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Adoration of
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable! (Psalm 145:3)
Recent Posts
God? Who Needs Him?May 31, 2013
Self-sufficient humanism. Paul saw it coming – “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Imago Dei
September 12, 2012
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Why Can't I Pray?
August 18, 2012
The bible gives us several reasons, but according to Jeremy Taylor, a deceitful heart is at the root of prayerlessness.
It's Not Rocket Science
July 23, 2012
To keep in step with the Spirit should be our daily quest. And if we are successful at that, all of life falls into place.
Theological Steak
April 10, 2012
These words by P. T. Forsythe on the magnificence of Christ's work are to theology what Ruth's Chris is to a good steak.
Describing the Indescribable
February 11, 2012
What we have in Christ will take all eternity to describe. But for one segment of one sermon, a great preacher made a mighty attempt.
Making Sense Of It All
January 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
George Herbert's Heart In Prayer
April 8, 2009
We've all prayed perfunctory prayers. "Thanks for the food, Lord. Amen." Taking the time to pray before a sermon has given way to opening illustrations that put the listeners "at ease." Not so George Herbert, the 17th century pastor/poet.
Imagine the man standing before the congregation, with these words of exalted worship gushing forth...
O Almighty and ever-living Lord God! Majesty and Power and Brightness and Glory!
And then follows humility and contrition, as the creature addresses the Creator. Eventually, Herbert turns to the sermon that is yet to be preached, and his request that it be blessed from above....
Blessed be the God of Heaven and Earth! who only doth wondrous things. Awake therefore, my lute, and my viol! Awake all my powers to glorify thee!
We praise thee! We bless thee! We magnify thee for ever!
And now, O Lord! in the power of thy victories, and in the ways of thy ordinances, and in the truth of thy love, lo, we stand here, beseeching thee to bless thy word, wherever spoken this day throughout the universal Church.
O make it a word of power and peace, to convert those who are not yet thine, and to confirm those that are: particularly, bless it in this thy own kingdom, which thou hast made a land of light, a store-house of thy treasures and mercies.
O let not our foolish and unworthy hearts rob us of the continuance of this thy sweet love: but pardon or sins and perfect what thou hast begun.
Ride on Lord, because of the word of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Especially, bless this portion here assembled together, with thy unworthy servant speaking unto them:
Lord Jesu! teach thou me, that I may teach them: sanctify, enable all my powers, that in their full strength they may deliver thy message reverently, readily, faithfully and fruitfully.
O make thy word a swift word, passing from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the life and conversation: that has the rain returns not empty, so neither may thy word, but accomplish that for which it is given.
O Lord hear, O Lord forgive! O Lord, harken, and do so for thy blessed Son’s sake, in whose sweet and pleasing words we say....
OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
THY KINGDOM COME
THY WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM
AND THE POWER
AND THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN
I don't know about you, but now I'm all ears. Don't hold back, George. Let me have it!
O Almighty and ever-living Lord God! Majesty and Power and Brightness and Glory!
And then follows humility and contrition, as the creature addresses the Creator. Eventually, Herbert turns to the sermon that is yet to be preached, and his request that it be blessed from above....
Blessed be the God of Heaven and Earth! who only doth wondrous things. Awake therefore, my lute, and my viol! Awake all my powers to glorify thee!
We praise thee! We bless thee! We magnify thee for ever!
And now, O Lord! in the power of thy victories, and in the ways of thy ordinances, and in the truth of thy love, lo, we stand here, beseeching thee to bless thy word, wherever spoken this day throughout the universal Church.
O make it a word of power and peace, to convert those who are not yet thine, and to confirm those that are: particularly, bless it in this thy own kingdom, which thou hast made a land of light, a store-house of thy treasures and mercies.
O let not our foolish and unworthy hearts rob us of the continuance of this thy sweet love: but pardon or sins and perfect what thou hast begun.
Ride on Lord, because of the word of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Especially, bless this portion here assembled together, with thy unworthy servant speaking unto them:
Lord Jesu! teach thou me, that I may teach them: sanctify, enable all my powers, that in their full strength they may deliver thy message reverently, readily, faithfully and fruitfully.
O make thy word a swift word, passing from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the life and conversation: that has the rain returns not empty, so neither may thy word, but accomplish that for which it is given.
O Lord hear, O Lord forgive! O Lord, harken, and do so for thy blessed Son’s sake, in whose sweet and pleasing words we say....
OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
THY KINGDOM COME
THY WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM
AND THE POWER
AND THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN
I don't know about you, but now I'm all ears. Don't hold back, George. Let me have it!
A Burst of Praise
October 3, 2008
Do you often feel tongue-tied when trying to express devotion to God? Do words fail you? Why not borrow from the best? Here, from the heart of Augustine, a transformed mind expresses the grandest truths in a masterful, gifted outpouring.
Charles Wesley wished for a thousand tongues, in order to more exhaustively praise our God. If this had been granted to Augustine, we wouldn't have books enough to contain his praise. From his CONFESSIONS (slightly tweaked for the modern reader) listen to him soar in the Spirit.
What are you then, my God?
What, but the Lord God?
For who is Lord but the Lord?
Or who is God save our God?
Most high, most good, most potent, most omnipotent; most merciful, yet most just;
most hidden, yet most present;
most beautiful, yet most strong,
stable, yet incomprehensible;
unchangeable, yet all-changing;
never new, never old;
all-renewing, and bringing age upon the proud, without their knowing it;
always working, always at rest;
always gathering, but never lacking anything;
supporting, filling, and overspreading;
creating, nourishing, and maturing;
seeking, yet having all things.
You love but without passion;
you are jealous but never with anxiety;
angry, yet serene;
you change your works, yet your purpose remains unchanged;
you are never in need, yet you rejoice in gains.
What are you then, my God?
What, but the Lord God?
For who is Lord but the Lord?
Or who is God save our God?
Most high, most good, most potent, most omnipotent; most merciful, yet most just;
most hidden, yet most present;
most beautiful, yet most strong,
stable, yet incomprehensible;
unchangeable, yet all-changing;
never new, never old;
all-renewing, and bringing age upon the proud, without their knowing it;
always working, always at rest;
always gathering, but never lacking anything;
supporting, filling, and overspreading;
creating, nourishing, and maturing;
seeking, yet having all things.
You love but without passion;
you are jealous but never with anxiety;
angry, yet serene;
you change your works, yet your purpose remains unchanged;
you are never in need, yet you rejoice in gains.
Thanksgiving - Don't Lose Your Mind!
September 27, 2008
I will sing with my spirit, I will also sing with my mind. 1 Corinthians 14:15
The Medicinal Side of Thanksgiving
September 27, 2008
We are told to give thanks. And isn't it just like God to have side benefits built in, so that we are helped as God is honored? Spurgeon tells us how.
C.S. Lewis On Praise
September 27, 2008
Christians are called to praise the Lord. Why? What is that all about? And just what does it "accomplish?
From The Mouth of St. Francis Of Assissi
September 26, 2008
Psalm 119 is a prayer, yes, but it is also a work of art. Occasionally, God anoints his servants to take us higher. Such is the following prayer of that great saint, Francis of Assissi.
Father, Son, Spirit - In That Order
July 29, 2008
Why is knowledge of God the Father important? Because when we understand that there is a holy God, then the cross takes on its true meaning. Out of that will flow true gratitude to a God who found a way to reconcile Adam's lost race.
From The Heart of Augustine
July 7, 2008
My mouth will declare your praise. Psalm 51:15
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made #1
July 5, 2008
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.....God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:27,31
