GOLDEN WORDS

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman

February 17

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful" Proverbs 15:13.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." In 1831 Lincoln failed in business; in 1832 he was defeated for the legislature; in 1833 he again failed in business; in 1835 his sweetheart died; in 1836 he had a nervous breakdown; in 1843 he was defeated for Congress; in 1855 he was defeated for the Senate; in 1856 he lost the race for the vice presidency; in 1858 he was defeated for the Senate; in 1860 he was elected President of the United States and, while president, two of his sons died. Although history has lionized

Lincoln greatly , there is little doubt that he climbed to the top of his calvary hills. He could have been the Anonymous who wrote, "The secret of happy living is not to do what you like but to like what you do."

"A cheerful heart is good medicine" Proverbs 17:22 RSV. "Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers and are famous preservers of youthful looks." Charles Dickens. The opposite of cheer is worry. Henry Ward Beecher observed, "It is not work that kills men; it is worry. Work is healthy; you can hardly put more upon a man than he can bear. Worry is the rust upon the blade." It also gives us worry wrinkles.
A cheerful heart is a contented heart. Discontent is a poison that spreads through our system when we decide that someone else is brighter, has more than we do, or is happier than we are. Change only two letters and we go from content to contempt. The word contentious begins with content. Perhaps we need to lop off the IOUS from our life and get back to being content! It's too easy to get bogged down in what we think others owe us.


Pat Nordman ©

February 18

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead" Hebrews 11:1 TLB.

Romans 1:17 is a capsule summary of Paul's message to the Romans; it changed Martin Luther's life and ours, as well: "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: `The righteous will live by faith'." Lauterbach quotes Luther as saying, "When I learned that the righteousness of God is his mercy, and that he makes us righteous through it, a remedy was offered to me in my affliction." Luther's Works, volume 54, Table Talk.

"Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling." From the hymn, Rock of Ages. We can give nothing to God but our faith, but what a joy it is to know that He gives us His all.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace..." Romans 5:1. Even though we cannot see the future, we are assured that it is in God's capable hands and heart. What a blessing this is! It is here on this ground of complete hope that we build our justified life; it is here on earth that we frame a foundation of a faith finally worthy of the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10). We don't build our life in blind faith, but in complete confidence in God's integrity. It saves us many heartaches and headaches. Harry Emerson Fosdick said, "It is cynicism and fear that freeze life; it is faith that thaws it out, releases it, sets it free."

A man who had endured much trouble in his life was asked by a friend, "How is the outlook?" The man answered, "The outlook is dark, but the uplook is wonderful." Peter Boehler is said to have advised John Wesley, "Live by faith till you have faith."


Pat Nordman ©

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for February 17		Spurgeon's Evening February 17
"Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi." - Genesis 25:11
The usual tenor of a man's life, the dwelling of his soul, is the true test of his state.		"Whereas the Lord was there." -  Ezekiel 35:10
		The saints are God's heritage, and he is in the midst of them, and will protect his own. What comfort this assurance yields us in our troubles and spiritual conflicts!

"Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me." - Job 10:2	"Father, I have sinned." -  Luke 15:18
Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light except it be in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star--not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.	Nature teaches that it is the duty of erring children to make a confession to their earthly father, and the grace of God in the heart teaches us that we, as Christians, owe the same duty to our heavenly Father.

 

 

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

Love The famous King Cyrus the Great was hounded by Cagular, the provincial ruler in this day. He sent out his invincible army, and they captured the rebel Cagular and his family. The great monarch delayed killing his victim He interviewed Cagular, and during the conversation decided to spare the life of this local rival. "What would you do if I spared your life?" Cyrus asked him.  "Oh, King, I'd serve you with all my strength," Cagular replied.  "What would you do if I spared the life of your wife?" Cyrus asked.  "I'd serve you to my death," Cagular answered.  Then the mighty Cyrus made Cagular the captain over his southern forces and sent him to assume command.  "Did you see all the silver armor?" Cagular asked his wife as they journeyed to his new position.  "No," she replied.  "Did you see the marble and ornaments in the king's court?" he asked.  "No," she replied again.  "Did you see the gold throne where Cyrus say?"  "No," she replied.  "Well, what did you see anyway?" Cagular asked her.  She looked lovingly into his eyes and answered, "I saw only the face of the man who said he'd die for me!"

 

February 17 Numbers 5:1 - 6:27 February 18 Psalms 23:1 - 30:12 Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

 

 

Today's  Devotion

 

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. Job 16:5 (NIV) Realization by Cathy Vinson A commonly-used scene in cartoons and adventure stories is the rapid current that mercilessly drives towards an upcoming waterfall. It carries everything in its path. It is swift and powerful. In its clutches there is no turning back. The drama is intense. Walking with God can sometimes seem like this...we are not in control. The stakes are so high. Someone once said, "It's impossible to be Christian and not vulnerable. The rapids "begin" when we see things as they really are. We realize we are helpless, like victims of a current. What is our anchor when we realize we ARE in the rapids? "His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart" (Ps 91:4). When His faithfulness is our only mode of deliverance, it will be. "His (God's) pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their trust in His unfailing love." (Ps 147:11) Unfailing, unfaltering. We want deliverance, but we don't always want to be put in the position to see it. Being in the rapids will put us in that position. His   pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their trust in His unfailing love. Psalm 147:11   Walking with God can sometimes seem like this...we are not in control. Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion. Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

 

 

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Copyright Information: Phillip Bower is not the author of the humor, and does not claim to own any copyright privileges to the jokes. Sources of jokes are listed when known. Birthday's and Happenings for the date, and quotations are public knowledge and collected from numerous sources. Quotations are public knowledge and sources are listed when known. Weekendspirations are written by Tim Knappenberger who has copyright privileges. Cathy Vinson authors Whispers from the Wilderness and owns copyright privileges. Weekendspirations and Whispers from the Wilderness are used with permission by the respective authors. Other devotions are written by Phillip Bower unless otherwise stated. In all cases credit is given when known. The Daily Miscellany is nonprofit. Submissions by readers is welcome.