GOLDEN WORDS
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8
Heed not the demons even if they awaken you for prayer.
St. Anthony of Egypt
Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman ©
May 11
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, for as you rejoice and give thanks, you release heaven's
treasures and shower upon your head the blessings of a delighted Father. Nothing so
thoroughly delights the Father's heart as the praises of His children.
"For praise exercises the heart toward gratitude, and gratitude nurtures contentment,
and you may know for a certainty that no fruit ever appears on the tree of discontent.
"So praise, My children, and never cease in your praising, for in the midst of it I
will manifest Myself, and you will understand that when I demand of you your praises it is
for your highest good.
"Out of praises come courage, faith, strength, optimism, clarity and peace. Out of
praises come health and happiness and the soul satisfaction men seek in the world and do
not find.
"Praise will transform the humblest dwelling to a hallowed haven. It will light the
countenance and make the plainest face beautiful. It is impossible for the man who has
learned unceasing praise to be a failure. God's blessing attends his path, and God's
Spirit rules his heart. He is eternally at peace with both God and man." Excerpt from
ON THE HIGH ROAD OF SURRENDER, Frances J. Roberts, The King's Press.
"He has sent me to...bestow on them...a garment of praise instead of a spirit of
despair." Isaiah 61:13. "This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top
to bottom." John 19:23. In Jesus' time, great sorrow was indicated by tearing the
garment, but this particular garment that belonged to Jesus was not torn. Is this our
garment of praise, praise that Jesus was sent to save us?
Pat Nordman ©
Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions |
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| "I am with you alway." - Matthew 28:20 |
"Only be thou strong and very courageous." - Joshua 1:7
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Remember that all the flowers in the world's garden fade by turns, and the day cometh when nothing will be left but the black, cold earth. Death's black extinguisher must soon put out thy candle. Oh! how sweet to have sunlight when the candle is gone! |
From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with fears. He would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. |
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Current Bible Question ?
How did Michal, David's wife, help David to escape the king's messengers?
Previous question and Answer:
When was an iron ax made to float on water?
But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.2 Kings 6:5-7
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See To It by Cathy Vinson
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In the pressure-packed last days of Jesus' earthly life, stress was high, particularly high for those who had an agenda to carry out. They had been well prophesied of: "they tie up heavy burdens and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them" (Mt 23:4). This was certainly the case. They were not about to move any of the burdens they were placing. "See to it." A later translation gives it the words "It's your responsibility." In our common vernacular, we would say "YOU deal with it!" In an intense discussion, has a door been slammed on you, a phone caller hung up on you? At that point you are left to deal with it. You thrash. Oh, how you'd like so much to put a bit of that burden on them. But no, you are closed into yourself and left with it. It's stuck on you. "I have betrayed innocent blood." What is that to us? You deal with it. It's all on you (Mt 27:4). Yet the Betrayer could not. It was too much. Pilate washed his hands in the basin. "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man. (It's on you.) It's your responsibility" (Mt 27:24). How we desire to lay it on someone else! Conversely, God uses the beauty of His grace through this principle. I recently saw it at work with a Christian friend who consistently outgives, deflecting what comes back to her. I had on my heart a gift to make her. Yet as I brought it to her, I purposed to drive away before she could profusely place it back on me. I wanted her to HAVE to receive, to have to sit there with it with no deflection, to soak up the affections that came with it. I wanted her to "see to it," to have to deal with it. God leaves us like this. How can I deal with such kindness? How can I deal with the free gift of His Son? Can't I please repay? Can't I work for it, work it off, exercise it off, deflect it somehow? It's so much. No, I need to "see to it." And to do so will be the continuing steps of salvation faith. © Send a note to Cathy Vinson
, the writer of this devotion. |
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More Whispers from the Wilderness
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