Today's Soul Food — November 16

Golden Words

I am in prison because I belong to the Lord. God chose you to be his people, so I urge you now to live the life to which God called you. Always be humble, gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love. You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.

Ephesians 4:1-3 NCV

God has chosen us to be His representatives here on the earth. As His representatives we need to model the characteristics of Christ. Other people will be watching us. Does our life mirror the life of Christ? How well do we do as Christ's representatives?

Do we have the characteristics of goodness found in Christ. Are we humble, gentle, patient and loving? We can never be perfect here on earth, but with God's help we can keep trying.

PBB

When you see an old man amiable, mild, equable, content, and good-humored, be sure that in his youth he has been just, generous, and forbearing. In his end he does not lament the past, nor dread the future; he is like the evening of a fine day.

Arabian Proverb

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman ©

November 16

"She knows her groceries, I guess;
She knows her onions, I confess;
She knows more than I can express.
I know you couldn't realize
How much she knows, she is so wise—
On any theme she can advise.
She knows the things that I do not
(And that is saying quite a lot);
When she speaks, all I say is, `What?'
I only wish that I could tell
The things she does one-half so well,
But I am just a plain dumbbell.
She is as wise as she can be,
But there's one thing she cannot see,
And that is–why she married me!"

Van H. Eshelman.
People married to pinnacles of wisdom and towers of babble finally die in self-defense, to get some peace and rest.

Pat Nordman ©

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions With links to the entire devotion
Spurgeon's Morning for November 16	Spurgeon's Evening for November 16
"The Lord is my portion, saith my soul." - Lamentations 3:24	"Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty." - Isaiah 33:17
The Lord is my portion. Not his grace merely, nor his love, nor his covenant, but Jehovah himself. He has chosen us for his portion, and we have chosen him for ours.	The more you know about Christ the less will you be satisfied with superficial views of him; and the more deeply you study his transactions in the eternal covenant, his engagements on your behalf as the eternal Surety, and the fullness of his grace which shines in all his offices, the more truly will you see the King in his beauty.

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November 16 Acts 20:1 - 22:30

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

Current Bible Question

Where does it tell about men wiping dishes?

Previous question and Answer:

What man had six fingers and toes rather than five?

And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 2 Samuel 21:20

Richard M. DuVoss, one of the cofounders of the Amway Corporation, tells how he purposely rose early one morning to thank his garbage man for his services. Mr. DuVoss did so because the man always was so punctual, careful, and quiet. The fellow was so shocked that he drove off without saying a word. Mr. DuVoss rose early to meet the same garbage man for three mornings before he got a response. Finally, the man answered, "In 12 years nobody ever told me they appreciated what I do. You are the first person ever to thank me."

When we practice the art of thanksgiving, we make others feel better and ourselves as well.

- Jerry Songer, "`Tis the Season to Be Thankful," Proclaim, (Nashville: Sunday School Board, Oct-Dec, 1996) 35

Today's Devotion

...and by his light I walked through darkness! JOB 29:3 NIV

Record of Wrongs

by Pat Nordman

"Love ... keeps no records of wrongs"

1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins" – 1 Peter 4:8

"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins" – Proverbs 10:12

"He who covers a transgression seeks love ... " – Proverbs 17:9a

Oh, let us engrave these verses on our hurting hearts! These are the verses that, with God's help, can uphold us and help us to renew our commitment to God Himself, as well as to those who need and deserve our cherishment. Love, in spite of how we feel about the who or the what or the why ... ! What a monumental invitation into the very chambers and the character of the Father. It also takes monumental courage, with emphasis on the mental, for it is taking hold of the will to love, even as God loves, in spite of what has happened--and in place of spite.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks to love is the records we keep of wrongs. Our precious God covers our sins and He asks us to forget the things--including sins, both ours and others--that are behind, and go on with His love and mercy. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them ... " 2 Corinthians 5:19. Can't we do for others that which God does for us: write wrongs in ashes? Too often we keep a record of the "sins" which God has already put away from Him, "as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12). Our heart is blackened with the soot of another's trespasses and now and then we sweep up a bit of it and rub our hands and minds in it, and then ask God for forgiveness for our meanness--again. Instead, let us pray for the grace to reconcile and wipe the record clean forever!

"[The orchid] covers the deformity with its own loveliness, absorbs all foul exhalations and turns them into the perfume of its own sweet flowers. Charity is this beautiful orchid, covering human frailty, clearing away harsh, suspicious, and cruel slanders; breathing forth merciful judgments, compassionate sympathy." (James Neill.) What an extraordinary thought this is, that we can cover the imperfections of our lives with God's orchids of mercy and hope, and He will do the rest for us.

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him" (John 3:17). What comfort it is to know that God sent His Son to save us, not to disapprove of us. Would that we did the same for each other. Jesus said "Then neither do I condemn you ... Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11). He even wrote in the dust the sins of the Pharisees, who were so ready to judge. "If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins ... who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness .... " (Psalm 130:3,4).

O Father, help us to wipe away records!

Send a note to Pat Nordman , the writer of this devotion.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks to love is the records we keep of wrongs. Our precious God covers our sins and He asks us to forget the things--including sins, both ours and others--that are behind, and go on with His love and mercy.

More Walking Through the Darkness

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