| August 1"The sluggard says `There is a
| |
| | self-destruction. She joined a group that
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| lion in the road..." (Proverbs 26:13). We
| |
| | searches for relatives. As she listened
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| think there are huge lions on our roads
| |
| | month after month to stories of fruitless
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| of life. One is fear of failure. Jesus
| |
| | calls and trips, and the thousands of
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| never considered success or failure in
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| | dollars and many years wasted, she knew
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| His life; He simply went on with duty and
| |
| | then she didn't need to know who her
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| love and then was crucified for His
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| | father was--for she knew who her Father
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| efforts. The fearful man is a fruitless
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| | is, and that was all she needed to
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| man because he is fearful. "For I am the
| |
| | know.August 17"Is it possible that there
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| Lord, your God, who takes hold of your
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| | is nobody among you wise enough to judge
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| right hand and says to you, Do not fear,
| |
| | a dispute between believers? But instead,
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| I will help you" (Isaiah 41:13). Much has
| |
| | one...goes to law against another--and
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| been written on the will of God, but His
| |
| | this in front of unbelievers!" (1
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| promises are His wills for us. "...Before
| |
| | Corinthians 6:5,6). The cry of the land
|
| [you] call, I will answer; while [you]
| |
| | seems to be, "Sue 'em!" When Mickey Mouse
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| are still speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah
| |
| | gets sued for accidentally stepping on
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| 65:24). Blessed promises!August 2"Before
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| | Precious' toes, we are in deep trouble.
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| I formed you in the womb I knew you,
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| | Then there was the suit initiated by
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| before you were born I set you apart..."
| |
| | Daddy because his sweet little girl
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| (Jeremiah 1:5). "The birth of a little
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| | didn't get her toy from the Cracker Jack
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| child reveals God; the helplessness of a
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| | box. Here was his golden opportunity to
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| little child proves providence; the
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| | tell the little princess the tooth fairy
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| innocence of a little child illustrates
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| | doesn't always get there, and life is not
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| heaven; the death of a little child
| |
| | always fair. Where are wise minds to keep
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| implies immortality. Surely no little one
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| | us out of the courts?August 18"The
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| sent into an earthly home, even but for a
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| | garment of praise..." (Isaiah 61:3). "A
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| day, and bequeathing these beautiful and
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| | people cannot be regenerated by teaching
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| sublime lessons can be thought to have
| |
| | them the worship of enjoyment; they
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| come and gone in vain." W.R. Alger. "But
| |
| | cannot be taught a spirit of sacrifice by
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| when God, who set me apart from birth and
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| | speaking to them of material
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| called me by His grace" (Galatians 1:15).
| |
| | rewards...Say to men, Come, suffer; you
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| Yes, He planned--and still plans--for
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| | will hunger and thirst...be betrayed,
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| us.August 3"...Pick out some of the best
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| | cursed; but you have a great duty to
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| of your circumstances, and consider how
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| | accomplish: they will be deaf, perhaps,
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| eagerly you would wish for them, were
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| | for a long time, to the severe voice of
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| they not in your possession." Marcus
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| | virtue; but on the day that they do come
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| Aurelius. We miss what we don't have, and
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| | to you, they will come as heroes, and
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| we miss it doubly if we once had it and
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| | will be invincible." Mazzani.August
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| then lose it: the loved one who was with
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| | 19"`Come now,' he said, `I thought you
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| us last Christmas but whose place is
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| | had agreed to forgive and forget.' She
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| empty this year; the first love of
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| | replied: `Sure, but I don't want you to
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| religious awakening gone because of
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| | forget that I have forgiven and
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| neglect, etc. It might do us good to
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| | forgotten.'" Leslie R. Smith, This Love
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| visualize our cherished one's chair as
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| | of Ours. C.S. Lewis wrote, "Everyone says
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| empty and thank our Creator that it
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| | forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they
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| isn't. Let us appreciate those we have
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| | have something to forgive." He also
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| while we may and, let us remember, the
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| | wrote, "It is not that people think
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| best of circumstances is today.August
| |
| | forgiveness is too high and difficult a
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| 4"Touch Me and see..." (Luke 24:39). My
| |
| | virtue. No! It is that they think it a
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| friend, touch My anguished heart and
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| | hateful and contemptible one." Corrie ten
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| accept My compassion; touch My eyes and
| |
| | Boom, in The Hiding Place, tells about
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| see what I see; touch My ears and know
| |
| | forgiveness. She, too, cried from her
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| that I hear your pleadings; touch My
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| | cross, "Father, forgive them..."August
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| pierced hands that hold you close to My
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| | 20Jonah wasn't about to let God get away
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| own human heart; touch My arms that hold
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| | with forgiveness. God was pleased the
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| you up when human strength can no longer
| |
| | people of Nineveh repented, but "Jonah
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| sustain; touch My pierced feet that walk
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| | was greatly displeased and became
|
| before you that you may walk in My
| |
| | angry...`I knew that you are a gracious
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| footsteps; touch the all of Me and see
| |
| | and compassionate God, slow to anger and
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| that I am flesh and bone as your own
| |
| | abounding in love, a God who relents from
|
| flesh and bone. I want you to ask of Me.
