Quotes-September 2012

September has been busy with school, visitors from the states and enjoying some fallish weather.  Our fellowship has been studying Soul Care this month.  Our pastor recommended a book called Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ by Dallas Willard.  Here are a few of my favorite quotes from my reading so far.

“Spiritual formation is, in practice, the way of rest for the weary and overloaded, of the easy yoke and the light burden (Matt 11:28-30), of cleaning the inside of the cup and the dish (Matt 23:26), of the good tree that cannot bear bad fruit (Luke 6:43).  And it is the path along which God’s commandments are found to be not “heavy” or “burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)” (location 439)

“The initial move toward Christlikeness cannot be toward self-esteem, because of confusion about what self-esteem means and because realistically, I’m not okay and your not okay.  We’re all in serious trouble.  That must be our starting point.” (location 1045)

“John Calvin, once again, remarked, “For as the surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves, so the only haven of safety is to have no other will, no other wisdom, than to follow the Lord wherever he leads.  Let this, then, be the first step, to abandon ourselves, and devote the whole energy of our minds to the service of God.” (location 1346)

“Being dead to self is the condition where the mere fact that I do not get what I want does not surprise me or offend me and has no control over me. ” (location 1547)

“The advice found in Thomas a Kempis is very good as an antidote to improper sensitivity: