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Like the Old Hardware Store

August 13, 2011 by Fritz

Let [the way you live] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee – Hebrews 13:5

Some people are so focused on what they lack they can’t enjoy what they have. But there will always be something more we feel we can’t do without.

Let those feelings go! Philip Yancey tells of the visitor to a local monastery:

“I hope your stay is a blessed one,” said the monk who showed the visitor to his cell. “If you need anything, let us know and we’ll teach you how to live without it.” – Prayer, pg 55

God gives the gift of being content; he is a lot like the hardware store where my wife worked when we were first married. Their sign read,

“If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.”

— fritz@langgang.com

Posted in Content, Explanations, Philip Yancey, Quotes | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Prayer Varies

August 12, 2011 by Fritz

Prayer includes moments of ecstasy and also dullness, mindless distraction and acute concentration, flashes of joy and bouts of irritation. In other words, prayer has features in common with all relationships that matter. — Philip Yancey, Prayer, pg.19

We may not be satisfied with our prayer time, but it’s the best thing we have so we keep at it.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” – John 6:68 (NIV)

— fritz@langgang.com

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The Real Strength of Weakness

August 11, 2011 by Fritz

And [God] said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. – 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10

Jon Gosselin Before and After

Years ago I caught a glimpse of John Gosselin, yes the one in the TV series, when a hair restoration company gave him a free treatment. He seemed like a nice unassuming guy, a faithful husband (I never watched a single episode so I really wouldn’t know). Later he turned into quite a playboy, splitting his family apart, and I wonder — the fresh look seemed to open the door to truly hurtful results.

I had a college friend with serious stomach problems who asked for prayer and God healed. He later said to me, “I can, now, party and drink all the beer I want!”

I got to know a new couple at church who loved Jesus. In their fifty’s, the wife had a degenerative bone disease and expected to eventually be in a wheel chair. My pastor prayed for them and she was gloriously healed. They soon quit attending church and we lost touch so I called to find out she decided to go back to her nursing career and was too busy for church or past friendships.

Yes, I believe God heals and wants us physically whole but sometimes not being physically whole keeps us spiritually growing. These are not always mutually exclusive but when they are, which would God consider best?

— fritz@langgang.com

Posted in Faithfulness, Healing, Weakness | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

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