Carl

“The Cost of Freedom God has made it a rule for Himself that He won’t alter people’s character by force. He can and will alter them—but only if the people will let Him. In that way He has really and truly limited His power. Sometimes we wonder why He has done so, or even wish that He hadn’t. But apparently He thinks it worth doing. He would rather have a world of free beings, with all its risks, than a world of people who did right like machines because they couldn’t do anything else. The more we succeed in imagining what a world of perfect automatic beings would be like, the more, I think, we shall see His wisdom. —from “ ‘The Trouble with “X,” ’ ” God in the Dock”
― C.S. Lewis, NRSV, The C. S. Lewis Bible: For Reading, Reflection, and Inspiration

“In the center of this value system is our definition of success. No rational human being wants to be a failure. No one wants to think that he has wasted his life. No one wants to think that in the end she will look back and realize that she invested in things that just didn’t matter. Everyone wants to think that his or her life is or will be successful. But what is success?”
― Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional

“Religion is what I do for God. Christianity is what God has already done for me. Religion is an effort. Christianity is a gift.”
― Charles R. Swindoll, The Swindoll Study Bible NLT

“Father in heaven, my Lord and Friend, I gratefully commit this season and the next to Your care. I ask that You fill me with Your Spirit so as I face the inevitable challenges, I do not panic or despair, losing sight of Your faithfulness and steadfast love. I pray this in Your name. Amen.”
― Robert Wolgemuth, Gun Lap: Staying in the Race with Purpose