March 2

"To one he gave five talents...to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability" Matthew 25:15.

If we who claim to be Christian would claim the dormant power sealed within us and exercise whatever talents–gifts–God has graced us with and then use them for God and others, just think of the revolution that would take place on this earth! God never intended for any of us to be unsuccessful. In fact, He called us to be bright lights and preserving salt and people who serve.

Elbert Hubbard, a very successful man, described a successful person as one who tries, not cries; who works, not dodges; who shoulders responsibilities, not evades them; who gets under the burden instead of standing off, looking on, and giving advice. Charles Kingsley said: "The men whom I have seen succeed best in life have always been cheerful and hopeful men, who went about their business with a smile on their faces, and took the changes and chances of this mortal life like men, facing rough and smooth alike as it came."

The following is a ladder of success: 0%I won't; 10%I can't; 20%I don't know how; 30%I wish I could; 40%What is it?; 50%I think I might; 60%I might; 70%I think I can; 80%I can; 90%I will; 100%I did. Someone commented that success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Together that gives us the 100% of "I did." We moan that we have no talent and opportunities when it is perseverance and concentration we need.

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke. The birds don't worry about which of them sings best, either; they just do what is natural for them. Instead of worrying about others' talents, let us thank God for our own and get on with using them, for what we don't use, we soon lose.

Pat Nordman ©

Pat Nordman ©

Today's Bible Question ?

The Ammonites' bloodthirsty god was widely known in Israel because of the horrible practice of children being sacrificed to him. What was the name of this god?

Previous question and Answer:

What gruesome object did the Philistines fasten in the temple of Dagon?

Saul's Head - (1 Chronicles 10:10)

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for March 2	Spurgeon's Evening for March 2
	"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." - Ephesians 3:8
"But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock." - 1 Samuel 13:20	The apostle Paul felt it a great privilege to be allowed to preach the gospel. He did not look upon his calling as a drudgery, but he entered upon it with intense delight.
We are engaged in a great war with the Philistines of evil. Every weapon within our reach must be used. Preaching, teaching, praying, giving, all must be brought into action, and talents which have been thought too mean for service, must now be employed.

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March 2 Numbers 26:1 - 27:23

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

As yet I do not have enough pages finished for each day of this wonderful season of lent. Pages will appear here sporadically through the Lenten season.

Easter 1

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Madam Humbert’s Money Box

A country girl of humble origin but clever and ambitious, was anxious to figure in the best Parisian society. She had married above her station and gave out that she was immensely wealthy.

    She told how, while traveling, an old gentleman in the next compartment was taken seriously ill, and she had been able to save his life. As a result he had bequeathed all his property to her. The deeds of his property were supposed to be in a certain safe which Madame Humbert kept in her salon, and which was sometimes on view, bearing on its front a plentiful supply of sealing wax. On the strength of this she borrowed money to the extend of millions of francs. This went on for several years till her creditors became uneasy.

    Then the matter was brought to court. The judge decided that the safe should be opened in the presence of witnesses. When it was opened, it was found to contain only a copper coin not worth a halfpenny. The manifestation revealed her poverty and bankruptcy as well as her deceit.
—A. Naismith

Today's Devotion

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Character

"So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan. . .Thus they separated from each other"

Genesis 13:11

Abraham gave Lot first choice, and Lot took the choicest part. Lot didn't commit evil in the choice; rather, it was in the motive. He wanted worldly good, and didn't give thought to the final consequences of his choice. His uncle Abraham's first thought was how best to serve God; Lot's first thought was how best to serve Lot. That was the difference in the two characters.

"So Abraham said to Lot, `Let's not have any quarreling between you and me. . .for we are brothers'" Genesis 13:8. Our era is dressed in lawsuits. Here Abraham is a shining light and example to us of pursuing peace instead of rights; he knew what was suitable, and it wasn't a lawsuit. Uncle Abraham looked into the future; he was willing to forego immediate satisfaction for subsequent results and realities.

Our character is the sum of the characters we have met in life. Some of these characters are direct such as our parents, teachers, or friends who have had an impact. The indirect character formation is just as important and these are the good or bad books we read, the time we waste on television which can rob us of true vision, and the good or bad thoughts we harbor. There is no doubt that good character is formed from the assets of principle and that bad character is formed from the liabilities of the debts we pile up each time we allow ourselves to indulge in unprincipled associations, tangible and intangible.

The world is filled with goodness if we have the spirit to search it out and dwell on it. It comes in the form of nature, beautiful thoughts from past ages, and living individuals who become a noble part of our whole character, if we but take the time and effort to develop the principles of God.

There is no doubt that good character is formed from the assets of principle and that bad character is formed from the liabilities of the debts we pile up each time we allow ourselves to indulge in unprincipled associations, tangible and intangible.

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