Today's Soul Food — May 2
 

 

GOLDEN WORDS



The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

Psalm 14:1

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To stand on one leg and prove God's existence is a very different thing from going on one's knees and thanking Him.

Søren Kierkegaard

 

Daily Meditations by  Pat Nordman ©

 


 May 2

"Love...keeps no records of wrongs." 1 Corinthians 13:5b.

In yesterday's meditation we considered the first four commandments for a happy marriage. Today we continue these suggestions written by an author who herself learned through prayer and hope that marriage is forever and, with God's help, it can be happy, as well. 5.Don't have the last word. Let God's Word be the last word—to yourself. If need be, write a rational and caring note during those times when you can't verbally communicate. 6.Forgive, as God has already forgiven us all.

7.Give thanks often to God for this person, and then give thanks to the person. 8.Don't discuss marital problems with "sympathetic" friends who you know thought the marriage to be a big mistake anyway. This can be the death knell.

9.Be grateful for this set of circumstances and see in this situation the opportunity for spiritual growth. 10.Make the first move, with whatever words are necessary. You can simply say, "I'm sorry," or "Please forgive me." Believe me when I say this works!

Ms. Sawyer also talks about the IOU's—the records of wrongs—we accumulate and stuff in a drawer and pull out during our stress times. She advises, "Instead of keeping track of our spouse's IOU's, we might try putting our own into the empty space: IOU for taking on the responsibility of a family; IOU for loving me enough to overlook my moods; IOU for letting me pursue my hobbies without question; IOU for absorbing financial burdens; IOU for being willing to stay home alone when I go on fishing trips; IOU for being kind enough to leave me alone when I need that aloneness.


Pat Nordman ©

 

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions


Spurgeon's Morning for May 2

birds in winter


Spurgeon's Evening for May 2

 

"These all died in faith."

-  Hebrews 11:13

  

"I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world."

-  John 17:15

Behold the epitaph of all those blessed saints who fell asleep before the coming of our Lord! It matters nothing how else they died, whether of old age, or by violent means; this one point, in which they all agree, is the most worthy of record, "they all died in faith."

It is a sweet and blessed event which will occur to all believers in God's own time--the going home to be with Jesus. In a few more years the Lord's soldiers, who are now fighting "the good fight of faith" will have done with conflict, and have entered into the joy of their Lord.

   
 

 

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 May 2  2Sa 19:1 - 20:26

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Current Bible Question ?



What was the name of the first judge of Israel?
 

Previous question and Answer:

Which wife of David's was unable to bear children because she despised his dancing before the Lord?

Michal (2 Samuel 6:23)


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Today's  Devotion
 

 

 

 

 

Hold Fast

by Cathy Vinson

 

"I am not able to rise up and give to you"

(Luke 11:8)

One of the hardest areas in which to forbear is an apparent denial before God. Yet, it is apparent that He at times responds like this, even with the most soundest of requests. Why would God require this endurance of us, who
already seem rather weak towards prayer?

"In our intercession we may find that there is difficulty and delay in the answer. It may be as if God says, 'I cannot give thee.' It is not easy, against all appearances, to hold fast our confidence that He will hear, and then to continue to persevere in full assurance that we shall have what we ask. Even so, this is what God desires from us. He highly prizes our confidence in Him, which is essentially the highest honor the creature can render the Creator. He will therefore do anything to train us in the exercise of this trust in Him. Blessed the man who is not staggered by God's delay or silence or apparent refusal, but is strong in faith giving glory to God." (Andrew Murray)

The following unknown poet has grasped God's heart in this dilemma:

Desperately, helplessy, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait!"

"Wait?" you say, "wait!" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By FAITH I have asked, and am claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"And Lord, you promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

He seemed then to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun,
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

"All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be,
You would have what you want-but, you wouldn't know ME.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.

"You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of my Spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and I save...(for a start),
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for thee.'
Yes, your dreams for your loved ones overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss! if you missed what I'm doing in you!

"So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see
THAT THE GREATEST OF GIFTS IS TO GET TO KNOW ME.
And though off may My answers seem terribly late,
My wisest of answers is still but to WAIT."

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

It is not easy, against all appearances, to hold fast our confidence that He will hear, and then to continue to persevere in full assurance that we shall have what we ask.

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