GOD CARES

Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 11-12

(click scripture link to read online)

Photographed from Migdal you can see Mount Arbel on the left and the Valley of Doves, which is on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. Just beyond are the Horns of Hattin where on Saturday, July 4, 1187, the war between the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem and the forces of the Ayyubid dynasty was fought. The Muslim armies under Saladin captured or killed the vast majority of the Crusader forces, removing their capability to wage war. As a direct result of the battle, Islamic forces once again became the eminent military power in the Holy Land, re-conquering Jerusalem and several other Crusader-held cities.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 11:11b & 12

A land of hills and valleys which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.

Migdal, mentioned in the picture caption, is the home of Mary Magdalene, the one to whom Jesus first appeared after His resurrection (John 20:11-18). She is a great example of the care Jesus has for people. God also cares for the land. We’re almost at the year end. We recognize His care for our countries. Canada’s official motto is, “He shall have dominion from sea to sea,” “Ad mare usque ad mare” (Psalm 72:8). As we approach the new year, we may want to reflect on the motivation for our obedience to God. Are we motivated by fear or love? For Mary of Migdal, out of whom Jesus had cast demons, it was love that brought her to the garden. Because of love she stayed close to Jesus as He carried His Cross. Psalm 103:13 & 14 tells us that, “as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear (hold in awesome reverence) Him. He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust.” Are we, like Mary, confused and sorrowful? Peter writes, “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord, in these days leading up to the new year, I ask You to increase my faith, so that I am totally confident that You care for me every day of the year. As I look back over this past year, You have cared for everything about me. Together we are winning! Thank You! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In spite of my battle with leukemia (because of God’s care I’m winning the fight), I find doors of opportunity open everywhere. On Wednesday this week I was present in the Canada Space Agency Building in Montreal, along with the Rt. Hon. David Johnson, Canada’s Governor General, to witness, on the large screen, the launch of a Russian Soyuz rocket, which is bound for the International Space Station. Sitting in the rocket’s nose was the future commander of the station, Chris Hadfield. My daughter Elaine and her family attended church regularly with Chris’ parents for several years. They prayed together for God’s care. I’m sure our Canadian astronaut prayed too. I don’t know if this was mentioned on the news, but the head of Canada’s space agency told us that an Russian Orthodox priest prayed with the three men personally before they ascended to their cockpit. This happened in Kazakhstan. For those of us who remember the 70 years of official Soviet atheism, this says that God is still at work and still cares for people.

Oh yes, today is the day, according to the Mayan calendar, when the world is supposed end. I don’t believe God believes that…and neither do I (I’m certainly planning to do my blog tomorrow!). Ephesians 3:21 says, “…world without end. Amen!” Yes, there will come a time of cataclysmic change. For Peter’s perspective on the Mayan prediction I’ve just read 2 Peter 3:1-18. I know God cares, and He’s also in charge of whatever happens to this world.

Yours for a renewed confidence in God’s care,

David

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S REASONS

Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 9-10

(click scripture link to read online)

The Jordan River normally is a slow meandering stream , but when the Israelites went across, it was at the time of year when the "Jordan overflowed its banks" (Joshua 3:15b).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 9:5

It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

There were three reasons as to why God took the children of Israel into the Promised Land. First, because of the wickedness of the nations already there. Second, because of His promise to His friend, Abraham. Third, because Moses fasted and prayed for forty days and nights for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in their lives. Fasting, along with our prayers, does not win brownie points with God, but it does indicate the fervency of our prayers. “The fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). God, through Moses, as well as through Paul, made it very clear that, “It’s not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5a). This makes an important distinction between salvation by works and a faith that works.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, grant a greater level of fervency to me as I pray. May I underline and put exclamation points behind my prayers more often by fasting along with my prayers. Thank You for saving me through the greatest work of all time, Your death and resurrection. Now, I’m asking You for a greater measure of faith that works in every area of my life and for the good of others. Amen!!!!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The Bible reading suggested here in “100 Words” is my morning reading. However, my New Years’ resolution is to raise my time reading God’s Word by ordering the book offer for December from Crossroads/100 Huntley Street. It’s called, What Would Jesus Read? Raised in a believing, synagogue-attending family, Jesus would have read the portions from His Bible which had been selected by a council of Jewish rabbis. Our 2-year journey through the Bible, as presented in my blog, goes from the Old Testament to the New and back again, covering every verse, every chapter, every book. I will be most interested each night, before I retire, to find out which portions Jesus would have actually read or heard read at His family altar, in His personal devotions, and in the synagogue. I’ve never done this before. God bless Bible teacher Joe Amaral for compiling What Would Jesus Read? To order your copy, click here.

