LOOK UP
Suggested Reading: Genesis 11-13
Here is a self portrait...well at least those are my feet. I (Reynold Mainse) am looking southeast toward the morning sun. In front is the famous mountain of Masada, and beyond is the Dead Sea. You can see at the bottom left of Masada is a 2000 year old Roman Army encampment that is in the shape of a rectangle.
Key Verse: Genesis 13:14b & 15
Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are — northward, southward, eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendents forever.
Abram (his name changed later to Abraham – father of nations) showed himself to be a generous man. His heart was being changed over time so that he now could give his nephew Lot first choice in land. God honoured Abram by promising him all the land for his descendants…eventually. Abram is father to both the Arabs and the Jews; his offspring has taken over the entire Middle East. Notice what happened before God made such a promise. Abram obeyed God! He left his home. Abram honoured God! He built altars with which to worship God and to make fresh commitments to God. Note the word, “ALTAR” (12:7,12:8,13:4,13:18). He “pitched” his tent, but he BUILT altars. The tent represents the temporal, but the ALTARS represent the ETERNAL! Ask yourself, “What are my priorities? Is God in first place?” Abram’s actions brought God’s blessings!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You responded directly in proportion to Abram’s obedience and faithfulness. Please give me the grace to learn from Abram. Amen & Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I think it’s time to introduce my eldest son, David Reynold Mainse. Reynold spent the entire month of March this year in Israel photographing the pictures for this daily blog. God willing, he’ll be doing the same this November. He is a professional photographer & video producer. This is his source of income. But that is not his calling. He is an ordained minister who has given his life to world missions. His wife Kathy, his children Rachelle, Elizabeth and her husband David Lee, and his son David Peter, share his passion to reach the world for Jesus. For years he led the Crossroads Missions group, and then stepped out to lead the “Heaven’s Rehersal” events. These are unprecedented gatherings where the only Name mentioned is “Jesus” and where worship and the reading of Scripture is the total content. Check www.reynoldmainse.com for more pictures and information. His wife Kathy is a great person of prayer. They lived with Norma-Jean and me at one time for three years. We know them very well.
Building an altar,
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.”
Abraham’s faith in God was renowned. The writer of the book of Hebrews, looking back over the eons, has this to say about Abraham. “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith – for he was like a foreigner, living in tents … Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed by God.” (Heb. 11:8,10). Three things struck me … Abraham’s Faith, Obedience & Consistency. A great example for us today as we too follow the God of Abraham through Christ.
I am now in the place to need a job for myself. I am asking the question what are God’s priorities in my life and what does He want me to do with this part of my life. I am praying that I will be obedient to His call and I pray that where i work I will be a witness and a blessing to others that are around me.
Since reading this blog from the start my prayer has been, Use me God for what you want to do in my life and may I be obedient when you send me. My true prayer is may I be a witness for the Lord. Thank you Jesus!
You are God;s witness.. Wait and watch! God grants every desire above and beyond all expectations through our faith in Christ Jesus our Lord..