Life's Highest Joy - Fellowship with God

Aug 21, 2008 at 20:22 o\clock

God's Glory

by: soundwords

Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference: Psalm 65:8-11 Psalm 33:5 

The Glory of God

Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness.
  --PSALMS 65:8,11

He loveth righteousness and justice: the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.
  --PSALMS 33:5 (R. V.)

I SING because Thy works are fair,
Thy glory makes me glad,
The garments bright of praise I wear,
For Thou art brightly clad.

Full triumph doth my soul possess,
Because Thy ways are right;
The glory of Thy righteousness
Maketh my dear delight.
  --THOMAS H. GILL

THE fulness of joy is to behold God in all; for by the same blessed might, wisdom, and love, that He made all things, to the same end our good Lord leadeth it continually, and there to Himself shall bring it, and, when it is time, we shall see it.
  --MOTHER JULIANA

God gives us richly all things to enjoy, while He Himself is His own best gift, and to be enjoyed not in a way of duty, but in the simple, natural realizing aright of what we possess in Him.
  --JOHN MCLEOD CAMPBELL

Aug 14, 2008 at 19:47 o\clock

At Jesus' Feet

by: soundwords

Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference: Luke 10:39 Psalm 119:16 

Seeing the Master

I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.
  --PSALMS 119:16

Which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word.
  --LUKE 10:39

Lo! at Thy feet I wait Thy will,
Let that alone my being fill,
All earthly passions calm and still.
  --C. S.

WHATEVER happens let us not be too busy to sit at Jesus' feet. We shall not really lose time by enjoying this; nay, we shall redeem the time; for there is usually much more time and strength forfeited by friction than by toil, and we shall gain in blessedness and enjoyment of our work, and gain in the quality of our work; and, above all, we shall gain in that we shall give Him pleasure where otherwise we might only grieve Him. And this is indeed the crown of all our endeavors. He who pleases Him does not live in vain.
  --WM. HAY M. H. AITKEN

A low standard of prayer means a low standard of character and a low standard of service. Those alone labor effectively among men who impetuously fling themselves upward towards God.
  --CHARLES H. BRENT

Aug 11, 2008 at 03:39 o\clock

Peace in Prayer

by: soundwords

Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference: Psalm 86:4 

Peaceful Time

Rejoice the soul of Thy servant; for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
--PSALMS 86:4

AH, dearest Lord! to feel that Thou art near,
Brings deepest peace, and hushes every fear;
To see Thy smile, to hear Thy gracious voice,
Makes soul and body inwardly rejoice
With praise and thanks!
--CHRISTIAN GREGOR

PRAYER is a habit; and the more we pray the better we shall pray. Sometimes to go to be alone with God and Christ in the fellowship of the Spirit, just for the joy and blessedness of it; to open, with reverent yet eager hands, the door into the presence chamber of the great King, and then to fall down before Him, it may be, in silent adoration; our very attitude an act of homage, our merely being there, through the motive that prompts it, being the testimony of our soul's love; to have our set day-hours of close communion, with which no other friends shall interfere, and which no other occupations may interrupt; to which we learn to look forward with a living gladness; on which we look back with satisfaction and peace; this indeed is prayer.
--ANTHONY W. THOROLD

Aug 4, 2008 at 19:09 o\clock

God's Love

by: soundwords

Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 63:9 Psalm 103:13 

His Love, Not Ours

In His love and in His pity He redeemed them.
  --ISAIAH 63:9

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.
  --PSALMS 103:13

GOD only knows the love of God:
Oh, that it now were shed abroad
In this poor stony heart;
For love I sigh, for love I pine;
This only portion, Lord, be mine,
Be mine this better part.
  --CHARLES WESLEY

DON'T measure God's mind by your own. It would be a poor love that depended not on itself, but on the feelings of the person loved. A crying baby turns away from its mother's breast, but she does not put it away till it stops crying. She holds it closer. For my part, in the worst mood I am ever in, when I don't feel I love God at all, I just look up to His love. I say to Him, "Look at me. See what state I am in. Help me!" Ah! you would wonder how that makes peace. And the love comes of itself; sometimes so strong, it nearly breaks my heart.
  --GEORGE MACDONALD

He does not love us because we art so lovely, but because He always loves what He pities.
  --ELIZABETH PRENTISS

Aug 2, 2008 at 15:44 o\clock

Devotion to God

by: soundwords

Source: Joy and Strength
Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 13:4 

Complete Devotion

Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him.
  --DEUTERONOMY 13:4

GOD visits a soul when He brings before it a new vision of truth or duty, a new range of opportunities, a new endowment of force as well as insight, at some time to which all that precedes has led up, and from which all that follows depends in its solemn history. No Divine visitation leaves us where it found us; it always leaves us better or worse; if not better, then certainly worse.
  --HENRY PARRY LIDDON

The issues are with God, and His servants know not the word disappointment, for they are incapable of reading His designs. Only this they know, that the slightest hesitation in obeying what they believe to be a divine impulse, produces a suffering more intense than any consequences which may accrue to them from the world.
  --LAURENCE OLIPHANT

Never shrink from deep devotion, because you fear its trials or its sacrifices. Paul, in martyrdom, was unspeakably happier than God's half-hearted servants.
  --WILLIAM R. HUNTINGTON