Ach Bleib Mit Deiner Gnade
by i.burgess on June 27, 2011
Abide with grace unbounded, Lord Jesus, with us still, That Satan’s craft confounded May no more work us ill. Abide with us, dear Saviour, Both with us and in Thy Word: To us both now and forever Thy saving health afford. Abide with all Thy brightness, Thou brightest Light of all; And lest we stray [...]
Not Forever
by i.burgess on June 24, 2011
Yesterday I wrote a lengthy piece about experiencing the harsh hand of the Lord. I drew from the language of the Exiles to show how terrible, hurting experiences are not void of God’s presence and there is no sin in admitting that these things are held in his hand. I tried to follow the Mourner’s [...]
I call this to mind
by i.burgess on June 23, 2011
A couple of days ago I posted an introduction to Lamentations and explored some of the ways Israel’s covenant resulted in their exile. As I see it, God was so concerned for his own glory being enjoyed by the nations and his people that he did not tolerate his people’s rejection. In exile he shows [...]
He brought me into darkness
by i.burgess on June 21, 2011
An Introduction to Lamentations I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long. (Lamentations 3:1-3) Lamentations, or ‘The Lamentations of Jeremiah’ in some Bibles, are [...]
After The Beginning #1
by i.burgess on June 13, 2011
Sunday was the celebration of Pentecost, when the Church remembers the coming of the Holy Spirit on those who know Jesus, making them into one body and one people for the glory of God (Acts 1:1-13) This week I want to spend some time thinking through these things. For now, enjoy this collect from the [...]
Room with a Sidewalk View
by i.burgess on June 6, 2011
When your Son Jesus Christ lived among us as an ordinary man, he shared the loves, the joys and the sadness of family life. He knew what it was to work hard, and when he left his home and his family to do work he chose to live as one who had nowhere to lay [...]
The Work of Joy
by i.burgess on June 3, 2011
If God grants his Holy Spirit freely by grace through faith, such that anyone who believes in Jesus and is therefore made pure by his sacrifice can be filled with his presence, why do Christians not continually feel the secure joy of that presence? To put it another way, why does it appear that a Christian must [...]
Praying to will one thing
by i.burgess on June 2, 2011
This week I’ve been thinking about how the desire to know joy and happiness and fullness of life can only find it’s present fulfilment in God. Remembered joy is a faded photograph and anticipated happiness is a vapourous dream. Kierkegaard found God in Christ to be that perfect thing around whom all of life must be oriented. [...]
The end of the matter
by i.burgess on June 1, 2011
Yesterday I tried to draw out some of the harsh realities of our existence, namely that only this present moment exists. Therefore, any memory of happiness or hope for joy is imaginary, a shadow even. I noticed how we fail to fulfil our innate desire for joy because we believe we have either already been as happy [...]
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