NOAH’S ARK

Suggested Reading: Genesis 7-8

Did you know that the Bible notes 80 species of mammals, 25 kinds of birds, 8 reptiles and 12 insects?

Key Verse: Genesis 7:1

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.”

The ark was at least as big as a modern ocean liner according to the dimensions given by God to Noah. The ratio of width to length are the same. There were only eight human passengers. I’m told that the Chinese character for “safety” depicts eight people in a boat. According to the Bible, the world as we know it will again be destroyed. Next time, the ark will be big enough to hold many more than eight people. God has provided a way, through Jesus, whereby all who receive Him as Saviour and Lord will be saved. Noah must have wept as he considered the fate of others, but there was nothing he could do. There is something we can do! It’s our job to invite everyone into the Ark. Jesus is the Ark of safety!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, again and again You invited people to come to You and You promised that You would receive all who come (John 6:37). Please Lord, grant me the honour of telling someone today about Your invitation, and may I urge people to decide today to come into the eternal safety that You have provided. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

A former 100 Huntley Street TV host, Lorna Dueck, reminded me, as she helped me learn how to do a blog, that I had instructed her that we must never let a day go by on television without giving an invitation for people to respond to the call to be saved. All those wonderful people who answer 1-866-273-4444 are prepared to lead people to assurance of their eternal salvation. June 15th, 1977, was the first day we had telephones available for immediate response. Don Osborne signaled to me from across the studio that the first person had just given their life to Christ on one of our 30 telephones. I said, “Everything is paid for now, because one soul is worth more than the whole world!”

Yours very, very, very truly,

David

REMINDER: If you are reading the email version and wish to post a comment on my blog, go to www.100words.ca and “Leave a Reply.”

THE TEACHER

Suggested Reading: Genesis 5-6

The heavens are gloriously ablaze above the Eastern Gate of the old city of Jerusalem.

Key Verse: Genesis 5:24

“And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”

The way out of the “rat race” is simply to walk with God. Obviously, God wants your company. God wanted to walk with Adam and Eve every evening. Enoch’s time with God was so precious and consistent that, no doubt with his full consent, God took Enoch directly to Heaven without him experiencing death. Enoch’s name means “teacher” in English. He must have shared with others those things he learned in those long walks. Noah was Enoch’s great-grandson and was likely the recipient of Enoch’s sharing. Remember Noah? He is the one who found favour with God. The result was that he knew how to hear from God in building an ark to save his family. You’re on your daily walk with God now as you read His Word and talk with Him in prayer. Listen as God talks with you today.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God as I walk with You now, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may experience “Walking in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Like Enoch, I have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I’m always telling them stories. I’m convinced that from his childood, Noah heard what Great-Grandpa learned on those long walks with God. It was probably the reason Noah turned out so well. I had a Sunday School teacher by the name of Miss Johnson when I was 10 & 11. She explained Enoch’s going to Heaven without dying like this: “One day as God and Enoch were walking together, God said, ‘Enoch, we’re much closer to My place than we are to yours, why don’t you just come on home with Me’?” For some reason I’ve never forgotten her story.

Let’s go for a walk,

David

REMINDER: If you are reading the email version and wish to post a comment on my blog, go to www.100words.ca and “Leave a Reply.”

THE BLAME GAME

Suggested Reading: Genesis 3 and 4

On the lower slope of the Mount of Olives is the Garden of Gethsemane. Some of the olive trees here are over 2,000 years old - perhaps this tree was one that Jesus rested under or that His disciples slept against. The church you see in the background is the Church of All Nations.

Key Verse: Genesis 3:12

“Then the man said, ‘The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.'”

A most important Word that Jesus used over and over is “Repent.” Adam and Eve give us examples of what repentance is NOT! They attempted to blame others for their sin. Adam blamed both God and Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. The message is, stop the “blame game.” Pray the sinner’s prayer which Jesus guaranteed would make a person right with God: “God be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Two verses following the key verse, God Himself gives the first prophecy. He speaks of a most unique event to come. All through the Bible in procreation, it’s the seed of the man. e.g. Abraham (Galatians 3:29), but Jesus is the “Seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15). He crushes Satan. Satan comes in many forms to tempt us. Remind him that his head is crushed by Jesus. Jesus gives us power (authority) to join Him in trampling on the serpent and “Nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). Confess it! Believe it!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You and I are “trampling” on the serpent. James wrote,”Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). I do this now, Lord Jesus. The devil has no power over me. In Your authority, Lord Jesus, I pray. AMEN!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Every day before going live to air with the daily “100 Huntley Street” telecast, I would state in front of the other hosts, the on-air guests, and the studio audience, words something like this…”We trample on Satan in Jesus Name! We pull down the ‘strongholds’ of the enemy” (2 Cor 10:4). On the human level we do not defend ourselves. No offense, only loving one another. “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). Throughout thousands of telecasts, Jesus did mighty works in precious lives.

