I am like that, and I know it.

I start things ambitiously and I believe I will finish them, but I usually dont. I love the
fresh journal, the creases in a new pattern, the way a book looks on my shelf. But then the pieces pile up and my heart
breaks and I feel it all over again. Youre a failure. {Angie !attern"
I just wanted to sew, I think to myself.
But it wasnt the fabric I loved.
It wasnt even the finished product.
It was watching the needle and knowing that it was working all the time to mend, even as it pierced.
It looks like its dangerous, and as if its wounding. It tears through layers and even through skin. Im convinced it will
come away flawed and torn, and then I see the beauty of it all.
And the hum of the sewing machine reminds me again what it looks like to allow yourself to be wounded because you
believe in what will one day come of it all.
{Angie !attern"
8
#verything is wearisome beyond description. $o matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. $o matter how
much we hear, we are not content. {#cclesiastes %.& $'("
%). *o I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is
like chasing the wind.
18
(he greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. (o increase knowledge only increases sorrow.
{#cclesiastes %.%)+%& $'("
11
,e has made everything beautiful in its time. ,e has also set eternity in the human heart- yet no one can fathom what
.od has done from beginning to end. {#cclesiastes /.%% $I0"
14
I know that everything .od does will endure forever- nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. .od does
it so that people will fear him. {#cclesiastes /.%1 $I0"
2ake your ambition to please 3esus. ,e4ll take care of everything else. {'ouie .iglio"
I think 3esus prefers honesty over certainty. {!ete 5ilson"
(oo much activity gives you restless dreams- too many words make you a fool. {#cclesiastes 6./ + $'("
7
(alk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. 7ear .od instead. {#cclesiastes 6.) + $'("
18
#ven so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under
the sun during the short life .od has given them, and to accept their lot in life.
19
And it is a good thing to receive
wealth from .od and the good health to enjoy it. (o enjoy your work and accept your lot in life8this is indeed a gift
from .od.
20
.od keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. {#cclesiastes
6.%&+9: $'("
(he real problem is this; the church of the 'ord 3esus <hrist, individually or corporately, tending to do the 'ords work
in the power of the flesh rather than of the *pirit. (he central problem is always in the midst of the people of .od, not
in the circumstances surrounding them. {7rancis A. *chaeffer"
=(here are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.= {<* 'ewis"
>o what you love and you will dream about it.
9
#njoy what you have rather than desiring what you dont have. 3ust dreaming about nice things is meaningless8like
chasing the wind. {#cclesiastes ?.@ $'("
11
(he more words you speak, the less they mean. *o what good are theyA {#cclesiastes ?.%% $'("
12
In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spentA Bur lives are like a shadow.
5ho can tell what will happen on this earth after we are goneA {#cclesiastes ?.%9 $'("
CBf course everybody has bad moment. But do we have to forget all the good moments for itA= #nchanted
(he same power that conDuered the grave lives in meEE (hat4s craFy. {!ete 5ilson"
Ignoring past mistakes doesn4t make them go awayG it enables you to repeat them. {3ustin >avis"
5hat you fear reveals what you value the most. 5hat you fear reveals where you trust .od the least.
3
*orrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. {#cclesiastes )./ $'("
10
>ont long for Cthe good old daysH, this is not wise. {#cclesiastes ).%: $'("
13
Accept the way .od does things, for who can straighten what he has made crookedA {#cclesiastes ).%/ $'("
1.
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. {#cclesiastes ).% $'("

24
5isdom is always distant and difficult to find. {#cclesiastes ).91 $'("
%. ,ow wonderful to be wise, to analyFe and interpret things. 5isdom lights up a persons face, softening its harshness.
{#cclesiastes &.% $'("
.od4s invitation to prayer reveals his heart. Bur response to his invitation reveals ours. {2aI 'ucado"
(he soul desires more than a life of the satisfaction of desire. {3ohn Brtberg"
5e4re not doubting that .od will do the best for us, we4re wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. {<.*.
'ewis"
=5riting is easy. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.= {Jed *mith"
(here4s nothing uniDue about saying we4re following 3esus- what will make us uniDue + is following 3esus. {Bob .off"
=.od has infinite attention to spare for each one of us...= {<.*. 'ewis"
5hen you are arguing against .od you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all. {<.*.
'ewis"
=(hough our feelings come and go, ,is love for us does not= {<.*. 'ewis"
#veryone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive. {<.*. 'ewis"
If .od had granted all the silly prayers I4ve made in my life, where should I be nowA {<.*. 'ewis"
#very man should keep a fair+siFed cemetery in which to bury the faults of his friends. {<.*. 'ewis"
Jelying on .od has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done. {<.*. 'ewis"
Bne road leads home and a thousand roads lead into the wilderness. {<.*. 'ewis"
(he soul actually grows more satisfied as the sinful self is crucified. {3ohn Brtberg"
(he more pride we have, the more other peoples pride irritates us. {<.*. 'ewis"
=.od cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from ,imself, because it is not there. (here is no such thing= {<.*.
'ewis"
>o it, A * A ! KK LAMlways L*May LAM L!Mrayer EE
.od allows us to eIperience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way. {<.*.
'ewis"
CI want you to love me. I want you to trust me enough to let me love you, and I want you to stay here with me so we
can build a life together. (hats what I wantH {Jedeeming 'ove"
(he key to living a heroic <hristian life isn4t trying to be like the >aniel in the lions4 den. It4s being like the >aniel who
prayed everyday and held on to his integrity- it4s being like the >aniel who served .od continually, who constantly and
consistently fought against the Duick fiI that often accompanies the temptation of idolatry. {#mpty !romises !ete
5ilson"
5e4re willing to sell out to these idols because we don4t want to depend on a .od that4s invisible and at times difficult
to sense. ,olding on to belief in times like that just seems too difficult. {#mpty !romises !ete 5ilson"
$o matter how hard we seek .od and .od alone, no matter how continually we serve and how endlessly we believe,
there will still be a tinge of emptiness deep within our souls. 5hile seeking .od + and .od alone + certainly brings
purpose, satisfaction, and value to our lives, we still won4t feel complete, at least not all the time... 5e4re not supposed
to, we4re not home yet. No relationship with God in this present world will ever be as fulfilling, or freeing as it will be
in heaven. {#mpty !romises !ete 5ilson"
<. *. 'ewis wrote =If I find in myself a desire which no eIperience in this world can satisfy, the most probable
eIplanation is that I was made for another world.= {#mpty !romises !ete 5ilson"
Bne of the greatest themes of *cripture is .od4s constant, repetitive communication of =I am with you. Will you be
with meA=
+ the birth of mmanuel + 3esus. (hat was .od saying to the whole world, =I am with you. 5ill you choose to
be with meA=
! the cross and the empty tomb was .od saying it with a megaphone; =I am with you. 5ill you choose to be
with meA and it goes on ... {#mpty !romises !ete 5ilson"
3ohn Brtberg wrote; =At the end of the day, we do not have a program, plan, platform, or product to help the world. 5e
have a savior. 5e do not point to success, knowledge, pleasure, or power. 5e point to the cross.= {#mpty !romises
!ete 5ilson"
3esus alone has the power to bring you home, one day, to where you belong + with him- because that4s been your
destiny all along. {#mpty !romises !ete 5ilson"
Gbut I often consider what Im tempted to call the greatest lie of all time. And that lie can be bound up in two words;
someone else. {'ove >oes Bob .off"
5e are the means, the method, the object, and the delivery vehicles. .od can use anyone, for sure. If you can shred on
a 7ender or won CBest !ersonality,H youre not disDualified8it just doesnt make you more Dualified. Nou see, God
usually chooses ordinary people like us to get things done. {'ove >oes Bob .off"
As I sit on my island, it becomes clear that we need to stop plotting the course and instead just land the plane on our
plans to make a difference by getting to the CdoH part of faith. (hats because love is never stationary. In the end,
love doesnt ust !ee" thin!in# about it or !ee" "lannin# $or it. %im"ly "ut& love does. {'ove >oes Bob
.off"
(he world can make you think that love can be picked up at a garage sale or enveloped in a ,allmark card. But the kind
of love that .od created and demonstrated is a costly one because it involves sacrifice and presence. Its a love that
operates more like a sign language than being spoken outright. {'ove >oes Bob .off"
5hen its a matter of the heart, the place doesnt matter. 7or me, its 3esus plus nothing8not even a building. {'ove
>oes Bob .off"
(he people who slowly became typical have the greatest problem wrapping their minds around a dynamic friendship
with an invisible, alive .od. (heres nothing wrong with being typical, I guess, but there is nothing fundamentally right
about it either. Ive never read in .enesis that .od created CtypicalH and called it good. Instead, I think men who were
bored made up typical and called it, if not good, at least acceptable. !eople who follow 3esus, though, are no longer
typical8.od is constantly inviting them into a life that moves away from typical. #ven if they have normal jobs, live in
normal houses, and drive normal cars, theyre just not the same anymore. {'ove >oes Bob .off"
3esus lets us be real with our life and our faith. 5hat 3esus said we could do is leave typical behind. 5e could leave all
of the comparisons and all of the trappings and all of the pretending of religion. 3esus told the people ,e was with that
its not enough to just look like you love .od. ,e said wed know the eItent of our love for .od by how well we loved
people. {'ove >oes Bob .off"
Im not that great at spelling and thankfully my phone autocorrects the words I type for me. 5hat Ive noticed, though,
is that almost every time I type in the word love, it gets changed to the word live. Its kind of a reminder to me of one of
the things I learned from >oug about following 3esus. I learned that $ully lovin# and $ully livin# are not only
synonymous but the !ind o$ li$e that 'esus invited us to be "art o$. (nd be)ause o$ that, our lives dont
need to be ust "u$$s o$ blue smo!e anymore. {'ove >oes Bob .off"
11*12+
(he obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a
relationship with .od that way. "he person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God
arranges for him. #oing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. ,abakkuk had it right;
=(he person who believes .od, is set right by .od8and that4s the real life.$ %ule!keeping does not naturally evolve
into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule!keeping, a fact observed in *cripture; =(he one
who does these things Orule+keepingP continues to live by them.= {.alatians /.%%+%9 2*."
