Today's Soul Food — October 17

 

Golden Words

      


I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

 Jeremiah 29:11 (TLB)

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Today it seems that we are constantly being told by pop-psych gurus that we have great value. At the same time we are being told by the world that we are wrong in nearly everything we do. Self-esteem is important. Without self-esteem we can live miserable lives. The difficult thing is in how we find our self-esteem. We don’t have to belittle others to have self-esteem. We don’t have to over inflate ourselves and our own value to find self-esteem.

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As usual God has the answer. With God’s help and care we can find our true value. With God’s help we can develop a healthy self-esteem. Each of us possesses incredible value because we are children of the Creator, who has a specific plan for our lives.  

Dr. James Dobson

 


Daily Meditations by  Pat Nordman ©

 


October 17

From the London Christian: "Some witty person once said, `There are three kinds of givers, the flint, the sponge and the honey-comb.' To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it, and then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you squeeze, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness."

"...He who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.-..for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:6,7 NAS); "For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38c).

Pat Nordman ©

 

 


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Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions

With links to the entire devotion

Spurgeon's Morning for October 17

Spurgeon's Evening for October 17
 

"And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul."

- 1 Samuel 27:1

 

"With thee is the fountain of life."

- Psalm 36:9

Have we ever had the shadow of a reason to doubt our Father’s goodness? Have not his lovingkindnesses been marvellous? Has he once failed to justify our trust? Ah, no! our God has not left us at any time.

Our good Shepherd has in his flock a variety of experiences, some are strong in the Lord, and others are weak in faith, but he is impartial in his care for all his sheep, and the weakest lamb is as dear to him as the most advanced of the flock.

 

   

 

 

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October 17  Mr 10:1 - 11:33

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM 

 

Current Bible Question



   What lost letter of Paul is mentioned in the Letter to the Colossians?       
 

Previous question and Answer:

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

The archangel Michael (Jude 9)

 

 

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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)

 

Our Sips

by Cathy Vinson 

 

"The cup that I am going to drink" 

(Mt 20:22)

"You will drink from My cup"

 (Mt 20:23)

Jesus drank His cup. We, in turn, drink "from" that cup. Our sips will not atone for sin, but will place us on the road of imitation of Christ. We place our feet upon the places where His feet have made the deepest footprint.

His cup meant "being betrayed" (vs 18)...trusting and disclosing, only to be deserted and despised for what we have revealed.

"being condemned" (vs 18)...sweetest, most intimate leadings find contention from God's people. Misunderstood, we're considered misguided or even against our God.

"being handed over" (vs 19)...detained, under custody, not in control of ourselves or what we do. Under an authority that denies our dignity.

"...to the Gentiles" (vs 19)...handed to those without restraint, those without fear of God. Abusive, unrestrained.

"being mocked" (vs 19)...our image, words, standing considered worthless.
Ridiculed.

"being flogged" (vs 19)...Pain in our nerve endings. Blows. Feeling every blow of attack, every day, every hour.

We "will drink." If we can recognize our calling to those dark experiences, we may appreciate the warmth still fresh from His cup and know "the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings" (Phil 3:10). That is mingling with the cup of closest fellowship.  

Cathy Vinson©

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

Our sips will not atone for sin, but will place us on the road of imitation of Christ. We place our feet upon the places where His feet have made the deepest footprint. 

 


Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

 

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~ Angelic Face ~ 

An incident occurred in one of our meetings near Boston, that taught me a great lesson in leading souls to Christ. I can never lose sight of it. 

A lady connected with one of the city churches, but residing in that place, found she was not the humble, happy Christian she once was. She came to me, asking how she might obtain anew the joy of salvation; she felt she loved Jesus, but so faintly that the warmth and power of that love were gone. The conflict was long and severe. On one occasion, she said to me: 

"My husband has become skeptical. He rejects the Bible. It is of no use to speak to him. I have scarcely any hope of his being converted. But, oh, that I could enjoy the Savior's love as I used to!" 

At length the desire of her heart was granted, and all the joy of her first love to Jesus was restored to her. 

And now, though she had been a Christian, and a kind, careful wife and mother, she seemed almost like another person The false representations of religion were ended. Its sweetness and happiness shone in every feature of her face, gave melody to the tones of her voice, and added a new charm to all she did. 

She went about the house singing the songs of Zion. Anything that was not sinful, that would make her husband happier and her home pleasanter, she cheerfully performed, saying but little, however, about the change in her feelings; she did not need to, it was so apparent. Her husband saw it, and compared her present state with her past. Somehow this led him to look into his own heart. The conviction was forced upon him that religion was a reality, and one he could not do without. 

Some four days after this change in his wife, I called on him, to learn why he rejected the Bible and religion. I asked him to be frank with me, and tell me if he had no desire to be a Christian. 

He replied: 

"Mr. Earle, I have said nothing about it to my wife; but, sir, I feel I am a lost sinner, and if you will pray for me, I will kneel down with you right here." 

And, pointing to his wife, who was at that moment passing through the room, with the tears on her bright face, he continued: 

"That woman, my own dear wife, has had more power over me for a few days past than everything else put together. She has been a professor of religion for years, but I knew she did not enjoy religion, and I said if that was all there was in religion, I did not want it. But for the last few days she has looked and acted almost like an angel; and, sir, I cannot stand it; there is a power in her sweet, happy face that melts my heart I cannot withstand the attraction of such a religion." 

And all this because the joy of salvation was restored to the heart of that Christian wife! Oh, the power of Christ's love when it burns and glows in the heart! 

And perhaps some pious wife who reads these pages, has gone alone to the table of our Lord for many long years, just because her love to Jesus has been feeble and faint, and consequently her representation of religion unattractive and false. 

Some of these parents have not seen their children converted, for no other reason than that they have not had the joy of salvation filling their hearts and running over in their lives; they are Christ's own redeemed ones, but do not live as becomes his family, every member of which ought to be a wellspring of joy, pouring streams of gladness into every heart within reach. 

— A. B. Earle, From: "Incidents Used ... In His Meetings," published in 1888 

 

Today's Religion News
From Goshen Web News Service

 

 

 


All the Rest October 17


Today in History for October 17