To the new on-air team and every reader of my blog, KEEP TRAMPLING!

David

REMINDER: If you are reading the email version and wish to post a comment on my blog, go to www.100words.ca and “Leave a Reply.”

GOD’S IMAGE

Suggested Reading: Genesis 1-2

A couple sits watching the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea from under the remains of an ancient Roman aqueduct in the area of Caesarea.

Key Verse: Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

“God created.” “Elohim bara” (Hebrew). This Name for God is always plural, yet in the Hebrew language it takes a singular verb (Gen. 1:1). Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are at work to make something out of nothing. In the rest of the story the verb is “Asah,” which is what a carpenter does when he works with material already in existence. Chapter 2 is an expansion of what God did in chapter 1. We are made in His Image. We are not just physical beings. We have a capacity for a life beyond, for communication with God, and God with us. Like God, we are intended to live forever! Because we are made in His image, we can know Him. We have the freedom to choose. We can ignore Him or reject Him or we can learn of Him, receiving Him as our God, believing in Him and not just about Him.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’ve decided to believe in You. Thank you for enabling me to find this blog. Your Thoughts are expressed in Words. Help me to maintain the committment of reading Your Word daily, getting to know what You think of me and of everything. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I marvel at God’s creation. On our property, according to someone who knows, there is a 300 year old cherry tree. Amazing! Yesterday a large red fox decided to have a sleep on our driveway. Norma-Jean thought it was dead, but it jumped up and ran off, it’s long fluffy tail floating in the breeze. God must love variety. In mediating on creation, my heart and mind are lifted up to contemplate the Creator God, and Jesus Himself. John writes that, “Without Him nothing was made that was made.” The mystery of it all astounds me.

We’ve read the first book of the New Testament and we’re now beginning the first book of the Old Testament. Remember, at any time you or someone you know can begin this journey and in two years, with bite-sized readings, God’s thoughts expressed in Words will be yours, and the Spirit of God will bring to remembrance what you need to know when you need to know it.

Please feel free to post your comments. Each one is read, and I thank you for your input. However, I’m sorry that I am rarely able to reply to your specific questions.

Yours for learning to think God’s thoughts,

David

REMINDER: If you are reading the email version and wish to post a comment on my blog, go to www.100words.ca and “Leave a Reply.” And please share my blog with your loved ones!

HE IS RISEN!

Suggested Reading: Matthew 27-28

The Garden Tomb, Jerusalem.

Key Verse: Matthew 28:6

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

The resurrection of Jesus is the most thoroughly reported fact of ancient history. The tough battle-hardened Roman guards “shook for fear.” According to Roman military manuals, a “guard” consisted of 8 soldiers, and if one fell asleep on duty, the others must kill him on the spot. Those who deny the facts of the resurrection must answer some questions: Where’s the body? What would turn a man like Peter, who could not stand up to a waitress, into a bold, fearless man? What about the over 500 people who claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus after His resurrection? Many of these were still alive when the Gospels were written. What about the over 5,000 who became believers (including many of the priests) after Peter preached in the Temple? No official source has ever answered these questions or denied the amazing growth of the Church of Jerusalem.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, You raised Your Son and our Saviour from the dead. He’s ALIVE! I worship Him! Amen and Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Norma-Jean and I worked at establishing a congregation in Deep River, Ontario, the residential community for Atomic Energy of Canada at Chalk River. I found that the senior nuclear physicists were humble believers in Jesus. One told me that a change in the molecular structure of Christ’s body could enable Him to appear and do all that He did in His post resurrection appearances. One Easter Sunday morning, the parents of Tim Laronde presented him before the Lord at our church. Tim was born with a club foot. I was filled with God’s Spirit and said, “When Tim is old enough to walk, He will walk normally.” The next morning, Tim’s mother Marilyn burst into our home carrying Tim and showed us both feet completely normal. During my recent “Thank you, Canada” tour, I met Marilyn in Pembroke, Ontario, and we confirmed the fact that Jesus is alive and still proving it by miraculous signs and wonders.

Serving a risen Saviour,

David

REMINDER: If you are reading the email version and wish to post a comment on my blog, go to www.100words.ca and “Leave a Reply.”

JESUS PROMISED

Suggested Reading: Matthew 26

Looking from the South end of the old city of Jerusalem you can see the Mount of Olives to the East.

Key Verse: Matthew 26:32

“But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

It’s difficult to choose a key verse as this chapter is filled with crucial truth for all people. The death and resurrection of Christ is the focal point of all history. It is His story! Once again Jesus states the fact of His death and resurrection and once again His disciples failed to comprehend. This time they were too sleepy to take in truth. Are you wide awake? Are you ready to understand? Understand that when Jesus gives a promise, its fulfillment is absolutely sure! It is impossible for Him to lie! He knew He must die and He also knew He must rise again. This was the reason He came. He also knew the humanity of His followers. They would remember His instructions about meeting Him in Galilee after the resurrection, and they would obey Him.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, as I read Your Words, grant the grace to make those Words an integral element in my spiritual DNA. Please grant me full comphrehension and obedience. I pray this with sincerety and faith that You will do this in me for Your Glory and for the fulfillment of Your plan for my life. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have been reading your responses to 100 words.ca. Thank you for letting me know that you are there with me daily. I turn 76 on August 13th, and as an old-timer I was not sure anyone would bother reading my blog. I don’t really understand the new social media. Come to think of it, I didn’t understand television back on June 2nd, 1962 either. I do know, however, that God gave me the grace of obedience then and He’s doing so now. If you are blessed and encouraged, or of this blog helps you in the daily discipline of reading the entire Bible in meal-sized portions over two years, then God’s purpose is being fulfilled. Amen! and Amen!

Continuing in obedience,

David

REMINDER: If you are reading the email version and wish to post a comment on my blog, go to www.100words.ca and “Leave a Reply.” And please share my blog with a friend!

THE LORD’S JOY

Suggested Reading: Matthew 25

"Mr. and Mrs. goat" on the West hillside of the Galilee.

Key Verse: Matthew 25:21

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'”

God has given you at least one gift and perhaps many more. With His gifts come responsibilities. Never hide a gift. With investment in others you will grow what God has given you. What has God given you? Think about it. God has given you at least one gift. Talk to your Pastor and and a trusted friend about it. Call the Crossroads toll free prayer line and pray with someone (1-866-273-4444). Of course, pray fervently about it yourself. Make decisions and move on those decisions. Ask God to stop you if you are moving in the wrong direction. God is Faithful. He’ll guide you. Move forward with your decisions.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord God, Give me the grace to invest in my family, my community, my church, my friends and aquaintances, and even in far off places. Keep me faithful over the “few things” You’ve given me. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I remember well the first time I preached. I was 16. I had given my life fully to Christ about 2 months earlier. The youth leader, Greta O’Brien, asked me to bring the message at a Friday night youth service. At the time, I was reading in the book of Acts where Paul was shipwrecked on an island. I decided I would preach from that story. As I spoke, they said my face got red, and I lasted all of 5 minutes. Several months later, I was baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). The next time I preached was two years later. I studied the Word on the subject of “Hell.” I prayed for a long time, making sure I was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. That night 5 people came forward to the altar to be saved. The words flowed from my mouth. There was no struggle or embarrassment. God is faithful!

Thanking God for His gifts,

David

REMINDER: If you are reading the email version and wish to post a comment on my blog, go to www.100words.ca and “Leave a Reply.”

COME LORD JESUS!

Suggested Reading: Matthew 24

A watchman stands on the wall in "Nazareth Village" - a special attraction that re-enacts life from first-century Nazareth.

Key Verse: Matthew 24:42

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour our Lord is coming.”

This chapter contains one of the most detailed descriptions of events that lead up to the second coming of Jesus. Jesus even gives us a copy of His statement to the world immediately after His return. World leaders and reporters are anticipating those first Words. They are, “I was hungry and you gave me food,” and so on. They ask, “When?” He answers, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it unto Me.” How important is this, visiting the sick and the prisoners? You decide! Obedience to Christ is “Watching.” What will you do today to “Watch?” Reading the Word is watching. Daily prayer is watching. Be ready!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, please grant me Your amazing grace to live constantly expecting Your return. May I show my expectation by my service to You by serving others. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My wife, Norma-Jean, reminds me every day, “Jesus may come today!” Throughout the years in the leadership of an international ministry, when it came to establishing the budget, I would ask the team for their spending estimates. I required them to categorize all their needs under three categories – “Absolutely essential” (without these needs the ministry would die), “Essential” and “Necessary.” If funds were not there we would cut the “Necessary.” If still the money was not there we would cut the “Essential.” Please join me now in deciding what is “Absolutely essential” in that most practical matter of “Watching” for His return. Don’t be deceived by date setters. Jesus said, “Only the Father knows.”