C(he purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until <hrist Lthe descendantM came,
inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. OGP. Its purpose Lthe lawM was to make obvious to everyone that
we are, in ourselves, out of right relationship with .od, and therefore to show us the futility of devising some religious
system for getting by our own efforts what we can only get by waiting in faith for .od to complete his promise.
OGP
91
Qntil the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living .od, we were carefully
surrounded and protected by the 2osaic law. OGPBy faith in <hrist you are in direct relationship with .od. Nour
baptism in <hrist was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe
8<hrist4s life, the fulfillment of .od4s original promise.H {.alatians /.%@+9)+ 2*."
Bne of my most constant life+themes is missing the point. {(he (able Angie"
5ithout a single doubt I believe the best use of your life is love. {!ete 5ilson"
Its not the load that breaks you down. Its the way you carry it. {<.*. 'ewis"
5hen faced with multiple voicesRopinions, go with what .od4s 5ord says is true about who you are. {'ouie .iglio"
(his *on perfectly mirrors .od, and is stamped with .od4s nature. ,e holds everything together by what he says8
powerful wordsE {,ebrews %./ 2*."
But you4ll stay the same, year after year- you4ll never fade, you4ll never wear out. {,ebrews %.%9 2*."
5hen .od put them in charge of everything, nothing was eIcluded. But we don4t see it yet, don4t see everything under
human jurisdiction. 5hat we do see is 3esus, made =not Duite as high as angels,= and then, through the eIperience of
death, crowned so much higher than any angel, with a glory =bright with #den4s dawn light.= In that death, by .od4s
grace, he fully eIperienced death in every person4s place. {,ebrews 9.&+@ + 2*."
12*14
*o watch your step, friends. 2ake sure there4s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off
course, diverting you from the living .od. 7or as long as it4s still .od4s (oday, keep each other on your toes so sin
doesn4t slow down your refleIes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we,re in this
with -hrist $or the lon# haul. {,ebrews /.%9+%1 2*."

8*11
And so this is still a live promise. It wasn4t canceled at the time of 3oshua- otherwise, .od wouldn4t keep renewing
the appointment for =today.= (he promise of =arrival= and =rest= is still there for .od4s people. .od himself is at rest.
And at the end of the journey we4ll surely rest with .od. *o let4s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not
drop out through some sort of disobedience. {,ebrews 1.&+%% 2*."
14*1.
$ow that we know what we have83esus, this great ,igh !riest with ready access to .od8let4s not let it slip through
our fingers. 5e don4t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. ,e4s been through weakness and testing,
eIperienced it all8all but the sin. *o let4s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. (ake the mercy,
accept the help. {,ebrews 1.%1+%? 2*."
(hey4ll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great. (hey4ll get to know me by being
kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean. {,ebrews &.%9 2*."
=I believed in <hrist from the shore but I knew ,im in the deep.= {Angie *mith"
=I beg you to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the Duestions themselves as if they
were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. >on4t search for the answers, which could not be given
to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. 'ive the Duestions now.
!erhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.=
{Jainer 2aria Jilke, &etters "o ' Young (oet"
'earning gratitude turns everything into enough.
.od is in the business of using broken, used+up people for ,is gloryE
Jemember beauty really does come from the ashes, and in .ods family, there are no failures, or better yet, there are
nothing BQ( failures. 5e are all failures. If we werent failures the cross would not have been needed. But it is and we
are.
*untem fiin e umane, fiin e fragile, mici miracole biologice ambulante, dar teribil de vulnerabile. {7rancois 'elord"
2y <ommunion with .od suffers not for lack of desire but time. And lets be honest; I say I dont have time, yet I
found thirty+five minutes for 7acebook and an hour for my shows. I found half an hour for Nou(ube videos on how to
fiI little back girls hair Lmy #thiopian children are on deck, and I cant have them looking nappyM. I found fifteen
minutes for the radio and twenty minutes for a missed /: Jock episode. )o when I say I dont have time, Im a
gigantic liar. I have time. I just spend it elsewhere.
5e are more winsome when we listen, when we hold back our temper, when we choose not to stir up strife for the sake
of proving our =correctness=. Bur job is not to convince others of their wrongness and our rightness. It4s not to change
people4s hearts. L5e did not create anyone4s heart as far as I know. Bnly .od can change a heart.M Bur job is to
represent 3esus, how ,e talked, how ,e acted, how ,e loved, how ,e wooed. {#verything 2ary >e2uth"
5e are not saved to a checklist of acceptable behaviors. 5e are saved by an irresistible *avior, one who deserves our
allegiance, our lives, and our hearts. ,e is the wooing .od, not a manipulative, coercive deity. {#verything 2ary
>e2uth"
7eel now how you4d like to feel someday.
!lay now like you4d like to play someday.
'ive now as you4d like to live someday.
Jisk now like you4d like to risk someday.
!ray now like you4d like to pray someday.
.ive now as you4d like to give someday.
7orgive now how you4d like to forgive someday.
Jest now like you4d like to rest someday.
Be now as you4d like to be someday.= {#verything 2ary >e2uth"
C5hy do people changeA Because they want to, because they4re inspired by the ,oly *pirit to do so- not because they
are coerced, Duilted, or forced.{#verything 2ary >e2uth"
5hen we vow to live our lives a certain way, we subtract .od from the eDuation of our lives. And when we vow to
protect ourselves we rob .od of ,is job.{#verything 2ary >e2uth"
5hat we think about .od, ,is world, and ourselves determines our growth story. If we have a low view of .od, we will
not go to ,im to help or wisdom. If we overemphasiFe our depravity, we4ll live in despair. If grace is the only aspect of
.od we embrace, we may veer toward a licentious lifestyle.= {#verything 2ary >e2uth"
(he higher the mountain, the greater the view.
5e are at our purest when we are alone in our humanity, yet surrounded by ,is divinity.
