|
|
Today's Inspiration
My Friend, Greetings!
Welcome to Morning by Morning, your Internet Inspiration. This is a Timely Tuesday, March 9, 2010.
God has Son-shine time for you!
~Irish Blessing ~
May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
Our Week's Theme is "Conversion." Today’s scripture describes a new beginning for the wandering Israelites as the miracle manna ceases. The correlating meaning for God’s followers today is extraordinary. God has a new dimension for you!
Scripture Reading 
Joshua 5:9-12
5:9 The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt." And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.
5:10 While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho.
5:11 On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.
5:12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
Commentary 
Sometimes God wants to make a line in the sand, a line of demarcation. Arriving in the Promised Land was just such a time. 40 years of wilderness wandering, a full-blown desert experience, living on miraculous manna came to an end. Now, a new land of promise with milk and honey lay before them.
Minor detail: The Israelites were to go in and possess the land. God designated the land in his providence, but required the people to “take possession." This required faith. The people had to trust God, that he was going to empower them to succeed. Circumcision was to confirm a covenant between God and his people.
Spiritually, God again draws a line in the sand for us. Isaiah 43:19 “Behold I do a new thing!” Conversion is just such a new way, a change from the old way to a new loyalty, a circumcision of the heart. Romans 2:29 …circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
My Friend, how will God lead you anew? What will he change in your life? Where do you see God circumcising your heart, making your heart attuned more keenly to him? God loves you. His grace is freely given to you. God empowers you by his Holy Spirit.
Repeat these wonderful words from our reading:
Lord, I have things in my past that I’ve given to you in repentance.
I proclaim a new day in a new land, and my wilderness wandering is at an end.
Help me trust you for the ability to live ethically and rely on you for the fruit of my labor.
Destiny is not a matter of chance,
it is a matter of choice;
it is not to be waited for,
it is to be achieved.
- William Jennings Bryan
Daily Proverb  
Proverbs Chapter 28, verse 8
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
God loves every person, and he definitely wants equitable treatment for all. This verse takes to task anyone who is excessive in what they demand of others, particularly when they have the power. The key word is excessive, which has no exact definition. We must remind ourselves that it is God’s standard which will be the measure by which eternal judgment is made.
Weekday Fruit of the Spirit 
Kindness
The gospels showed us that Jesus was kind to people, time after time, giving encouragement and aid to those who needed affirmation from God. Colossians 3:12 -
Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance.
Taking time for people in the midst of duties and responsibilities, indicates our heart of kindness which is the fruit of God in us. Take a moment to speak to hurting folk, and express genuine concern. Ask how you may help, then help them with the kindness of Christ.
Prayer 
I carry some burdens on Tuesday;
some trials are mine.
So I wait for your help, Lord,
my eternal soul to refine.
Amen.
Today's Inspiration was prepared by David L Stoops 
|
