When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.
Insofar as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all.
When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.
C. S. Lewis, on how to love your spouse without being an idolator.
Cf. Augustine’s Confessions (XI.29):
He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.
Source: thegospelcoalition.org
Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are (Piano Cover) ThePianoGuys
This one is for @nurseviv: :muuah muuahhh mmmmuah:
Prayers for Those Not Taking the Lord’s Supper this morning
Prayer for Those Searching for Truth:
Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open me to the reality of who you are. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and that leads to the life you promise. Amen.
Prayer of Belief:
Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserved in order to offer me complete forgiveness. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Commitment:
Lord Jesus, you have called us to follow you in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship through membership in your church. Grant that I may take the necessary steps to be one with your people, and live in the fullness of your Spirit. Amen.
Source: redeemer.com
How To Wear a Tie Bar
How To Wear a Tie Bar
Usually we leave the hardcore fashion posts to our tum-bro GQ Fashion, but this one was just too damn important. Because if you haven’t noticed, we’re big fans of the tie bar here at GQ. And while we’ve been thrilled to see an uptick in real guys wearing them on the street, we’ve gotta say, some of you just aren’t doing it right. So we asked GQcreative director Jim Moore to break down exactly how it’s done. The most crucial part: position. Says Jim: “The rule is simple: It goes between the third and fourth buttons of your dress shirt.” Need more help? Click here.
Source: GQ
*@nurseviv Vivian & I @ New Years January 1, 2012
<3
The mercy of God shows us in our infirmity that even though death should not be taken away, its power has been reduced by him to a mere shadow.
The Christian principle that needs to be at work is Spirit-generated selflessness—not thinking less of yourself or more of yourself but thinking of yourself less. It means taking your mind off yourself and realizing that in Christ your needs are going to be met and are, in fact, being met so that you don’t look at your spouse as your savior. People with a deep grasp of the gospel can turn around and admit that their selfishness is the problem and that they’re going to work on it. And when they do that, they will often discover an immediate sense of liberation, of waking up from a troubling dream. They see how small-minded they were being, how small the issue is in light of the grand scheme of things. Those who stop concentrating on how unhappy they are find that their happiness is growing. You must lose yourself to find yourself.
A MUST LISTEN: Britt Nicole - All This Time
I remember the moment
I remember the pain
I was only a girl
But I grew up that day
Tears were falling
I know You saw me
Hiding there in my bedroom
So alone
I was doing my best
Trying to be strong
No one to turn to
That’s when I met You
**All this time
From the first tear cry
To today’s sunrise
And every single moment between
You were there
You were always there
It was You and I
You’ve been walking with me all this time
Ever since that day
it’s been clear to me
That no matter what comes
You will never leave
I know You’re for me
And You’re restoring
Every heartache and failure
Every broken dream
You’re the God who sees
The God who rescued me
This is my story
This is my story*
I hear these people asking me
How do I know what I believe?
Well I’m not the same me
And I saw the proof I need
I felt Love I felt Your grace
You stole my heart that day