Jeligion complicates what 3esus made simple. {!ete 5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
#verything that you eIperience in life is to be a lesson on how well you love .od and how you love people. Nou get this
you get life, you miss this you waste your life. {!ete 5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
7ocusing on sinning less does not guarantee that you will love more. But focusing on loving more will always guarantee
that you will sin less. {!ete 5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
(he church has tried to leverage what we know instead of how we love. Lbecause its a lot easierM {!ete 5ilson (he
Jeckless Bnes"
3ust do what 3esus did instead of arguing about what he said. {!ete 5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
>ont miss what 3esus has done for you because of what church did to youE {!ete 5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
Nou cant fully understand and love other people until you fully understand how .od loves you. Nou cannot offer to
other people what you do not possess yourself. {!ete 5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
I dont love you be)ause o$ who you are, I love you $or who I am. I dont love you $or what you do, I
love you $or what Ive done. I dont love you be)ause o$ your )ondu)t, I love you be)ause o$ /y
)hara)ter. I love you, "eriod0 {!ete 5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
.race with strings attached is anything but grace. {!ete 5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
5e have a hard time understanding the difference between acceptance and approval. I can love and accept a person
%::S but I dont necessarily have to approve with their lifestyle or decision making. .od loves me and accepts me
%::S but he doesnt always approve with my decisions. {!ete 5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
Nou do what .od called you to do and then let .od do what only .od can do. >rop the *avior compleIE {!ete 5ilson
(he Jeckless Bnes"
(he great thing about reckless lovers is that they are willing to give you a great gift because they really believe that with
.ods help you can change. 1hey dont let who you were yesterday limit who you )an be)ome today. {!ete
5ilson (he Jeckless Bnes"
(o J#A''N help people I have to be free from the need to please them. {!ete 5ilsons twitter"
AnIiety is a result of envisioning the future without 2e. {3esus <alling"
#verything I say and do tells a story of who I serve.
.oodness abounds in the midst of struggle. {3en ,atmaker"
!erfect love is a kind of self+dereliction, a wandering out of ourselves- it is a kind of voluntary death, wherein the lover
dies to himself and all his own interests, nor thinking of them, nor caring for them anymore, and minding nothing but
how he may please and gratify the party whom he loves. {,enry *cougal"
.od always gives ,is best to those who leave the choice with ,im. {3im #lliot"
.ive my kindest love to my dear wife, and tell her that the uncommon union which has so long subsided between us
has been of such nature as I trust is spiritual and therefore will continue forever. {3onathan #dwards"
>ont marry the person you think you can live with- marry the person you think you cant live without. {3ames <.
>obson"
7inish every day and be done with it. Nou have done what you could. *ome blunders and some absurdities no doubt
crept in- forget them as soon as you can. (omorrow is a new day- begin it well and serenely with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense. (his day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.
Bnce in a while, someone comes into your life and changes everything. Jaises your standards, makes you laugh, and
makes you feel at home. And even though youre not together, you feel like you never want to let them go.
(he enemy is so anIious to prevent us from going Lto churchM. ,e does it by playing on our conceit and laFiness and
intellectual snobbery. {<.*. 'ewis"
If you had felt yourself sufficient, it would have been a proof that you were not. {<.*. 'ewis"
Bne of the reasons why it needs no special education to be a <hristian is that <hristianity is an education itself. {<.*.
'ewis"
I do not think that all who choose wrong roads perish- but their rescue consists in being put back on the right road.
{<.*. 'ewis"
>espite what it feels like, Im believing that the safest place to be is within .ods will. {Angie"
A landscape, a symphony, a meeting with friends. Bur 7ather refreshes us on the journey but will not encourage us to
mistake them for home. {<.*. 'ewis"
If we found that we could fully understand it Lthe death of <hristM, that would show it was not what it professes to be +
the inconceivable. {<.*. 'ewis"
=>o not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbour- act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of
the great secrets. 5hen you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.= {2ere
<hristianity <. *. 'ewis"
A fi TndrUgostit este un lucru bun, dar nu este cel mai bun lucru. #IistU multe lucruri mai prejos de el, dar eIistU multe
lucruri mai presus de el. $u po i face din el o baFU pentru toatU via a. #ste un sentiment nobil, dar este, cu toate
acestea, doar un sentiment. {<.*. 'ewis <re tinismul redus la esen e"
>esigur, cVnd TnceteFi sU fii WTndrUgostitH, nu TnseamnU cU TnceteFi sU iube ti. >ragostea, Tn acest al doilea sens spre
deosebire de Wa fi TndrUgostitH nu este doar un sentiment. ste o unitate profund*, men inut* prin voin * i +nt*rit*
+n mod deliberat prin obicei, TntUritU LTn familiile cre tineM prin gra ia pe care am-ndoi parteneri o cer i o primesc
de la #umne.eu. #i pot avea aceastU dragoste unul pentru altul chiar i atunci cVnd nu le place unul de celUlalt, la fel
cum te iube ti i pe tine Tnsu i chiar i atunci cVnd nu T i place de tine. #i pot pUstra aceastU dragoste chiar i atunci
cVnd, dacU i+ar permite, le+ar fi mai u or sU se WTndrUgosteascUH de altcineva. 7aptul cU au fost WTndrUgosti iH i+a
determinat mai TntVi sU+ i promitU fidelitate; aceastU dragoste mai potolitU le permite sU+ i respecte promisiunea.
2a inUria familiei func ioneaFU tocmai cu aceastU dragoste; WTndrUgostireaH a fost eIploFia care a pornit motorul. {<.*.
'ewis <re tinismul redus la esen e"
>acU ne realiFUm dorin ele, stingerea primei emo ii va fi compensatU de un interes mai potolot i de mai scurtU duratU.
Ba mai mult, numai oamenii care sunt gata sU accepte pierderea eIaltUrii de Tnceput i sU se preocupe de aspectul mai
sobru, sunt oamenii care vor gUsi probabil o nouU eIaltare Tntr+o direc ie cu totul diferitU. L...M #u cred cU aceasta este o
micU parte din ce a vrut sU spunU <ristos cVnd a afirmat cU un lucru nu poate trUi cu adevUrat decVt dacU moare mai
TntVi. $u este deloc bine sU Tncerci sU pUsteFi o eIaltare; este cel mai rUu lucru pe care+l po i face. 'asU eIaltarea sU
treacU las+o sU moarU prin perioada aceea de moarte po i trece la un interes ma lini tit i la fericirea care urmeaFU
atunci vei descoperi cU trUie ti Tntr+o lume care T i oferU Tn permanen U noi emo ii. {<.*. 'ewis <re tinismul redus
la esen e"
(hey are waiting to have an inward feeling that ,is words are true, before they will believe them. (hey look upon them
as beautiful things for ,im to say, and they wish they could believe them, but they do not think they can be true in
their own special case, unless they can have an inward feeling that they are- and if they should speak out honestly, they
would confess that, since they have no such inward feeling, they do not believe ,is words apply to them- and as a
conseDuence they do not in the least eIpect ,im to actualy care for their affairs at all. {Angies twitterR ,.5. *mith,
=(he .od of All <omfort.="
Bur longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off is the truest indeI of our real
situation. {<.*. 'ewis"
,e wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away ,is hand. {<.*. 'ewis"
CB .od, I have tasted (hy goodness and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully
conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. B .od, the triune .od, I want to want
(hee- I long to be filled with longing- I thirst to be made more thirsty still. *how my (hy glory, I pray (hee, that I may
know (hee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. *ay to my soul, XJise up, my love, my fair one, and
come away. (hen give me the grace to rise and follow (hee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.
In 3esus name. Amen.H {A.5. (oFer, "he (ursuit of God"
=I must strive to be worthy of the task I4ve been set.= {>ownton Abbey"
Be sure it is not for nothing that the 'andlord has knit our hearts so closely to time Y place to one friend rather than
another. {<.*. 'ewis"
.ive up yourself, and you will find your real self. Zeep back nothing. $othing that you have not given away will be
really yours. {<.*. 'ewis"
In reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myselfG I see with a myriad of eyes, but it is still I
who see. {<.*. 'ewis"
Ive seen enough in one day to pen volumes about what love really looks like when it bends toward another;
It loops, one lace over another, until what was once foreign feels familiar.
It intertwines heart and hand, and what seemed an impossible path simply becomes the only way.
It weaves our very lives, and what was separate is more beautiful whole.
It blurs the line between grace and glory, and it lives only to bring life.
Jisk is relative when the hours are this shortG
5e can continue as we have been+thats always an option I suppose.
Br, we can jump in an empty room, knot our lives with the lives of others, and finally understand the power of being
woven by the hand of the 'ord.
I, for one, wouldnt have it any other way.
