WesleyGospel Ministries

Why is a woe pronounced upon the rich who have received their consolation? (Luke 6:24), who are full, who laugh now, who “lie upon beds of ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches;” “join house to house,” and “lay field to field;” “and the harp and the viol, the tabret and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts,” (Amos 6:6; Isa. 5:8, 10). Certainly ivory and gold, and riches, are the good creatures of God, permitted, nay destined, by divine providence for the use of man; nor was it ever forbidden to laugh, or to be full, or to add new to old and hereditary possessions, or to be delighted with music, or to drink wine. This is true, but when the means are supplied to roll and wallow in luxury, to intoxicate the mind and soul with present and be always hunting after new pleasures, is very far from a legitimate use of the gifts of God. Let them, therefore, suppress immoderate desire, immoderate profusion, vanity, and arrogance, that they may use the gifts of God purely with a pure conscience. When their mind is brought to this state of soberness, they will be able to regulate the legitimate use. –John Calvin

And I wonder day to day
I don’t like you anyway
I don’t need you today
You’re pathetic in your own way
I feel for you
Better go away
I will behave
I’m doing the best I ever did
I’m doing the best that I can
Now go away
I don’t need to fantasize
You are my pets all the time
I don’t mind if you go blind
You get what you get
Until you’re through with my life
–Godsmack, “Whatever”–

Listen to the tone of his voice.
That’s what an awakened conscience sounds like.
–J.B.–

Along with Paul Washer’s “Shocking Youth Message,” or “Modern American Christianity,” it was this sermon by Andrew Strom that DEEPLY impacted me around 2006.
–J.B.–

Pure and clear, Majesty
Endlessly, turn your gaze to me

Behold, the Sun
Surrender to its will
My face a reflection
It will surely shine

Light so sweet, cover me

Truly the light is sweet
A pleasant sight it is for the eye
To behold the Sun

Omnipresent, never fading
Captivating, nowhere to hide
Energizing, fulfilling

Circling at distance
We’re all left here, showered in light
Everything is so clear

Light so sweet, cover me

Revitalization, illumination
Come energize, spiritize
Colorize, mesmerize

Sun persist, turn your gaze to me
Through the mist, turn your gaze to me
–Extol, “Behold The Sun”–

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We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory, 
even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
–2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)–

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Savinien Louismet, Divine Contemplation for All (Kenedy & Sons, 1920), pp. 115-116.

Thomas Dubay, Fire Within (Ignatius Press, 1989), ch. 9: “Fire in the Nights.”