Yesterday I was privileged to be present in the Canada Space Agency in Montreal for the launch into space of the future Canadian Commander of the International Space Station. I’m well over my 100 personal words already, so, God willing I’ll reflect on that experience tomorrow.

Yours for knowing God’s Word more thoroughly,

David

1000 GENERATIONS

Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 7-8

(click scripture link to read online)

A mother and daughter share a meaningful moment at Nazareth Village in Nazareth.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 7:9

Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments…

What are the emphasis words? 23 times “the Lord your God” is repeated. It’s a good idea to check whether or not Jesus quoted from His Hebrew Bible. He did! In Matthew 4:3 Jesus gave us a Moses quote. “Man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3b). Particularly because of Jesus’quote, we who believe in Him have every right to claim God’s promise to His people. In today’s reading, Moses reviews all God has done for the people, and then takes the very long view which reaches far beyond our present generation. The Apostle Peter picks up on Deuteronomy 7:6 from his Bible and tells us that we too are God’s special treasure. We might want to read now 1 Peter 2:9-17. There are serious obligations, as well as exciting blessings, to being God’s people. Think about it and click here to read Peter’s words.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, Your “little rock,” Peter, has challenged me to live my life in a way that will cause other people to glorify You. Please bestow on me grace and power to good works. I know that people will observe me today. May I represent You well. In Your strong Name I pray. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

At 7:15 this morning, a Soyuz Russian rocket is scheduled to take off for the International Space Station. I’ve been invited to be present at the Canadian Space Centre in Montreal to film and observe the lift-off. Sitting in the nose of that rocket will be Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield. His mom and dad attended the same church as my daughter Elaine and her husband Bruce for a number of years. They believed in the power of prayer, so I believe Chris will be praying for that Russian hardware to work well. He is due to take on the responsibility as Commander of the Space Station in March. God willing, at that time, I expect to ask him some questions live from earth to space. We, Crossroads/CTS/Tricord, are producing a series of television documentaries called, “Canada, Heart and Soul.” Commander Hadfield is one of the featured people. This particular story should be released in April. This blog is posted at 6 a.m. this morning, and the early birds who read this will have time to fly into heavenly places in prayer for Chris and his team.

Yours for the good of God’s people for 1000 generations,

David

P.S. Yesterday I put pictures of 3 of my great-grandchildren here (four generations of that 1000). I must treat all of my great-grandchildren without favouritism. So here are are the other four. Three are the grandchildren of our daughter Ellen and her husband Nizar Shaheen. Their parents are Sarah, their oldest daughter, and her husband Jordan. Aliyah, James, and Kaylin, ages 6, 3, and 3 months, are my treasures. Then there is a 3-D ultrasound picture of Jadice, who is the granddaughter of our son Ron Mainse and his wife Ann. Her parents are their daughter Andrea and her husband Jason Patterson. Jadice is due on January 1st.

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

GOD IS “COMMANDER”

Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 5 & 6

(click scripture link to read online)

The High Priest in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 6:24

And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.

Let us keep in mind the reason for God’s laws, “FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS.” There are 15 repetitions of words that “COMMAND” us to obey. That’s not too popular in today’s, “I did it my way” culture. The challenge for Moses, and for us, is in the first verse of today’s reading, “Learn them and be careful to observe them.” As I’ve mentioned before, when God desires to emphasize something, He inspires the writer to repetition. For example, in Deuteronomy the word “hear” is repeated 30 times, the word, “learn” 7 times, the word “keep” 30 times, and here’s one I like, “do” 100 times.

Chapters 5 & 6 summarize the Ten Commandments given first back in Exodus 20. Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus quoted Moses from Deut. 6:5 as His answer, and then added an additional quote from God’s laws of social order, “And the second is like it; you shall love your neighbour as yourself” from Leviticus 19:18. Again, the reason for God’s laws? “FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I thank You that You have written Your laws on my heart, and not just on tablets of stone. I ask for insight into keeping Your commandments in the light of the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. In the Name of the one “Who kept all the law,” the Name of Jesus, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In yesterday’s blog I placed a picture of my great-granddaughter in the arms of our Canadian Prime Minister. When her brother heard about her picture in my blog, his body language told me I had to pay the same attention to him. Myles turned 5 this month. His birthday falls on December 12th. He felt very special as we called him the “12, 12, 12” boy. I’ve always done my best to not show favouritism. Therefore, I plan to put pictures of the other great-grandchildren in tomorrow’s blog, including Jadice Patterson, who is expected to make her debut on January 1st.

Frankly, I feel that I don’t deserve the joy which fills my heart. I’ll watch again the movie “A Christmas Carol.” I identify with Scrooge who knows he is not deserving of such happiness. But Scrooge exclaims, “I can’t help it” as he dances for joy. I may do the same after this is posted on the world-wide web. Modern technology – to think God built all this into the building blocks of the universe, and just now mankind has discovered more of His physical laws. As are the moral and spiritual laws, God intends them all to be “FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS!” God forgive us for twisting these natural laws for our own purposes that are not for “our good always.”

Yours for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven,

David

P.S. Here are pictures of Myles Livingston Neilson, turned 5 last Wednesday, and all three Neilsons. Little Autumn Lillian Neilson is 2, and Noelle Stacey Neilson is 7. Myles took the “Baby Jesus” doll out of the manger at the Crossroads Center and is holding it in his arms. Tomorrow, I have the privilege of being in Canada’s Space Centre in Montreal at 4 a.m. (I will also be working on my blog). I’ll be there to cheer on Chris Hadfield, a Canadian who is Commander for the next six months of the International Space Station. I’m hosting a new TV documentary series called “Canada, Heart and Soul,” one of which features Chris Hadfield. We’re videotaping this special in Montreal. Chris’s Mom and Dad attended the same church for years with the grandparents and the Mom of the children pictured below, Bruce, Elaine Stacey and Sheryl Neilson.

TAKE HEED, OBSERVE, POSSESS

Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 4

(click scripture link to read online)

A father walks his child from a time of studying holy books in a Jewish library located in Jerusalem at the foot of the Temple Mount, beside the Western Wall.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 4:9

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and grandchildren.

Words repeated in a chapter stand out to me. “TAKE HEED” (3 times), “OBSERVE” (3 times), and “POSSESS” (4 times). I believe God wants us to pay attention to Him, carefully scrutinize His Word and our response, and then assimilate (make part of our being) what we are learning. This will equip us to pass on our stories to the next generations, and for us personally, “That you may live” (vs 1). Also, “Lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life” (vs 9). Another reason to take heed, observe and possess is, “Lest you act corruptly” (vs 16). How about, “Lest you forget?” (vs 23). The result of our diligence is found in verses 29-31. This is so important that I’m going to type those verses here for extra emphasis, “BUT FROM THERE YOU WILL SEEK THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND YOU WILL FIND HIM IF YOU SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL. WHEN YOU ARE IN DISTRESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS COME UPON YOU IN THE LATTER DAYS, WHEN YOU TURN TO THE LORD YOUR GOD AND OBEY HIS VOICE (FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS A MERCIFUL GOD), HE WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU NOR DESTROY YOU, NOR FORGET THE COVENANT WHICH HE SWORE TO THEM.” Amen!!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I can’t do this on my own, nevertheless I’ll give it my best. My best won’t be enough Lord. Therefore I ask you for sufficient grace to fully “Take Heed,” “Observe,” and “Possess.” Through the person and work of Jesus, the One who did it right, I pray. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Telling my stories to my children and grandchildren is a joy for an old man. Besides, when I do this I’m being obedient to God. That’s most important. I would do this blog for any one of those for whom I’m responsible. As I ponder what story I should tell, I’m looking at the pictures on the wall of Norma-Jean’s special room where I’m typing this. I see a framed front page picture from the National Post. It’s of Stephen Harper (who was to become Prime Minister in 3 days’ time) holding my great-granddaughter, Noelle Neilson (I’ll put a copy of that picture below). His campaign bus stopped right in front of Noelle’s home in Waterdown, Ontario. Meanwhile, I had a book of photographs from the 1948 Stanley Cup Champions, the Toronto Maple Leafs, that I thought Stephen Harper would enjoy, knowing that he’s a BIG hockey fan and is writing a book on hockey. I had prayed, “Lord, I have no idea how to get this book into Stephen’s hands; can You help me?” Now back to that surprise street visit…Mr. Harper asked Noelle’s Mom, my granddaughter Sheryl, “Who is this child.” She answered, “This is David Mainse’s great-granddaughter.” He responded, “Tell David I’m going to call him next week.” The day after the election, as I was walking into a nursing home to get the blessing of the elderly couple who had given me the photographs originally, my cell phone rang. Guess what? It was our new P.M. I travelled to Ottawa and presented him these historical photos on Thursday that week. No one could tell me that God did not have a hand in these events. Hebrews 11:6 says, “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” So that’s another story for my great-grandchildren. Noelle is now 7, and 6 more have arrived since.

