Today's Bible Question ?

What nation did God say would have its towns and fields cursed because of disobedience?

Previous question and Answer:

What priest died and was buried at Mosera?

Aaron — Deuteronomy 10:6

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for March 20	Spurgeon's Evening for March 20
	"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church." - Ephesians 5:25
"My beloved." - Song of Solomon 2:8	As a husband, the Christian is to look upon the portrait of Christ Jesus, and he is to paint according to that copy. The true Christian is to be such a husband as Christ was to his church. The love of a husband is special.
This was a golden name which the ancient Church in her most joyous moments was wont to give to the Anointed of the Lord. When the time of the singing of birds was come, and the voice of the turtle was heard in her land, her love-note was sweeter than either, as she sang, "My beloved is mine and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies."

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March 20 Psalms 60:1 - 66:20

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Flowering Fast

A man once bought a home with a tree in the backyard. It was winter, and nothing marked this tree as different from any other tree. When spring came, the tree grew leaves and tiny pink buds. "How wonderful," thought the man. "A flower tree! I will enjoy its beauty all summer." But before he had time to enjoy the flowers, the wind began to blow and soon all the petals were strewn in the yard. "What a mess," he thought "This tree isn't any use after all."

The summer passed, and one day the man noticed the tree was full of green fruit the size of large nuts. He picked a large one and took a bite, "Bleagh!" he cried and threw it to the ground. "What a horrible taste! This tree is worthless. Its flowers are so fragile the wind blows them away, and its fruit is terrible and bitter. When winter comes, I'm cutting it down." But the tree took no notice of the man and continued to draw water from the ground and warmth from the sun and in late fall produced crisp red apples.

Some of us see Christians with their early blossoms of happiness and think they should be that way forever. Or we see bitterness in their lives, and we're sure they will never bear the better fruit of joy. Could it be that we forget some of the best fruit ripens late?

-- Misty Mowrey, Roseville, Minnesota. Leadership, Vol. 6, no. 2.

The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalm 92:12

Today's Devotion

New Leaves

"Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth ... "

Genesis 8:11 NKJV

I'm I like to think of the serendipities of life as new leaves. Imagine the surprise and relief, the joy and wonder, Noah felt when the dove came back with a new leaf. It meant new life for Noah and his family. Many wonderful things happen to us in the course of a day, too, if we recognize them. Each day itself is a new leaf. An exciting idea is a new leaf that grows into many leaves of an article or book. A delicious meal, a visit from a friend, an unexpected letter with good news, a compliment, an unusually beautiful sunrise or sunset, an affecting cantata: these are leaves of hope and love. It's an appealing thought.

Sometimes all we want is a leaf of a thank you that will stimulate us to further actions. Perhaps our child needs a leaf of appreciation. A student gives a professor a leaf when she tells him that others have recommended his course because he is such a good teacher. Our friend receives a leaf when we write and say, "I love you and I miss you."

There is yet another compelling thought here: if we but wait, as Noah had to, we will have joy again. At times circumstances seem impossible and it is easier to give up. The black raven of despair, the carrion bird, settles in our hair and in our heart and we are so tempted to let it make a nest and eat away at our vital life. But our gracious Father will not allow that! The dove, symbol of gentleness, brought Noah the sign of deliverance, and He will do the same for us. Our dry and fruitful land may yet be far off, but God will finally send us His dove with an olive leaf of deliverance! In the meantime, God asks that we trust Him; that we remain within the ark of the circumstance until His good time. How difficult this is! For now He is asking us to prepare ourselves for a great mercy from Him that we can share with others. It is the broken heart that understands other broken hearts. God is getting us ready to share leaves!

© Pat Nordman

Each day itself is a new leaf. An exciting idea is a new leaf that grows into many leaves of an article or book.

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