| |
| | sending calamity'" (Jonah 4:1,2). Jonah
|
| Yes, I understand your doubts and fears.
| |
| | was so angry he was even willing to die:
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| My son and daughter, walk with Me and
| |
| | "Now, O Lord, take away my life..."
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| touch Me for I am your Friend.August 5The
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| | (v.3). Absurd! The prodigal son's brother
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| woman was crying. "My friend from church
| |
| | (Luke 15) wasn't at all happy about the
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| came and she told me I don't have enough
| |
| | attention and the forgiveness his father
|
| faith or God would heal me. But my doctor
| |
| | gave to that black sheep, either. As we
|
| told me it's terminal." It is cruel for a
| |
| | forgive, we are forgiven (Matthew 6:14).
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| professing lover of God to tell a dying
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| | It's another spiritual law of
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| person he or she hasn't enough faith. God
| |
| | reciprocity.August 21"She is clothed with
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| does not heal everyone. We don't know
| |
| | strength and dignity..." (Proverbs
|
| why; the secret belongs with God. Is it
| |
| | 31:25). Strength: vitality, courage,
|
| any wonder some people hate God when they
| |
| | effectiveness, fervor, stamina and
|
| hear this nonsense? It's sad enough to
| |
| | ability; Dignity: decorum, composure,
|
| witness death, but it is an even worse
| |
| | reserve, honor and stability. This is
|
| sorrow to pick up the pieces left behind
| |
| | substantial clothing for the lady of the
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| by Job's comforters who forget that God
| |
| | house and world to wear every day for it
|
| gives grace to the dying as well as to
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| | assures warmth and health. True women's
|
| the living. This is what we can
| |
| | liberation has always been to make
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| share.August 6"How blessed you will be,
| |
| | others' lives less burdensome. Woman is
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| sowing your seed by every stream..."
| |
| | not the weaker sex; she is the gentler
|
| (Isaiah 32:20), so..."Let us not become
| |
| | sex and should be the happier for it.
|
| weary in doing good, for at the proper
| |
| | Abrasiveness is so unlike our
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| time we will reap a harvest if we do not
| |
| | Jesus.August 22Choices: Proselyte or
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| give up" (Galatians 6:9), "...Because you
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| | parasite? Conduit or call-it-quits?
|
| know that the Lord will reward everyone
| |
| | Kisses or cusses? Discuss or fuss?
