W. Spencer Perry

 “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud…” 1 Corinthians 13:4 Title - “Spontaneous Love” Underlines: “Love is not premeditated – it is spontaneous; that is, it bursts forth in extraordinary ways.” “We don’t deliberately set the statements of Jesus before us as our standard, but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without even realizing it. And when we look back, we are amazed at how unconcerned we have been over our emotions, which is the very evidence that real spontaneous love was there.” “… fountains from which love flows are in God, not in us…. His love is there only because it ‘has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit…’ (Romans 5:5).” “ If we try to prove to God how much we love Him, it is a sure sign that we really don’t love Him. The evidence of our love for Him is the absolute spontaneity of our love, which flows naturally from His nature within us.” Note: His nature in us means we have to be a...

 “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.” 1 John 3:2 NLT Title - “Gracious Uncertainty” Underlines: “Certainty is the mark of the common sense life – gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life.” “If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful, uncertainty, and expectancy.” Notes: Eager expectation in what God will reveal.  If we are so certain in our beliefs, but are not submitting to God, then our beliefs are all we are certain of. We become self-righteous, because we are looking at our own value and worth as a bonus for God. The true believer knows that we can add nothing to God. We don’t make Him b...

 “And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭45‬:‭5 ESV Titles - “What Do You Want?”  “What You Will Get” Underlines: “Are you seeking great things for yourself, instead of seeking to be a great person?” “You have become a Christian based on your own terms.” “Ask God for what you want and do not be concerned about asking for the wrong thing, because as you draw ever closer to Him, you will cease asking for things altogether. ‘Your father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him’ (Matthew 6:8).” “If God does not (give you what you pray for), it is because you are not totally surrendered to Him.” I wrote in the margin - your will be done “…ultimate future completeness. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy right now, but He’s continually working out His ultimate perfecti...