Today's Soul Food
 

 

JANUARY 22

GOLDEN WORDS


At this they were seized with astonishment. Full of awe, they gave praise to God, saying, `We have seen incredible things today!    

Luke 5:26

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What awesome things we have not seen and heard because we take so much for granted. When one of my sons called me long-distance and told me he had been in an accident, it was at that moment I realized how much I cherish him. But why does it take such gut-tearing news for us to realize this? Can't we praise our God and treasure our loved ones now, at this very moment?

The miracle is already here. We see and hear stirring things every day. Nature is filled with visual and auditory delights, and our homes are havens of delight and security. We hear sobs, too, for these are the compensations of life, strange as that sounds. Our lives report wonders already, while we wonder why we are filled with wanderlust and a constant search for the Incredibles of life.

In this verse these people saw Jesus tell a lame man to get up and go on with life, and they were amazed. Is it any less amazing that he tells us to get up and go about our daily duties--and while doing so, to see and hear his daily miracles?

– Lk 5:17-26 Is 35:1-10 1 Thes 5:18 Jb 9:10 Mk 6:5,6  - Pat Nordman
 

 

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman


January 22

"The Lord called me before my birth. From within the womb he called me by my name...He said to me, `You are my servant'..." Isaiah 49:1,3 TLB; "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" Psalm 139:13.

Before we were born God knew we were to be. Certainly God never meant for us to be accidents of a momentary passion; that is man's sin. Every life is significant to Him for He died for that life. What a pity that we are to the place where we find babies in trash bins! This verse alone should tell us how very important we are in His plans. We were called, we were named and we were claimed–even before we were born! That's a wondrous thought and an awesome responsibility. "God created [us] in his own image...male and female he created [us]" Genesis 1:27. We didn't come swinging into this world, with no purpose for being.

He has a job for us to do that no one else can do on this earth. "Who knows but that you have come...for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14; "There came a man who was sent from God" John 1:6; First things first: recognize the Creator and Redeemer, and then life becomes liveable and likeable. Otherwise, if we don't credit God with the miracle of what and why and who we are, then the miracle is that we can live a worthwhile life at all.

We treasure independence but, in the mania to be our own person, we have turned liberty into license. It is God who has the license to grant us liberty. Our rights are based on His rights. There is a natural infrastructure in the spiritual sphere and, without a sound foundation, it all crumbles. "God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: `The Lord knows those who are his...'" 2 Timothy 2:19.


Pat Nordman ©

 

 

 


Today's Bible Question ?


Nahum prophesied of the destruction of what nation?       
 


Previous question and Answer:

Who was called "a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes"?

Paul Acts 24:5

 

 

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions

Spurgeon's Morning for January 22

Spurgeon's Evening January 22

 

"Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?"

- Ezekiel 15:2

 

"Doth Job fear God for nought?"

-  Job 1:9

 


These words are for the humbling of God's people; they are called God's vine, but what are they by nature more than others? They, by God's goodness, have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soil; the Lord hath trained them upon the walls of the sanctuary, and they bring forth fruit to his glory; but what are they without their God?


This was the wicked question of Satan concerning that upright man of old, but there are many in the present day concerning whom it might be asked with justice, for they love God after a fashion because he prospers them; but if things went ill with them, they would give up all their boasted faith in God.

   

 

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Explain God

This was written by an 8 year old, Danny Dutton of   Chula Vista, CA, for his third grade homework assignment. The assignment was to explain God.   Could any of us could do as well???

 

"One of God's main jobs is making people.   He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth.

He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies.   I think because they are smaller and easier to make.   That way He doesn't have to take up His valuable time  
teaching them to talk and walk.   He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."

"God's second most important job is listening to prayers.   An awful lot of   this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times   beside bedtime.   God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because   of this.   Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise   in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off."


"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy.   So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your Mom and  
dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have."

"Atheists are people who don't believe in God.   I don't think there are any   in Chula Vista.   At least there aren't any who come to our church."


"Jesus is God's Son.   He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to  
learn about God.   They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they   crucified Him.   But He was good and kind, like His Father and He told His   Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God   said O.K."

"His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn't have to go out on the road anymore.   He  
could stay in heaven.   So He did.   And now He helps His Dad out by listening to   prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and   which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God.   Like a secretary,   only more important."


"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time."


"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God.   Don't skip church to do  
something you think will be more fun like going to the beach.   This is wrong.  
And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway."

"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very   lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but   God can.   It is good to know He's around you when you're scared in the dark   or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."

"But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you.   I figure   God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases. And...that's why   I believe in God."

 


 

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January 22  
Exodus 14:1 - 16:36


Linked to
Bible Gaitway TM 

 

 

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Today's  Devotion

 

... ...and by his light I walked through darkness!    JOB 29:3 NIV

 

Gentleness 

by Pat Nordman

 

"By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you" 

2 Corinthians 10:18


Others had leveled some serious charges against Paul and Paul wanted above all else to answer the charges in a Christ-like spirit of quietness, patience and compassion, mindful not so much of his own honor as that of Christ's. He wanted to be the Gentle Man's gentleman in dealing with those who would make Paul less than he knew he should be.

"When they hurled their insults at [Jesus], he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats" 1 Peter 2:23; ". . .Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart. . ." Matthew 11:29. Gentleness is active and exhibited in the temperament we tender to others; meekness is passive and within our inner spirit; it is the temper of spirit in which we accept God's dealings with us without challenging His purposes or impugning wrong motives to others. Had Jesus been Judge and Jury while on this imperfect earth and had He exacted His pound of flesh from those who misjudged His actions and motives, then we could extract our ounce of judgment from those who wound our pride. As it is, Jesus wants us to leave the sentencing to Him. The bonus for us is good mental and physical health, for "Gentle words cause life and health. . ." Proverbs 15:4 TLB.

Society is not always kind to the gentle people. Sometimes the soft answer invites ridicule, but it is kindness that finally wins. It is the destructive forces that howl for our attention: the earthquake, the tornado, the angry voices that foretell of disaster. But it is the gentle shower, quiet and unassuming, that makes fruitful the land, and it is the peaceful and tender people of the earth who forge constructive relationships and worthwhile lives.

© Pat Nordman


Sometimes the soft answer invites ridicule, but it is kindness that finally wins.

 

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