Tuesday, February 24
My Mom put this in today's Spokesman Review...we miss you always, precious Ernzy...always.
Sunday, February 22
a beautiful devotion from charles spurgeon and www.heartlight.org
0 comments Posted by Elaine at 2:09 PM
"The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power."
-- Nahum 1:3
Jehovah "is slow to anger."
When mercy comes into the world she drives winged steeds;
the axles of her chariot-wheels are red hot with speed;
but when wrath goes forth, it toils on with tardy footsteps, for God takes no pleasure in the sinner's death.
God's rod of mercy is ever in his hands outstretched;
his sword of justice is in its scabbard, held down by that pierced hand of love which bled for the sins of men.
"The Lord is slow to anger," because he is GREAT IN POWER.
He is truly great in power who hath power over himself.
When God's power doth restrain himself, then it is power indeed:
the power that binds omnipotence is omnipotence surpassed.
A man who has a strong mind can bear to be insulted long, and only resents the wrong when a sense of right demands his action.
The weak mind is irritated at a little:
the strong mind bears it like a rock which moves not,
though a thousand breakers dash upon it, and cast their pitiful malice in spray upon its summit.
God marks his enemies, and yet he stirs not himself, but holds in his anger.
If he were less divine than he is, he would long before this have sent forth the whole of his thunders,
and emptied the magazines of heaven;
he would long ere this have blasted the earth with the wondrous fires of its lower regions,
and man would have been utterly destroyed; but the greatness of his power brings us mercy.
Dear reader, what is your state this evening?
Can you by humble faith look to Jesus, and say, "My substitute, thou art my rock, my trust"?
Then, beloved, be not afraid of God's power;
for by faith you have fled to Christ for refuge, the power of God need no more terrify you,
than the shield and sword of the warrior need terrify those whom he loves.
Rather rejoice that he who is "great in power" is your Father and Friend.
Saturday, February 21
LIVING IN HARMONY
Romans 12:16-21
Dear Father, God of the lowly,
Help me live in harmony with others -
without haughtiness, without conceit, willing to associate with the lowly.
Help me to repay no one evil for evil, but to take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.
As far as it depends on me, let me live peaceably with everyone.
Let me seek no revenge for myself, but leave it to your wrath, O God.
Help me, Father, not to be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with good.
In the name and authority of Jesus I boldly come, asking these things according to his will.
Amen.
"You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, 'Don't kill any person.
And any person that kills will be judged.' But I tell you, don't be angry with another person.
Every person is your brother. If you are angry with other people, you will be judged.
And if you say bad things to another person, you will be judged by the Jewish council.
And if you call another person a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell."
-- Matthew 5:21-22 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
As religious people, it is so easy for us to feel pious and righteous when we hear of all the horrible things done in our world that are ungodly.
"Thankfully I'm not one of them!" we can smugly think to ourselves.
Jesus shatters all of our smugness.
He tells us that he wants our righteousness to exceed that of the Pharisees and Scribes.
He really means it.
The next several verses will drive this point home.
The character of heart described in the beatitudes is now demanded of disciples in our everyday lives.
There's no room for smugness when Jesus tells us that angry hatred, slanderous gossip, or shaming speech puts us in the same category as murderers.
His point?
Murder starts in the heart and works its way out.
These two actions are all part of the same continuum -- different by degree, not by kind.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
O Lord, purge from my heart all bitterness, hatred, and venomous anger.
Give me your Spirit of forgiveness and grace.
I want to be pure in heart and hold nothing against those you love.
Father, I don't want to poison my heart with the stains of Satan's tools of anger, judgmentalism, and disrespect.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
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