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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – August 24

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Flower of the Field,

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Part 20:

“Slip-Sliding Away”

To read Part 1, click here…“Flower of the Field, Part 1” 

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“But as for me, my feet were almost gone;

my steps had well-nigh slipped.

For I was envious at the foolish,

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Then I went into the sanctuary of God;

then understood I their end.

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places:

thou castedst them down into destruction.

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment!

they are utterly consumed with terrors”

Psalm 73:1-3, 18, 19

Matterhorn Mountain ascent Dore – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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Every now and then, in this world-of-lies, a certain, secular storybook, or television show, movie, or maybe even some popular song slips through the cracks, presenting some profound truth which aligns itself with God’s infallible Word-of-Truth.

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Such is the case with a certain song/poem with the following lyrics in the last verse…

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1984 – By George Orwell – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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(4th verse) “…God only knows, God makes his plan

The information’s unavailable to the mortal man

We work our jobs, collect our pay

Believe we’re gliding down the highway

When in fact we’re slip sliding away

Slip sliding away, slip sliding away

You know the nearer your destination

The more you’re slip sliding away”

Lyrics of Paul Simon provided by Musixmatch

Matterhorn Mountain disaster – Dore – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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Now in this very well-done song, the composer cites three examples of how this world is caught in various human tragedies, so common today:

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1. A person totally and hopelessly enveloped in romantic idolatry,

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2. A woman unhappy and remorseful with her bad marriage and poor life-choices,

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3. A father separated from his son, longing to explain to his little one why he made the life-choices which separated the two.

kissing hand – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License

Divorce – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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“People are born for trouble, as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.”

Job 5:7 

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Well, the point of today’s devotional is to expand on this theme, attempting to make a greater emphasis on the main lyrics: “Slip-Sliding Away”.

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Woman fallen in snow- Wikimedia – cropped image – Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

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And so, just what destination are we getting nearer to?

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Old age?

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Death?

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Yes, it seems like all our youthful victories and successes seem to eventually fall away, like the proverbial flower of the field.

Question Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

The Flower of the Field Constellation Signs Of Heaven.org

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“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not…”

Ecclesiastes 12:1

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From little children, oblivious to much of the hopeless wickedness of this fallen world, to teens who begin suffering various pains of peer-pressure, romantic desires, personal problems, and inadequacies.

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two young girls laughing behind another girls back – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Bullying – Wikimedia – cropped image – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not…”

Ecclesiastes 12:1

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And then becoming senior citizens, suffering increasing health issues, financial issues, loneliness, loss-of-loved-ones, fear-of-death, it can be truly said…“You know the nearer your destination, The more you’re slip sliding away”.

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Yes, the older we get, the more that life can get difficult, to put it mildly!

Homeless and cold – cropped photo – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

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“…the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them”

Ecclesiastes 9:12 

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Yes, the author of this popular song made the observation that the entire human race would like to “Believe we’re gliding down the highway When in fact we’re slip sliding away” 

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Perhaps we’re having great victories in our careers. Or maybe our looks and personalities are attractive to others.

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Or we enjoy endless partying, socializing, laughing, and joking our way through life, seemingly unscathed!

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Or maybe we’re just “livin’ the dream” (as the saying goes), and “the envy of all!”

Refugi Chacaltaya – House Teetering on Edge of Cliff – Wikimedia – GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version

Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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“For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Until…then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.”

Psalm73:3, 17, 18

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But what we so often forget is, that sooner or later, we are certain to meet with failure…or sickness…or rejection…or bankruptcy…or divorce…or addiction…or war…or loss of loved ones, and finally, for each and every one of us…our cruel appointment with “The Grim Reaper”…death.

“Death on a Pale Horse” – by Gustave Dore’ – Wikipedia – Public Dom.

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“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares”

Luke 21:34

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Yes, that hard-working entrepreneur who joyfully puts in an 80-hour workweek, quite often does so at the expense of his marriage, and/or children!

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And his daily sacrifice of his family upon the altar to “the god of prosperity and pride” will eventually catch up to him (or her). And sorrow, tragedy, and bitterness will then replace all the joy of success and prosperity we once thought would never end.

Divorce – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise”

Proverbs 20:1 

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But this same tragic tale comes in countless forms.

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A certain movie called “The Days of Wine & Roses” is about a successful business executive who began drinking “just one celebratory glass of wine” with his young, beautiful wife.

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But, before long they became hopeless drunkards, losing all their many worldly attainments which financial/social success usually brings! 

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File:Days of Wine and Roses (1962 poster).jpg – Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons

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Says the Preacher…

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“Remember now thy Creator

in the days of thy youth,

while the evil days come not,

nor the years draw nigh,

when thou shalt say,

I have no pleasure in them”

Ecclesiastes 12:1

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“…God only knows, God makes his plan. The information’s unavailable to the mortal man”

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As these lyrics so poetically say, God, “the Author of Life”, is infinite in knowledge and wisdom. “His understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5)

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And the people of this lost and hopeless world have no knowledge of why things happen, both in the world, but also in their own personal lives, as the song says…“…God only knows, God makes his plan. The information’s unavailable to the mortal man”.

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD”

Lamentations 3:40

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But those who have returned back to follow Jesus…they know…they understand.

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Listen to the Prophet, Jeremiah…

“But though He (God) cause grief,

yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.

For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth…

Let us search and try our ways,

and turn again to the LORD”

Lamentations of Jeremiah 3:32-34, 40

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This passage reveals that God allows us to eat the bitter fruit of our ways, in hopes that through mankind’s sufferings, we will turn to the Lord for help, guidance, and deliverance from death! 

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David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

Vincent van Gogh – Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…unto your souls”

Matthew 11:28-30

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God further says…

“I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked…

turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die…?”

Ezekiel 33:11

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And Heaven’s alternative to our slippery ways gets even more wonderful, as Jesus stretches out His hands and proclaims…

“Come unto Me…

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

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“Rest unto your souls!” What could be better than that!?

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Crucifixion darkness – Jesus on the Cross – Gustave Dore – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes”

Revelation 21:4 

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And “Rest unto your souls” is such a simple solution to mankind’s tragic mismanagement of this world!

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“Perfect peace” can be ours! (See Isaiah 26:3)

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Not only can we have peace and joy in this present little time on earth, but also throughout eternity in the earth-made-new! 

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away”.

Revelation 21:4 

The River Of The Water Of Life by H. Melville – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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TO READ PART 21, CLICK HERE…

January 13 (Flowers of the Field, Part 21: “Which Door Will You Choose?”)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

Dear Lord, Please give me a deep abiding love for Jesus, and look away from this hopeless world, and look for the New Heavens and the New Earth…

Prayer – Mother and Daughter – Wikipedia – (cropped image) the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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TO READ MORE…

October 13 (It’s A Throw-away World, Part 2: “Mojo-Magic or Devilish Design…or Both?”), or you may also read…October 26th (It’s a throw-away world!)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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FLOWER OF THE FIELD CONSTELLATION

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This is perhaps one of the most amazing constellations that God has created! It truly looks like a flower, and appears to be blowing in the direction of westward. But as autumn draws near, this constellation appears to bow itself down, just like the flowers of Earth bow down, at the summer’s end.

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And these are not merely obscure stars. These are among the biggest and brightest stars in the night heavens!

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The Two Turtle-Doves Constellation is also known as Sagittarius .

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The Flower of the Field is commonly known as Scorpio .

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But there is another obvious aspect to this constellation group. Notice that the birds are flying in the same direction as the flower is bending; it is as if the east wind is blowing these heavenly messengers…

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“The wind blows where it desires, and you hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8.

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So here is another incredible Bible concept, written in the heavens! And God has spoken of these signs! Listen… “For ever, O LORD, Thy Word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Flower of the Field Constellation”

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TOMORROW:

August 25 (The False Prophet, Part 19: “Destroyed For A Lack of Knowledge!”)

thy word have i hid in my heart

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The Open Forum Talk Show with Harold Camping 

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 90-MINUTE TALK SHOW – – (563) The Open Forum Harold Camping November 15, 2002 – YouTube

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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