Engstrom: the Word in our lives

Saturday, December 3, 2011
    Commemoration of Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies, Missionary, 1552
Meditation:
    “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,” says the LORD.
    —Isaiah 59:21 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The injection of the Word into our lives provides individual or corporate direction in all we do and say.
    ... Ted W. Engstrom (1916-2006), former president, World Vision US, in a private communication from World Vision
Quiet time reflection:
    Your word, Lord, has given me life. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Underhill: view from the summit

Friday, December 2, 2011
Meditation:
Before the mountains were born
    or you brought forth the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
    —Psalm 90:2 (NIV)
Quotation:
    This, of course, is what religion is about: this adherence to God, this confident dependence on that which is unchanging. This is the more abundant life, which in its own particular language and own particular way, it calls us to live. Because it is our part in the one life in the whole universe of spirits, our share in the great drive towards Reality, the tendency of all life to seek God, Who made it for Himself, and now incites and guides it, we are already adapted to it, just as a fish is adapted to live in the sea. This view of our situation fills us with a certain awed and humble gladness. It delivers us from all niggling fuss about ourselves, prevents us from feeling self-important about our own little spiritual adventures; and yet makes them worth while as part of one great spiritual adventure.
    ... Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941), The Spiritual Life, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1937, reprinted, Morehouse Publishing, 1985, p. 22-23 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your grace has made us part of Your eternal plan. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Hromadka: Christian civiization?

Thursday, December 1, 2011
    Commemoration of Charles de Foucauld, Hermit, Servant of the Poor, 1916
Meditation:
    [Paul:] “In the past, [God] let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
    —Acts 14:16-17 (NIV)
Quotation:
    We cannot pass our responsibility on to politicians, diplomats, economists, technicians, scientists, and secular ideologists. We ourselves are obliged to think about the problems of the form of responsible society and of our own contribution to its creation. Let us avoid the impression that this responsible society will be identical with Christian society. There has been, is, and will be no Christian society, just as there is no Christian state, Christian economy, or Christian civilization. The new earth and the new heaven which we expect in faith will not be the work of human hands, but a creation of God’s mercy and justice. And these are essentially eschatological concepts. Christian civilization is an illusion, and every attempt to fight in its name against so-called un-Christian efforts—social and political ideas—is a self-deception and a grave danger to the church itself.
    ... J. L. Hromadka (1889-1969), The Church and Theology in Today’s Troubled Times, Prague: Ecumenical Council of Churches in Czechoslovakia, 1956, p. 80-81 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, lead Your church to speak truth to society. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Thomas a Kempis: obedience

Wednesday, November 30, 2011
    Feast of Andrew the Apostle
Meditation:
    Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
    —1 John 3:24 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from grace.
    ... Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), Of the Imitation of Christ [1418], Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1877, III.xiii.1, p. 140 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your spirit keeps me seeking Your will. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Tozer: unsaintly saints

Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Meditation:
    Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
    —Mark 10:42-44 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Unsaintly saints are the tragedy of Christianity. People of the world usually pass through the circle of disciples to reach Christ, and if they find those disciples severe and sharp-tongued they can hardly be blamed if they sigh and turn away from Him... The low state of religion in our day is largely due to the lack of public confidence in religious people.
    ... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), Of God and Men, Harrisburg, Penn.: Christian Publications, Inc., 1960, p. 85 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, soften our hearts towards Your people. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Moody: driven by love

Monday, November 28, 2011
Meditation:
    Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
    —1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Do not think you can do any work for Christ and hope to succeed if you are not impelled by love.
    ... Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899), “To the work! To the work!”: Exhortations to Christians, Chicago: F. H. Revell, 1884, p. 31 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, fill my heart with mercy. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Adams: Advent letter

Sunday, November 27, 2011
    Advent I
Meditation:
    “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
    —Daniel 7:13-14 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Well, here it is Advent, and the Christmas season will soon be upon us. When He came the first time, it was as a Baby—showing us an aspect of His nature very suited to our understanding. Now that we are grown (even if not very mature), we look forward to the return of that same Jesus who went away for a while: Man when He left, Man still, Man when He shall come back. May we all see Him as He is, now and forever.
    ... Robert MacColl Adams (1913-1985), from a letter, 1975
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have made Yourself known to us as a Man. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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