Today's Soul Food — July 30

Golden Words

"For everything there is a season, and a time for very purpose under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace."

Ec. 3:1- 8 (KJV)

Successful people are at the right place at the right time to a great extent because they have learned how to take certain action steps in proper sequence. They have learned that scriptural truth, "to everything there is a season,/ A time for every purpose under heaven." They know that everything they desire has an appropriate place and time for accomplishment, and toward that end, they set their priorities in certain orders, prepare themselves in certain ways, and refuse to give in to discouragement or failures along the way.

— Denis Waitley, Timing is Everything

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman ©

July 30

"After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer." W.R. Alger. To be of good cheer is a duty!

The treasured verse Isaiah 61:3 tells us that God grants us "the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting, so [we] will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
We no longer need to look at the dark side of prospects. We can gather up the good treasure of promises stored in our hearts and praise God that every dark cloud does have a silver lining.

Pat Nordman ©

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for July 30	Spurgeon's Evening for July 30
"Nevertheless I am continually with thee." – Psalm 73:23	"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." - John 6:37
Continually before his eye;--the eye of the Lord never sleepeth, but is perpetually watching over my welfare. Continually in his hand, so that none shall be able to pluck me thence.	Oh! the power and majesty which rest in the words "shall come." He does not say they have power to come, nor they may come if they will, but they "shall come."

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July 30 Ec 9:1 - 12:14

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

Current Bible Question

What Queen of Judah ruled for 6 years?

Previous question and Answer:

What two Hebrew midwives refused to follow the command of Pharaoh to kill the newborn Hebrew baby boys?

Shiphrah and Puah — (Exodus 1:15)

Today's Devotion

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

Knowing the Man You're With

by Cathy Vinson

"And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

(Matthew 8:23-27)

In reading Matthew, Jesus has just clarified the cost of following Him...a guaranteed no dwelling and the immediacy of leaving even the service of a deceased father. There is something foreign and serious that starts gripping us as we "leave." We relentlessly pull out the stakes and roots of support that have been sewn into a community. Now who we are hemmed into becomes more in focus. These are the ones also going forward, followers (a+koloutheo = union, likeness to + in the way).

The first steps into the wobbly boat brings more reality to the departure. You're entering and you're getting stuck. You've cut everything from shore, and the surrounding water decides for you that there is no escape. You now look upon who you have shut yourself into. Who are you with?

These strong senses come to bear out in a relocation. It's now you, your spouse(?), your children(?). Who are these people you are setting off with? You're finding out.

To their honor an obvious silence surrounds the Disciples who entered the boat. It simply says they "followed Him" (vs 23). No clamoring or protesting from them nor applause from the onlookers. May Heaven reward them.

Whatever one might fear, there is something about getting on that boat. You're on it for WHATEVER happens, and that's exactly what happened..."a furious storm came upon the lake" (vs 24). No parent, no boss, no bank account, no home, no stable ground: only Jesus.

So ruthless of a lesson to teach obedient followers! But is it into such a setting that the Reward of Life only comes? What is their gain? They were WITH Jesus, closed in unto Him and the storm pressing in! They were in a prime position to see the Man. Their cost of obedience put them into such a situation to come face-to-face with Life. And there He was, the One who calms the storm...they had become stuck beyond all their sorrow to a "manner of man" (vs 27) even beyond that.
Jesus lived and died that He might show us the way to warmth and safety!

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

There is something foreign and serious that starts gripping us as we "leave." We relentlessly pull out the stakes and roots of support that have been sewn into a community. Now who we are hemmed into becomes more in focus.

Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE