Triple C News - April 16, 2021
Hey, everyone!
Well, it’s Friday!
Time for my regular Friday…
I’m not really sure what you call this.
I guess it’s my Friday “devotional thought”…?
Except it often includes the weather…
‘Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower to middle 60s with a few spotty showers possible but not until late…”
Sounds like it’ll be perfect for church!
Or a joke, at times…
“I used to have a phobia of speed bumps but I’m slowly getting over it.”
Switzerland’s kind of dull but their flag’s a big plus!”
Did you hear about the M&M who went to school everyday? He wanted to be a Smartie!”
(I’m literally here every week.)
But I really do try to share a few thoughts of spiritual encouragement.
I’ve always loved devotional writings, when someone who loves Him shares in a few sentences a thought about Jesus that could transform a day that someone is living…or mis-living.
Could I share with you some devotional thoughts from some of the best?
Charles Spurgeon was the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London from 1854 to 1891. In his devotional book, “Morning and Evening” he wrote…
“Wherever Jesus may lead us, He goes before us. If we don’t know where we are going, we know with whom we go.”
(I know a country song that says that!)
Oswald Chambers was a mIssionary with the YMCA to British soldiers in Egypt during WWI, where he died of appendicitis…
He wrote this in the most popular devotional book of all time, “My Utmost For His Highest”…
(Actually, his wife Biddie copied down all of his talks by short-hand while he gave them to the troops and wrote all his book herself after he was in Heaven!)
“The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and talk to us, but those who live their lives like the stars in heaven and the lilies in the field, perfectly simply and unaffectedly…”
Mmmmm….That’s good!
My fav, John Newton, pastor of the parish church of Olney, England, author of “Amazing Grace” and 347 other hymns while pastor there during the 1700’s, wrote letters to folks that are the best devotional thoughts ever!
Check this…
“If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth’s grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot…for the joy of the angels lies only in obedience to God’s will…
Wow.
And St Augustine wrote this in his amazing “Confessions”, around 400 ad…
“Magnus es, domine, et laudabilis valde: magna virtus tua, et sapientiae tuae non est numerus. et laudare te vult homo, aliqua portio creaturae tuae, et homo circumferens mortalitem suam, circumferens testimonium peccati sui et testimonium, quia superbis resistis…”
How ‘bout THAT for classic devotional thinking?
Could I share with you some of my favorite devotional thoughts I’ve read recently?
Meditate a moment on this…
“He is the air that we breathe.
He is the food we eat.
He is the water we drink.
He is the VERY essence of our souls.
(Amen)
Whatever we need (not want) He will give to us.
For example…
If fallen in life, in our faith, or spirit, He is able to reach down, pick us up and stand us up.
If we are stressed, troubled and going though a crisis in our life, He can calm us and give us the peace we need to get past it.
If we are sad and unhappy, He can give us the joy that we need in our hearts and minds. …
If we need love, He can give us a heavenly, holy love that is Godly and pure that will last forever.
If you feel you are all alone and no one cares, call on Him for He cares.
With Him you will never walk alone again.
If you wish to enter into Heaven, only He can walk you through those Heavenly gates.
(Amen)
Simply put: “Jesus is the WAY to what you truly need.
“Jesus is the TRUTH of what you surely need.
“Jesus is the LIFE of everything you will ever need (Amen)”
Wow! Who wrote that?
D L Moody?
St Augustine?
Mother Teresea?
Nope.
That came from the heart of my friend and brother in Christ, Marvin.
Marvin went to prison in 1973 for armed robbery when he was 25 years old, and after 45 years in there, was released two years ago to live with his sweet brother in Knoxville. During his time of incarceration, he came to know Jesus. And he came to love and follow Him. What an encouragement he has been for me! His prayers have helped to keep me going! The notes and cards he wrote me when I was going thru tough days, I’ll treasure forever!
And I like his devotional writing!
Hope you did, too!