The Mystery of the cross – ”The Love of the Father crucifying, the love of the Son crucified, and love of the Holy Spirit triumphant in the invincible power of the cross.’

Philaret of Moscow cited by Vladimir Lossky, reprinted 2005, p 85, The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, James Clarke &Co., Ltd.
]]> http://reformedandcharismatic.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/218/feed/ 0 sjs889 http://reformedandcharismatic.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/attributes-of-god/ http://reformedandcharismatic.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/attributes-of-god/#comments Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:10:26 +0000 sjs889 http://reformedandcharismatic.wordpress.com/?p=213 ]]> ‘God is not determined by any of His attributes; all determinations are inferior to Him, logically posterior to  His being in itself, in its essence. When we say that God is Wisdom, Life, Truth, Love – we understand the energies, which are subsequent to the essence and are its natural manifestations, but are external to the very being of the Trinity.’

Vladimir Lossky, reprinted 2005, p 80, The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, James Clarke &Co., Ltd.

Calvin, Institutes, Vol.3, Part 21, 1

But some one will say, Does he not know without a monitor
both what our difficulties are, and what is meet for our interest,
so that it seems in some measure superfluous to solicit him by our
prayers, as if he were winking, or even sleeping, until aroused by
the sound of our voice?[1] Those who argue thus attend not to the
end for which the Lord taught us to pray. It was not so much for his
sake as for ours. He wills indeed, as is just, that due honour be
paid him by acknowledging that all which men desire or feel to be
useful, and pray to obtain, is derived from him. But even the
benefit of the homage which we thus pay him redounds to ourselves.
Hence the holy patriarchs, the more confidently they proclaimed the
mercies of God to themselves and others felt the stronger incitement
to prayer. It will be sufficient to refer to the example of Elijah,
who being assured of the purpose of God had good ground for the
promise of rain which he gives to Ahab, and yet prays anxiously upon
his knees, and sends his servant seven times to inquire, (1 Kings
18: 42;) not that he discredits the oracle, but because he knows it
to be his duty to lay his desires before God, lest his faith should
become drowsy or torpid. Wherefore, although it is true that while
we are listless or insensible to our wretchedness, he wakes and
watches for use and sometimes even assists us unasked; it is very
much for our interest to be constantly supplicating him; first, that
our heart may always be inflamed with a serious and ardent desire of
seeking, loving and serving him, while we accustom ourselves to have
recourse to him as a sacred anchor in every necessity; secondly,
that no desires, no longing whatever, of which we are ashamed to
make him the witness, may enter our minds, while we learn to place
all our wishes in his sight, and thus pour out our heart before him;
and, lastly, that we may be prepared to receive all his benefits
with true gratitude and thanksgiving, while our prayers remind us
that they proceed from his hand. Moreover, having obtained what we
asked, being persuaded that he has answered our prayers, we are led
to long more earnestly for his favour, and at the same time have
greater pleasure in welcoming the blessings which we perceive to
have been obtained by our prayers. Lastly, use and experience
confirm the thought of his providence in our minds in a manner
adapted to our weakness, when we understand that he not only
promises that he will never fail us, and spontaneously gives us
access to approach him in every time of need, but has his hand
always stretched out to assist his people, not amusing them with
words, but proving himself to be a present aid. For these reasons,
though our most merciful Father never slumbers nor sleeps, he very
often seems to do so, that thus he may exercise us, when we might
otherwise be listless and slothful, in asking, entreating, and
earnestly beseeching him to our great good. It is very absurd,
therefore, to dissuade men from prayer, by pretending that Divine
Providence, which is always watching over the government of the
universes is in vain importuned by our supplications, when, on the
contrary, the Lord himself declares, that he is “nigh unto all that
call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth, (Ps. 145: 18.) No
better is the frivolous allegation of others, that it is superfluous
to pray for things which the Lord is ready of his own accord to
bestow; since it is his pleasure that those very things which flow
from his spontaneous liberality should be acknowledged as conceded
to our prayers. This is testified by that memorable sentence in the
psalms to which many others corresponds: “The eyes of the Lord are
upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry,” (Ps. 34:
15.) This passage, while extolling the care which Divine Providence
spontaneously exercises over the safety of believers, omits not the
exercise of faith by which the mind is aroused from sloth. The eyes
of God are awake to assist the blind in their necessity, but he is
likewise pleased to listen to our groans, that he may give us the
better proof of his love. And thus both things are true, “He that
keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep,” (Ps. 121: 4;) and
yet whenever he sees us dumb and torpid, he withdraws as if he had
forgotten us.

Calvin, Institutes, Vol.3, Part 21, 3

INFP – The Idealists

The meaning-seeking and unconventional type. They are especially attuned to making sure their beliefs and actions are congruent. They often develop a passion for the arts or unusal forms of self-expression.  

They enjoy work that are aligned to their deeply feelt values and tend to strongly dislike the more practical and mundande forms of tasks. They can enjoy working alone for long periods of time and are happiest when they can immerse themselves in personally meaningful projects.

‘God is God, He does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases; that His great concern is the accomplishment of His own pleasure and the promotion of His own glory; that He is the Supreme Being, and therefore Sovereign of the universe.’

Arthur Pink, The Sovereignty of God, Introduction.

Introduction, The Sovereignty of God