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