From Jenny's Updates

I continually hear complaining about the high price of oil. And every time I hear how expensive oil is I am reminded of the cost of following Christ. While it's true that grace is free, there is a cost to having our lamps filled with the oil of His Holy Spirit.

The Christian life is both rest and striving, an easy yoke and yet it's like training for a race. Pressing on yet but abiding in the Vine.There is no better investment though than in oil. The oil of joy, the oil of unity, the anointing that comes when we die to ourselves and let Christ live through us. It starts right where we're at.

I lectured (I mean, encouraged) the boys yesterday that they can not go out and witness to the neighbors and then come home and criticize their sisters. We can show "love" to anyone for an hour or two. The true test of how "oily" our walk with Christ is plays out in how we interact with the people we live with day in and day out. No one will be attracted to the Light if our own families are full of darkness.Our flesh may balk at any type of sacrifice: a little less sleep, a little less food, a little less spending, a little more prayer. But the rewards both in this life and in the life to come will be so worth it all. Pay as much as necessary today for that costly oil!

Love, Jenny

Quotes: Holy j oy will be oil to the wheels of our obedience.
Matthew Henry

Watches, cars and Christians can all look chromed and shiny. But watches don't tick, cars don't go and Christians don't make a difference without insides. For a Christian, that's the Holy Spirit.
Tim Downs

If Christ seldom makes offers without demands, He also seldom makes demands without offers. He offers His strength to enable us to meet His demands.
John Stott

Everybody thinks of changing humanity, but nobody thinks of changing himself.
Leo Tolstoy

The countries far north are cold and frozen, because they are distant from the sun. What makes such frozen, uncomfortable Christians, but their living so far from heaven? And what makes others so warm in comforts, but their living higher, and having nearer access to God?
Richard Baxter