Stop your anger!
Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others
it only leads to harm.

Psalm 37:8 (New Living Translation)

In a 1994 article, "Wars' Lethal Leftovers Threaten Europeans," Associated Press reporter Christopher Burns writes: "The bombs of World War II are still killing in Europe. They turn up--and sometimes blow up--at construction sites, in fishing nets, or on beaches fifty years after the guns fell silent.

"Hundreds of tons of explosives are recovered every year in France alone. Thirteen old bombs exploded in France last year, killing twelve people and wounding eleven, the Interior Ministry said.

"'I've lost two of my colleagues,' said Yvon Bouvet, who heads a government team in the Champagne-Ardennes region that defuses explosives from both World War I and II. ...

"Unexploded bombs become more dangerous with time, Bouvet said. 'With the corrosion inside, the weapon becomes more unstable, the detonator can be exposed.'" What is true of lingering bombs is also true of lingering anger. Buried anger will explode when we least expect it.

— Barry McGee, Anderson, California. Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 3

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman Š

September 28

"To cease to rebel, to stop fighting back, to be content with half a loaf when you cannot have a whole onethese are hard lessons, but all of us must learn them. I have found that the great word is Acquiescence." Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau. A motto which used to hang in homes read: "The City of Contentment is in the State of Mind." In Christianity we have the vehicle to drive away discontent, for it takes away the natural causes of discontent: pride, selfishness and greed.

If we believe God has the whole world in His hands, and each life as well, then we can't be miserable. Misery, too, is in the State of Mind.

Pat Nordman Š

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions With links to the entire devotion
Spurgeon's Morning for September 28	Spurgeon's Evening for September 28
"The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men." - Psalm 33:13	"Go again seven times." - 1 Kings 18:43
We cannot help pouring out our heart in affection for our Lord who inclines his ear from the highest glory, and puts it to the lip of the dying sinner, whose failing heart longs after reconciliation. How can we but love him when we know that he numbers the very hairs of our heads, marks our path, and orders our ways?	Success is certain when the Lord has promised it. Although you may have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer, it is not possible that the Lord should be deaf when his people are earnest in a matter which concerns his glory.

dbiblc.gif (5194 bytes)

September 28 Zec 1:1 - 7:14

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

Current Bible Question

Who took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands to symbolize how the Jews would bind Paul and deliver him to the gentiles?

Previous question and Answer:

James and John were the sons of Zebedee, but who was their mother?

Salome (Mark 15:20)

Today's Devotion

But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

Job 16:5 (NIV)

A Family Pending

by Cathy Vinson

"stood outside"

(Matthew 12:46)

It is our soul's satisfaction to see the closure and faithfulness of God, especially in the case of our own family. We get a glimpse into Jesus' earthly family in this scripture, a cross-section of the experience He had. We rejoice to know later of Mary and His brothers' presence and experience of Pentecost. Yet, in the interim, there is light shed on what might be may be our most painful yearning: our present family dynamic.

Matthew 12:46-50 provides us a slice of life, His life.

"While Jesus was talking to the crowd..." (46). This crowd were those who were willing to listen, to get under the same roof with Jesus as He taught, therefore putting themselves accountable to His teachings. (They were willing to actually go into the church to hear the message...inside.)

"His mother and brothers stood outside..." They stood; they weren't moving. They were erect...outside. Outside or without (exo), says much. It is also used to describe "(those) that are outside" (1 Cor 5:12,13), the unregenerate (1 Th 4:12).

"desiring to speak with Him." They wanted a connection. They were striving, earnestly endeavoring...to converse? No, it wasn't a two-way conversation that they were desiring. This was a speech, an utterance, intended on their part. They were going to tell Him!

Jesus didn't move to go outside the teaching atmosphere that was presently established around Him, at least not immediately. Instead His effort went to stretching His hand to His disciples, pointing out to the others that these were the ones that had the place of "family" to Him.

And for the present, it would be these that "do"...(bear, bring, cause, commit, continue, deal, execute, exercise, fulfil, give, hold, keep, make, observe, purpose, put, show, spend, take, work, yield,...etc) "the will of My Father in Heaven" (Mt 12:50).

Cathy VinsonŠ

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

It is our soul's satisfaction to see the closure and faithfulness of God, especially in the case of our own family.

Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

T
H
I
N
K

A
B
O
U
T

I
T

~ Remorse ~

Many years ago while two little boys were playing the older, in a fit of anger, struck his younger brother a severe blow in the face. The little fellow did not return the blow, but, with tears in his bright blue eyes, simply said, "Charlie, what did you hit me for?" Years passed; the boys became men and were separated from each other by a long distance. One day the summons came to Charles to come to the bedside of his dying brother; but it was not until after the funeral had taken place that he arrived. As he stood by the new-made grave, he remembered the childhood incident referred to above. Through the dim vista of the years he looked back to his early childhood; he saw again the tearful eyes and heard once more the pleading voice: "Charlie, what did you hit me for?" That voice sounded in the ear of his soul, and he felt as though he would willingly give all he possessed had that hasty blow never been struck.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."