Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from August, 2018

The end

This is the end of Imitation of Christ.  Thanks for participating.  The Blog reached the following countries: Canada United states Peru Germany France Nigeria Turkey Poland Philippines Hong Kong Ukraine Russia Malaysia Mexico Zambia Turkmenistan United Kingdom Italy Belgium Brazil Norway Estonia India Unknown region Ghana Australia I also had over 7000 hits.  You can buy it in book format by clicking on Spiritual Snacks My prayer is that it has made a Spiritual difference in your life.  I was delighted to discover that Imitation of Christ influenced John Newton (the slave trader) into becoming a Christian.

Protect and keep my soul

S A 2 Protect and keep my soul, the meanest of Your servants, amidst the many dangers of this corruptible life, and by Your grace accompanying, direct me along the way of peace to the land of everlasting light. (CIoC) Wow! What an ending. Fortunately, there is always more. J   Christian discipleship steps

Hope and trust in God

Lord, what is my confidence that I have in this life? Or what is the greatest comfort I can derive from anything under heaven? (CIoC) Is it not You, O Lord my God, whose mercies are without number? (CIoC) Where has it ever been well with me without You? Or when could it be ill with me when You, are present?(CIoC) I would rather be poor for Your sake than rich without You. (CIoC)

Others

Praying for the villages in Zambia where they are doing the best they can with what little they have.   May those at the top not forget those at the bottom and the folk in the middle; It seems to work best when we’re all empowering each other to do the best we can so we can have win, win, win situations. Sherrill Hetherington

Where we fit

Far more acceptable to God is one that thinks of the greatness of one’s own sins, and the smallness of ones virtues, and how far one is from the perfection of saints, than one who disputes of their greatness or littleness. (CIoC) A wise person knows how little they know. Contemplate Saint Paul’s teaching in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 12-14 and ask yourself if you’re telling the foot to grab more or the hand to walk more or do you want everyone to be you (maybe the ear J ).

Imagine

There is an incomparable distance between the things which the imperfect imagine and the things which they that are enlightened are enabled to behold through revelation from above. (CIoC) Contemplate the Elisha story found in the book of 1 Kings chapter 18-19 . I can only imagine

The secret judgement of God

My child, beware you dispute not of high matters, nor of the secret judgements of God, why this person is so left out, and that person takes into such great favour; why also one person is so afflicted, and another so greatly advanced. These things are beyond the reach of people, neither is it in the power of any reason or controversy to search out the judgements of God. (CIoC) The best we have here is the story of Job found in the book of Job

A good end

S A 2 Grant me a good end; grant me a happy passage out of this world. Be mindful of me, O my God, and direct me in the right way to Your Kingdom. (CIoC) Remembering the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: Adapted Lord’s prayer, for real, today

Suffering

S A 2 What does it matter, how much or what I suffer, so I may at length attain to the sanctuary of salvation? (CIoC) This needs to be balanced with loving oneself and loving one’s neighbour and loving God. These steps are also helpful: Christian discipleship steps

Pay it forward

S A 2 Everything is not lost, although you feel yourself often afflicted or grievously tempted. (CIoC) List the good things you are thankful for.   Call up a friend and thank them for something they’ve done for you. Bless a neighbour.

Don't be dejected too much

My child, patience and humility in adversity are more pleasing to Me, than much comfort and devotion in prosperity. (CIoC)

IF

If you will be My disciple, deny yourself utterly. If you will reign with Me, bear the cross with Me. S A 2 For only the servants of the cross can find the way of blessedness and true light. (CIoC) This is part of the story; click on the link below   Why Jesus is bigger than any superhero

The need for grace

O Lord, how entirely needful is Your grace for me, to begin my good work, to go on with it and to accomplish it. (CIoC)         “For without grace I can do nothing, but with You I can do all things, when Your grace strengthens me.” A summary of Philippians 4

The worth of divine grace

Hence it comes to pass that I know the way to perfection and see clearly enough what I ought to do; but being pressed down by the weight of my own corruption, I rise not to that which is more perfect. S A 2   This may help : Christian discipleship steps