| July 1"I want you to be wise in what is
| |
| | all need a significant other to carry us
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| good, and innocent in what is evil"
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| | through the day of "grief and desperate
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| (Romans 16:19). There is prey, which is
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| | sorrow" (Isaiah 17:11c, KJV). It is not
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| what happened in the garden with Eve, and
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| | good for the anguished to be alone.July
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| there is pray, which is what Jesus did in
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| | 15What is a man? "...The spirit of wisdom
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| the Garden. God had His reasons for
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| | and understanding...counsel and
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| forbidding Eve to eat of that particular
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| | strength...knowledge and the fear of the
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| tree, but she disobeyed and then Adam.
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| | Lord...He will not judge by what His eyes
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| Jesus was also in a Garden, and He also
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| | see, nor make a decision by what His ears
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| had an encounter with a tree: He was hung
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| | hear; but with righteousness He will
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| on it. "So then as through one
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| | judge the poor, and decide with fairness
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| transgression there resulted condemnation
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| | for the afflicted of the earth ..."
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| to all men, even so through one act of
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| | (Isaiah 11:2-4a NAS). This verse applies
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| righteousness there resulted
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| | to Jesus, and it is the human Man who we
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| justification of life to all men" (Romans
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| | want to imitate. Jesus never tyrannized
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| 5:18).July 2"In Jesus Christ, in that
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| | nor insisted that His way be done. He did
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| God-man, so full of tenderness, so
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| | tell us that His Father's will must
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| gentle, kind, loving and long-suffering;
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| | finally be done, if we are to be
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| here not spurning away but encouraging a
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| | happy.July 16"He will bring forth justice
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| weeping Magdalene; here shedding tears
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| | to the nations. He will not cry out or
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| for a city that was about to shed his
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| | raise His voice, nor make His voice heard
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| blood; here forgetting his own sorrows in
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| | in the street. A bruised reed He will not
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| pity for a mother's, putting forth his
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| | break, and a dimly burning wick He will
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| dying strength to save a thief, and
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| | not extinguish...He will not be
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| spending life's latest breath in prayer
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| | disheartened...until He has established
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| for bloody murderers; in him who hastened
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| | justice in the earth..." (Isaiah 42:2-4
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| on wings of love to pluck this world from
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| | NAS). A true man of God is tender and
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| ruin--who never wished ill to any, but
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| | quiet and persevering. He does not crush
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| good to all--who returned blessing for
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| | the nearly wilted spirit of wife or son
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| cursing...who this day bends looks of
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| | or daughter or friend or foe. He is there
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| pity on [us]...in him God unveils himself
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| | to uplift hearts, for it is useless to
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| to us" (Dr. Guthrie).July 3"Forgetting
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| | say it if he won't do it. A day will come
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| what lies behind..." (Philippians 3:13):
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| | when it is too little and much too
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| slanders; temptations; sins which God has
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| | late.July 17"Husbands, love your wives,
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| already forgiven; the little and large
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| | even as Christ also loved the church and
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| faults of others; provocations that sear
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| | gave himself for it...for no man ever yet
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| our sensitive nature; quarrels that
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| | hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and
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| either we or they have started; and all
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| | cherisheth it, even as the Lord the
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| the disagreeables of life. We have such a
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| | church..." (Ephesians 5:25,29 KJV). When
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| perverted and sinful tendency to zero in
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| | we love, we indeed cherish, prize,
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| on the bone and forget the delicious meat
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| | esteem, treasure the object of our love.
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| of life: family, friends, co-workers with
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| | We appreciate that person for what he or
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| whom we can share a thought and a laugh.
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| | she is, not for what we think we can make
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| Let us blot out others' transgressions
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| | of him or her. Certainly the sword of
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| and our disagreeables today.July 4"Then
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| | ridicule will not cure the person of
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| the Lord answered Job out of the
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| | whatever we think is the problem. We are
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| storm..." (Job 38:1). Then, when his
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| | unique and it is that very uniqueness we
|
| friends had spoken their broken pieces,
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| | can cherish in our family member or our
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| when Job was at wit's end and had vented
| |
| | friend.July 18The theory of the Peter
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| his grief and despair at this God who was
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| | Principle is that we are promoted to
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| out to get him--then God spoke His Word
| |
| | incompetence. There is a story of the
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| to Job. God does not mistime any of His
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| | pocket-watch that went to London with its
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| visits, whether for mercy or for
| |
| | owner. It became dissatisfied as it
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| judgment. Sometimes He has to come in a
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| | looked at Big Ben, the immense tower
|
| storm for us to notice the importance of
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| | clock of London. "I wish I could be up
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| the lesson He has for us. He does not
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| | there," the watch mused. "I could serve
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| come to crush or overwhelm us, but to
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| | the multitude." Suddenly the little watch
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| make sense of our perplexing problem:
| |
| | had its wish and was drawn up to the
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| "Come now," He implores, "let us reason
| |
| | tower and it became invisible. Its rise
|
| together" (Isaiah 1:18). Dear friend, we
| |
| | became its demise. "God has
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| are not alone in any storm of life!July
| |
| | appointed...apostles...prophets
|
| 5In Revelation 3:20 Jesus is presented as
| |
| | ...teachers...workers of miracles...gifts
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| the guest of our heart: "Here I am! I
| |
| | of healing...those able to help
|
| stand at the door and knock. If anyone
| |
| | others...those with gifts of
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| hears My voice and opens the door, I will
| |
| | administration..." (1 Corinthians 12:28).
|
| come in to him, and eat with him, and he
| |
| | There is no shame in being in our place,
|
| with Me." Our Jesus can't become any more
| |
| | wherever or whatever that is.July 19"If I
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| human than fellowshipping with us at the
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| | had to live through a major illness again
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| table. In His I AM's, He tells us I AM
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| | there is one part of the last...years
|
| the bread of life; I AM the Staff of
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| | that I would change. I chose to make my
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| Consolation on which you can lean; I AM
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| | experience with cancer very private. I
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| the Bread which you can eat to gain
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| | was afraid, and afraid to express that I
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| strength; I AM the Good Shepherd who will
| |
| | was afraid. Also, I did not want to
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| lead you through your valley; I AM your
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| | burden anyone else with my problem. I now
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| right-now help in this time of trouble. I
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| | consider my previous orientation to have
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| AM--not was or will be!July 6"[The
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| | been selfish and stupid. I would now want
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| wicked] says to himself,`God has
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| | to be encompassed by a caring community
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| forgotten; He covers His face and never
| |
| | of friends with whom I could share the
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| sees'" (Psalm 10:11). The wicked think
| |
| | inner mental and emotional trauma of
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| that because God lets them live then He
| |
| | illness. And I would hope to be in the
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| must wink at their offenses. Justice may
| |
| | care of health professionals for whom I
|
| be blind on earth but heaven sees every
| |
| | was not a diagnosis but a person" (Dr.
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| move and God will recompense. It's yet
| |
| | Donald Musser, Stetson University,
|
| another of His blessed wills. He is the
| |
| | DeLand, Florida).July 20"So Lot chose for
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| Vindicator of causeless causes: of those
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| | himself all the valley of the
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| who have been wronged for no reason.
| |
| | Jordan...Thus they separated from each
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| Innocents have been slaughtered for
| |
| | other" (Genesis 13:11 NAS). Abraham gave
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| centuries in wars and slanders and
| |
| | Lot first choice, and Lot took the
|
| circumstances that have turned against
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| | choicest part. Lot didn't commit evil in
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| them. The Innocent One encountered Evil
| |
| | the choice; rather, it was in the motive.
|
| in its raw form, but He conquered, and He
| |
| | He wanted worldly good, and didn't give
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| conquers for us.July 7"Create in me a
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| | thought to the final consequences of his
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| pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast
| |
| | choice. His uncle Abraham's first thought
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| spirit within me. Do not cast me from
| |
| | was how best to serve God; Lot's first
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| your presence..." (Psalm 51:10,11). What
| |
| | thought was how best to serve Lot. Paul,
|
| a perfect prayer! The guilt of what he
| |
| | too, had a problem with being forsaken
|
| had done to Bathsheba and her husband
| |
| | for what Demas thought was greener
|
| crushed David's heart and he realized
| |
| | pasture: "Demas, because he loved this
|
| only God could cleanse and release him.
| |
| | world, has deserted me and has gone to
|
| David craved a new heart for he knew his
| |
| | Thessalonica..."(2 Timothy 4:10).July
|
| old one was beyond mere repair. He wanted
| |
| | 21We want par or below for our golf game,
|
| a pure love and a new mental and moral
| |
| | but we want to be above par for the
|
| nature that would renovate his entire
| |
| | contest of life. Jesus tells us He came
|
| self and life. The sacrifices of God are
| |
| | that we might have life abundantly (John
|
| a broken spirit; a broken and contrite
| |
| | 10:10). Some think they must experience
|
| heart He will not despise (vs.17). O
| |
| | it all, even the below-pars of life; they
|
| Father, we come to You for new hearts and
| |
| | collect sensations as others collect
|
| minds!July 8"I can't do that." Edgar A.
| |
| | stamps or smoked bottles, not realizing
|
| Guest wrote a delightful poem about this
| |
| | they join Eve in tasting the forbidden
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| problem: "Some said, it couldn't be done.
