Chelle

“But the three-day pattern--Friday's tragedy, Saturday's despair, Sunday's triumph-- became for Jesus' followers a pattern that can be applied to all our times of tribulation. Good Friday demonstrates that God is not indifferent to our pain; God, too, is personally "acquainted with grief." Holy Saturday hints that we may go through seasons of confusion and seeming defeat. And Easter Sunday shows that, in the end, suffering will not prevail.”
― Philip Yancey, Undone: A Modern Rendering of John Donne's Devotions

“The reality of Christian mission in today’s churches is a story of thousands of quiet kindnesses. In many of our most disadvantaged communities it is the churches that provide warmth, food, friendship, and support for individuals who have fallen on the worst of times.”1”
― Mark Sayers, Disappearing Church: From Cultural Relevance to Gospel Resilience

“Kindness is the greatest wealth of all. Small acts of kindness last longer than a lifetime. This lesson, that kindness and generosity and faith in your fellow man are more important than money, is the first and greatest lesson my father ever taught me. And in this way he will always be with us, and always live forever. Here are the lines I try to live by, and which I like to include when I speak publicly: May you always have lots of love to share, Lots of good health to spare, And lots of good friends who care.”
― Eddie Jaku, The Happiest Man on Earth: The Beautiful Life of an Auschwitz Survivor

“Ironically, it is when we finally accept the fact that life is not a five-star hotel and lay down our indignation at the way we are being treated that we begin to find hope. As long as we rage against the heavens, we remain impoverished in our pain. But when we allow our eyes to fall to the mire, we discover a wealth of little epiphanies glimmering in the puddles at our feet. When G. K. Chesterton finally gave up trying to be optimistic about the world and accepted that it was fallen, far from feeling depressed, his heart “sang for joy like a bird in spring.”7”
― Pete Greig, God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer