" I will search the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the
injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will
shepherd the flock with justice."
Ezekiel 34:13 (NIV)
If you're in a position of authority, no matter how small or how large, the
temptation to manipulate will never go away. You may have the authority to claim certain
honors, to call attention to your right to be listened to. Don't yield. Resist at all
costs.
Charles Swindoll
Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman ©
June 21
Paul lamented, "The good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that
I do not wish" (Romans 7:19). Then are we to despair and presume that we cannot
overcome this body of sin? Is God's grace and power so limited that it covers the sins of
the past and gives a heart that hates evil and loves good but can go no farther? No!
"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil
one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3). "Now to Him who is able to keep [us] from stumbling,
and to make [us] stand in the presence of His glory blameless and with great joy..."
(Jude 24) let us pray to do all good for God.
Pat Nordman ©
Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions |
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Spurgeon's Morning for June 21 |
Spurgeon's Evening for June 21 |
- Psalm 45:2
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"The foundation of God standeth sure." - -2 Timothy 2:19 |
Oh, Jesus! thy power, thy grace, thy justice, thy tenderness, thy truth, thy majesty, and thine immutability make up such a man, or rather such a God-man, as neither heaven nor earth hath seen elsewhere. Thy infancy, thy eternity, thy sufferings, thy triumphs, thy death, and thine immortality, are all woven in one gorgeous tapestry, without seam or rent. |
The foundation upon which our faith rests is this, that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." The great fact on which genuine faith relies is, that "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us," and that "Christ also hath suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God" |
June 21 Ps 132:1- 138:8 |
Current Bible Question |
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...and by his light I walked through darkness! JOB 29:3 NIV
Needed Rest by Pat Nordman
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There was a poor acrobat who turned monk but who was so ignorant and unlearned that he could not even say his "Paternoster" or "Credo" properly. Greatly disheartened at his failure, he used to go before a picture of Christ hanging on the cross and perform his old acrobatic feats, until he sank to the ground, exhausted. And while he lay there, it is said, Christ Himself came down from the cross and wiped the perspiration from his brow. This beautiful act surely expresses the very heart of the divine understanding and sympathy. God does not expect from us what we cannot render, but even the seeming unspiritual things, the common duties of life, if done in His spirit, are beautiful to Him. For if He accepts the cup of cold water given to others, He will not refuse the smallest thing offered in love to Himself. He will come down to receive it with His divine grace, and in accepting it will bless the giver. This is such a magnificent message to us who wonder if we have put in enough time or money or strength. I wonder if we exhibit a lack of trust when we feel we haven't done enough for God. Perhaps we need to get back to meditating on what God has done for us and not worry about whether we have filled today's cup; just be enormously grateful for our own full cup of blessings from God who knows our dust and simply do what we can this day, believing wholeheartedly that our dear Father supplies our many lacks. God realizes more than we do how much emotional and spiritual and physical strength we have or don't have, and we can trust Him to accept what we can do -- and what we can't do, which is perhaps even more important. When we feel like collapsing, we can hear Jesus saying to us, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" Mark 6:31,32 NKJ. Jesus said this to His friends, His beloved disciples, after a heavy-duty day, "for there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat." How many wives and mothers fit in that category! We had five sons and I well remember missing meals and running to and fro, and also wishing I could even find a deserted place to rest a bit. The kids always found me, even when I hid in the closet, taking literally that grand verse in Matthew 6:6 to enter into your closet, only I had the ulterior motive of saving my sanity, which is now questionable--just ask the boys! J.K. Mackenzie advised years ago, "Don't be unwise enough to think that we are serving God best by constant activity at the cost of headaches and broken rest. I am getting to be of the opinion that we may be doing too much." God doesn't expect us to kill ourselves doing so much. Indeed, He bids us to "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28. If ever there is a verse for our killing days, it is this precious promise. Now if we could just find the time and quiet to read it over and over! Send a note to © Pat Nordman , the writer of this devotion. |
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