Today's Soul Food — October 16

 

Golden Words

      


The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk
through the dark valley of death,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest,
anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

Psalm 23 (New Living Translation)


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What a comforting song. The familiar 23rd Psalm is probably one of the best know passages of the Old Testament. These words of David have brought great comfort to many. It is satisfying to see the Lord as a loving shepherd. It is appeasing to see Jesus as our provider and protector. This image of Christ is popular. Jesus as a good shepherd is acceptable to all. It is a thought that is embraced even by 
New Agers and other non-Christians.

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As you read the Psalm over again – don’t miss the key word in verse 1. The Lord is MY Shepherd. Have you accepted The Lord Jesus as your Shepherd? Have you acknowledged Him as your Savior? Is Jesus just a good shepherd – or is He your Shepherd? Choose Jesus as your Savior and Shepherd today. Jesus will guide, refresh, protest, and bless you. Then you will live in His house with Him forever.Without Christ life is as the twilight with dark night ahead; with Christ it is the dawn of morning with the light and warmth of full day ahead.

Philip Schaff

 


Daily Meditations by  Pat Nordman ©

 


October 16

"But he went out and began to talk freely.-..As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly, but stayed out in lonely places" (Mark 1:45);

 "Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more He did so, the more they kept talking about it" (Mark 7:36). 

In satisfying a personal need to tell the world in our own way, we some-times hinder God's work. We must be very prayerful and careful of how and when we present God and His marvelous works. A grandmother who had years of experience in such things told her grand-children, 

"Always tell the truth, but don't always be telling it." Discretion is the better part of common sense

Pat Nordman ©

 

 


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Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions

With links to the entire devotion

Spurgeon's Morning for October 16

Spurgeon's Evening for October 16
 

"Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine."

- John 21:12

  

"With thee is the fountain of life."

- Psalm 36:9

"Come and dine," gives us a vision of union with Jesus, because the only food that we can feast upon when we dine with Jesus is himself. Oh, what union is this!

There are times in our spiritual experience when human counsel or sympathy, or religious ordinances, fail to comfort or help us. Why does our gracious God permit this? Perhaps it is because we have been living too much without him, and he therefore takes away everything upon which we have been in the habit of depending, that he may drive us to himself.

 

   

 

 

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October 16  Mark 8:1 - 9:50

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM 

 

Current Bible Question



   According to Jude's epistle, who disputed with Satan over the body of Moses?       
 

Previous question and Answer:

Jesus vanished out of the sight of two of his followers on the road to Emmaus after He did what?

Blessed the bread and broke it (Luke 24:30-31)

 

 

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Today's  Devotion
 

 

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

Job 16:5 (NIV)

 

Below the Surface

by Cathy Vinson 

 

"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful"

(Heb 12:11 NASB)

Sometimes the humility of sitting on the bottom of the barrel with no direction to look but up can actually be easier and more simplified than the grueling track downward. The process of being humbled is quite painful. Layer after layer of security is being peeled away, and like the rich we "are pierced with many sorrows" (1 Tim 6:10b).

However, as each new piercing is felt, I have found one previously undetected and unappreciated aspect come into view. My memory bank becomes quite active, and I begin recalling the PHRASES and EXPRESSIONS of others who have gone through a similar trial, setback, or letdown. Bonding with them below the surface becomes an encounter with them. Inwardly I am deepened, and I enjoy a new closeness to them.

I compare it to walking a path many times and growing so familiar to a certain gray rock beside the path, I pass it without notice. But when my nose is brought to the ground, I am eye-level with the path: I turn over the bottom side of that rock. It is teeming with activity! Busy ants, potato bugs, spiders, and worms have been making their lives there all along. In my days of ease, I wasn't being enriched by all this.

Now in uncovering these parts of my soul, I can reach out directly and indirectly toward those who have fellowshipped in similar trials. Such a true sincerity! Richness and vitality come in the place that was dormant. Just think...I could have missed this quite vibrant land below the surface! 

Cathy Vinson©

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

Sometimes the humility of sitting on the bottom of the barrel with no direction to look but up can actually be easier and more simplified than the grueling track downward.

 


Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

 

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~ Courage ~ 

In his autobiography, Donahue, Phil Donahue, shares an experience from Holden, West Virginia. He and a CBS television crew had gone to this Appalachian community to cover rescue attempts of thirty-eight miners. They had planned to be there one night but stayed three, eating doughnuts and drinking Red Cross coffee in bitterly cold weather. 

At last the rescue teams emerged, covered with soot and grime, weary beyond words. Relatives of the miners were waiting in the snow. Gathered around a smudge pot, a preacher said, "Dear God, let us pray." They joined hands and sang, "What a Friend We Have In Jesus." Donahue says it gave him goose bumps. It was beautiful! He knew it would make a great film for CBS, but the camera was frozen; by the time it was warmed up, the service was over. At 2:30 in the morning, Donahue approached the pastor with a request. 

"Reverend, I am from CBS News. Would you please go back through your prayer again? We have 206 television stations across the country who will hear you pray for these miners." 

The humble minister looked at him and said, "Son, I just couldn't do it. I have already prayed to my God, and any further praying at this time would be wrong. No sir, I just can't do it." 

Donahue was shocked that anyone would turn down a chance to be on CBS News. At last he made his way to a pay telephone to report to New York: "The _____ won't pray!" 

Donahue claims that the preacher's stand was the greatest demonstration of moral courage he has ever encountered. The man would not "show biz" for Jesus. He would not sell his soul - not even to CBS. Donahue says he often thinks of that preacher and than night. "I don't know where he is now, but if he isn't going to Heaven, no one is." 

- Phil Donahue & Co., Donahue (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1979) 66-67 

 

Today's Religion News
From Goshen Web News Service

 

 

 


All the Rest October 16


Today in History for October 16

 


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