| |
| | fruits. They want to taste the so-called
|
| But he, with a chuckle, replied/That
| |
| | whole of life and find it leaves a bitter
|
| maybe it couldn't, but he would be one/
| |
| | taste in their mouths. "Come out...be
|
| Who wouldn't say so till he tried./So he
| |
| | separate...touch no unclean thing..." (2
|
| buckled right in with a bit of a grin/On
| |
| | Corinthians 6:17). We want to live an
|
| his face. If he worried, he hid it./He
| |
| | above-par and wholesome life for our Lord
|
| started to sing, as he tackled the thing
| |
| | and others.July 22"`Why should he be put
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| That couldn't be done--and he did it."
| |
| | to death? What has [David] done?'
|
| The high school senior was dying. He
| |
| | Jonathan asked his father" (1 Samuel
|
| asked to receive his diploma earlier than
| |
| | 20:32); "`Crucify Him!' `Why, what crime
|
| his classmates. When the principal
| |
| | has He committed?'" (Matthew 27:22,23).
|
| brought it to him, the brave boy smiled
| |
| | Indeed, what evil has He done? He who
|
| and said, "Well, I made the grade!" Are
| |
| | knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) was
|
| we brave enough to make God's grade?July
| |
| | about to die for the sins of the rest of
|
| 9"The purpose of a book of meditations is
| |
| | us. We wonder at times why someone has a
|
| to teach you how to think and not to do
| |
| | burden that seems so unfair. The
|
| your thinking for you. Consequently if
| |
| | disciples asked Jesus: "Who sinned, this
|
| you pick up such a book and simply read
| |
| | man or his parents, that he was born
|
| it through you are wasting your time. As
| |
| | blind?" "Neither," the Man of Sorrows
|
| soon as any thought stimulates your mind
| |
| | replied. (John 9:2,3.) Pain and sorrow
|
| or your heart you can put the book down
| |
| | are facts of life; the question is, do we
|
| because your meditation has begun"
| |
| | glorify or vilify Him in the fires of
|
| (Thomas Merton). What a pity our
| |
| | affliction?July 23"I thank Christ Jesus
|
| progressive world has no time to think,
| |
| | our Lord, who has given me strength, that
|
| to slow down and feel the breeze.
| |
| | He considered me faithful, appointing me
|
| Instead, the gentle breeze becomes a wind
| |
| | to His service..." (1 Timothy 1:12). What
|
| as we whiz through it. Perhaps our modern
| |
| | an extraordinary idea this verse
|
| meditation could be, "In quietness and
| |
| | presents: our Lord encourages us because
|
| trust is your strength" (Isaiah
| |
| | He considers us faithful. He puts us into
|
| 30:15).July 10Greediness is a terrible
| |
| | His service so we might be ministers,
|
| affliction. Noiseless and secret giving
| |
| | teachers, comforters, helpers: whatever
|
| of those tangibles and intangibles we so
| |
| | He has chosen for us to do. We need not
|
| covet can be a cure for our wants that we
| |
| | force ourselves into His service, for He
|
| translate into needs. We have heard the
| |
| | has chosen us for His appointment. We
|
| expression that today's luxuries become
| |
| | need not worry about results, either, as
|
| tomorrow's necessities. For those who
| |
| | long as we remain steadfast to His
|
| live in the tropical zone, air
| |
| | principles. Yes, we thank Christ Jesus
|
| conditioning has become an essential to
| |
| | who has already strengthened us for
|
| health--and yet, how did our ancestors do
| |
| | whatever this day brings.July
|
| without it? Sacrifice? Say that today,
| |
| | 24*Happiness is pleasure; joy is peace.
|
| and it could mean giving up our
| |
| | *Happiness is a tangible result,
|
| television program for one night. We have
| |
| | dependent on circumstances; joy is the
|
| not resisted to the point of shedding
| |
| | result of faith, independent of
|
| blood or tears in our striving against
| |
| | happenings in life. *Joy is internal,
|
| our inclinations (Hebrews 12:4).
| |
| | solid and light; pleasure is external,
|
| Priorities...!July 11"See...that no
| |
| | liquid and gray. *Joy is and will be;
|
| bitter root grows up to cause trouble and
| |
| | pleasure is a has-been. *Joy is
|
| defile many" (Hebrews 12:15).
| |
| | character; pleasure is a condition. *Joy
|
| Unfortunately, the root of hostility digs
| |
| | is expansive; pleasure is expensive. *Joy
|
| deeply into hearts everywhere human
| |
| | is reflection on the way to perfection;
|
| beings live, work and play. The Lord
| |
| | pleasure is deflection. *Joy is sense;
|
| showed Moses a tree at Marah (Exodus
| |
| | pleasure is senses. *Joy has reserves;
|
| 15:25) that he was to throw into the
| |
| | pleasure has reservations. *Joy is
|
| bitter waters so they would become sweet.
