March 3, 2015

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your G*d require of you, but to fear the Lord your G*d, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your G*d with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I command you this day…” Deuteronomy 10:12ff

“The G*d of Christians is not a G*d who is simply the author of mathematical truths, or of the order of the elements; that is the view of the heathens… He is not merely a G*d who exercises His providence over the life and fortunes of (people), to bestow on them who worship Him a long and happy life. The G*d of Abraham, the G*d of Isaac, the G*d of Jacob, the G*d of Christians is a G*d of love and of comfort, a G*d who fills the soul and heart of those whom He possesses, a G*d who makes them conscious of their inward wretchedness, and His infinite mercy, who fills their (soul) with humility and joy, with confidence and love…”
Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662) “For All The Saints” volume I

“So it came about that one day when he had nothing on him but his weapons and his uniform, in the middle of winter which had been fearfully hard beyond the ordinary, so that many were dying of the intense cold, he met at the city gate of Amiens a coatless beggar. This beggar had been asking the passers-by to take pity on him but all had gone past… Then the G*d-filled man understood, from the fact that no one else had had pity, that this beggar had been reserved for him. But what was he to do? He had nothing with him but the cape he had on, for he had already used up what else he had, in similar good works. So he took the sword he was wearing and cut the cape in two and gave one half to the beggar, putting on the rest himself again.

This raised a laugh from some of the bystanders, for he looked grotesque in the mutilated garment; but many had more sense, and sighed to think that they had not done something of the kind; indeed, having more to give, they could have clothed the beggar without stripping themselves. At that night, in his sleep, Martin saw Christ wearing the half of his cape with which he had clothed the beggar.” The Life of St. Martin, (Martin of Tours, 316 – 397) as recorded by Sulpicius Severus (363 – 420)

“Lord, bent over as I am I can only look downwards; straighten me so that I can look upwards. Deliver me from my sins, unburden me, so that the abyss of sins does not engulf me. Teach me to seek you and reveal yourself to me as I seek. Let me seek you in desiring you; let me desire you in seeking you. Let me find you in loving you; let me love you in finding you.” (prayer from “For All The Saints”, volume I)

Pastor Dave