#ross

But if he had come down from the Cross, he would have made it impossible for them to believe in him, for he would have substituted sight for faith. That is why he does not take us down from our crosses: so that we do not substitute feelings and experiences for faith. He wants the very best for us, the strongest and most precious gift, and that is faith. ↗

— Peter Kreeft

#cross #faith #gift #suffering #experience

God has arranged strange ways for some of us to find him. Sometimes He brings us on long physical journeys; sometimes He leaves us at home and makes the journey internal. Yours has been both. You have gone a long way and struggled a great deal, but I can see from your eyes that it was not for nothing. ↗

— Abigail J. Hartman

#inspirational #journey #the-soldier-s-cross #faith

In confession occurs the breakthrough of the Cross. The root of all sin is pride, superbia. I want to be my own law, I have a right to my self, my hatred and my desires, my life and my death. The mind and flesh of man are set on fire by pride; for it is precisely in his wickedness that man wants to be as God. Confession in the presence of a brother is the profoundest kind of humiliation. It hurts, it cuts a man down, it is a dreadful blow to pride...In the deep mental and physical pain of humiliation before a brother - which means, before God - we experience the Cross of Jesus as our rescue and salvation. The old man dies, but it is God who has conquered him. Now we share in the resurrection of Christ and eternal life. ↗

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

#confession #pride #sin #the-cross #death

Dear Lord,” began Randy, who paused for long enough that Tristan sneaked an eye open to look at him. His saw his mother’s cheek twitch with what he thought might be apprehension. “We are so grateful to be gathered here today with our family, and the family of our brother’s homosexual boyfriend, and our new little goth friend who has a gay dad, whatever the heck that is all about. We’d like to say we’re grateful this year for condoms, lube, and Ellen Degeneres, and for those guys on Queer Eye…” Randall Evan Phillips!” his mother shouted. ↗

— Z.A. Maxfield

#thanksgiving #z-a-maxfield #family

You’re the reason that my life wound up being worth anything angel, and I swear to you that I’ll move Heaven and Earth to be worthy of you, always. ↗

— Ella Fox

#family

The family tree of earthly ancestors was really not important; what was important was the family tree of the children of God He planted on Calvary. ↗

— Fulton J. Sheen

#jesus #the-cross #family

My sincere thanks to friends and family, especially my mother, father, brother, and Mandy, who continue to love and support me despite my obsessions. ↗

— Jonathan Ball

#embarrassment #friendship #gross #language-barrier #poetry

Every relationship that has hit a crossroads has asked, “What is it that you want from me? ↗

— Shannon L. Alder

#boyfriend #break-ups #crossroads #divorce #family

The Christian, however, must bear the burden of a brother. He must suffer and endure the brother. It is only when he is a burden that another person is really a brother and not merely an object to be manipulated. The burden of men was so heavy for God Himself that He had to endure the Cross. God verily bore the burden of men in the body of Jesus Christ. But He bore them as a mother carries her child, as a shepherd enfolds the lost lamb that has been found. God took men upon Himself and they weighted Him to the ground, but God remained with them and they with God. In bearing with men God maintained fellowship with them. It was the law of Christ that was fulfilled in the Cross. And Christians must share in this law. ↗

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

#jesus #spiritual-friendship #the-church #the-cross #faith

I'm worried he's going to...do something crazy." "He lives in a hole in the ground, dresses funny and occasionally eats his assistants," Eve said. "Define crazy." Claire closed her eyes. "Okay. I think he wants to put my brain in a jar and wire it into the machine." Dead silence. ↗

— Rachel Caine

#eve-rosser #myrnin #funny