Rumination Journal

This just out, "The Practice of the Presence of God," 1906 edition, optimized for the Kindle and Kindle apps! After being wounded in the Thirty Years’ War and then serving for a time as a valet, Nicholas Herman from the region of Lorraine joined the Discalced Carmelite Prior in Paris. There he became a lay brother known as “Lawrence of the Resurrection,” working humbly and faithfully for over fifty years. His manner of profound peace caused many to approach him seeking spiritual guidance for their own lives. What we know of his advice to them is recorded in this collection of four conversations and sixteen letters. The work has become well-known in the Christian faith and is a highly-recommended read. Based on the 1906 edition of the work, this book features - an additional letter of Brother Lawrence (for a total of sixteen) - an excerpt from the original 1692 edition preface. These additions, combined with the interactive Table of Contents and Endnotes, make this e...

Here's another excerpt from the World English Bible on the Gospel of John...          Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?”                        They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”            He said to them, “Come, and see.”                They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon P...

Here's another excerpt from the World English Bible on the Gospel of John...       This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”               He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”                  They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”                He said, “I am not.”                  “Are you the prophet?”               He answered, “No.”                  They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us ...

I'm going to present for your consideration sections of Scripture from the World English Bible (WEB). The WEB is a tremendous project to create a complete translation of the Holy bible in normal Modern English that is available in the Public Domain worldwide. For more on this translation, check out the Website, http://ebible.org/   . Here begins the text from the Gospel of John.       The Good News According to John       In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the lig...

The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever. --Isaiah 40:8 WEB      To fully understand verse eight, we must begin with verse six.      The voice of one saying, “Cry!” One said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.” --Isaiah 40:6-8 WEB      In this passage the prophet Isaiah is called upon to proclaim some important truths. First, all of mankind is like the grass, which is here for a short time and then is gone. It does not matter whether the people are rich or poor, good or bad, famous or unknown. All are temporary.    Second, all of the “glory” of mankind, all of its achievements, all that it has ever made or ever will make, is like the beautiful ...

Welcome to the first in a series of Bible memory verses. In the Bible, God has instructed us to meditate upon His Word, but we cannot do this unless we first know His word. The words in our Bibles are useless unless we internalize them--make them a part of us. Only then can we meditate upon God’s Word. And only then can God call them to our remembrance. Through the memorization of Scripture God not only teaches us, but He can may use us to teach and help others.      One longstanding method of Scripture memorization is to state the Scripture reference, recite the Scripture passage, and then restate the Scripture reference. This process is repeated a number of times until the reciter becomes comfortable with the passage and the reference. The purpose of this method is to remember not only the passage, but its location in the Bible. This would allows the reciter to find the passage in the Bible, both for themselves and for others.      These Scripture ver...

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. --Hebrews 10:35-26 NASB      In chapter 10 of the Book of Hebrews the author emphasizes the finality of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice by contrasting it with the Old Testament system of law and sacrifices. The Old Testament system must be repeated without end, but the redemption of Christ does not need repetition or supplementation--it is final.      God's redemption of us through Christ is more than just “fire insurance”--comfort in the knowledge of our own eternal destiny. God’s redemption comes with the expectation that we will share with others, just as it was shared with us. Because of Christ, we can speak to others with confidence. The Greek word in verse 35 is transliterated as parrēsia (“par-rhay-SEE-ah”), meaning a freedom of speech; a boldness; a confidence....