C.H. Spurgeon's Morning Devotional
Saturday May 31, 2025

"The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron."-2 Samuel 15:23
    
    David passed that gloomy brook when flying with his mourning company from his traitor son. The man after God's own heart was not exempt from trouble, nay, his life was full of it. He was both the Lord's Anointed, and the Lord's Afflicted. Why then should we expect to escape? At sorrow's gates the noblest of our race have waited with ashes on their heads, wherefore then should we complain as though some strange thing had happened unto us?
    
    The KING of kings himself was not favoured with a more cheerful or royal road. He passed over the filthy ditch of Kidron, through which the filth of Jerusalem flowed. God had one Son without sin, but not a single child without the rod. It is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all points like as we are. What is our Kidron this morning? Is it a faithless friend, a sad bereavement, a slanderous reproach, a dark foreboding? The King has passed over all these. Is it bodily pain, poverty, persecution, or contempt? Over each of these Kidrons the King has gone before us. "In all our afflictions He was afflicted." The idea of strangeness in our trials must be banished at once and for ever, for He who is the Head of all saints, knows by experience the grief which we think so peculiar. All the citizens of Zion must be free of the Honourable Company of Mourners, of which the Prince Immanuel is Head and Captain.
    
    Notwithstanding the abasement of David, he yet returned in triumph to his city, and David's Lord arose victorious from the grave; let us then be of good courage, for we also shall win the day. We shall yet with joy draw water out of the wells of salvation, though now for a season we have to pass by the noxious streams of sin and sorrow. Courage, soldiers of the Cross, the King himself triumphed after going over Kidron, and so shall you.
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Monday, June 13, 2011

New Game....well new to us.



Have to tell you about this game my family was introduced too this weekend.  We are a game lovin' family.  If you saw our spare room games and books have taken over.  Anyway, this game is a BLAST, very fast paced and loads of FUN.  

Hurry up, think quick and play fast! Ratuki (ra-too-kee) is not your traditional everyone plays at the same time card game. Each player gets their own color deck of 35 cards, which contain different numbers and symbols for 1 to 5 and two wild Ratuki cards. All players race to get rid of their cards by forming sequences on shared stacks in the center of the table, and at the same time race to collect cards from those stacks. Cards can be played on stacks in ascending and descending order from 1 to 5. Playing a 5 or a wild card allows players to collect a stack. A new stack can be started by anyone, by playing any version of a 1 card. The number of center stacks allowed equals the number of players. If players are unable to play, players discard and draw from their own draw and discard piles, always keeping 3 cards in their hand. Quickest player to get rid of their cards stops play for all, leaving other players left with cards. Each player counts the number of cards collected and subtracts the total number of cards left in their hand, draw and discard piles. Cards left in the center of the table are out of play. First player to 100 wins.Playing Time: 15 minutes for 5 players.For 2 - 5 players, ages 7 and up.Contents: 5 decks of cards (175 cards total) and instructions.


Product Feature:
  • 5 decks of cards (175 cards total) & instructions in English & Spanish
  • Contents: 5 decks of cards (175 cards total) & instructions
  • Educational Value: Real-Time Play, Dexterity, Hand-Eye Coordination, Roman Numerals/Spanish Numbers, Matching, Basic Strategy, Decision Making
  • Cool Factor: Fast, Everyone Plays at the Same Time, Quick to Learn & Easy to Play, Intergenerational

What It Is

Ratuki is a new, fast-paced card with no turns—just pandemonium as players race to grab the most cards from their opponents. Each player has a colored deck of cards and starts with three cards in their hands and as many piles on the table as there are players in the game (up to 5). At the signal, players race to build piles of cards from counting in any direction from 1 and up to 5, playing a card from their hand on any card on the table. If you don't have a card you can play—discard and draw from your deck, but be careful your discard pile is going to count against you.
As you play, the first player to slam a 5 on top of a pile shouts "Ratuki!" and wins the cards—the next player to have a 1 starts the next pile. But you have to think fast—there are no turns in this game. Everyone plays at the same time. Also adding to the frenzy are the cards themselves. Each card has a number on it, but each card also has a different way of showing the number, such as lines, hand signals or the number written out. Players must think fast and act fast. The player with the most cards when everyone has played through their decks wins—but you have to subtract what's in your discard pile, so you won't know who's won till the final count is in. Ratuki comes with 170 cards, five reminder cards, and instructions.

Why It’s Fun

There's a lot of action and a lot of fun in Ratuki. The game is easy to learn and play for the whole family. It gets players' minds working as they figure out what number is on their card and then quickly try to play the cards.

Who It’s For

Ratuki is for two to five players ages 8 and up.

What to Be Aware of

One game of Ratuki takes about 15 minutes to play. It's not limited by age, and keeps players on their toes, slamming cards—and planning strategy. This would make a great addition to family game night.



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