crazy love

"I think we naturally assume that if we look out for our own interests and concerns, we will be happy. But people who sacrifice for others will tell you that seasons of giving are the most rewarding of their lives.

"It turns out the Bible is right - 'It is better to give than to receive' (Acts 20:35). People generally do find greater joy in giving freely to others than they do in rampant self-indulgence. Regarding this, the playwright George Bernard Shaw writes, 'This is true joy in life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.'

"God is the only true Giver, and He needs nothing from us. But still He wants us. He gave us life so that we might seek and know Him."

- Francis Chan, Crazy Love

hebrews 13:7

"Remember those who led you,
who spoke the word of God to you;
and considering the result of their conduct,
imitate their faith."

know ye not that ... ye are not your own?

"Why shouldn't we go through heartbreaks? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us fall and collapse at the first grip of pain; we sit down on the threshold of God's purpose and die away of self-pity, and all so-called Christian sympathy will aid us to our death bed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, and says - 'Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine.' If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart."

- Oswald Chambers

"In the future there is laid up for me

the crown of righteousness,

which the Lord, the righteous Judge,

will award to me on that day;

and not only to me, but also to all

who have loved His appearing.

... Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"

- 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 22:20

"Do you love the Lord's appearing? Then you will bend every effort to take the gospel into all the world. It troubles me in the light of the clear teaching of God's Word, in the light of our explicit definition of our task in The Great Commission (Mat. 28:18-20) that we take it so lightly.... His is the kingdom; He reigns in heaven and He manifests His reign on earth in and through His church. When we have accomplished our mission, He will return and establish His kingdom in glory. To us it is given not only to wait for but also to hasten the coming of the day of God (2 Pet. 3:12)."

- George Ladd, The Gospel of the Kingdom