{Angie *mith"
=5e were made not primarily that we may love .od Lthough we were made for that tooM but that .od may love us, that
we may become objects in which the >ivine love may rest 4well pleased.H {(he !roblem of !ain"
!eace doesn4t mean that you will not have problems. !eace means that your problems will not have you. {(ony #vans
twitter"
!roblema realU a vie ii cre tine apare acolo unde oamenii nu se a teaptU. #a apare Tn clipa cVnd ne treFim Tn fiecare
diminea U. (oate dorin ele tale i toate nUdejdile tale pentru Fiua aceea aleargU ca ni te animale sUlbatice. !rimul lucru
care trebuie fUcut Tn fiecare diminea U este sU le faci sU se retragU- ascultVnd de cealaltU voce, acceptVnd celUlalt punct
de vedere, sU+i permi i vie ii mai mari, mai puternice i mai lini tite sU te invadeFe. i a a trebuie sU continui toatU
Fiua, dVndu+te Tnapoi de la tot Fbuciumul i frUmVntarea, ie ind la luminU. 'a Tnceput nu putem face lucrul acesta
decVt pentru cVteva clipe. >ar de la acele clipe noua via U se va rUspVndi pretutindeni Tn sistemul nostru; deoarece
acum noi [i permitem sU lucreFe Tn partea care trebuie din noi. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
=2oney doesn4t change men, it merely unmasks them.= {,enry 7ord"
/ftentimes we share what should be sacred, and shout what was more beautiful in the silence.
(he deepest, most valuable moments of this life are not given to us to be given away again.
5e tell our stories, we share our hearts, we live passionately and openly with the community the 'ord gives us +
absolutely.
But every now and then, we recogniFe that ,e has given us a moment, a word, a glimpse of ,imself, an unspoken
promise that is far too wonderful to try and eIplain. *o we smile, smooth our sweaters, and honor ,im, fingers tracing
the outline of grace. {Angie"
Nou can make anything by writing. {<. *. 'ewis"
Jest in ,is love. Jeach for ,is face. Jepeat. {2ike >onehey"
2usic eIpresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. {0ictor ,ugo"
(he greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved- loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of
ourselves. {0ictor ,ugo"
(he wicked envy and hate- it is their way of admiring. {0ictor ,ugo"
<hange your opinions, keep to your principles- change your leaves, keep intact your roots. {0ictor ,ugo"
1o love another "erson is to see the $a)e o$ 2od. {0ictor ,ugo"
Almost all our desires, when eIamined, contain something too shameful to reveal. {0ictor ,ugo"
<uriosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery. {0ictor ,ugo"
(he first symptom of love in a young man is timidity- in a girl boldness. {0ictor ,ugo"
<ertain thoughts are prayers. (here are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees.
{0ictor ,ugo"
C,ave courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones- and when you have laboriously
accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. .od is awake.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C#ven the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C(he power of a glance has been so much abused in love stories, that it has come to be disbelieved in. 7ew people dare
now to say that two beings have fallen in love because they have looked at each other. Net it is in this way that love
begins, and in this way only.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C$ot being heard is no reason for silence.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C(o learn to read is to light a fire- every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C(o love or have loved, that is enough. Ask nothing further. (here is no other pearl to be found in the dark folds of
life.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C(hose who do not weep, do not see.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C5hen love has fused and mingled two beings in a sacred and angelic unity, the secret of life has been discovered so far
as they are concerned- they are no longer anything more than the two boundaries of the same destiny- they are no
longer anything but the two wings of the same spirit. 'ove, soar.H {0ictor ,ugo"
CNou who suffer because you love, love still more. (o die of love, is to live by it.H{0ictor ,ugo"
C5inter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C'ife4s great happiness is to be convinced we are loved.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C'ove is like a tree; it grows by itself, roots itself deeply in our being and continues to flourish over a heart in ruin. (he
ineIplicable fact is that the blinder it is, the more tenacious it is. It is never stronger than when it is completely
unreasonable.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C5hat a grand thing, to be lovedE 5hat a grander thing still, to loveEH {0ictor ,ugo"
C'et us study things that are no more. It is necessary to understand them, if only to avoid them.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C(he pupil dilates in darkness and in the end finds light, just as the soul dilates in misfortune and in the end finds
.od.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C'ove is the foolishness of men, and the wisdom of .od.H {0ictor ,ugo"
0&ove is the only future God offers.1 {0ictor ,ugo"
C'ove has no middle term- either it destroys, or it saves. All human destiny is this dilemma. (his dilemma, destruction
or salvation, no fate proposes more ineIorably than love. 'ove is life, if it is not death. <radle- coffin, too. (he same
sentiment says yes and no in the human heart. Bf all the things .od has made, the human heart is the one that sheds
most light, and alasE most night.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C...5e pray together, we are afraid together, and then we go to sleep. #ven if *atan came into the house, no one would
interfere. After all, what is there to fear in this houseA (here is always one with us who is the strongest. *atan may visit
our house, but the good 'ord lives here.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C>iamonds are to be found only in the darkness of the earth, and truth in the darkness of the mind.H {0ictor ,ugo"
CI have been loving you a little more every minute since this morning.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C$ot seeing people permits us to imagine them with every perfection.H {0ictor ,ugo"
CIt is from books that wise people derive consolation in the troubles of lifeH {0ictor ,ugo"
C2elancholy is the pleasure of being sad.H {0ictor ,ugo"
CNou can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. (he great acts of love are done by those who are
habitually performing small acts of kindness. 5e pardon to the eItent that we love. 'ove is knowing that even when
you are alone, you will never be lonely again. Y great happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. 'oved for
ourselves and even loved in spite of ourselves.H {0ictor ,ugo"
C5hat is hellA I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.H {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
C!ain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. (he really great men must, I think,
have great sadness on earth.H {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
C5e sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all
at once, before a word has been spoken.H {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
02an is a mystery. It needs to be unravelled, and if you spend your whole life unravelling it, don3t say that you3ve
wasted time. I am studying that mystery because I want to be a human being.1 {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
31o love someone means to see them as 2od intended them.+ {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
CIt is not the brains that matter most, but that which guides them 8 the character, the heart, generous Dualities,
progressive ideas.H {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
CBeauty will save the worldH {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
C(o love is to suffer and there can be no love otherwise.H {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
CNet, I didn4t understand that she was intentionally disguising her feelings with sarcasm- that was usually the last
resort of people who are timid and chaste of heart, whose souls have been coarsely and impudently invaded- and who,
until the last moment, refuse to yield out of pride and are afraid to eIpress their own feelings to you.H {7yodor
>ostoyevsky"
C2y .od, a moment of bliss. 5hy, isn4t that enough for a whole lifetimeAH {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
C5hen reason fails, the devil helpsEH {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
0&ove in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.1 {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
CIt4s the great mystery of human life that old grief passes gradually into Duiet tender joy.H {7yodor >ostoyevsky"
CIt isn4t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.H {3ane Austen"
CI must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve.H {3ane Austen"
(o be called by .od is, beyond any doubt, the highest vocation to which someone can aspire. But serving ,im implies
entering a battle, and it is wise to remember that in a battle there are no soldiers without wounds. It is normal for
discouragement to come at times, and it happened to me. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
At times I have come to the conclusion that .od has gifted me with bad health just so I can write. ,e knew full well
that from that moment on I would be facing my fiercest enemy in my mind, because when the body slows down, the
mind begins to race nonstop. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
'ooking at them, I became convinced that it is wrinkles of the spirit that make us old, not wrinkles on the face.
{2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
I find ,im in the cross, nothing more, nothing less. 5hat more can you ask forA {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
'ooking at the bookshelf crammed with books, I remembered the advice my old pastor had given me once; CNou
should read a lot, especially the Bible, but also seek to soak yourself with wisdom from others. A good book will make
you grow. (hey are like mines,H he had said to me, as he fondly caressed the book in his hands. C2ines full of riches.
#ach chapter is a like a showcase that is hiding treasures, waiting for someone to discover them.H {2ondays with 2y
Bld !astor"
.od does not call the eDuipped- rather, ,e eDuips those ,e calls. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
Its on our knees before ,im where we find balance. 5hen youre tempted to think you lack courage, look at the cross.
