Today's Soul Food

DECEMBER 29

GOLDEN WORDS

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 KJV

God does not hide from those who seek Him with all their heart. Searching for God with all you heart is the key. Do you really want to find Him? Do you want Him to remain with you? Do you want Him as your LORD, or do you just want Him for a time. Do you want God for your convenience.

Most men forget God all day and ask Him to remember them at night.
—Anonymous

—Henry G. Bosch

December 29

"Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows..." (Isaiah 53:4).

See also Matthew 8:17. In this divine chapter in the Old Testament, we meet the Man who took up all our pain. Until we kneel with the Christ, the Anointed, in the Garden of Gethsemane in a grief that defies healing and have Him hold us, we cannot truly understand what the Father and Son have done for us.

Jesus was born at night and He experienced every dark night of the soul that we will ever endure, including three hours of dark-ness on the cross. But there will be no more darkness for He is the Light of the world: "...The glory of God gives [the city] light, and the Lamb is its lamp" (Revelation 21:23).

Pat Nordman ©

Today's Bible Question ?

Where did Mary bring her newborn son Jesus "when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished"?

Previous question and Answer:

What prophet was instructed by God to shave his hair and to burn a third, smite a third, and scatter a third of it as a sign?

Ezekiel Ezek. 5:1-4

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for December 29	Spurgeon's Evening for December 29
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." - 1 Samuel 7:12	"What think ye of Christ?" - Matthew 22:42
We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys.	The great test of your soul’s health is, What think you of Christ? Is he to you "fairer than the children of men"-"the chief among ten thousand"-the "altogether lovely"? Wherever Christ is thus esteemed, all the faculties of the spiritual man exercise themselves with energy. I will judge of your piety by this barometer: does Christ stand high or low with you?

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While There Is Time

While there is time, Lord, May I use it well, 'Tis gone in a moment, One can never tell Which day is our last one, With so much to do, All must be in order, When summoned by You.

While there is time, Lord, And life is my own, Let me bring gladness To someone alone. Renew a small hope, Rekindle a dream, For shadows are never As dark as they seem.

While there is time, Lord, Let me not waste The chances You give me, I cannot replace. Lend me Your wisdom, That I may learn To give of myself, Nor ask a return.

Let me be gentle, Keep my words kind, In spite of the worries, Crossing my mind. And when at long last, Life's sun starts to set, Let me have never A cause to regret.

- Grace E. Easley

Today's' fact about Time and its measurement, a time quotation and a New Year Inspiration.

New Year 3

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December 29 Re 17:1 - 18:24

Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

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

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, unrestained.
"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

"The cup that I am going to drink"

(Matthew 20:22)

"You will drink from My cup"

(Matthew 20:23))

We place our feet upon the places where His [Jesus'] feet have made the deepest footprint.

Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE