#afflict

As Christians, if sin were the reason for our afflictions, then we should all be in ICU" ~ R. Alan Woods [2012] ↗

— R. Alan Woods

#sins #sins-of-omission #r-alan-woods

Christ literally walked in our shoes and entered into our affliction. Those who will not help others until they are destitute reveal that Christ's love has not yet turned them into the sympathetic persons the gospel should make them. ↗

— Timothy Keller

#jesus #sympathy #love

(...)"He said we all have this different idea of what love is and that's what makes our circle. The more ideas and misconceptions you throw in, the larger the diameter and the harder it is to connect with someone. We," he said, squeezing Hunter's hand and signaling Margie and everyone around them, "all sit around the edge looking at everyone else around the circle. Sometimes we just settle for the person next to us because it's easy or convenient and we skip our way around its circumference, never really knowing what love is all about." He took a sip of his Coke and kept his eyes on Margie. "But other times, you see that person across from you, staring back at you, and you fight like hell trying to get across while he does the same. If you're lucky, there's a rope you can toss over and help draw each other in, never looking away, never worrying about those still on the circumference; just you and him, pulling each other in, deeper and deeper." ↗

— Brandon Shire

#dillon #hunter #margie #love

From the beginning of our history the country has been afflicted with compromise. It is by compromise that human rights have been abandoned. ↗

— Charles Sumner

#afflicted #been #beginning #compromise #country

God's way of answering the Christian's prayer for more patience, experience, hope and love often is to put him into the furnace of affliction. ↗

— Richard Cecil

#answering #christian #experience #furnace #god

Hunter turned and kissed Dillon deeply before he rinsed off. He had never wished for his sight before, but he would have given anything at that moment to be able to turn and witness the beauty of the man that had just made love to him. He'd literally felt the change in Dillon's grip as he made love. The very first time they were together, Dillon's hold was uncertain, a tentative embrace that held no absolutes, no dreams, but just now it was different; it was a grip that sat right on the edge of possession, a possession Hunter would willingly give, if asked. But would Dillon ask, and would he be able to accept? ↗

— Brandon Shire

#dillon #hunter #beauty

These words [of Romans 12:1-2] are overflowingly rich in consolation; for just then when afflictions come over us, we should be of good courage, because that is the good will of God. Therefore we should be greatly pleased when things happen to us which displease us. The "good" will of God creates good out of evil. The "acceptable" will of God moves us cheerfully to love such good. It makes this good acceptable to us, and causes us to agree with it, even if it is evil. The "perfect" will of God will eternally perfect and bring to a[n] end all who are glad. ↗

— Martin Luther

#luther #trials #courage

Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces. ↗

— Matthew Henry

#always #extraordinary #graces #punishment #sins

The Lord's mercy often rides to the door of our hearts on the black horse of affliction. Jesus uses the whole range of our experiences to wean us from earth and woo us to Heaven. ↗

— Charles H. Spurgeon

#distress #jesus #pain #experience

Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable. ↗

— Finley Peter Dunne

#afflicted #comfort #comfortable