Today
you get another post of many different "thoughts" rather
than one longer continuous thought. Yet, unlike my last mailing sent out
two weeks ago, these all come from one author - C. S. Lewis. I've been
going through three of his books lately and found them all very rewarding. This
is just a sampling of short thoughts from him. I trust you might find a
few of these to be helpful as you mull them over, and that one or two might be
used of God to encourage, challenge, or comfort you.
At
our men's group this morning we discussed our favorites from my previous
mailing two weeks ago, and why each person found particular ones the most
helpful. If you get a chance today, and would want to share with me what your
particular favorites are from the list below, I'd be interested in receiving
your feedback! Enjoy.
"If everything comes simply by signing checks, you may forget that you are at every moment dependent upon God."
"The
Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but God will
make us good because He loves us."
"It
is safe to tell the pure in heart that they will see God, for only the pure in
heart want to."
"I didn't go to religion to make me happy. I knew that a
bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really
comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity."
"We
are not necessarily doubting God will do the best for us, we are wondering how
painful the best will turn out to be."
"Don't
shine so that others can see you. Shine, so that through you, others can see
Him."
"Do
not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor; act as if
you did."
"If
God had granted all the silly prayers I've asked in my life, where would I be
now?"
"If
you're thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you, you are embarking on
something that will take the whole of you."
"Everyone
thinks forgiveness is a wonderful idea until he has something to
forgive."
"A silly idea is current that good people do not know what
temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist
temptation know how strong it is... No one knows how bad he is until he
has tried very hard to be good. A man who gives into temptation after five
minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later.
That is why bad people know very little about badness. They have lived a
sheltered life by always giving in."
"If
I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only
logical explanation is that I was made for another world."
"God
cannot give us happiness apart from Himself, because there is no such
thing."
"It is not your business to succeed, but to do right. When
you have done so the rest lies with God."
"Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace
in difficulties."
"We
must lay before God what is in us, not what ought to be in us."
With prayers for your continued growth in godliness, and your
service in Jesus name, Pastor Jeff
