There’s a scene in The Shack where Mack and Jesus are out on the dock in the evening, enjoying the stars. Mack imagines he could reach out and pluck diamonds off a velvet black sky:
“Wow!” he whispered.
“Incredible!” Whispered Jesus…”I never get tired of this…”
They’re doing nothing, Jesus and Mack. Just lying on the dock [...]
Archive for the ‘Devotional’ Category
“You’re with Me….”
Posted in Devotional, Grace, Intensity addiction, Performance-based Christianity, Stress, The Assembly experience, The Geftakys Assembly, The love of God, Works-based Christianity, tagged "Higher Life" teaching, Devotional, Geftakys Assembly, Intensity, love of God, Performance vs grace, Stress on August 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
We cannot fail….
Posted in Devotional, Higher life, Joe Sperling devotional, Legalism vs grace, Spiritual abuse devotion, Works-based Christianity, tagged "Higher Life" teaching, Devotional, Joe Sperling, Spiritual abuse devotion on April 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Joe Sperling shared a couple of encouraging posts this month on the Assembly board that are especially good for those of us who still have the lovely combo of BG and GG’s messages in our subconscious: GG – “Strive harder or you’re going to lose out eternally “, (we are going to make it, George, [...]
“Why should I believe in Easter when life is so difficult?”
Posted in Devotional, Faith, tagged Devotional, Faith on April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Dave Sable first posted this on Facebook.
“I admit that when I am hit with my occasional bouts of depression that it is hard to really get into the “He is Risen!” spirit. Resurrection Life seems a really cool concept, a neat idea. But the reality feels a million miles away from my experience. Over Passion [...]
The Bible Jesus Read teaser intro….
Posted in Books, Devotional, Faith, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, tagged Christmas, Devotional, Faith, love of God, Spiritual abuse devotion on February 23, 2009 | 2 Comments »
The Old Testament, from the Assembly point of view (as taught by G. Geftakys based on 19th and early 20th century Exclusive Plymouth Brethren writers) is to be read mainly as an allegory of the Christian life–i.e. Christians can wander in the wilderness as Israel did; but only a few will enter the promised land [...]
“We shall see Him as He is!”
Posted in Assembly kids, Devotional, Grace, Legalism vs grace, Spiritual abuse devotion, The Assembly experience, The love of God, Works-based Christianity, spiritual abuse, tagged children of bible-based cults, Devotional, Geftakys Assembly, growth, legalism versus grace, spiritual abuse, Spiritual abuse devotion on February 15, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The Internet Monk describes pretty well the prevailing concern of legalistic pastors over the dangers of ‘cheap grace’ (here, here and here). Betty G. once said to me, “If there weren’t the possibility of losing out on the inheritance, what would be the motivation for sanctification?” This was a rhetorical question – the obvious answer [...]
It’s not about me….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, Grace, Legalism vs grace, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, Works-based Christianity, tagged Devotional, Faith, growth, Legalism vs grace, love of God, Spiritual abuse devotion on February 2, 2009 | 4 Comments »
p>Michael Spencer’s posts on grace (here, here and here) gave me an “aha!” moment about what was off-base, spiritually speaking, in the Geftakys Assembly, and other legalistic groups. That kind of perfectionistic performance-based teaching invokes a schema that is all about the individual. Do I have the right attitude – “Are you rejoicing, sister?” Am [...]
It’s not because we’ve run fast enough….
Posted in Devotional, Grace, Higher life, Performance-based Christianity, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, Works-based Christianity, tagged Joe Sperling, Legalism vs grace, Performance vs grace, Spiritual abuse devotion on December 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Joe Sperling posted this on the Assemblyboard:
“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy”. (Rom. 9:16)
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have to stop and remember the day that I was saved. I have to ask myself, “Was I worthy to [...]
“How do I know I am a Christian?”
Posted in Devotional, Faith, The Assembly experience, spiritual abuse, triggers, tagged Faith, growth, spiritual abuse on August 25, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Dr. Eric Thoennes answers the question this way: “For those who question their salvation, the best evidence is not the memory of having raised a hand or prayed a prayer. Nor is it having been baptized or christened. The true test of the authentic work of God in one’s life is growth in Christ-like character, [...]
The deep things of God….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, Grace, The Assembly experience, The love of God, tagged legalism versus grace on August 24, 2008 | 1 Comment »
“Oh dear friends, the time is almost up, and I’ve only just scratched the surface of all the Lord has shown me – the deep things of Gawd!! You must press on to see these things, friends, strive to enter in! I tell you, you’re not going to hear these things anywheres else! If you knew what [...]
