Collected Quotes

Over time I have come across of variety of quotes that mean something to me. Often I typed them out and taped them to my desk, as a reminder. Well, I decided my space was getting too cluttered and that it would be valuable to post them here. Hope they encourage and challenge your heart and mind.

Without a bitter experience of our own inadequacy and poverty [we] are quite unfitted to bear the burden of spiritual ministry. It takes a [wo]man who has discovered something of the measures of [her] own weakness to be patient with the foibles of others.
Such a [wo]man also has a first-hand knowledge of the loving care of the Chief Shepherd, and His ability to heal one who has come humbly to trust in Him and Him alone.
Therefore [s]he does not easily despair of others, but looks beyond sinfulness, willfulness and stupidity, to the might of unchanging love.
The Lord Jesus does not give the charge, "Be a shepherd to My lambs... to My sheep," on hearing Peter's self-confident affirmation of undying loyalty, but He gives it after he has utterly failed to keep his vows and has wept bitterly in the streets of Jerusalem.

- J.C. Metcalfe
(Quoted in Faith is Not a Feeling)

Earth's crammed with heaven,
and every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Great disciples become great because they have never done their own thing. "God's thing" is their thing. They have no desire to be free spirits, yet oddly they find personal freedom by surrendering compulsive individualism. Self-denial... is the agenda of those who have escaped all need to "be themselves."

- Calvin Miller