|
| for wahtever good he does..." (Ephesians
| |
| | Mingling or singling? Underline or
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| 6:8). There is a law of spiritual
| |
| | undermine? Humorist or fatalist? Charles
|
| reciprocity, and it is God's justice. The
| |
| | Lamb said, "The measure of choosing well
|
| first of Murphy's Laws whimsically states
| |
| | is whether a man likes what he has
|
| that no good deed goes unpunished. It may
| |
| | chosen." Choose this very day who and
|
| seem so at times, but our God doesn't
| |
| | what we will serve, and in that choice
|
| work that way. Justice will be done in a
| |
| | will be seen what we like well enough to
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| way we may not see for now. This is yet
| |
| | serve. But let us have insight enough to
|
| another of God's marvelous wills for
| |
| | know whether our choices will be
|
| us.August 7Charles Darwin wrote: "If I
| |
| | constructive or destructive to spiritual,
|
| had to live my life again, I would have
| |
| | mental and physical life. We cannot serve
|
| made a rule to read some poetry and
| |
| | two masters. God has told us there is no
|
| listen to some music at least once a
| |
| | choice if we truly love Him with all of
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| week; for perhaps the parts of my brain
| |
| | our heart.August 23Great liberty is
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| now atrophied would thus have been kept
| |
| | accorded the praying man, if only the
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| active through use. The loss of these
| |
| | heart is in rapport with God. People pray
|
| tastes is a loss of happiness, and may
| |
| | kneeling: 1 Kings 8:54, Ezra 9:5, Daniel
|
| possibly be injurious to the intellect,
| |
| | 6:10, Acts 20:36; standing: Jeremiah
|
| and more probably to the moral character,
| |
| | 18:20; sitting: 2 Samuel 7:18; lying
|
| by enfeebling the emotional part of our
| |
| | prostrate: Matthew 26:39; silently: 1
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| nature." Without the finer aspects, we
| |
| | Samuel 1:13; aloud: Ezekiel 11:13; alone:
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| starve what is good and noble, just as
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| | Mark 1:35, Matthew 6:6; together: Psalm
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| truly as we would starve the body if we
| |
| | 35:18, Matthew 18:19, Acts 4:31; at fixed
|
| didn't eat daily. Good poetry, music and
| |
| | times: Psalm 55:17, Daniel 6:10;
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| art are God's gifts to make life
| |
| | everywhere: 1 Timothy 2:8; in bed: Psalm
|
| sweeter.August 8Leslie Paul, in The
| |
| | 63:6; at any time: Luke 18:1;
|
| Annihilation of Man, wrote about Charles
| |
| | spontaneously: Matthew 6:7; and for
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| Darwin: "What happened to Darwin has in a
| |
| | everything: Philippians 4:6, Genesis
|
| way happened to the whole of Western
| |
| | 24:12-14, 1 Timothy 2:1-4. God hungers
|
| civilization: it ceased to understand or
| |
| | for our fellowship, not our
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| to value, as a whole, anything but the
| |
| | posture.August 24Is our hope a cable or a
|
| materialistic interpretation of the
| |
| | cobweb? "...Christ Jesus, who is our
|
| universe; its spiritual life has
| |
| | hope..." (1 Timothy 1:1 NAS). That word
|
| therefore fallen into decay; it is no
| |
| | is is, present tense, a right-now
|
| longer able to think in the terms which
| |
| | conviction that there is a chance of
|
| would give it release from its prison. A
| |
| | help: "God is our refuge and strength, a
|
| blinded Samson, it brings down the
| |
| | very present help [and hope] in trouble"
|
| temple." True mores give way to greedy
| |
| | (Psalm 46:1). The verse doesn't delineate
|
| mores; noblesse oblige to oblige for the
| |
| | the trouble; it only tells us we will
|
| sake of convenience. God forgive us for
| |
| | have help when we need it. Our hope is
|
| defacing the good and goodness He has
| |
| | our friend. It is Christian hope that
|
| given us.August 9"...I beg you to listen
| |
| | helps us to bear the burdens of life. We
|
| to me patiently" (Acts 26:3c). How many
| |
| | may be at the end of our rope, and that
|
| times we have wished someone would
| |
| | is exactly when God reaches down and
|
| listen. What a gift to give to others: to
| |
| | pulls that very rope--and us--up to Him.
|
| bear and endure with them. Elderly people
| |
| | So our hope is God's rope.August 25"He
|
| especially need another's ear and heart.
| |
| | drew me out of deep waters" (Psalm
|
| "Nature has given to men one tongue, but
| |
| | 18:16b). "And...the Israelites went
|
| two ears, that we may hear from others
| |
| | through the sea on dry ground, with a
|
| twice as much as we speak" (Epictetus).
| |
| | wall of water on their right and on their
|
| "Let the wise listen and add to their
| |
| | left" (Exodus 14:22). All finally have a
|
| learning" (Proverbs 1:5). We say again,
| |
| | Red Sea experience. What matters is, do
|
| how practical the Bible is. The less we
| |
| | we drown or do we forge ahead? "Why are
|
| say, the less trouble we will accumulate.
| |
| | you crying out to Me...move on" (v.15).
|
| Every person can teach us something, if
| |
| | "...The Lord drove the sea back...and
|
| only a lesson in what we should or
| |
| | turned it into dry land" (v.21). Our duty
|
| shouldn't be or do.August 10"Peace I
| |
| | is to believe God will keep His promises
|
| leave with you; My peace I give to
| |
| | of a dry land while we go through the
|
| you...Do not let your hearts be
| |
| | waters of affliction. The waters become
|
| troubled..." (John 14:27). "The more
| |
| | walls of protection, as God brings us
|
| quietly and peaceably we all get on the
| |
| | through to deliverance.August 26"We do
|
| better--the better for ourselves [and]
| |
| | not have a high priest who is unable to
|
| for our neighbors. In nine cases out of
| |
| | sympathize with our weaknesses..."