{2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
'ook at the cross,H he insisted. C(hats how valuable you are to .od. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
'et the cross be so present in you that it becomes your way of life and your rest. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
CIts true that sometimes .od allows us to eIperience the bitter taste of apparent failure, because many of our failures
are more apparent than real. But even this is helpful, because that feeling forces us to grab hold of the compass of
prayer and understand the enormous truth that only 2od e4ists, only 2od !nows, only 2od is able.H {2ondays
with 2y Bld !astor"
(he solitude seemed like heavens waiting room to me. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
3ust a glimpse of the glory of .od will rip off all the medals from our chest, strip us of all titles, and knock us off our
pedestals. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
5hile you are serving .od, you will enjoy some triumphs. Jemember, then, that su))ess has a hi#hly into4i)atin#
)om"onent. Be careful that you do not get drunk from it. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
(hats why .od allows obstacles to come our way and doesnt prevent us from making mistakes, because the resulting
weakness can actually turn into our true strength. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
*omething even more difficult than overcoming failure, he insisted, is overcoming success. {2ondays with 2y Bld
!astor"
*on, if we want to be effective, we have to imitate ,im. .od is not looking for celebrities, nor does ,e choose ,is
servants consulting celebrity magaFines- ,e prefers vessels of clay to administer ,is treasure, and the sooner we come
to terms that our calling is not about becoming statues but rather platforms, the sooner we will advance. {2ondays
with 2y Bld !astor"
,umility is not an option but a nonnegotiable reDuirement for whoever serves .od. !rayer will help us as well. !rayer
lifts our spirits up, but at the same time, it keeps our feet on the ground. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
I firmly believe that there is no worse arrogance than spiritual pride- it is the kind that stinks the most. >o you know
what happens with prideA Its like bad breath. #veryone notices it eIcept the person who has it. {2ondays with 2y Bld
!astor"
2y happiness consists in the fact that I know how to appreciate what I have, and I dont greatly desire what I dont
have. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
C$othing,H and he repeated it with a maddening slowness, accentuating every syllable, Cabsolutely nothing is as
important as taking time to be with .od. Its that time that keeps us softhearted. It prepares us, tunes us, and
conditions the growth in our lives.H {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
*ometimes the wisest thing to do is to stop, interrupt the felling of trees, and sharpen the aI. (hat way, half the energy
will then double the results. !rayer, talking with .od and having intimate communion with ,im, is the way our aIes
get sharpened again. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
It has nothing to do with neglecting our responsibilities, but rather soaking them in prayer. {2ondays with 2y Bld
!astor"
5e are not involved in a business, but rather a war. And .od loves ,is soldiers much more than the results. {2ondays
with 2y Bld !astor"
.race is love in actionE {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
Its possible to give without loving, but its totally impossible to love without giving. {2ondays with 2y Bld !astor"
Basically, life is what we make it; the risks we take, the people we love, the battles we survive, the joys we share, and
the instructions we take to heart. As Japh 5aldo said; C'ife is a series of lessons which must be lived in order to be
understood.H {**,' 'ucy *windol"
If Im not serious or paying attention, even in casual conversation, its not fair to the other person. {**,' 'ucy
*windol"
Being generous, softhearted, and sweet to others is a lost art in todays world OGP 5hats the balance between caring
and being carefulA 5heres the boundary lineA As caring people, when we let others run over us and take advantage of
us, were in a pickle before we know it. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
5hen the degree of caring negatively affects our Duality of life and inadvertently invites carelessness on the part of the
other person, then a boundary must be drawn. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
'ists keep you on track and your sanity intact in this chaotic world. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
Zeeping your word every time depends upon the amount of integrity you have within yourself and integrity is a two+
sided coin; one side reflects the respect you have toward other individual, and the other side shows how much you
respect yourself. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
*ay what you mean and do what you say. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
5e have no way of knowing what .od has in store for us if we simply use our hands to plant ideas and dreams and
then watch them take root. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
*omehow, Ive always known that lifes responsibilities dont manage themselves, so if were not intentional, we can
end up disordered, disarrayed, disappointed, and discontent. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
Basically, school homework teaches us two things discipline and development and well be dealing with these
things as long as we live. >ont ask me how I know this- just trust me that I do. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
>iscipline is a choice, not a feeling, and were never too late to choose to do the right thing. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
I believe that to have a rich, meaningful, enjoyable, and happy life, one has to have self+control and initiative. (hose
traits come with discipline, and discipline leads to development. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
Zindness is a gift to receive and a joy to give. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
Aristotle once wrote, C.ood habits formed at youth make all the differenceH {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
5ithout having a program or a plan, its easy to let Bible reading get lost in the shuffle of our busy days. And ultimately
our spiritual health suffers as a result. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
(he 5ord of .od reveals the righteousness of .od and the sinfulness of man. It reveals the plan of .od about salvation
to unbelievers and the way of life for believers in any age. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
Nou rely on yourself to maintain control over simple issues that need attention. In short, you are proactive about what
has to be done. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
'ooking at my possessions brings back memories of yesteryear, of friends of long ago, of places Ive visited on .ods
beautiful earth. (hese are the treasures in my house that reflect who I am. 5ithout ever speaking, they tell the story of
my life. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
5hat it is that makes us put off doing something we know we need to doA 7or some reason, it often seems easier to
think about other things rather than to focus on whats the most important thing now. 7ocusing on whats important
now means to live consciously. It means recogniFing whats most important in this moment and not wanting to be
anywhere else or do anything else with anybody else. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
5e can simply decide what is not necessary to keep by simply making up our minds about what is. $othing in life is
more important than knowing what is essential, unless its knowing what isnt. {**,' 'ucy *windoll"
<red cU de i cele mai multe rUni suflete ti le cUpUtUm prin rela ii, tot prin rela ii cUpUtUm i vindecarea lor. i tiu cU
rareori bunUtatea i iubirea pot fi Tn elese de cineva din afara rela iei. {Baraca !aul Noung"
<unoa te i locul despre care vorbesc; locul Tn care nu e ti decVt tu singur + i poate >umneFeu, dacU creFi Tn #l.
BineTn eles, >umneFeu se poate afla Tntr+un asemenea loc i dacU nu creFi Tn #l. !entru cU a a e #l. $u degeaba i se
mai spune i 2arele Instrus. {Baraca !aul Noung"
7urtunile T i au partea lor plUcutU, pentru cU Tntrerup rutina. {Baraca !aul Noung"
$imic nu ne face sU ne sim im mai singuri decVt secretele noastre. {!aul (urnierRBaraca !aul Noung"
[n preFen a copiilor, sufletul este tUmUduit. {>ostoyevskyRBaraca !aul Noung"
# remarcabil cum ac iuni sau evenimente aparent lipsite de importan U pot schimba o TntreagU via U. {Baraca !aul
Noung"
*un momente Tn via U cVnd alegi sU creFi lucruri sau Tn lucruri care, Tn mod normal sunt considerate ira ionale. $u cU
astfel de lucruri chiar ar fi ira ionale, TnsU cu siguran nu sunt ra ionale. !robabil eIistU o supra+ra ionalitate; o
ra iune care se situeaFU deasupra defini iilor, faptelor sau logicii baFate ppe date verificabile, ceva care capUtU sens
numai dacU po i vedea imaginea de ansamblu a realitU ii. i probabil aici e necesarU credin a. {Baraca !aul Noung"
!este tot florile T i deschiseserU corolele i amestecul de arome florale i de mirosuri puternice de felurite ierburi Ti
treFi amintiri demult uitate. AuFise de multe ori cU nasul e cea mai bunU legUturU cu trecutul, cU sim ul auditiv e cel
mai puternic conector cu istoria uitatU, i acum amintiri vechi din copilUrie Ti Fburau prin minte. {Baraca !aul
Noung"
Indiferent cVt de mare ar fi puterea lui >umneFeu, ipostaFa principalU a 'ui nu e aceea de *tUpVn absolut, atotputernic,
ci de >umneFeu care *e coboarU la nivelul omului, limitVndu+*e astfel pe *ine. {3aDues #llul Anarchy and
<hristianityRBaraca !aul Noung"
Am observat adesea cU, dacU reFolvi mai TntVi problema ce ine de minte, T i este mai u or apoi sU te ocupi de problema
de inimU... cVnd e ti pregUtit. {Baraca !aul Noung"
'ibertatea e un proces ce se petrece Tn interiorul unei rela ii cu #l. <Vnd vei ajunge liber Tn felul acesta, tot chinul
dinUuntrul tUu va lua sfVr it. {Baraca !aul Noung"
(u, pe de altU parte, ai fost creat ca sU fii iubit. A a cU, pentru tine sU trUie ti ca i cum n+ai fi iubit, e o limitare pe care
tu i+o impui i nu altcineva. {Baraca !aul Noung"
B pasUre nu e definitU de faptul cU umblU pe pUmVnt, ci de acela cU FboarU. *U nu ui i asta, oamenii nu sunt defini i de
limitUrile lor, ci de gVndurile 2ele cu privire la ei- i nici de ceea ce par a fi- ci de tot ceea ce este creat dupU chipul
2eu. {Baraca !aul Noung"
Jela iile n+au nimic de+a face cu putere, i o cale de+a evita voin a de putere e sU alegi sU te autolimiteFi sU sluje ti.
