Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

Psalm 126:5 (NIV)

Many a man has had his soul restored in the valley of the shadow, not in the green pastures. These are clouds we fear to enter, but on inside these clouds is the suddenness of real light.

— Oswald Chambers

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman ©

July 11

"See...that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15).

Unfortunately, the root of hostility digs deeply into hearts everywhere human beings live, work and play.

The Lord showed Moses a tree at Marah (Exodus 15:25) that he was to throw into the bitter waters so they would become sweet. Dear friends, let us not waste one more day without grasping the Branch of the Lord and allowing Him to sweeten our bitter waters. "In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel." Isaiah 4:2.

Thank You, Father!

Pat Nordman ©

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for July 11	Spurgeon's Evening for July 11
"After that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." - 1 Peter 5:10	"Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." - Joel 1:3
May you be rooted and grounded in love. May your convictions be deep, your love real, your desires earnest. May your whole life be so settled and established, that all the blasts of hell, and all the storms of earth shall never be able to remove you.	Parental teaching is a natural duty--who so fit to look to the child's well-being as those who are the authors of his actual being? To neglect the instruction of our offspring is worse than brutish. Family religion is necessary for the nation, for the family itself, and for the church of God.

dbiblc.gif (5194 bytes)

July 11 Job 9:1 - 12:25

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

Current Bible Question

Jacob had twelve sons. What was the name of his only daughter?

Previous question and Answer:

How old was Noah when God sent the flood?

600 years old. Genesis 7:6

Today's Devotion

But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)

Handing Over

by Cathy Vinson

"Ask, and it will be given you..."

(Matthew 7:7)

"Dad, can I have the car keys?" Did you ever consider what is being enlisted in this request? Not only is a set of car keys being called for, but the car itself. Not only the piece of steel, but the responsibility of the teen's own life is given over, his peers and whatever countryside he choices to visit. It is a profound handing over of the father.

When we "ask," it is from a suppliant to a greater. When we are in turn "given (epididomi)," it means not only "given," but to give OVER (epi-over). He is putting something over into another's hand. In Scripture this special word is used in Jesus' handing over of the broken bread to the two in Emmaus (Luke 24:30), the institution of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26), and delivery of a letter (Acts 15:30).

Yet another nuance of this word brings to light what receiving from God is all about; it also means "to give way to." Consider its use in the following passage: "The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along" (Acts 27:15). As the ship gave way to the strong headwind and instead traveled with it, apparently the Father of Christ accepts our asking as such...a headwind. To us it's feeble asking, to Him the welcomed asking of the children who in His Son He loves.

Our asking, so dear. Why? Because we have the kind of Father who esteems it so. Our asking is such to Him that He would actually defer to its strength!

So let's ask. Be encouraged that our desires put into requests are more irresistible than we think. "For everyone who asks...." (verse 8)

Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion.