Today's Soul Food —March 16
 

 

GOLDEN WORDS



For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

II Corinthians 8:9  KJV


For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

II Corinthians 8:9   NASB


For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

II Corinthians 8:9  NIV

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Jesus gave up all for us. He stepped down from the throne of heaven. He gave up all of His privileges and wealth as King of the Universe. He became poor that we might be rich in heavenly riches. He gave His life for us. If he gave himself for us, what shall we give for him?

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The breeze of divine grace is blowing upon us all. But one needs to set the sail to feel this breeze of grace.

 

Daily Meditations by  Pat Nordman ©

 


March 16

"Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it...it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared" Genesis 19:20.

Poor Lot still hadn't learned his lesson about the city. Above all, he hadn't learned about faith. Here he was offered an appointed mountain of refuge, but he complained that it was too far off and he wouldn't make it. He wanted to take the comfortable way out; Lot always seemed concerned about his comfort. Nothing is noted here about any concern for those left behind.

We all ask at some time for a safer and more convenient refuge. After all, who wants to leave all behind to head up to a lonely mountaintop, even when we know the God of mercy is there? There is much advantage and abundance in the city so who of us wants to flee to the unfamiliar? But sometimes God requires us to head out and up, and quickly. A blaze of anguish consumes the marginals and rushes us into the nucleus; "Flee for your lives! Don't look back and don't stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" Genesis 19:17.

But our so human nature heads for a Zoar. We are reluctant to give all and to accept all; to remember that ALL things work together for good. God wants us to leave our molehills of doubts our secret reservations about His love and commitmen tand ascend to the holy mountain of His certainty. But we beg, as did Lot, what can be so wrong about a Zoar? Perhaps nothing, but it is a compromise instead of a promise; another stopping off place of temptation that we have chosen instead of our Father who knows better what is best for us. It is a place to give birth to our Moabs and Ammonites, more sinful beginnings.


 Pat Nordman ©

 


Today's Bible Question ?



     Who built the ancient city of Babylon? 

Previous question and Answer:

What brother of Jesus does Paul call an apostle? 

James (Galatians 1:19)

 

 

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions

Spurgeon's Morning for March 16

Spurgeon's Evening for March 16

 

"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins."

-  Psalm 19:13

 

 

 

"I am a stranger with thee."

-  Psalm 39:12

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What might not the best of us do if it were not for the checks which the Lord sets upon us both in providence and in grace! The psalmist's prayer is directed against the worst form of sin--that which is done with deliberation and wilfulness.

Never was foreigner so speckled a bird among the denizens of any land as thy beloved Son among his mother's brethren. It is no marvel, then, if I who live the life of Jesus, should be unknown and a stranger here below.


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March 16 Deuteronomy 17:1 - 20:20  

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM 



 

 As yet I do not have enough pages finished for each day of this wonderful season of lent. Pages will appear here sporadically through the Lenten season. 

Easter 1 | Easter 2 | Easter 3 | Easter 4 | Easter 5 |  Easter 6 |  Easter 7



  


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Jesus is Enough



There is a story told of a lady missionary who found an undersized and underdeveloped Irish boy whose white, wizened face brought our great sympathy in her. Perhaps he was about 15 years old, but he scarcely looked 12. She won the boy's confidence with gifts and flowers and fruit, and soon found he was eager to learn about Jesus. At first his interest seemed impersonal, but he gradually became more concerned.

One day the lady called upon him, and found his face aglow with a new-found joy. Asking the reason, he replied with assurance, "O, misses, I always knew that Jesus was necessary, but I never knew 'til yesterday that He was enough."

 

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Today's  Devotion
 

 

Small Things

 

 

""For who has despised the day of small things?"

(Zechariah 4:10a NKJV)
 

There Dr. Richard Carlson wrote a book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff. Since I sometimes let molehills materialize into mountains, thereby wasting a lot of emotional and mental energy, I decided to read and mark it. One paragraph has been particularly helpful:

Whenever we hold on to our anger, we turn "small stuff" into really "big stuff" in our minds. We start to believe that our positions are more important than our happiness. They are not. If you want to be a more peaceful person you must understand that being right is almost never more important than allowing yourself to be happy. The way to be happy is to let go, and reach out. Let other people be right. This doesn't mean that you're wrong. Everything will be fine. You'll experience the peace of letting go, as well as the joy of letting others be right. You'll also notice that, as you reach out and let others be "right," they will become less defensive and more loving toward you. They might even reach back. But, if for some reason they don't, that's okay too. You'll have the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your part to create a more loving world, and certainly you'll be more peaceful yourself.

It is amazing what we do for our mental and emotional health when we decide, yes, it's all right for the other person to be right. Of courrse I realize that this is quite a sacrifice when it is our spouse or child! But -- let's face it, a lot of it is "small things," small stuff, small petties of life. Years ago I started asking myself, "Is this going to matter ten years down the road? Who is even going to remember it?" This has been a great yardstick.

The small stuff that really matters is our small jobs each day and how well we perform them and our small generosities that mean so much to God. The little cup of cold water given in His name means a lot more than a big title. Every time I read the Gospels I am again reminded that Jesus simply went about doing good -- doing little things that meant so much to those He helped. What better Example could we have?

© Pat Nordman

 
It is amazing what we do for our mental and emotional health when we decide, yes, it's all right for the other person to be right.

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