Serve Christ today!

David

P.S. Can I ask a favour? If you think that my daily blog would be a blessing to a friend or family member, please email to them the link… www.100words.ca or perhaps post it on your Facebook wall. Thanks for helping to spread the Word!

THE HEART

Suggested Reading: Matthew 23

Here you see the Western slope of the Mount of Olives covered by thousands of Jewish graves facing toward the Temple Mount and the Eastern Gate of the old city of Jerusalem. The valley between is the Kidron Valley. This slope of the Mount of Olives has been used as a Jewish cemetery for over 3,000 years and holds approximately 150,000 graves.

Key Verse: Matthew 23:26

“Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

Learn to see as God sees by learning to think as God thinks by making the Word of God a daily part of your thinking process. This is the eternal value of what we’re doing together in this blog. 3000 years ago the prophet wrote, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). It’s true, we do look on the outward. Therefore, it’s important to groom our appearance so we will not hinder the shining forth of the inner beauty of Christ. Cleanse the inside in two ways: The washing of God’s Word (Eph 5:26) and by confessing our sins, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Lord, thank You for washing me inside with Your Word which I’ve just read, and thank You for washing away my sin by Your precious blood. I believe Your promises. You cannot lie. Therefore, it’s done. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

A few blog entries ago, I mentioned a woman named May, who asked me to conduct her husband, Win’s, funeral, even though I was not a minister at the time. May had been born and raised in Northern Ontario. As a young man, Win was a railroad engineer who, on every trip, noticed a young girl beside the tracks waving at him. Eventually they met at the water tank (steam engine), and later Win and May married. May’s usual stance was hands on her hips and normally a cigarette was dangling from the corner of her mouth. She was probably 65 when I met her. It would’ve been easy to see May only from her outward appearance; but there was a deeper May. Win had built a second cottage beside the one they lived in, which May allowed me, a 20-year-old single man seeking to be in full time ministry, to live in. One day I asked her why she would not allow any ordained minister or priest to conduct Win’s funeral. She said, “I knew what you were doing out in that boat with Win besides fishing. He told me you prayed with him and he became a believer in Jesus and was not afraid to die anymore.” I had the great honour of leading May to Christ also. The inner beauty of Jesus was evident as she lived to serve others. Sorry, I’m well over 100 words!

Love,

David

REMINDER: If you are reading the email version and wish to post a comment on my blog, go to www.100words.ca and “Leave a Reply.”

SCRIPTURE & POWER

Suggested Reading: Matthew 22

(Click on photo to enlarge)

The evening view of the old city of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.

Key Verse: Matthew 22:29

Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God…”

There are different denominations in Christianity. There are denominations in Judaism. The Pharisees were the traditionalists who had added much to the Scriptures. Jesus said that they had made the Word of God ineffective by their traditions (Matt 15:6). The Sadducees were another group. They practiced Judaism’s rituals but did not believe in Biblical truths such as miracles, and in particular, they denied the resurrection of the dead. Jesus was not with either group. He calls His followers to KNOW THE SCRIPTURES and to KNOW THE POWER OF GOD.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I pray for the discipline of daily reading and studying the Scriptures. I also pray that I will know Your power. You promised that, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). My heart is wide open to receive Your Holy Spirit. In Your Name, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Every morning I spend time reading and studying God’s Word. I ask and believe God to speak to me through my reading. God speaks first. I get to know the Scriptures. Then it’s my turn to speak. I get on my knees and pray. I pray for understanding of what I’ve read. I pray for my wife, my children, grandchildren and my great-grandchildren by name, and circumstance. I then pray for all others whose needs I am aware of. I pray for all you who read this blog that you will know the Scriptures and the power of God. I pray specifically for all by name who lead in the Church and in the various ministries of which I am aware. Then I spend time in worship, so that I may soak in God’s presence. Now it’s almost 6 a.m. Time to post this blog to you. Thank you very much for doing me the honour of joining me.

Praying for you,

David

REMINDER: If you are reading the email version and wish to post a comment on my blog, go to www.100words.ca and “Leave a Reply.”