Bamenii fac adesea asta atunci cVnd se Tngrijesc de cei cu diFabilitU i i de cei bolnavi, cVnd poartU de grijU celor pe
care mintea i+a pUrUsit, celor sUraci, cVnd T i manifestU dragostea fa U de cei foarte Tn vVrstU sau foarte tineri, sau chiar
atunci cVnd se Tngrijesc de binele celor afla i Tntr+o poFi ie de autoritate peste ei. {Baraca !aul Noung"
[ncrederea e roada rela iei Tn care tii cU e ti iubit. {Baraca !aul Noung"
$u munca e importantU ci scopul pentru care munce ti. i eu doar a a privesc lucrurile. {Baraca !aul Noung"
[n asta stU frumuse ea i aventura eIplorUrii, ceea ce voi numi i tiin U sU descoperi i ceea ce noi am ascuns de voi
O...P Am ascuns de voi atVtea minuni pentru cU vU iubim, ca pe un dar pe care vi+l facem Tn cadrul a tot ceea ce se
cheamU via U. {Baraca !aul Noung"
!entru orice fiin U creatU, autonomia e o nebunie. 'ibertatea implicU Tncredere i ascultare Tn interiorul unei rela ii de
dragoste. {Baraca !aul Noung"
Bmul care trUie te cu teamU tot timpul nu gUse te libertate Tn dragostea 2ea. {Baraca !aul Noung"
*erios, via a 2ea nu e un eIemplu pe care oamenii sU+l copieFe. *U mU urmeFi pe 2ine nu TnseamnU sU Wfii ca i IsusH,
TnseamnU sU renun i la independen a ta- independen a ta sU moarU. {Baraca !aul Noung"
B, suflete+al meu, pregUte te+te sU+' TntVlne ti pe <el ce tie sU punU TntrebUri. {(.*. #lliotRBaraca !aul Noung"
AtVt de mul i cred cU dragostea este ceea ce cre te, dar ceea ce cre te e cunoa terea , Tn vreme ce dragostea doar se
lUrge te pentru a o putea cuprinde. >ragostea nu este decVt Tnveli ul cunoa terii. {Baraca !aul Noung"
$ormalul e un mit. {Baraca !aul Noung"
[ntunericul ascunde adevUrata dimensiune a fricii, minciunilor i regretelor. AdevUrul e cU toate acestea sunt mai mult
umbre. i de aceea par mai mari Tn Tntuneric. <Vnd lumina Tncepe sU strUluceascU peste ele Tn via a ta, Tncepi sU le veFi
a a cum sunt ele de fapt. {Baraca !aul Noung"
2ack, nu e nevoie sU Tn elegi totul. $u trebuie decVt sU fii cu 2ine. {Baraca !aul Noung"
(ot ceea ce doresc de la tine e sU te TncreFi Tn 2ine cu pu inul pe care+l ai i sU Tncepi sU+i iube ti pe oamenii din jurul
tUu cu aceea i dragoste cu care te iubesc #u pe tine. $u e treaba ta sU+i schimbi pe oameni sau sU+i convingi. # ti TnsU
liber sU iube ti fUrU vreun plan. {Baraca !aul Noung"
7alsul poate apUrea Tntr+o mul ime de combina ii, dar adevUrul nu are decVt un singur mod de+a fi. {3ean 3aDues
JusseauRBaraca !aul Noung"
*entimentul de vinovU ie nu te va ajuta niciodatU sU+ i gUse ti libertatea Tn 2ine. <el mai bun lucru pe care+l poate face
e sU te determine sU te conformeFi unor standarde etice de eIterior. !e 2ine mU intereseaFU TnsU interiorul. {Baraca
!aul Noung"
$u stU Tn natura dragostei sU for eFe o rela ie, dar stU Tn natura ei sU deschidU drumul. {Baraca !aul Noung"
>umneFeu este un verb. {Buckminster 7ullerRBaraca !aul Noung"
*entimentele sunt culorile sufletului. {Baraca !aul Noung"
JesponsabiliFarea i a teptarea a ceva din partea cuiva sunt lucruri de la care se ajunge negre it la vinU, la ru ine i la
judecatU, i ele constituie cadrul esen ial de promovare a performan ei drept criteriu fundamental pentru validarea
identitU ii i a valorii. {Baraca !aul Noung"
B, copile, sU nu subestimeFi niciodatU valoarea lacrimilor tale. 5neori la)rimile sunt )ele mai bune )uvinte "e
)are le "oate s"une inima. {Baraca !aul Noung"
<redin a nu tie niciodatU unde este condusU, dar [l tie i [l iube te pe Acela care o conduce. {Bswald
<hambersRBaraca !aul Noung"
CIf stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. *ometimes a person needs a
story more than food to stay alive.H {Barry 'opeF, in <row and 5easelR(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
(he secret place was his haven of safety, a bubble where he could survive the memories of watching his father die and
his constant sense of loss and abandonment. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
(his all seemed dangerously close to his most difficult memories. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
3immy used to say, C'ife is meant to be lived together. X(ogether is where the best stuff happens.H {(he Jiver
2ichael $eale"
7or all of .abriels twenty years, hed felt like an outsider, left alone to fend for himself. ,e was grateful for his mom
and the <artwrights, but something profound was missing. ,e felt like he was looking at life through the bottom of a
<oke bottle8blurry and ill+formed. It was like he could see laughter and joy on the other side of the thick glass, but he
couldnt hear or eIperience it. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
>ont fight it, .abriel. 3ust let it take you. .o feet first. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
2ost people want to fight (he Jiver instead of trust it. Its not what comes naturally, but its always whats best.
O(abithaP {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
CIts so clear tonight,H (abitha said. C>oesnt it look like theres some sort of powerful light behind the night sky, like
.od poked holes in the darkness to give us a small glimpse of whats on the other sideAH {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
CNesterday is gone and you cant change it. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
(here are no guarantees for tomorrow, so save it. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
(he best stuff is now, so live today and dont dare waste it.H {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
'ife is not to be merely survived8it is meant to be lived. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
As for that one day youd like to forget, I remember it well. Nou know how I like to think about itA I think of it as a
special day. . . a day when something beautiful and something powerful happened8a man gave up his life to save
another. It doesnt get any stronger than that in my book. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
Nou see, .abriel, there are things about (he Jiver that you can eIperience only when its dark. (he Jiver reveals itself
differently at night. Its difficult to eIplain. I listen and watch more closely when I dont know eIactly whats neIt. 2y
connection to (he Jiver is deeper in the night. O3acobP {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
C(here is nothing more amaFing than running (he Jiver. (hats why youre here8(he Jiver has captured you. 5hen
you eIperience the majesty and grandeur of (he Jiver, its breathtaking. 5hat a privilege it is to enjoy such beauty. . .
to eIperience such power. *o respect it. *tand in awe of it. (he Jiver is infinitely bigger than any of us and deserves our
very best.H {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
C*eems a little like life to me. (he rocks fall, and we cant stop em or see em comin. 5e keep flowing. . . moving. . .
