http://www.blogigo.com/ponder Scriptural thoughts and links to good Bible teaching en dondegr1 dondegr1 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:11:00 +0100 daily 1 Five Vows for Spiritual Power by A. W. Tozer Some people object to taking vows, but in the Bible you will find many great men of God directed by covenants, promises, vows and pledges. The psalmist was not averse to the taking of vows: “Thy vows are upon me, O God,” he said. “I will render my praises unto thee” (Psalm 56:12). My counsel in this matter is that if you are really concerned about spiritual improvement--the gaining of new power, new life, new joy and new personal revival within your heart--you will do well to make certain vows and proceed to keep them. If you should fail, go down in humility and repent and start over. But always keep these vows before you. They will help harmonize your heart with the vast powers that flow out and down from the throne where Christ sits at the right hand of God. A carnal man refuses the discipline of such commitments. He says, “I want to be free. I don't want to lay any vows upon... Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:11:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Spiritual-Power/30/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Spiritual-Power/30/ Why Be a Mediocre Christian A sermon preached at Avenue Road Alliance Church, Toronto by A. W. Tozer In the book of Hebrews, the fifth chapter and the first verse of the sixth : We have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time had elapsed since your conversion you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again what be the first principles of the oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ let us go on unto perfection.’ I think that's as far as I'll read. I can't read it all ; I have to stop somewhere. I'll stop with those words ; two,... Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:08:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Why-be-Mediocre/29/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Why-be-Mediocre/29/ My brethren, the reason why you have not got contentment in the things of the world is not because you have not got enough of them - that is not the reason - but the reason is, because they are not things proportionable to that immortal soul of yours that is capable of God Himself. --Jeremiah Burroughs Whatsoever we have over-loved, idolized, and leaned upon, God has from time to time broken it, and made us to see the vanity of it; so that we find the readiest course to be rid of our comforts is to set our hearts inordinately upon them. - John Flavel How shall I depend on Him for raising my body from the dust; and saving my soul at last; if I distrust Him for a crust of bread, towards my preservation. --Joseph Hall As God did not at first choose you because you were high, so He will not forsake you because you are low. --John Flavel whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes... Sun, 12 Dec 2010 04:24:41 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Enough/28/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Enough/28/ Our Almighty Friend! (Mary Winslow, "Words of Loving Counsel and Sympathy") " Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need ." Hebrews 4:16 The Lord knows what we require every step we take through this poor, trying, wilderness world--and stands ready to supply our needs, small and great. He is concerned in all that concerns us. Let it be our daily habit to cast our care upon Him--who cares for us. We must be growing in a better acquaintance with our own souls--as poor and needy; and with Christ--who is all and everything to us. For in Him all fullness dwells--and that fullness is for us! He is our rich storehouse. We need only to go and tell Him--and His heart is open to us in a moment. Let us live upon Him--and go to Him constantly! He is our Almighty Friend! Could we look into His heart, and see how precious we were to Him, and how truly He is... Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:06:15 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Our-Almighty-Friend/27/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Our-Almighty-Friend/27/ More of Christ! More of Christ! by James Smith, 1860 What is it my soul, which causes this uneasiness, this dissatisfaction, this deep inward yearning after something which you have not, or do not at present enjoy? I am not at rest. I am not rejoicing in God. I am not singing from the heights of Zion. Yet, I have no slavish fears, I have no gloomy doubts of my saving interest in Christ, I have no actual dread of death or the judgment. But I feel a desire to climb higher , to know more, and to enjoy the power of religion within — as I have not of late. It seems to me that all my needs lead me to Christ, and all my desires go out toward Christ. I want — well, what do I want? I want to feel more of my NEED of Christ. I have imagined at times, that I could not have a deeper sense of my need of Christ, and of all that Christ is, and has — than I have already experienced. But I am... Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:54:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/More-of-Christ/26/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/More-of-Christ/26/ Run to your Father ! (James Smith, "Precious Things from the Everlasting Hills" 1853) " This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven " Matthew 6:9 " How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are !" 1 John 3:1 Beloved, we have a heavenly Father. He has adopted us into His family. He not only wears a father's name--but he has a father's heart. He loves every believer with a father's love. He watches over each of His children with a father's care. Yes, we have a Father--and He is always near us. His heart is ever disposed to do us good. He will not withdraw His eye from us! He bids us . . .   to cast every care upon Him,   to expect every blessing from Him, and   to carry everything that troubles us, to Him. Does providence frown on us, perplex, and trouble us? Let us not fret, complain, or... Sun, 31 Oct 2010 05:48:43 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Run-to-your-father/25/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Run-to-your-father/25/ Selfishness withers and dies beneath Calvary ! (John MacDuff, "The Mind of Jesus" 1870) " For even Christ did not please Himself ." Romans 15:3 Too legibly, are the characters written on the fallen heart and a fallen world--"All seek their own!" Selfishness is the great law of our degenerated nature! When the love of God was dethroned from the soul--SELF vaulted into the vacant seat, and there, in some one of its ever-changing shapes, continues to reign. Jesus stands out for our imitation, as a grand solitary exception in the midst of a world of selfishness. His entire life was one abnegation of self--a beautiful living embodiment of that love which " seeks not her own ." Ah, how different is the spirit of the world! With how many, is day after day only a new oblation to that idol SELF--pampering their own wishes; and envying and grieving at the good of a neighbor--thus engendering jealousy, discontent,... Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:23:44 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Selfishness-withers/24/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Selfishness-withers/24/ Running here and there like ants on an anthill ! (J. C. Ryle) Oh, that men and women would learn to live with the awareness that one day they are going to die! Truly, it is waste of time to set our hearts on a dying world and its short-lived comforts and pleasures; and for the sake of momentary pleasures--to lose a glorious eternity in Heaven! Here we are striving, laboring, exhausting ourselves about little things, and running here and there like ants on an anthill! And yet after a few years, we will all be gone--and another generation will take our place. Let us live for eternity! Let us seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness that can never be taken from us! " Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things! When Christ, who is your life, appears--then you also will appear with Him in glory !" Colossians 3:1-4 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 20:02:30 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Awareness-of-Eternity/23/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Awareness-of-Eternity/23/ The thorn is still left to pierce and lacerate ! (John MacDuff, "The Thoughts of God") " My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness ." 2 Corinthians 12:9 The apostle's thoughts were desponding ones--when his God whispered in his ear this precious thought of comfort. A thorn in the flesh--a messenger from Satan--had been sent to buffet him! We know not what this thorn may have been. God purposely leaves it unidentified, that each may make an individual application to his own particular case and circumstances. But who, in their diversified and chequered experience, has not to tell of some similar trial? Some dead fly in life's otherwise fragrant ointment--some sorrow which casts a softened shadow over perhaps an otherwise sunny path:   infirm health;   worldly loss;   domestic problems;   family bereavement;   the discharge of arduous and painful duty;   the treachery of tried and... Sat, 09 Oct 2010 15:36:13 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Leaving-the-thorn-for-a-reason/22/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Leaving-the-thorn-for-a-reason/22/ A sure and safe anchorage amid the world's heaving ocean of vicissitude! (John MacDuff, " The Night Watches ") " But You are the same--and Your years will never end !" Psalm 102:27 What a fountain of comfort is to be found in the Immutability of God! Not one ripple can disturb the calm of His unchanging nature. Were it so, He would no longer be a perfect Being--He would un-deify Himself--He would cease to be God! Change is our portion here on earth. " They shall perish !" is the brief chronicle regarding everything on this side Heaven. The skies above us, the earth beneath us, the elements around us shall be destroyed. " All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved, and the sky rolled up like a scroll! The stars will fall from the sky like withered leaves from a grapevine, or shriveled figs from a fig tree !" Isaiah 34:4 Scenes of hallowed endearment--they have fled! Friends who sweetened our pilgrimage with... Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:18:48 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Sure-and-Safe-anchorage/21/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Sure-and-Safe-anchorage/21/ THE TENDER SOLICITUDE (John MacDuff, "The Words of Jesus") " The very hairs of your head are all numbered !" Matthew 10:30 What a promise is this! All that befalls you, to the very numbering of your hairs--is known to God! Nothing can happen by accident or chance. Nothing can elude His inspection. The fall of the forest leaf--the fluttering of the insect--the waving of the angel's wing--the annihilation of a world--all are equally noted by Him! Man speaks of great things and small things--but God knows no such distinction. How especially comforting to think of this tender solicitude with reference to His own covenant people--that He metes out all  their joys--and all their sorrows! Every sweet--and every bitter--is ordained by Him. Even "wearisome nights" are "appointed." Not a pang I feel, not a tear I shed--but is known to Him. What are called "dark dealings," are the ordinations of undeviating faithfulness.... Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:29:36 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Trust-in-Him/20/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Trust-in-Him/20/ The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Having the Source of all things, he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight. Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately and forever. -- A.W. Tozer Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:43:21 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/God-is-our-Treasure/19/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/God-is-our-Treasure/19/ The art of living a Christian life ( J. R. Miller , "How to Live a Beautiful Christian Life" 1880) "Whoever claims to live in Him—must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6 We have only successfully acquired the art of living a Christian life —when we have learned to apply the principles of true religion, and enjoy its help and comfort in our daily life. It is easy to join in devotional exercises, to quote Bible promises, to extol the beauty of the Scriptures. But there are many who do these things—whose religion utterly fails them in the very places and at the very times —when it ought to prove their staff and stay! All of us must go out from the sweet services of the Sunday—into a week of very real and very commonplace life. We must mingle with people who are not angels! We must pass through experiences , that will naturally worry and vex us. Those about us, either wittingly or unwittingly, annoy and try us! We will meet... Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:32:55 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Living-the-Christian-life/18/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Living-the-Christian-life/18/ Paul was . . . ... an extraordinary man, called to an extraordinary office, and being sent to perform an extraordinary work --he chose an extraordinary subject. He knew history, he was acquainted with philosophy, and he was well versed in tradition. There were . . . few subjects that he could not handle, few themes that he could not discuss, few congregations that he could not interest. But he made the conversion of sinners the object of his life--and he chose Christ crucified to be the subject of his ministry! No matter where he went--he took his subject with him. No matter whom he addressed--he directed their attention to this point. He knew what man required--and what man preferred; but it made no matter to him. As he wrote to the Corinthians, so he always acted, "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified--a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to... Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:46:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Preaching-Christ/16/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Preaching-Christ/16/ Dear Ones, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 God allows in His wisdom what He could prevent by His power. “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” 2 Samuel 22:31 “For now we see through a glass, darkly…” 1 Corinthians 13:12 “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” 2 Samuel 22:31 “Be of good courage…and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.” 2 Samuel 10:12 S.L. Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:26:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/God-allows/15/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/God-allows/15/ CHRIST AS SEEN IN THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT Matthew - The King in Christ . 2:2 - Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. Mark - The Servant in Christ . 10:45 - For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. Luke - The Man in Christ . 5:24 - But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sine, (He said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. John - God in Christ . 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Acts - Power in Christ . 3:16 - And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Romans - Justification in Christ .... Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:03:39 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Christ-in-the-New-Testament/14/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Christ-in-the-New-Testament/14/ 1. Remove hindrances. (a) remove the love of every sin (b) remove the distracting concerns of this world, especially covetousness [Matt. 13:22] (c) Don't make jokes with and out of Scripture. 2. Prepare your heart. [1 Sam. 7:3] Do this by: (a) collecting your thoughts (b) purging unclean affections and desires (c) not coming to it rashly or carelessly. 3. Read it with reverence, considering that each line is God speaking directly to you (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Psalm 19:7-11). 4. Read the books of the Bible in order. 5. Get a true understanding of Scripture. [Ps. 119:73] This is best achieved by comparing relevant parts of Scripture with each other. 6. Read with seriousness. [Deut. 32:47] The Christian life is to be taken seriously since it requires striving [Luke 13:24] and not falling short [Heb. 4:1]. 7. Persevere in remembering what you read . [Ps. 119:52] Don't let it be stolen from you [Matt. 13:4,19]. If it doesn't stay in your memory it is unlikely... Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:51:13 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Reading-your-Bible/13/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Reading-your-Bible/13/ C.S. Lewis  “If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident, and the whole evolution of Man was an accident too. If so, then all our present thoughts are mere accidents–the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. And this holds for the thoughts of the materialists and astronomers as well as for anyone else’s. But if their thoughts–i.e. of materialism and astronomy–are merely accidental by-products, why should we believe them to be true? I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all the other accidents. It’s like expecting that the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milk jug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was upset.” Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:18:27 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/God-created-everything/12/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/God-created-everything/12/ The Crisis of a Christless Christianity by Chip Brogden http://theschoolofchrist.org/articles/crisis.html "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him... beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him..." (Colossians 2:6,8,9a) The Christian life is a life that is lived IN CHRIST. That is to say, to walk IN HIM is to live as a Christian. Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. A Christian is a branch that grows out of the Vine and continually produces abundant fruit for the Husbandman. The Church is the gathering together of all individual branches into one Vineyard (see John 15). In this metaphor we see that Christianity is supposed to be a living phenomenon, an observable reality, not a religious philosophy or set of teachings.... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:44:37 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Life-lived-in-Christ/11/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Life-lived-in-Christ/11/ To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that all things which fall out shall co-operate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over. —Thomas Watson God takes away the world, that the heart may cleave more to Him in sincerity. —Thomas Watson God sweetens outward pain with inward peace. —Thomas Watson Not to be afflicted is a sign of weakness; for, therefore God imposeth no more on me, because he sees I can bear no more. —Joseph Hall When we grow careless of keeping our souls, then God recovers our taste of good things again by sharp crosses. —Richard Sibbes The winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the... Tue, 05 May 2009 01:33:08 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Perspective-of-the-Believer/10/ http://www.blogigo.com/ponder/Perspective-of-the-Believer/10/