http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers Finding answers to life's struggles and heartaches using God's Word and solid Christian principles. March 2006 postings were selected from various web sites. For the rest of 2006, postings are mostly from Woodrow Kroll (see http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Devotions.html). There are mostly memorable quotes and devotional postings for 2007 & 2008. en dondegr0 dondegr0 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:10:41 +0100 daily 1 Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Genesis 33:14-14   Gentle Leading "I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure" (Gen. 33:14). What a beautiful picture of Jacob's thoughtfulness for the cattle and the children! He would not allow them to be overdriven even for one day. He would not lead on according to what a strong man like Esau could do and expected them to do, but only according to what they were able to endure. He knew exactly how far they could go in a day; and he made that his only consideration in arranging the marches. He had gone the same wilderness journey years before, and knew all about its roughness and heat and length, by personal experience. And so he said, "I will lead on softly." "For ye have not passed this way heretofore" (Josh.3:4.). We have not passed this way heretofore, but the Lord Jesus has. It is all... Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:10:41 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Leading-Softly/4694/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Leading-Softly/4694/ Source: Early in the Morning Scripture Reference: Genesis 21:1-21   Getting Ahead of God And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. It is sometimes disconcerting to board an airplane at the scheduled departure time and then have to endure a lengthy wait on the runway before being cleared for takeoff. Not only do you miss your appointments in a distant city, but you begin to wonder if the marvels of our space-age technology are so marvelous. Yet just as bad as an unscheduled delay would be an unscheduled hastening of the takeoff. You can imagine the turmoil if a flight scheduled for 2:00 o'clock departure left at 1:30. Getting ahead of what is designed can be just as devastating as falling behind. Abraham was a great man of faith, a friend of God. When God called... Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:21:22 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/God-s-Timing/4693/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/God-s-Timing/4693/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Genesis 24:63-63   Quiet Time with God "And Isaac went out to meditate in the fields at eventide" (Gen. 24:63). We should be better Christians if we were more alone; we should do more if we attempted less, and spent more time in retirement, and quiet waiting upon God. The world is too much with us; we are afflicted with the idea that we are doing nothing unless we are fussily running to and fro; we do not believe in "the calm retreat, the silent shade." As a people, we are of a very practical turn of mind; "we believe," as someone has said, "in having all our irons in the fire, and consider the time not spent between the anvil and the fire as lost, or much the same as lost." Yet no time is more profitably spent than that which is set apart for quiet musing, for talking with God, for looking up to Heaven. We cannot have too many of these open spaces in life, hours in... Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:47:18 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Time-with-God/4692/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Time-with-God/4692/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Romans 4:18   Faith Triumphs "Under hopeless circumstances he hopefully believed" (Rom. 4:18). (Weymouth) Abraham's faith seemed to be in a thorough correspondence with the power and constant faithfulness of Jehovah. In the outward circumstances in which he was placed, he had not the greatest cause to expect the fulfillment of the promise. Yet he believed the Word of the Lord, and looked forward to the time when his seed should be as the stars of heaven for multitude. O my soul, thou hast not one single promise only, like Abraham, but a thousand promises , and many patterns of faithful believers before thee: it behooves thee, therefore, to rely with confidence upon the Word of God. And though He delayeth His help, and the evil seemeth to grow worse and worse, be not weak, but rather strong, and rejoice, since the most glorious promises of God are generally fulfilled in such a wondrous manner... Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:08:27 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Triumph-of-Faith/4691/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Triumph-of-Faith/4691/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Job 13:15   Isaiah 48:10   I Have Refined Thee Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. JOB 13:15 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. ISAIAH 48:10 I WILL not let Thee go; Thou Help in time of need! Heap ill on ill, I trust Thee still, E'en when it seems that Thou wouldst slay indeed! Do as Thou wilt with me, I yet will cling to Thee; Hide Thou Thy face, yet, Help in time of need, I will not let Thee go. WOLFGANG C. DESSLER YOUR afflictions are not eternal, time will end them, and so shall ye at length see the Lord's salvation; His love sleepeth not, is still in working for you; His salvation will not tarry nor linger; and suffering for Him is the noblest cross out of heaven. Your Lord hath the choice of ten thousand other crosses, beside this, to exercise you withal; but His wisdom and His love choosed... Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:32:14 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/God-s-refining-process/4690/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/God-s-refining-process/4690/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: John 16:24   Exodus 6:1   In His Name "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24). During the Civil War, a man had an only son who enlisted in the armies of the Union. The father was a banker and, although he consented to his son's going, it seemed as if it would break his heart to let him go. He became deeply interested in the soldier boys, and whenever he saw a uniform, his heart went out as he thought of his own dear boy. He spent his time, neglected his business, gave his money to caring for the soldiers who came home invalid. His friends remonstrated with him, saying he had no right to neglect his business and spend so much thought upon the soldiers, so he fully decided to give it all up. After he had come to this decision, there stepped into his bank one day a private soldier in a faded, worn uniform, who showed... Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:55:15 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/In-His-Name/4689/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/In-His-Name/4689/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Numbers 10:33   Impressions "The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them" (Num. 10:33). God does give us impressions, but not that we should act on them as impressions. If the impression be from God, He will Himself give sufficient evidence to establish it beyond the possibility of a doubt. How beautiful is the story of Jeremiah, of the impression that came to him respecting the purchase of the field of Anathoth. But Jeremiah did not act upon this impression until after the following day, when his uncle's son came to him and brought him external evidence by making a proposal for the purchase. Then Jeremiah said: "I knew this was the word of the Lord." He waited until God seconded the impression by a providence, and then he acted in full view of the open facts, which could bring conviction unto others as well as to himself. God wants us to act according to His mind. We... Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:41:46 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/God-s-Leading/4688/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/God-s-Leading/4688/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Acts 16:25-26   Acts 12:7   Desperate Situations "The angel of the Lord came upon him (Peter) and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off" (Acts 12:7). " And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God. . . . And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's bands were loosed" (Acts 16:25, 26). This is God's way. In the darkest hours of the night, His tread draws near across the billows. As the day of execution is breaking, the angel comes to Peter's cell. When the scaffold for Mordecai is complete, the royal sleeplessness leads to a reaction in favor of the favored race. Ah, soul, it may have to come to the worst with thee ere thou art delivered; but thou wilt be... Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:01:55 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Desperate-Situations/4687/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Desperate-Situations/4687/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Proverbs 19:18   Listening Hard for God "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Prov. 19 :18). Waiting upon God is necessary in order to see Him, to have a vision of Him. The time element in vision is essential. Our hearts are like a sensitive photographer's plate; and in order to have God revealed there, we must sit at His feet a long time. The troubled surface of a lake will not reflect an object. Our lives must be quiet and restful if we would see God. There is power in the sight of some things to affect one's life. A quiet sunset will bring peace to a troubled heart. Thus the vision of God always transforms human life. Jacob saw God at Jabbok's ford, and became Israel. The vision of God transformed Gideon from a coward into a valiant soldier. The vision of Christ changed Thomas from a doubting follower into a loyal, devout disciple. But men have had visions of God... Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:19:24 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Listening-for-God/4686/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Listening-for-God/4686/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Mark 8:34   Carry Your Cross "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34). The cross which my Lord bids me take up and carry may assume different shapes. I may have to content myself with a lowly and narrow sphere, when I feel that I have capacities for much higher work. I may have to go on cultivating year after year, a field which seems to yield me no harvests whatsoever. I may be bidden to cherish kind and loving thoughts about someone who has wronged me--be bidden speak to him tenderly, and take his part against all who oppose him, and crown him with sympathy and succor. I may have to confess my Master amongst those who do not wish to be reminded of Him and His claims. I may be called to "move among my race, and show a glorious morning face," when my heart is breaking. There are many crosses, and every one of them is sore and... Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:33:52 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Carry-your-Cross/4685/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Carry-your-Cross/4685/ Morning: The Experience of David Evening: Strong Walls Morning: The Experience of David "The sweet psalmist of Israel." --2 Samuel 23:1 Among all the saints whose lives are recorded in Holy Writ, David possesses an experience of the most striking, varied, and instructive character. In his history we meet with trials and temptations not to be discovered, as a whole, in other saints of ancient times, and hence he is all the more suggestive a type of our Lord. David knew the trials of all ranks and conditions of men. Kings have their troubles, and David wore a crown: the peasant has his cares, and David handled a shepherd's crook: the wanderer has many hardships, and David abode in the caves of Engedi: the captain has his difficulties, and David found the sons of Zeruiah too hard for him. The psalmist was also tried in his friends, his counsellor Ahithophel forsook him, "He that eateth bread with me, hath lifted up his heel... Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:27:26 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Devoted-to-God/4684/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Devoted-to-God/4684/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Ecclesiastes 11:3   In The Clouds "If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth" (Eccles. 11:3). Why, then, do we dread the clouds which now darken our sky? True, for a while they hide the sun, but the sun is not quenched; he will be out again before long. Meanwhile those black clouds are filled with rain; and the blacker they are, the more likely they will yield plentiful showers. How can we have rain without clouds? Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will. They are the dark chariots of bright grace. These clouds will empty themselves before long, and every tender herb will be gladder for the shower. Our God may drench us with grief, but He will refresh us with mercy. Our Lord's love-letters often come to us in black-edged envelopes. His wagons rumble, but they are loaded with benefits. His rod blossoms with sweet flowers and nourishing... Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:46:22 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/In-the-Clouds/4683/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/In-the-Clouds/4683/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Psalm 44:4   Claim Victory "Thou art my king, O God: Command deliverance (victories, margin) for Jacob" (Ps. 44:4 RV). Here is no foe to your growth in grace, no enemy in your Christian work, which was not included in your Savior's conquests. You need not be afraid of them. When you touch them, they will flee before you. God has promised to deliver them up before you. Only be strong and very courageous! Fear not, nor be dismayed! The Lord is with you, O mighty men of valor--mighty because one with the Mightiest. Claim victory! Whenever your enemies close in upon you, claim victory! Whenever heart and flesh fail, look up and claim VICTORY! Be sure that you have a share in that triumph which Jesus won, not for Himself alone, but for us all; remember that you were in Him when He won it, and claim victory! Reckon that it is yours, and gather spoil. Neither the Anakim nor ... Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:55:12 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Claim-Victory/4682/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Claim-Victory/4682/ Morning: Knowing God Evening: Spiritual Destroyers Morning: Knowing God "The people that do know their God shall be strong." --Daniel 11:32 Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to "have an unction from the Holy One," and it is the Spirit's peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love, as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we love Him, we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know, at least, in some... Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:12:18 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Knowledge-of-God/4681/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Knowledge-of-God/4681/ Source: Early in the Morning Scripture Reference: Proverbs 8:1-36   Wisdom and Riches I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Proverbs belongs to that segment of the Old Testament designated as "wisdom literature." Such proverbial teaching represents one of the most ancient forms of instruction. The wisdom literature of Israel was the chief storehouse of moral and practical instruction for the Jews. It guided the head of state as well as the head of the home. It embodied the difference between right and wrong, righteousness and unrighteousness. But most of all, Israel's wisdom literature taught the Jews how to live before Jehovah. It contrasted the wisdom of the world, a wisdom of possessions, with the wisdom of God, a wisdom of piety. Proverbs teaches us that all who would live godly must seek the wisdom of God and forsake the wisdom of the world. To seek divine wisdom, therefore, is to seek to know... Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:50:42 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/True-Wealth/4680/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/True-Wealth/4680/ Morning: God's Glory Shown Evening: Gentleness to the Weak Morning: God's Glory Shown "The Lord our God hath shewed us His glory." --Deuteronomy 5:24 God's great design in all His works is the manifestation of His own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of Himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man's eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why He bringeth His people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:03:29 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/God-s-Way/4679/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/God-s-Way/4679/ Source: Early in the Morning Scripture Reference: Hosea 5:2-15   Unanswered Prayer I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early. Hosea was a resident of the northern kingdom. Throughout his prophecy it is evident that Hosea had a tender feeling of compassion for the people of his land. Alternately he warned the people and then pled with them to return to God in repentance. He knew, regardless of how wicked they had been, if they repented of their sins and forsook their wicked ways, God would receive them back in His love. In Hosea 5:2 the prophet described the Israelites as "the revolters" and himself as "a rebuker." He saw it as his task to point out Israel's sin and call them to repentance. But there was a problem. Of the Jews he said, "They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they... Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:35:48 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Unanswered-Prayer/4678/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Unanswered-Prayer/4678/ "Let no man pretend to fear sin that does not fear temptation also! These two are too closely united to be separated. He does not truly hate the fruit who delights in the root." "Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you" "Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who hath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until it be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so he who undertakes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to the death. " "The vigor and power and comfort of our spiritual life depends on our mortification of deeds of the flesh" "A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more. " "See in the meantime... Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:11:30 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/John-Owen-quotes/4677/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/John-Owen-quotes/4677/ Fascinating post from Tim Challies Can be read directly at his blog http://www.challies.com/archives/articles/the-shape-of-temptation.php The Shape of Temptation As I continue reading through Waltke’s Old Testament Theology I continue to dig up pure gold. Today I’ll share yet another example. In one of the earliest chapters Waltke writes about man’s fall into sin and discusses “the shape of temptation.” Here he shows how Satan’s original act of temptation is an archetype or sorts. All of the temptation that would follow through the long line of human experience would mimic this one. Satan tempted the second human being in the same way he tempts the 20 billionth (or whatever I happen to be). As I read this portion of the book and reflected on it, I could see that this really is the model of temptation. It is not just Satan who works in this way, though, but all human beings. We are prone to following Satan in luring others into sin in the... Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:41:12 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Temptation/4676/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Temptation/4676/ The Scriptures tell us that hidden in Christ are "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3)", "every spiritual blessing" (Ephesians 1:3), and "all the fullness of God" (Colossians 1:19). Since this is the truth, we maintain before God that His Gift to us is Christ, and to the extent that we appreciate the value and preciousness of the Lord Jesus, to that same extent will we be satisfied spiritually. We will find fullness in the Son, and will not find it necessary to be continually pumped up or propped up as we go about our daily walk as Christians. Imagine the foolishness of asking God for a "few coins" to get you through until Sunday while wealth is buried just below your feet. Or, imagine the vanity of thinking we have to go "here" or "there" to get something from God (such as a "blessing", a "word", an "anointing", etc) when we already have everything He has. I will go so far as... Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:06:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Treasures-hidden-in-Christ/4675/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/answers/Treasures-hidden-in-Christ/4675/