GOLDEN WORDS

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;  
 
 Psalm 103: 11-18 KJV



I used to be upset and frightened when I read that we were to ‘fear’ the Lord. I felt that I was to cower before a tyrant. I think that I now have a little better understanding of the word ‘fear.’ True the Lord is powerful and mighty. Indeed, I must respect and honor Him. But, I read in the Bible and see in my life how very much God loves us. How can we fear this Father as a oppressor?



The word used here is yare' {yaw-ray'}. It is probably best translated as reverence or worship. Truly, the magnificence of God is beyond my understanding. I would indeed tremble in fear before Him. I am a sinner, unworthy of His grace and mercy. Yet I am told that, through Christ, I am forgiven. He has removed my transgressions from me as far as the east is from the west. Praise the Lord. God is my loving father.
Worship arises as spontaneously in the heart of the religious devotee, as love arises in the heart of the youth who has found in the maiden beauty, inspiration, and understanding. 

—  Charles C. Jasey, in Journal of Religion, XV, October, 1935

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman

January 10

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" John 13:15.

Are we angry with someone? Do we feel another's hostility? Is there a rupture of any kind with another person for whom our dear Jesus died? Have we a breach of love or confidence that we need to repair? Are we allowing misunderstandings to stand in the way of happiness, our own and another's?

"I have set before you an example..." What a mean service to render to lowly men, washing their feet! And yet this is not how Jesus viewed it at all. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" even the man who was to betray Him! O! what a lesson there is here in this grand action by our Creator and Redeemer! It defies sinful imagination but fires up a restored and Spiritfilled imagination to go to that person who irritates and angers us and kneel before him or her and immerse their feetand our own hurting and hating heartin the cleansing water. How on earth can we continue to harbor bitterness in our hearts after doing this, even if only in our imagination? By beholding our Jesus doing it for us, and our doing it for others, then we can love them with His love.

Jesus could have easily let His beloved disciples wash their own feet. Peter in his human pride said to Jesus, "No, you shall never wash my feet." V.8. But Jesus lovingly explained to Peter that, unless He washed his feet, Peter would have no part with Him. When He was finished, Jesus asked them, "Do you understand what I have done for you?" V.12. Could they or we possibly understand what He has done for us all in this supreme act of love and humility?

The thought of His humble action and His great love is overwhelming. May we in spirit and in Spirit follow His example.

Pat Nordman ©

 

T H I N K A B O U T I T

Timing is Crucial I heard or read a humorous story about a fellow who decided to run his rotary lawn mower over a frog and butcher it with the blade. To his amazement, however, after he ran the mower over the frog, there it was still in one piece. He did this several times, and always the frog would be there in one piece without a mark on him.  Finally, the fellow ran the mower over the top of the frog, and left it there with the blade whizzing around. Then, he kneeled down and peered underneath to see how it was that the mower blade never did hit him. What do you think? When he looked under his mower, there the frog was jumping that blade like a jump-rope every time it spun around with perfect timing! Can you believe it!? No? Well, I don't either, and it doesn't sound too smart to be looking under a lawnmower with the blade whizzing away. Don't do that, but the story illustrates what I'm trying to get across--timing is sometimes crucial. Especially is this so when we are walking with God. We should neither lag behind nor run ahead, for the consequence of either could be eternally fatal.  —Duane V. Maxey

 

January 10  Genesis 28:1- 30:43 Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

 

 

Today's  Devotion

 

Formula for Happiness   Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Psalms 1:1-6

What a sorrowful world this would be without music and songs. We could not enjoy hymns of praise, songs of celebration, and symphonies. We could not sing love songs to express our deepest feelings for a loved one. We could not hum a lullaby to lull our restless child to sleep. There would be no stirring marches at patriotic parades, no school alma mater or fight song to root the team to victory. What would Christmas and Easter be without hymns, carols and cantatas? God created music. The stars sang at the time of creation. What a great gift of God music is. What a marvelous way to express ourselves with music, song and dance. Thank God for music. Thank God we can make a joyful noise unto the Lord. The book of Psalms is a beautiful collection of songs. These five books are combined into one book written by seven authors over a period of one thousand years. This inspired book expresses a great diversity of human emotions -- praise to God, fear of enemies, and confidence in God's goodness, justice, majesty and power. The book of Psalms opens with a song of joy. It expresses the joy of walking with the Lord. It also warns of the danger of not walking with Him. This Psalm tells us the secret of happiness in our daily walk with God. The first half of the psalm tells us what needs to be avoided in our daily walk. One cannot be happy if they live the lifestyle of the ungodly. One cannot walk - make everyday decisions like the ungodly. One cannot stand - make lasting commitments like the ungodly. One cannot sit - have an established lifestyle and habits like the ungodly. If that is your choice in life, you will not find happiness in your walk with God. The second part of Psalm 1 tells of the positive effects of walking with God. Happiness can be yours if you delight in doing God's will for you. If one tries to get closer to God he will find happiness. Like a fruitful tree soaks up water, the happy Christian will soak up the word of God. He will find time to study and meditate on God's word. He will make every effort to get closer to God. As this Christian grows in his walk with God he will become like the fruitful tree. In his fruitfulness he will glorify God and that, indeed, is true happiness. Be careful where you sit, be consistent when you soak. Sources include: The Daily Walk Bible

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