Sunday, August 22, 2004

The Beauty of God's Creation

"The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil..."
-Gerard Manly Hopkins

Have you ever seen an Arizona sunset? Witnessed a desert monsoon? Smelled the creosote after a cleansing rain? Sigh...God's great gifts to mankind. His glory is all around us! The world proclaims the beauty of the Lord.

Friday, August 20, 2004

Far Too Easily Pleased

"We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." CS Lewis

"'Too busy'--cursed words, those. Father, forgive me for being so academic and material in my outlook, so much feeding of the mind and outer man, so little genuine concern for spiritual things." Jim Elliot

"Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine altar." Jim Elliot

Discard the American mindset of walking through life halfheartedly, blind to the infinite joy offered us. Do not be too easily pleased.

Give us a vision for Your work and Your passion, O God. Lead us into Your glory boldly proclaiming the glory of the Lord!