Today's Soul Food
 

 

FEBRUARY 19

GOLDEN WORDS


The Lord turned to Gideon and said, "Go with your strength and save Israel from the Midianites. I am the one who is sending you." But Gideon answered, "Lord, how can I save Israel from the Midianites? My family group is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family." The Lord answered him, "I will be with you. It will seem as if the Midianites you are fighting are only one man."  

Judges 6:14-16 NCV

The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" "But Lord, " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." 

Judges 6:14-16 - NIV


And the LORD looked at him and said, "Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?" And he said to Him, "O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house." But the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man."

Judges 6:14-16 - NASB


Sometimes we try too hard to assemble and polish the perfect tools to serve God. He doesn't need better tools. He's well-equipped to accomplish what needs to be done. And because the battles we face are spiritual, not temporal, the abilities and talents we add to our arsenal aren't necessarily the ones needed. What God desires is that we trust Him, and give Him what we already hold in our hands. 

Annie Chapman 

 

 

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman


February 19

"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" Mark 6:31c.

Our tender Jesus bids us, "Come—with Me." How grateful we are that Jesus meets us at our place of weariness. He says, come, not go. He says to come to a peaceful place. In the rustle and bustle of our macrocosm, we need Jesus' microcosm of composure and confidence. He says, come by yourselves. Jesus knows that only when we are alone will we be quiet so that we may hear what He has to say to us.

There are many places and ways, reasons for and seasons of rest. Especially in nature do we find a holy intermission. There is nothing like a sunrise, a sunset, an hour on the river, or a walk at night when the stars sparkle, to give repose to our weary souls. Our humane Jesus doesn't want a leftover from labors, so He bids us set aside physical and mental stresses so we may recreate restore stamina and stimulus.

"My soul finds rest in God alone" Psalm 62:1a. When it is calm we use the oars. It is when the storm comes up that we cast our anchor. When life is sailing along smoothly, we make our resolutions and use our determination but, when the squall bears down, then we take hold of "hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" Hebrews 6:19. We cast our anxieties into the calm depths of confidence.

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" Psalm 4:8. The only guard we need is God. In our world of turmoil we must know there is Someone outside ourselves who we can absolutely trust. It is God only; all other help is vain. "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and the heart never resteth till it findeth rest in Thee." St. Augustine.

Pat Nordman ©

 

 

 


Today's Bible Question ?


After Samson had killed a lion, he returned some time later and found what inside the carcass?    
 


Previous question and Answer:

What king built a fleet of trading ships that were all wrecked before they set sail?

Jehoshaphat, 1 Kings 22:48

 

 

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions

Spurgeon's Morning for February 19

 

Spurgeon's Evening February 19

 

"Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them."

- Ezekiel 36:37

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Prayer is the forerunner of mercy. Turn to sacred history, and you will find that scarcely ever did a great mercy come to this world unheralded by supplication.  

 

"He first findeth his own brother Simon."

-  John 1:41

 

cardinal


True grace puts an end to all spiritual monopoly.

 
 

 

 

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Surprise Attack

Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia, I saw a water puddle ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water and mud. As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked! Yet I did nothing for the attack was so unpredictable and from a source so totally unexpected. I was startled as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air on graceful butterfly wings in front of me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing, but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly! 

Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He rammed me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail. For a second time, I retreated a step while my attacker relented in his attack. Yet again, I tried moving forward. My attacker charged me again. I was rammed in the chest over and over again. I wasn't sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time. After all, it's just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. 

This time, though, I stepped back several paces to look the situation over. My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying. She was beside the puddle where he landed. 

Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate's sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her. Now I knew why and what he was fighting for. There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle to the other side of the path, though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy. His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate's safety justified it. I couldn't do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed. I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car. 

Since then, I've always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge obstacles facing me. I use that butterfly's courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for. 


~David L. Kuzminski~


 

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February 19 Numbers 7:1 - 7:89

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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)

Harmless Conflict

by Cathy Vinson


This ( the verses at left) decribes an absolute deliverance: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo emerge from the raging fire. Not even the smell of smoke lingered upon them. We sure do not seem to emerge from conflicts this way. Conflicts seem to allow every opportunity to be singed, burned and smell of bitterness. Paul however speaks of a rebuke and hurtful situation in which "they were not harmed in ANY way" (2 Cor 7:9).

What is Paul saying? What does God see then as harm? In a previous letter (we have no record of) with stern, unflinching rebuke, apparently very emotional, Paul had "hurt" the Corinthian church (2 Cor 7:8). They felt bad. The letter sat at their feet, and Paul couldn't change the tone of the words written down. They could remain hurt. Doesn't that mean wounds and scars?

At first perhaps "Well who does he think he is?" was heard. But in unresolution, time lapsed and did a work. Sorrow began to grow in hearts which led to repentance leaving for them "no regret," "no hurt in any way." They had been rebuked, hurt and grieved, but God had intentions for this unresolved conflict.

If we are in any relationship, misunderstandings will come. Fire is dangerous, but it is helpful to realize there is a way to emerge unharmed. God can burrow a sorrow toward repentance in the unrelief a lack of closure offers.

We hate conflicts. Though, God can work where we cannot see. It can be a testing ground to see how devoted we really are (2 Cor 7:12), and perhaps there is no harm in that.
"the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them"

(Dan 3:27; cf Is 43:2)

 
If we are in any relationship, misunderstandings will come. Fire is dangerous, but it is helpful to realize there is a way to emerge unharmed.

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

Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

 

 

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All the Rest February 19

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Today in History February 19

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Copyright Information: Phillip Bower is not the author of the humor, and does not claim to own any copyright privileges to the jokes. Sources of jokes are listed when known. Birthday's and Happenings for the date, and quotations are public knowledge and collected from numerous sources. Quotations are public knowledge and sources are listed when known. Weekendspirations are written by Tim Knappenberger who has copyright privileges. Cathy Vinson authors Whispers from the Wilderness and owns copyright privileges. Weekendspirations and Whispers from the Wilderness are used with permission by the respective authors. Other devotions are written by Phillip Bower unless otherwise stated. In all cases credit is given when known. The Daily Miscellany is nonprofit. Submissions by readers is welcome.