Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philipians 3:12-14 (ASV)

Made of the right stuff!

"A little brown cork
Fell in the path of a whale
Who lashed it down
With his angry tail.
But in spite of its blows
It quickly arose,
And floated serenely
Before his nose.
Said the cork to the whale:
‘You may flap and sputter and frown,
But you never, never, can keep me down;
For I’m made of the stuff
That is buoyant enough
To float instead of to drown!’"

– Pameii

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman Š

September 25

"...Let them first learn to practice piety...and to make some return to their parents..." (1 Timothy 5:4 NAS).

It doesn't have to be a monetary return. Parents long for kind words and actions. The widowed mother would so appreciate for her son to mow the lawn; parents or grandparents would like a night out with the children; a phone call on a special day would make a lonely heart so happy; a note saying "I love you" would thrill a lonely heart. These are not crippling obligations but privileges of love while one's parents and grandparents still live. As some wit observed, love begins at home and it should return for a visit now and then.

Pat Nordman Š

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions With links to the entire devotion
Spurgeon's Morning for September 25	Spurgeon's Evening for September 25
"Just, and the justifier of him which believeth." - Romans 3:26	"Who of God is made unto us wisdom." - 1 Corinthians 1:30
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. Conscience accuses no longer. Judgment now decides for the sinner instead of against him. Memory looks back upon past sins, with deep sorrow for the sin, but yet with no dread of any penalty to come; for Christ has paid the debt of his people to the last jot and tittle...	Man’s intellect seeks after rest, and by nature seeks it apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Men of education are apt, even when converted, to look upon the simplicities of the cross of Christ with an eye too little reverent and loving.

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September 25 Mic 1:1 - 7:20

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

Current Bible Question

Who once fed 100 men with 20 loaves of barley bread and still had some left over?

Previous question and Answer:

Who were the two Asian Christians who failed to support Paul?

Phygeleus and Hermogenes (2 Timothy 1:15)

Today's Devotion

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

Job 16:5 (NIV)

Well Pleased Unto Willingness

by Cathy Vinson

" My Beloved, in Whom My soul is well-pleased..."

(Matthew 12:18)

"He delights the very breath of Me" is another way this could be written of the Father about the Son. Can we think of another whose very remembrance in our thoughts brings such delight to our soul, perhaps our own child?

God is so well-pleased. As we dwell on that delight of the very soul of the Father, we seem to enter into the innermost chambers of God.

We might explore the depth expressed by this word, delight (eudokia) and find that another word is being activated in that same place..."willing." It's as if when God is so aroused in delight, a willingness takes place. Vine, about this word, writes " (it is) not merely understanding, (but) willingness and freedom of an intention or resolve regarding what is good." God is so pleased, He wills; He will "put My Spirit upon Him" (12:18). This same delight is used by Paul in exclaiming "being so affectionately desirous of you, we were willing (eudokia) to not only impart...but our very souls as well, because you were so dear to us" (1 Th 2:18).

As we lay requests before our Father, perhaps we should seek His action as an overflow of being well-pleased, to seek His pleasure in the request. May He be so delighted that it swells over into action, the reverse parallel of what temptation would be to sinful humankind. Desiring His good pleasure on a situation or person is being thoughtful of Him. Perhaps out of that pleasure will swell over the resolve to meet that situation with His goodness.

More than the answers to our requests themselves, let us find the depth of well-pleasing in God, which is in His Son. Therein is the making of resolve and willingness...for His sake.

Cathy VinsonŠ

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

As we dwell on that delight of the very soul of the Father, we seem to enter into the innermost chambers of God.

Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

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~ Do You Pray About It? ~

Bible scholar Adam Clarke was a very slow and deliberate worker. He therefore disciplined himself to rise early every morning and get started on his work. A young preacher who admired Dr. Clarke and wanted to follow his example asked him how he could get up early so consistently. "Do you pray about it?" the man asked. "No," Clarke responded, "I just do it."

Sometimes God wants us to take action rather than pray. Today's scripture gives us an example. Pharaoh had pursued the Israelites and seemed to have them trapped. The people cried out to God. Moses encouraged them by assuring them that the Lord would destroy the enemy. It was then that God told Moses to move ahead. The time had come to act.