|
| ten the wisest policy is, if a man cheats
| |
| | (Hebrews 4:15a). He is touched with the
|
| you, quit dealing with him; if he is
| |
| | feeling of our infirmities. As we follow
|
| abusive, quit his company; if he slanders
| |
| | in His steps, we find sacred blood in the
|
| you, take care to live so that nobody
| |
| | footprints. As He touches our hearts, we
|
| will believe him: no matter who he is, or
| |
| | see the nail prints in His hands. How can
|
| how he misuses you, the wisest way is
| |
| | we not be influenced by such a thought as
|
| generally to let him alone; for there is
| |
| | this, that the greatest became the least
|
| nothing better than this cool, calm,
| |
| | that we the least might rise out of our
|
| quiet way of dealing with the wrongs we
| |
| | depths to His heights? In the dark night
|
| meet with" (Bishop Patrick).August
| |
| | of our soul how much it eases the pain to
|
| 11Indifference or involvement? "But a
| |
| | know Jesus has gone before us and marked
|
| Samaritan...when he saw him he took pity
| |
| | the path and pushed aside hindrances to
|
| on him...and bandaged his wounds..."
| |
| | make a clear way for us.August 27We crave
|
| (Luke 10:33,34). The others passed by,
| |
| | excitement, so the TV writers rack empty
|
| even the priest, but the one whose name
| |
| | brains to come up with more and more
|
| was a by-word of reproach, one regarded
| |
| | violence and stupidity to satiate what
|
| as alien and foreigner, this is the very
| |
| | they perceive to be an unending appetite
|
| one who bandaged his wounds and took him
| |
| | for grossness, gruesomeness and
|
| to the inn and paid for his care. Here,
| |
| | silliness. Years ago Alexander Pope left
|
| then, is genuine love, for the Samaritan
| |
| | us this grand epigram for addicts of the
|
| didn't know the man, but perhaps because
| |
| | perverse: "Vice is a monster of so
|
| of his own position as an outcast, he
| |
| | frightful mein/As to be hated needs but
|
| understood his needs and ministered to
| |
| | to be seen;/Yet seen too oft, familiar
|
| the half-dead man. O Father, help us to
| |
| | with her face,/We first endure, then
|
| go and do likewise!August 12Some students
| |
| | pity, then embrace." Sometimes certain
|
| at Oxford heard that Rudyard Kipling was
| |
| | programs are preempted so something else
|
| getting a shilling a word for his
| |
| | can be shown. The problem is, common
|
| writings. They decided to play a joke on
| |
| | sense, decency, literacy, love, hope and
|
| him and they wrote, "Please send us one
| |
| | joy were preempted years ago. TV is seen
|
| of your words." Kipling immediately sent
| |
| | much too oft! And what a waste of God's
|
| back the unexpected "Thanks." Whately
| |
| | time....August 28Christianity is not only
|
| said, "It is generally true that all that
| |
| | believing the impossible but doing it as
|
| is required to make men unmindful of what
| |
| | well. Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can
|
| they owe to God for any blessing, is,
| |
| | do ALL things through Him who strengthens
|
| that they should receive that blessing
| |
| | me." That ALL covers it all. That means
|
| often and regularly." "I will send down
| |
| | the entire, complete, whole of life. It
|
| showers in season; there will be showers
| |
| | is the "greatest possible," the "all
|
| of blessing" (Ezekiel 34:26b). Our
| |
| | kinds of," the "any whatever" of life. It
|
| trouble, so human, is in recognizing the
| |
| | is the ALL of Romans 8:28, that glorious
|
| refreshing and restoring showers of
| |
| | rod and staff of the grieving: "We know
|
| life.August 13"...Prepare a guest room
| |
| | that God causes ALL things to work
|
| for me, because I hope to be restored to
| |
| | together for good to those who love God,
|
| you in answer to your prayers" (Philemon
| |
| | to those who are called according to His
|
| 22). What faith! Paul was that sure of
| |
| | purpose." I know (wisdom) I can
|
| their prayers. "Pray for each other...The
| |
| | (possibility) do (accomplishment) all
|
| prayer of a righteous [person] is
| |
| | (faith) things whatsoever He asks.August
|
| powerful and effective" (James 5:16). "I
| |
| | 29Ten Commandments for a good marriage:1)
|
| exhort...that...intercessions...be made