Psalm 147 – An incredible sandwich….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, Grace, Joe Sperling devotional, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, tagged Devotional, Faith, Joe Sperling, love of God, Spiritual abuse devotion on August 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Joe Sperling over on the Assemblyboard posted these thoughts on Psalm 147:
Praise ye the LORD: for [it is] good to sing praises unto our God; for [it is] pleasant; [and] praise is comely. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel, v.1-2.
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their [...]
Our children….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, The Assembly experience, tagged children of bible-based cults, Geftakys Assembly, spiritual abuse on August 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
After five years of post-Assembly recovery, it seems that quite a few former Assembly members have regained some sense of stability in their lives and the beginnings of restored faith. But the parents among them may still be watching their children struggle with life. Many of us who left long ago – maybe even most [...]
Troubles….
Posted in Devotional, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, tagged Joe Sperling, love of God, Spiritual abuse devotion on April 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Joe sperling posted today on the Assembly bulletin board: “For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me” (Psalm 40:12).
“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear,
You are more [...]
Help has been sent….
Posted in Devotional, The love of God, tagged Joe Sperling, Spiritual abuse devotion on March 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Joe Sperling posted this on the Assembly bulletin board today: “‘All the angels serve God and are sent to help all those who will receive salvation,’ Heb 1:14. It’s nice to know we are surrounded by invisible helpers, sent forth by the Lord himself!” Thanks, Joe!
(Joe actually used the KJV, but I’ve substituted the New [...]
A different concept of God….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, Grace, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, Wisdom, Works-based Christianity, tagged Faith, legalism versus grace, love of God, Spiritual abuse devotion on January 26, 2008 | 2 Comments »
No, I’m not back yet, but I want to pass on this quote from Michael Spencer:
Why are Christians the most incomplete, frantic, “wretchedly urgent” and religiously imbalanced of human beings? Could it be that our conception of God is, “What can he do for me? What must I do for him?” rather than, “The God I worship [...]
God is gracious and full of compassion….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, tagged Grace on August 28, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Joe Sperling shared this thought on the Assembly bulletin board today:
“He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant” - Ps 111:4, 5.
Verse 5 reminds me of Matt. 6:26 where Jesus [...]
That old enemy….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, The Assembly experience, tagged Devotional, Faith, Joe Sperling, Spiritual abuse devotion on August 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Joe Sperling posted this devotional thought on the Assembly bulletin board this morning:
“Our enemy, as always, seeks to alter our perception of God. He seeks to turn Him into a Judge, with “consequences” for every wrong. Thank God he has “not rewarded us according to our iniquities”—
10He hath not dealt with us after our [...]
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit: Prequel….
Posted in Devotional, Family, Intensity addiction, The Assembly experience, tagged Faith, Family, Geftakys Assembly, Intensity, love of God on August 8, 2007 | 2 Comments »
This morning I ran across a draft for a blog post I had written a year ago about recognizing God’s presence in daily life. I am blessed to realize that what I was getting a glimmer of then has become much more of a reality in the intervening year. The July 25 post on “The fellowship of the [...]
Faith is incomparably valuable….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, The Assembly misc., tagged Faith, growth on August 7, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
This morning in my reading in I Peter chapter 1 (my listening, actually – “The Word Becomes Flesh” New Testament recorded by Mercy Ministries), I was struck by Peter’s concept that faith is something more precious than gold, and suffering grief in all kinds of trials refines your faith and proves it genuine. Peter’s urgent [...]
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit….
Posted in Books, Devotional, Prayer, The Assembly experience, tagged Books, Devotional, Faith, Prayer on July 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
As I’ve mentioned, I’ve been reading Phil Yancey’s book, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?, and I want to say that this book definitely made a significant difference for me, not only in my awareness of God’s unceasing care and presence, but also in my approach to prayer. Chapter 4, “The God Who Is”, opens with [...]
Mercy Alone….
Posted in Devotional, Intensity addiction, The Assembly experience, tagged Devotional, Grace on June 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Last week, for some reason, a phrase from the song, “A Debtor to Mercy Alone” (lyrics, #598 H&SS) kept running through my head. It was from the last verse, “…Yet I to the end shall endure…” So what hymn should we sing yesterday in church but that one, and I noticed the context of that phrase in [...]
