I will strengthen thee

“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be … Continue reading I will strengthen thee

Great is the power of memory

Augustine 400ish AD Great is this power of memory, exceedingly great, O my God–a large and boundless inner hall! Who has plumbed the depths of it? Yet it is a power of mymind, and it belongs to my nature. But I do not myself grasp all that I am. Thus themind is far too narrow to contain itself. But where can that part of it be which itdoes not contain? Is it outside and not in itself? How can it be, then, that the mindcannot grasp itself? A great marvel rises in me; astonishment seizes me. Men goforth to marvel … Continue reading Great is the power of memory

I am not he

Augustine 400ish AD “And what is this God? I asked the earth, and it answered, “I am not he”; and everything in the earth made the same confession. I asked the sea and the deeps and the creeping things, and they replied, “We are not your God; seek above us.” I asked the fleeting winds, and the whole air with its inhabitants answered, “Anaximenes was deceived; I am not God.” I asked the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars; and they answered, “Neither are we the God whom you seek.” And I replied to all these things which stand around … Continue reading I am not he