| |
| | sharing; pleasure is shearing. *Joy is a
|
| Dear friends, let us not waste one more
| |
| | variety of blessings; pleasure is a
|
| day without grasping the Branch of the
| |
| | variable of emotions.July 25"Your
|
| Lord and allowing Him to sweeten our
| |
| | strength will equal your days"
|
| bitter waters. "In that day the Branch of
| |
| | (Deuteronomy 33:25). It is good to know
|
| the Lord will be beautiful and glorious,
| |
| | our endurance will equal what needs to be
|
| and the fruit of the land will be the
| |
| | done today. Somehow we gather enough
|
| pride and glory of the survivors of
| |
| | energy to go on if we have such assurance
|
| Israel" (Isaiah 4:2). Thank You,
| |
| | from our source of Power. As a wise
|
| Father!July 12Indigestion can be
| |
| | Unknown said, "The back is made to meet
|
| miserable; spiritual indigestion is even
| |
| | the burden." The soldier needs courage
|
| worse. Peevishness causes the heart to
| |
| | (and we are all soldiers in this earthly
|
| burn. One of the saddest aspects of
| |
| | struggle); the mother needs an extra
|
| slow-burning anger is that it finally
| |
| | portion of patience and perseverance, the
|
| turns on the one who inflicts it.
| |
| | father a greater measure of physical
|
| Shakespeare said, "Men in rage strike
| |
| | stamina; both husband and wife can use
|
| those that wish them best." Soon those
| |
| | the strength of forbearance; and we all
|
| who once wished them well wish them gone
| |
| | need the strength to be calm in this
|
| and out of sight and mind, and then they
| |
| | worried world.July 26"Go to the ant, you
|
| wonder why they are no longer welcome in
| |
| | sluggard; consider its ways and be wise"
|
| normal company. Those so bent on giving
| |
| | (Proverbs 6:6); "We do not want you to
|
| others a piece of their mind soon lose
| |
| | become lazy..." (Hebrews 6:12). The tiny
|
| their own peace of mind. "Get rid of all
| |
| | ant teaches us many lessons: it is
|
| bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and
| |
| | self-motivated and highly industrialized;
|
| slander, along with every form of malice"
| |
| | it collects its food in the proper
|
| (Ephesians 4:31).July 13E. Stanley Jones
| |
| | seasons; it is fond of its young; it has
|
| tells about the fire extinguisher
| |
| | foresight for others; and it works
|
| fastened underneath a certain pulpit and
| |
| | quietly without show until the work is
|
| says the precaution was not necessary, as
| |
| | done. It also works in cooperation and
|
| there was little chance a fire would
| |
| | organization with others and it keeps its
|
| break out in that particular pulpit. The
| |
| | home meticulously clean. It knows its job
|
| poor minister's life was non-contagious.
| |
| | and does it. "What you do in your house
|
| One of the people at the meeting even
| |
| | is worth as much as if you did it up in
|
| prayed, "O God, grant that if any spark
| |
| | Heaven for our Lord God..." (Martin
|
| of divine grace has been kindled in this
| |
| | Luther).July 27"The greatest word is God.
|
| meeting, water that spark." This would be
| |
| | The deepest word is Soul. The longest
|
| very funny if it weren't so sad that
| |
| | word is Eternity. The swiftest word is
|
| sometimes we, too, douse our own and
| |
| | Time. The nearest word is Now. The
|
| another's little spark that flares up now
| |
| | darkest word is Sin. The meanest word is
|
| and then. The Holy Spirit lights our
| |
| | Hypocrisy. The broadest word is Truth.
|
| candle but we have projects and attitudes
| |
| | The strongest word is Right. The
|
| that quench the Light that gives a
| |
| | tenderest word is Love. The sweetest word
|
| sparkle to life.July 14"They will share
| |
| | is Home. The dearest word is Mother"
|
| [the burden] with you" (Exodus 18:22c).
| |
| | (Anonymous). The Bishop of Hippo said to
|
| There are some distresses in life that
| |
| | Monica, Augustine's mother, "Depart, good
|
| must be shared. When the doctor tries
| |
| | woman, the child of so many prayers
|
| gently to break the news to the grieving
| |
| | cannot be lost!" Mothers, don't forget
|
| mother that her beautiful 20-year-old
| |
| | the privileges we have in prayer and
|
| daughter has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,
| |
| | performance for our little ones.July
|
| another heart and shoulder must be there
| |
| | 28God has given us such beauty and we
|
| to help bear the awful burden; when the
| |
| | walk by it every day. In her
|
| perplexed husband is told that his wife
| |
| | wonder-filled book about an unreachable
|
| of 52 years has Alzheimer's, he needs
| |
| | child, One Child, Torey L.
|
| another to bear the burden with him. We
| |
| |
|
