Christ Holds It All Together

 We look at Jesus and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at Jesus and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.  

He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end.  Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. –Colossians 1:18-20 The MSG

Not only do we not know God save through Jesus Christ, but we do not know ourselves save through Jesus Christ.  Apart from Jesus Christ we know not what our life is, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves. –Blaise Pascal

December 28, 2007December 28, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Christianity, Church, Encouragement, Jesus, Life, Photography, Quotations, spiritual 1 Comment

The Original Purpose Of Our Lives

The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.  –Psalm 145:17  

It is I who made the earth
       and created mankind upon it.
       My own hands stretched out the heavens;
       I marshaled their starry hosts. –Isaiah 45:12  

The deepest desire of our heart is for union with God.  God created us for union with himself.  This is the original purpose of our lives.-Brennan Manning

December 20, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Christianity, Life, People, Photography, Quotations, spiritual Leave a comment

Where It Is Divided Reunite It

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy catholic (universal) Church. 
Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace.
Where it is corrupt, purify it;
Where it is in error, direct it;
Where in any thing it is amiss, reform it.
Where it is right, strengthen it;
Where it is in want, provide for it;
Where it is divided, reunite it;
For the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior.   Amen
-Book of Common Prayer-page 816

God, hear our cries,
bend an ear to our prayers. –Psalm 61:2 (adapted)

December 16, 2007December 16, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Church, Life, Photography, Quotations, Religion, spiritual, unity Leave a comment

This Is The Day

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.-Psalm 118-24

Life is short, full of beauty and pain;

tears and laughter. 

Cherish the moments of joy,

be grateful for the now

and treasure the delight of a child

and remember your Maker.

-Ryan Thurman

December 15, 2007December 15, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Life, love, Photography, spiritual, Thoughts Leave a comment

Fall OnYour Knees

The One who is to come is born of a woman, Mary. 
His name is above every name.  At his name every knee shall bow  

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!–O Holy Night

December 14, 2007December 14, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Inspiration, Life, Photography, songs, spiritual Leave a comment

I Hold Your Right Hand

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”…So that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this  –Isaiah 41:13,20 

Father, I abandon myself into Your hands. Do with me what you will.
Whatever You do, I will thank You. I am ready for all.  I accept all.
Let only Your will be done in me, as in all Your creatures,
And I’ll ask nothing else, my Lord.  Into your hands I commend my spirit;
I give it to You with all the love of my heart, for I love You,
Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your hands
with a trust beyond all measure, because You are my Father. 

From prayer that asks that I should be sheltered from winds that beat on Thee.
from fearing when I should aspire, from faltering when I should climb higher,
from silk and self, O captain, free thy soldier who would follow Thee. 
From subtle love of softening things, from easy choices, weakenings…
not thus are spirits fortified, not this way went the Crucified…
From all that dims Thy Calvary O lamb of God, deliver me.
 

Give me a love that leads the way, the faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire, the passion that will burn like fire.
Let me not sink to be a clod. make me Thy fuel, O Flame of God.-Amy Carmichael

December 13, 2007December 13, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, love, Photography, prayer, Quotations, spiritual Leave a comment

He Took Our Place

What I would have settled for You have blown so far away what you brought me to I thought I could not reach,–in the intentions of God we find that where we would have settled, He moves us far beyond.  Where we would have failed, He took our place.-Rich Mullins  

I thank you that you Lord, that you have answered me and have become my salvation.  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!-Psalm 118:21, 26a

December 6, 2007 by ryanmthurman Categories: Art Photography, Photography, Quotations, spiritual, Uncategorized Leave a comment