ed. [1948], Honesdale, Pa.: Coslett Publishing Company, 1938, p. 33 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I was unworthy of Your gift; teach me not to judge others’ worthiness. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
BDTC    search    script    mobile
sub    fb    twt

Pusey: hear and obey

Friday, July 15, 2011
    Commemoration of Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, c.862
    Commemoration of Bonaventure, Franciscan Friar, Bishop, Peacemaker, 1274
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
    —Mark 4:23 (NIV)
Quotation:
    They only really hear who obey, and they only who obey can really hear.
    ... Edward B. Pusey (1800-1882), Parochial Sermons, v. III, London: Rivingtons, 1873, p. 190 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, obedience teaches us to know Your voice. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
BDTC    search    script    mobile
sub    fb    twt

Keble: The trivial round, the common task

Thursday, July 14, 2011
    Feast of John Keble, Priest, Poet, Tractarian, 1866
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
    —Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Quotation:
The trivial round, the common task,
Would furnish all we ought to ask;
Room to deny ourselves; a road
To bring us, daily, nearer God.

Seek we no more; content with these,
Let present Rapture, Comfort, Ease,
As Heaven shall bid them, come and go;—
The secret this of Rest below.

Only, O Lord, in thy dear love
Fit us for perfect rest above;
And help us, this and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray.
    ... John Keble (1792-1866), The Christian Year [1827], G. W. Doane, ed., Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1842, p. 19 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have granted Your people rest.

CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
BDTC    search    script    mobile
sub    fb    twt

Brother Lawrence: work for the sake of love

Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Meditation:
    And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
    —2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)
Quotation:
    We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.
    ... Brother Lawrence (c.1605-1691), The Practice of the Presence of God, New York, Revell, 1895, p. 17 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, remind me when I neglect Your direction. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
BDTC    search    script    mobile
sub    fb    twt

Rufinus: by example

Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Meditation:
    To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
    —1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)
Quotation:
    As, then, a consummate master teaches both by example and precept, so Christ taught the obedience, which good men are to render even at the cost of death, by Himself first dying in rendering it.
    ... Rufinus (345?-410), A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, second series, v. III, Philip Schaff & Henry Wace, ed., New York: Christian Literature Company, 1892, p. 549 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, following Your way leads to the cross. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
BDTC    search    script    mobile
sub    fb    twt

Hallesby: God is merciful

Monday, July 11, 2011
    Feast of Benedict of Nursia, Father of Western Monasticism, c.550
Meditation:
    When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.
    —Psalm 65:3 (NIV)
Quotation:
    God is merciful even when He declines to give us things that we ask of Him.
    ... O. Hallesby (1879-1961), Prayer, London: Inter-Varsity Fellowship, 1943, reprint, Augsburg Fortress Books, 1975, p. 132 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your mercy is eternal. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
BDTC    search    script    mobile
sub    fb    twt

Kurosaki: churches vs. Body of Christ

Sunday, July 10, 2011
Meditation:
    And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
    —Ephesians 1:22-23 (NIV)
Quotation:
    It is obvious that no human means exists for distinguishing clearly between believers and unbelievers in borderline cases. The methods of distinction upon which the churches and the Christian groups are based can only result—as experience continually proves—in including some who do not really know Christ and excluding some who have His life. In this sense, the existing churches cannot be considered to be the same as the Ekklesia, or true Body of Christ. Serious confusion has resulted when churches have assumed attitudes or prerogatives proper only to the Body. We must always clearly distinguish between the churches of men and the Ekklesia of Christ—the Body in which He lives.
    ... Kokichi Kurosaki (1886-1970), One Body in Christ, Kobe, Japan: Eternal Life Press, 1954, ch. 8 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Jesus is Lord. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
BDTC    search    script    mobile
sub    fb    twt