living. . . and somehow, those eIperiences become the things that create the beautiful landscape of life. Its all in how
you look at it.H {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
Bnce I learned to let go of trying to see the end from the beginning, it became an adventure to see where the characters
took me. I just tried to listen well and do the hard work. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
I love the fact that .abriel eIperienced (he Jiver in the Duiet places, by himself, but he was transformed along the
journey with a band of friends. {(he Jiver 2ichael $eale"
I also am so very thankful for the spiritual letters that have been left for us all in the ,oly Bible. Its a journal really,
.ods thoughts and ,is interactions with people throughout history. Its ,is story, and I love it that we can mine its
ineIhaustible treasures. Its our connection to relationship with ,im and ,is destiny for us. {(he Jiver 2ichael
$eale"
$u eIistU niciun impuls care sU nu ne transforme Tn demoni dacU Tl luUm ca ghid absolut. Ai putea crede cU dragostea
de oameni Tn general ar face eIcep ie, dar nu face. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
Jemarca i ideea urmUtoare. Bricine care studiaFU Bmul din afarU, a a cum studiem electricitatea sau verFele, fUrU sU
cunoascU limbajul nostru i, Tn consecin U, fUrU sU fie Tn stare sU ob inU informa ii de la noi, ci doar sU observe cea am
fUcut, nu va gUsi nici cea mai micU dovadU cU noi avem aceastU lege moralU. <um ar putea sU gUseascU vreo dovadUA
<Uci observa iile lui i+a arUta numai ceea ce am fUcut noi, iar legea moralU cu privire la ce ar trebui sU facem. !e baFa
aceluia i ra ionament, dacU ar eIista ceva mai presus i dincolo de faptele observate Tn caFul pietrelor sau al
fenomenelor naturale, noi, studiindu+le din eIterior, nu am putea sU descoperim vreodatU acel ceva. {<re tinismul
redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
Aceasta este dilema teribilU Tn care ne aflUm. >acU universul nu este guvernat de o bunUtate absolutU, atunci toate
eforturile noastre sunt Fadarnice cVnd le privim Tn perspectivU. >acU universul este guvernat de o bunUtate absolutU,
atunci noi Tn ine ne facem Tn fiecare Fi du mani ai acelei bunUtU i i nu eIistU nici cea mai micU ansU sU fim mai buni
mVine, i de accea situa ia noastrU este tot fUrU nUdejde. 6u ne "utem li"si de ea 7de bun8tatea absolut89 i nu
"utem )onvie ui )u ea. :umne;eu este sin#ura m<n#<iere, dar =l este i teroarea su"rem8& lu)rul de
)are avem )ea mai mare nevoie i lu)rul de )are vrem )el mai mult s8 ne as)undem. L...M >un8tatea este
$ie )ea mai mare si#uran 8, $ie )el mai mare "eri)ol ? @n $un) ie de modul @n )are rea) ione;i $a 8 de
ea. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
<Vnd T i dai seama cU poFi ia noastrU este aproape disperatU, abia atunci Tncepi sU Tn elegi despre ce vorbesc cre tinii.
#i oferU o eIplica ie a modului Tn care am ajuns Tn starea actualU de a urT bunUtatea i, Tn acela i timp, de a o iubi. #i
oferU o eIplica ie despre modul Tn care >umneFeu poate sU fie aceastU gVndire impersonalU TndUrUtul legii morale, i
cu toate acestea sU fie o !ersoanU. #i T i spun cum cerin ele acestei legi, pe care tu i eu nu le putem Tmplini, au fost
Tmplinite Tn contul nostru, cum >umneFeu [nsu i a devenit om ca sU+l mVntuiascU pe om de deFaprobarea lui
>umneFeu. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
Astfel, Tn TnsU i Tncercarea de a dovedi cU >umneFeu nu eIistU + cu alte cuvinte, Tn Tncercarea de a dovedi cU Tntreaga
realitate este lipsitU de sens m+am vUFut for at sU presupun cU o parte a realitU ii i anume, ideea mea de dreptate
are sens. [n consecin U, ateismul se dovede te a fi prea simplu. >acU Tntregul univers ar fi lipsit de sens, noi n+ar
trebui sU descoperim niciodatU cU nu are sens, la fel cum, dacU nu ar eIista luminU Tn univers i, prin urmare, nu ar
eIista fUpturi cu ochi, noi nu ne+am da seama niciodatU cU este Tntuneric. 4ntunericul ar fi lipsit de sens. {<re tinismul
redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
>acU cerem ceva mai mult decVt simplitate, este absurd sU ne plVngem cU lucrul acela nu este simplu. {<re tinismul
redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
Jealitatea, de fapt, este de obicei ceva ce nu ai fi putut nUscoci. Aceasta este unul dintre motivele pentru care eu cred Tn
cre tinism. #ste o religie pe care nu ai fi putut+o nUscoci. L...M Are tocmai acea TntorsUturU ciudatU pe care o au lucrurile
reale. 0reau sU spun cU rUutatea, cVnd o analiFeFi, se dovede te a fi urmUrirea unui bine pe o cale gre itU. !o i fi bun
doar de dragul bunUtU ii- dar nu po i fi rUu dora de dragul rUutU ii. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
>acU un lucru este liber sU fie bun, atunci este liber sU sU fie rUu. 0oin a liberU este ceea ce a fUcut posibil rUul. >acU
este a a, de ce le+a dat >umneFeu voin U liberU acestor creaturiA >eoarece voin a liberU, de i face posibil rUul, este de
asemenea singurul lucru care face posibilU o dragoste, o bunUtate sau o bucurie pe care meritU sU le ai. {<re tinismul
redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
Aeri)irea "e )are :umne;eu a )on)e"ut*o "entru )reaturile %ale su"erioare este $eri)irea de a $i unite
)u =l i unele )u altele de bun8voie i libere @ntr*un e4ta; al dra#ostei i des$8t8rii @n )om"ara ie )u
)are )ea mai $erme)8toare iubire dintre un b8rbat i o $emeie de "e "8m<nt este doar o vorb8 #oal8.
Bentru a)easta )reaturile trebuie s8 $ie libere. :esi#ur, :umne;eu a tiut )e s*ar "utea @nt<m"la da)8
ele i*ar $olosi @n mod #re it libertatea& se "are )8 =l a )onsiderat )8 merit8 s8* i ia a)est ris).
{<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
#IistU o dificultate Tn a nu fi de acord cu >umneFeu. #l este sursa din care vine toatU puterea noastrU de gVndire; nu se
poate ca tu sU ai dreptate i #l sU gre eascU, dupU cum nu se poate ca un rVu sU se Tnal e mai sus decVt iFvorul sUu.
<Vnd [l contraFici pe >umneFeu, tu contraFici TnsU i for a care te face Tn stare sU te contraFici. {<re tinismul redus la
esen e <.*. 'ewis "
Ideea pe care satan a strecurat+o Tn min ile strUmo ilor no tri a fost cU ei ar putea fi Wca >umneFeuH cU ar putea
eIista Tn mod independent, ca i cum s+ar fi creat ei Tn i i cU ar putea inventa un gen de fericire pentru ei Tn i i Tn
afara lui >umneFeu i despUr i i de #l. >in Tncercarea accea fUrU sor i de iFbVndU a provenit tot ceea ce numim istorie
umanU bani, sUrUcie, ambi ie, rUFboi, prostitu ie, clase sociale, imperii, sclavie povestea lungU i TnfiorUtoare a
TncercUrii omului de a gUsi altceva decVt pe >umneFeu care sU+l facU fericit. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
#l [nsu i este combustibilul pe care spiritele noastre au fost menite sU+l consume, sau hrana cu care spiritele noastre
au fost mente sU se hrUneascU. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
:umne;eu nu ne "oate da $eri)ire i "a)e $8r8 s8 ni %e dea "e %ine, deoare)e a a )eva nu se "oate. 6u
e4ist8 $eri)ire i "a)e $8r8 =l. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
<reFul cre tin central este cU moartea lui <ristos ne+a pus oarecum Tntr+o rela ie bunU cu >umneFeu i ne+a dat un nou
Tnceput. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
$oi credem cU moartea lui <ristos este punctul acela din istorie Tn care ceva absolut de neTnchiuit pUtrunde Tn din afarU
Tn lumea noastrU. >acU noi nu putem descrie nici mUcar atomii din care este construitU lumea noastrU, bineTn eles cU
nu vom putea descrie nici lucrul acesta. >e fapt, dacU am descoperi cU Tl putem Tn elege pe deplin, Tnsu i faptul acesta
ar arUta cU nu este ceea ce pretinde a fi neconceputul, necreatul, lucrul de dincolo de naturU, lucrul care vine Tn
naturU ca i fulgerul. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
5n om "oate s8 a))e"te )eea )e a $8)ut -ristos )hiar da)8 nu @n ele#e )um o"erea;8 lu)rul a)esta& de
$a"t, este )ert )8 el nu "oate a$la )um o"erea;8 de)<t du"8 )e C*a a))e"tat. {<re tinismul redus la esen e
<.*. 'ewis"
!ocUin a nu este nicidecum un lucru amuFant. #ste ceva mult mai greu decVt sU+ i ceri iertare sau sU te umile ti.
[nseamnU sU te deFve i de toatU Tnfumurarea i TncUpU Vnarea eului cu care noi oamenii am fost TnvU a i de mii de ani.
