Today's Bible Question ?

Who said: "The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak."?

Previous question and Answer:

What was the occupation of the two men that Joseph interpreted dreams for while he (Joseph) was in prison?

Answer – A baker and a Butler. (Genesis 40: 1-9, 16)

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for March 14	Spurgeon's Evening for March 14
	"I will take heed to my ways." - Psalm 39:1
"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." - 1 Corinthians 10:12	Be on your guard. When a man carries a bomb-shell in his hand, he should mind that he does not go near a candle; and you too must take care that you enter not into temptation. Even your common actions are edged tools; you must mind how you handle them.
He who boasts of grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry.

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March 14 Deuteronomy 14:1 - 16:22

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 | Easter 2 | Easter 3 | Easter 4 | Easter 5 | Easter 6

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No Charge

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and he handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: $5.00 For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00 For going to the store for you: $.50 Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25 Taking out the garbage: $1.00 For getting a good report card: $5.00 For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00 Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: No Charge. For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: No Charge. For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years: No Charge. For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: No Charge. For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: No Charge, Son. When you add it up, the cost of my love is: No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you". And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote:
"PAID IN FULL".

Today's Devotion

A Harmless Conflict (?)

"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)

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.