Because He Loves Me:

"It's essential for us to think about God's love today because it is only his love that can grant us the joy that will strengthen our hearts, the courage that will embolden us in our fight against sin, and the assurance that will enable us to open up our lives to him so that he may deal powerfully with our idolatry."

Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Naked I've come, naked I depart.

Anne Dudley Bradstreet was one of the very first intellectual women among the English settlers of New England. She was a celebrated poet of her time. She came from a family of learned people. In fact, her father & husband were instrumental to the founding of Harvard University.

On July 10, 1666, she came home only to see everything up in flames. The unfortunate event inspired her to write a poem entitled, "Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666." -man, she took a while to think about that title, huh? ;D Anyway, what a blessing this woman's response was. "She looked toward God & the assurance of heaven as consolation, saying:"

And when I could no longer look,

I blest His grace that gave and took, 

That laid my goods now in the dust. 

Yea, 

It was his own; it was not mine.

Far be it that I should repine.

-Anne Dudley Bradstreet. 

all to you.

"Have you deliberately committed your will to Jesus Christ? It is a transaction of the will, not of emotion; any positive emotion that results is simply a superficial blessing arising out of the transaction. If you focus your attention on the emotion, you will never make the transaction. Do not ask God what the transaction is to be, but make the determination to surrender your will regarding whatever you see, whether it is in the shallow or the deep, profound places internally." -Oswald Chambers

Lord of all, or not at all

Alan Redpath had two daughters who loved to swarm him when he came home at night. As he came in the door one evening, his little girls ran to meet him. One grabbed his leg and hugged him with all her might. He snatched the other daughter up in his arms. The one squeezing his leg said, "Now, I've got all of Daddy." The daughter in his arms replied, "Yes, but Daddy has got all of me!" Perhaps the question we need to continually ask is, "Does God have all of me?" 
-Alan Redpath

"Is he having His own wonderful way with me? Is God's will being fulfilled in that His son is being formed in me, or have I carefully pushed him to one side?"
-My Utmost for His Highest

Our guest speaker was a man named Mark Stuckey for our revival night. He quoted a lot of quotes from Spurgeon, but unfortunately I am able to find the exact ones he used. They were about the gospel--so here's one of my personal favorites from the above mentioned gentleman..

"Think, brethren, you were blind: he has made you see. You were lame: he has made you leap. Worse than that, you were dead: he has made you live. You were in prison: and he has made you free." -Charles Spurgeon

Now going to bed with a tummy full of amazing Chinese food, a heart inspired to serve others, and just brimming with joy that I have friends that can appreciate me even when I am annoyingly delirious with laughter when I get sleepy. It's been a great night. Hello, weekend :)