[nseamnU sU dai mor ii o parte din tine, sU treci printr+un fel de moarte. >e fapt, este nevoie ca omul sU fie bun pentru
a se putea pocUi. Aici vine ciudU enia. 6umai un om r8u are nevoie s8 se "o)8ias)8D numai un om bun se
"oate "o)8i @n mod des8v<r it . <u cVt e ti mai rUu, cu atVt ai mai mare nevoie sU te pocUie ti i cu atVt mai pu in o
po i face. *ingura persoanU care ar fi putut+o face Tn mod perfect ar fi o persoanU perfectU iar aceasta nu ar avea
nevoie de pocUin U. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
<Vnd ai nevoie de ajutor, la ce te vei uita, dacU nu la ceea ce este mai tare decVt tine Tnsu iA {<re tinismul redus la
esen e <.*. 'ewis "
*unt / lururi care ne TmpUrtU esc via a lui <ristos; boteFul, credin a i acea ac iune misterioasU cUreia diferi i cre tini
i+au dat diferite nume *fVnta TmpUrtU anie, 2asa, <ina >omnului. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
$oi trebuie sU acceptUm realitatea a a cum este ea; nu are niciun rost sU trUcUnim despre cum ar fi trebuit sU fie sau
cum ne+am fi a teptat noi sU fie. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
<u alte cuvinte, eu cred pe baFa autoritU ii 'ui. A crede unele lucruri pe baFa autoritU ii altcuiva TnseamnU doar a le
crede deoarece i+au fost spuse de cineva pe care+l consideri demn de Tncredere. @@S din toate lucrurile pe care le creFi
sunt creFute pe baFa autoritU ii cuiva. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
Qn om care ar eFita sU accepte autoritatea Tn alte lucruri a a cum fac unii Tn religie, ar trebui sU se mul umeacU sU nu
cunoascU nimic toatU via a. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
0ia a naturalU o prime ti de la pUrin ii tUi- aceasta nu TnseamnU cU vei continua sU o ai dacU nu faci nimic pentru ea. B
po i pierde prin neglijen U sau prin sinucidere. (rebuie sU hrUne ti trupul i sU+l Tngrije ti; trebuie TnsU Tntotdeauna
sU+ i aminte ti cU tu nu creeFi via a- tu doar pUstreFi via a pe care ai primit+o de la altcineva. [n acela i fel, cre tinul T i
poate pierde via a din <ristos, care a fost pusU Tn el, i el trebuie sU facU eforturi ca sU o pUstreFe. >ar nici mUcar cel
mai bun cre tin are a trUit vreodatU nu poate func iona doar prin resursele sale el nu face decVt sU hrUneascU i sU
protejeFe o via U pe care nu ar fi putut+o dobVndi nicicVnd prin eforturile sale. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*.
'ewis"
<VtU vreme via a naturalU este Tn trupul tUu, ea va face multe Tn vederea reparUrii acelui trup. Qn trup viu nu este un
trup care nu este rUnit niciodatU, ci unul care, Tntr+o mUsurU oarecare, se reparU singur. [n acela i sens, cre tinul nu
este un om care nu gre e te niciodatU, ci este un om care se poate pocUi, care se ridicU din nou i care o ia de la Tnceput
dupU fiecare poticnire pentru cU via a lui <ristos este Tn el, reparVndu+l totdeauna, dVndu+i putere sU repete LTntr+o
oarecare mUsurUM moartea voluntarU pe care a suportat+o <ristos [nsu i. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
-re tinul )rede )8 ori)e bine "e )are*l $a)e vine din via a lui -ristos )are este @n el. =l nu )rede )8
:umne;eu ne iube te "entru )8 suntem buni, )i )rede )8 :umne;eu ne va $a)e buni "entru )8 ne
iube te. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
$u are niciun rost sU TncercUm sU fim mai spirituali decVt >umneFeu. >umneFeu nu a inten ionat ca omul sU fie o
creaturU pur spiritualU. Acesta este motivul pentru care #l folose te lucruri materiale, cum sunt pVnea i vinul, ca sU
sUdeascU via a nouU Tn noi. *+ar putea sU credeam cU afirma ia aceasta este rudimentarU i nespiritualU. >umneFeu nu
crede a a; #l a inventat mVncatul. 'ui Ti place materia. #l a inventat+o. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
>umneFeu nu va mai fi deghiFat atunci- va fi ceva atVt de cople itor TncVt va iFbi pe orice creaturU fie cu o dragoste
ireFistibilU, fie cu o groaFU ireFistibilU. Atunci va fi prea tVrFiu sU alegi de partea cui sU fii. Atunci nu va fi timp de ales;
va fi timpul cVnd vom descoperi de partea cui suntem cu adevUrat, fie cU ne+am dat seama dinainte, fie cU nu ne+am dat
seama. {<re tinismul redus la esen e <.*. 'ewis "
I want you to hear me on this. I am not going to beat you over the head with a five+pound Bible and tell you that if you
truly loved the 'ord you would never fear. I dont think thats realistic. Nes, the 'ord desires for you to be free from the
bondage of fear, but it isnt reasonable to say you will never have fear again in your life if you are a good <hristian. I
have had people make me feel this way, probably without even knowing, and it hurt me deeply. {Angie *mith 557"
5e have a very real enemy who thrives on our silence. ,e doesnt want us to be in fellowship, sharing our hearts and
seeking wisdom on how to live lifes that glorify .od in spite of the darkness we feel. {Angie *mith 557"
I get tangled up in my own plans and then I hit a breaking point. {Angie *mith 557"
(here is a difference in learning from past mistakes and ruminating over the million+and+one ways we might have
done it better. {Angie *mith 557"
I long to be a woman who walks in the moment .od has given me, with full confidence in whats to come. {Angie *mith
557"
I dont want to walk through this life with my eyes closed, convinced that .od has forgotten me. I have begun to pray
against this, asking the 'ord to open my eyes as I cower from a fate I have imposed on myself. {Angie *mith 557"
As I go through seasons of my life where others have hurt me and let me down, I can see the way my image of .od was
affected. It all lends to that overarching sense that you are your only ally, and anyone else Lincluding ,imM will fail you.
{Angie *mith 557"
Before I speak, I pray I will remember that ,e is the Beginning and the #nd, and ,e doesnt take it lightly when I
blame ,im for my misconceptions. ,e longs for us to love ,im, and the more I rely on ,im, the stronger I find ,im.
In times where I have faced the stings of rejection and the agony of feeling forgotten, I have found the 'ove of my life
faithful. (hat is the steady foundation for all other relationships, and the more I find my balance in ,im, the less I will
fret about what the world says. {Angie *mith 557"
(he labels we create Land dwell onM for each other are killing our chance for genuine community, and we are missing
the best part of each other. {Angie *mith 557"
*ometimes the fear of failure steals the beauty we were meant to create. {Angie *mith 557"
(hey are waiting to have an inward feeling that ,is words are true, before they will believe them. (hey look upon them
as beautiful things for ,im to say, and they wish they could believe them, but they do not think they can be true in
their own special case, unless they can have an inward feeling that they are- and if they should speak out honestly, they
would confess that, since they have no such inward feeling, they do not believe ,is words apply to them- and as a
conseDuence they do not in the least eIpect ,im to actualy care for their affairs at all. {Angies twitterR ,.5. *mith,
=(he .od of All <omfort.="
.reatness comes to people who die to appearing .J#A(. {,eaven and $ature *ing !ete 5ilson"
5hen 3esus is showing compassion throught the *cripture it isnt because the person deserves it, its because the
person needs itE {,eaven and $ature *ing !ete 5ilson"
Bur culture says the ruthless <B2!#(I(IB$ is the key to success. 3esus says that ruthless <B2!A**IB$ is the
purpose of life. {,eaven and $ature *ing !ete 5ilson"
Its joy to the world, not just the peope who deserve itE {,eaven and $ature *ing !ete 5ilson"
(here is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious. It is too good to waste on jokes. {<. *. 'ewis"
(he more often a man feels without acting, the less he will ever be able to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be
able to feel. {<. *. 'ewis"
,eaven is holding its breath, hoping that you4ll decide to live out an ineIplicable faith. {Bob .off"
Bne act of thanksgiving, when things go wrong with us, is worth a thousand thanks when things are ageeable to out
inclinations.
Cove :oes notes E -% Cewis E /ondays wFmy old "astor