| |
| | List your spouse's good points;2) List
|
| for all..." (1 Timothy 2:1). When a loved
| |
| | your negative contributions;3) If
|
| one is dying physically or spiritually,
| |
| | possible, read God's Word together;4) Use
|
| we intercede with the God of love. When
| |
| | your imagination to visualize yourself
|
| we pray for our beloved, we are both
| |
| | loving your spouse;5) Let God have the
|
| raised before His presence. The prayer of
| |
| | last word;6) Forgive, as God has already
|
| the right-minded person changes human
| |
| | forgiven;7) Give thanks to God for this
|
| will into Divine will and passion into
| |
| | person; 8) Don't discuss problems with
|
| submission for us both.August 14The
| |
| | friends who thought the marriage a
|
| Election Law is as follows: God has one
| |
| | mistake;9) Be grateful for this set of
|
| vote, and that is for you; the devil has
| |
| | circumstances; it can mean growth;10)
|
| one vote, and that is against you; you
| |
| | Make the first move: "I'm sorry; forgive
|
| have one vote, and it is that vote which
| |
| | me," whatever it takes to get the
|
| decides the election. "The Lord is not
| |
| | marriage back on God's track.August
|
| slow in keeping His promise...He is
| |
| | 30"The precious possession of a man is
|
| patient with you, not wanting anyone to
| |
| | diligence" (Proverbs 12:27b NAS); "But if
|
| perish, but everyone to come to
| |
| | anyone does not provide for his
|
| repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). "For God so
| |
| | relatives...he has denied the faith and
|
| loved the world, that He gave His one and
| |
| | is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy
|
| only Son, that whoever believes in Him
| |
| | 5:8). We live in an age of lotteries and
|
| shall not perish but have eternal life"
| |
| | legalized gambling: the get-rich-quick
|
| (John 3:16). "He predestined us to be
| |
| | schemes of those who get rich quickly off
|
| adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ,
| |
| | the schemes. The average man must work
|
| in accordance with His pleasure and will"
| |
| | daily. Jesus the carpenter worked, and
|
| (Ephesians 1:5).August 15Someone we love
| |
| | the servant is not greater than the
|
| deeply is in trouble of mind and body.
| |
| | Master. "...Nor did we eat anyone's food
|
| Let us pray for our friend by using the
| |
| | without paying for it. On the contrary,
|
| words "our" and "we" and "us" to our
| |
| | we worked night and day, laboring and
|
| Father: "[We] love you, O Lord, [our]
| |
| | toiling so that we would not be a burden
|
| strength...In [our] distress [we] called
| |
| | to any of you" (2 Thessalonians 3:8).
|
| to the Lord; [we] cried to [our] God for
| |
| | Work is a divine appointment.August
|
| help. From his temple he hear [our]
| |
| | 31"He...was...asleep...; and they awoke
|
| voices; [our] cry came before him into
| |
| | Him and said to Him, "`Teacher, do You
|
| his ears" (Psalm 18:1,6). Our cherished
| |
| | not care that we are perishing?'" (Mark
|
| one may be too ill in body and heart to
| |
| | 4:38 NAS). Many a weary and grieving soul
|
| pray, so let us take his or her prayer
| |
| | has cried this. Storms are sudden and
|
| before the throne and offer it to the One
| |
| | devastating. Is God sleeping through our
|
| who can understand all hurts and relieve
| |
| | turmoil? It is a cry of faith that knows
|
| all burdens. Yes, "The Lord is [our]
| |
| | the Master can save us, and yet
|
| rock...and [our] deliverer..." (Psalm
| |
| | non-faith, for we are tempted to ask if
|
| 18:2).August 16"Though my father and my
| |
| | He will save us. We sleep through each
|
| mother forsake me, the Lord will receive
| |
| | others' Gethsemane moments, just as the
|
| me" (Psalm 27:10). When her son committed
| |
| | disciples slept through Jesus' agony:
|
| suicide she decided she would like to
| |
| | "Could you...not keep watch with Me for
|
| know who her real father was--he had
| |
| | one hour?" (Matthew 26:40). When our ship
|
| forsaken her unmarried mother. Perhaps
| |
| | seems to be sinking, let us remember that
|
| there would be a clue to the son's
| |
| | our extremity is God's opportunity to
|
| despondency to the point of
| |
| | show His love.
|
