Comments on: My Love For Jesus Stinks http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html Connecting God's Truth to Real Life Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:39:12 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8-RC1 hourly 1 By: Jenn http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-3507 Jenn Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:42:41 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-3507 Hmm... that should say: Although it is not the ideal place to BE (not me) :) Hmm… that should say:
Although it is not the ideal place to BE (not me)

:)

]]> By: Jenn http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-3506 Jenn Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:42:05 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-3506 This entry comforts me because, even though the desire is there, I still get discouraged because nothing seems to be 'happening' with it. Although it is not the ideal place to me, it does encourage me to know that this is common to man... and your perspective is a blessing (Sure my love for Jesus stinks right now, but there’s a spark of love, and that’s not from me. Sparks come from God). This entry comforts me because, even though the desire is there, I still get discouraged because nothing seems to be ‘happening’ with it. Although it is not the ideal place to me, it does encourage me to know that this is common to man… and your perspective is a blessing (Sure my love for Jesus stinks right now, but there’s a spark of love, and that’s not from me. Sparks come from God).

]]> By: Stephen Altrogge http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-1101 Stephen Altrogge Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:04:07 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-1101 Thanks to everybody for their suggestions. They are very helpful. If you have any more please post them. Thanks to everybody for their suggestions. They are very helpful. If you have any more please post them.

]]> By: Stephen Altrogge http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-1091 Stephen Altrogge Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:38:28 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-1091 Jeff, Thanks for clarifying. That's helpful, and it's got me thinking. Jeff,

Thanks for clarifying. That’s helpful, and it’s got me thinking.

]]> By: Scripture Zealot http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-1090 Scripture Zealot Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:43:25 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-1090 By more formal I'm not meaning written out prayers or liturgical, just a more concentrated time of prayer as opposed to the little bits (hopefully) throughout the day. I'm not a morning person so the prayers in the morning are usually short and pertaining to the day ahead, usually before I'm even out of bed. The third time is late afternoon when the bulk of the praying is done like the A-C-T-S example. I try to pray briefly before bed too. For a change of pace, at least once or twice a week I pray through a Valley of Vision prayer (and now have the Sovereign Grace Valley of Vision songs on my MP3 player) or other prayers I've printed out. I did a short post on it here: <a href="http://www.scripturezealot.com/2008/02/13/praying-three-times-a-day/" rel="nofollow">Praying Three Times a Day</a> By more formal I’m not meaning written out prayers or liturgical, just a more concentrated time of prayer as opposed to the little bits (hopefully) throughout the day.

I’m not a morning person so the prayers in the morning are usually short and pertaining to the day ahead, usually before I’m even out of bed. The third time is late afternoon when the bulk of the praying is done like the A-C-T-S example. I try to pray briefly before bed too.

For a change of pace, at least once or twice a week I pray through a Valley of Vision prayer (and now have the Sovereign Grace Valley of Vision songs on my MP3 player) or other prayers I’ve printed out.

I did a short post on it here:
Praying Three Times a Day

]]> By: Stephen Altrogge http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-1089 Stephen Altrogge Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:20:16 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-1089 Jeff, What do your three prayers a day look like? When you say that they're more formal, I'm interested to know what that means. Jeff,

What do your three prayers a day look like? When you say that they’re more formal, I’m interested to know what that means.

]]> By: Scripture Zealot http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-1087 Scripture Zealot Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:05:30 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-1087 <em>I’ve thought about going to the Psalms. It seems like that would be a fitting place given where I am right now.</em> I would highly recommend it. I've been reading a Psalm a day since November 1 (using the date to keep track) except for dividing up Psalm 119. I've never been a big Psalm reader except for a few of my favorites and I wanted to let that model of worship and communication with God to seep in. I believe in praying 3x a day (the more formal concentrated type) and reading the Psalm is what I do for the second one in the middle of the day. There is always something to pray about related to each Psalm. Jeff I’ve thought about going to the Psalms. It seems like that would be a fitting place given where I am right now.

I would highly recommend it. I’ve been reading a Psalm a day since November 1 (using the date to keep track) except for dividing up Psalm 119. I’ve never been a big Psalm reader except for a few of my favorites and I wanted to let that model of worship and communication with God to seep in.

I believe in praying 3x a day (the more formal concentrated type) and reading the Psalm is what I do for the second one in the middle of the day. There is always something to pray about related to each Psalm.
Jeff

]]> By: Stephen Altrogge http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-1081 Stephen Altrogge Sat, 29 Mar 2008 04:03:32 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-1081 Emily - Thanks for your encouraging words. You're right, I really do need God to breathe life back into me. TreeNewt - May our sparks be made into flames... Emily – Thanks for your encouraging words. You’re right, I really do need God to breathe life back into me.

TreeNewt – May our sparks be made into flames…

]]> By: Tree Newt http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-1080 Tree Newt Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:26:36 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-1080 Stephen, I can totally relate. Since becoming a dad (my little girl is nearly two), carving out that time to get in the Word has been harder and harder. Recently, I literally had to be knocked down through a health issue to actually spend quality time with the Lord through prayer and the Bible. I've found that I have to find time whenever and wherever I can, because the odds of having a set time are pretty long now. But like you, I'm encouraged that the desire to spend time with Jesus, that tiny spark, will not be extinguished. My prayer is that it becomes a flame. Stephen, I can totally relate. Since becoming a dad (my little girl is nearly two), carving out that time to get in the Word has been harder and harder. Recently, I literally had to be knocked down through a health issue to actually spend quality time with the Lord through prayer and the Bible. I’ve found that I have to find time whenever and wherever I can, because the odds of having a set time are pretty long now. But like you, I’m encouraged that the desire to spend time with Jesus, that tiny spark, will not be extinguished. My prayer is that it becomes a flame.

]]> By: Emily http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html/comment-page-1#comment-1078 Emily Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:56:25 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/03/my-love-for-jesus-stinks.html#comment-1078 Stephen, don't forget the song "Whatever my God ordains is right." Funny as it may seem, God has ordained this season of your life. He's not surprised by your dryness and "lackluster" approach to your times with Him. I think that often, He allows nothing to change those times so that in our desperation, we cry to Him as the only answer to our cold, weak hearts. Let your heart cry "and I'm desperate for you, I'm lost without you." God does promise to draw near to us as we draw to Him, but don't forget that its only by His mercy we can even draw near in the first place. He is truly the only One that can breathe life into your current deadness. Let that truth cause gratefulness. That gratefulness takes you out of your current situation and focuses your mind back to the cross. God commands brokenness. He doesn't want sacrifices. He desires a broken and needy heart that is desperate for His healing hand. Cry out for that. He is the only One that can warm your cold heart. But He is more than powerful to bring the dead to life. He has started working in you - He won't quit now. Rest there. Stephen, don’t forget the song “Whatever my God ordains is right.” Funny as it may seem, God has ordained this season of your life. He’s not surprised by your dryness and “lackluster” approach to your times with Him.

I think that often, He allows nothing to change those times so that in our desperation, we cry to Him as the only answer to our cold, weak hearts. Let your heart cry “and I’m desperate for you, I’m lost without you.”

God does promise to draw near to us as we draw to Him, but don’t forget that its only by His mercy we can even draw near in the first place.

He is truly the only One that can breathe life into your current deadness. Let that truth cause gratefulness. That gratefulness takes you out of your current situation and focuses your mind back to the cross.

God commands brokenness. He doesn’t want sacrifices. He desires a broken and needy heart that is desperate for His healing hand. Cry out for that. He is the only One that can warm your cold heart. But He is more than powerful to bring the dead to life. He has started working in you – He won’t quit now. Rest there.

]]>