Yours for passing on the stories of God’s grace and mercy,

David

Here is the photo from the National Post which I referred to above. It was from January 20, 2006. You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

STICK WITH THE PLAN

Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 3

(click scripture link to read online)

This photo looks east across the Jordan Valley to the mountains of Moab in Jordan. An acacia tree is some of the only life that can be seen in this area.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 3:22

You must not fear them, for the Lord, your God, fights for you.

In today’s reading, Moses recounts how the Children of Israel were a few short weeks from entering the Promised Land. En route there they won several battles. For Moses personally, the big battle was within himself. He made an impassioned plea to be allowed to enter the land. God answers his prayer with an adamant, “NO.” He tells Moses to never speak of the matter again. God sends Moses to the peak of Mt. Pisgah to view the Promised Land, and He tells him to commission Joshua as the new leader. God tells Moses to use his authority to “command” Joshua. Moses was still God’s leader, and his “commands” were a source of encouragement and strength to Joshua moving forward.

When God says “no,” he has other plans underway. We need to learn that God’s purposes are His #1 priority, not our plans which we may seek to implement. God’s will be done!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father God, help me to always be totally obedient to You, never questioning Your authority. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I identify with the Apostle Peter who, on one of the occasions when Jesus spoke of His impending death, said to Jesus,”Far be it from You, Lord, this shall not happen to You!” (check out Matt. 16:21-26). I’ve learned from this that the word, “no” and “Lord” must never be found in the same sentence. If Jesus is not “Lord,” then I can say, “no.” I have the free will. But if He’s my “Lord,” and He is, I can never say, “no” to Him. From time to time I’ve sought to put my own plans in place. They never succeed. I’m 76 now, and I look back over 7 decades. I’ve learned some hard lessons. This blog is one way to pass on to others the wisdom of those lessons. God willing, I’ve got another 18 months to complete this through the Bible journey. You can start anytime and 24 months later you’ll read the Bible’s last word.Therefore, stick with me and we’ll be equipped for living life God’s way.

I know this statement is very male macho, but I’ve said to Norma-Jean many times, with a smile on my lips and a twinkle in my eye, “Stick with me, baby, and I’ll give you diamonds as big as your eyes” (I’m sure that’s a quote from some script writer). Of course, I gave her a little diamond upon our engagement (a magnifying glass would have come in handy – my excuse was that I was a student). Then in a burst of enthusiasm I bought her a larger one about 30 years later when I spotted a bargain in a foreign country. Unfortunately, when I had it checked at a local Canadian jeweller, it was flawed. It wasn’t a bargain after all. I know she still loves me, and I also know that she’ll stick with me. I’m a blessed man!

Yours for “sticking” with the plan,

David

P.S. Norma-Jean has her mother’s engagement diamond and she is blessed and content.

TRUDGING INTO JOY

Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 2

(click scripture link to read online)

A rock formation in the wilderness located in the Jordan Vally near the Dead Sea in Israel. During the desert wilderness wandering of the Children of Israel, the landscape would have looked much like this.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 2:7

For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.

“Trudging”…a word that describes most of the days of our lives. When God brought His people through the Red Sea, there was dancing. They started off toward the Promised Land with excitement, then came the trudge. Our key verse was spoken to people who repeatedly failed the Lord. God had provided for them to move within a short time into the Promised Land. They refused to go in. God provided food and water in the wilderness. They grumbled. While there were some awful consequences along the way, God continued to care for them and to guide them. His presence remained among them. God was ready to restore them and give them success whenever they were ready to believe His promises and move into His plan for their lives.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I seem to be trudging a lot. In these times, please help me to keep putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward and not backward. Thank You for those times when I walk with a determined stride, and even run and dance. I ask for grace from Your Spirit in the trudging times. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Norma-Jean, who would normally be sleeping at home (and I would be quiet) is at our daughter Elaine’s place. Yesterday I was at home with only the Lord for company. Great Company!!! So I made some joyful noise following the prayer. I went to the piano and sang loudly the Christmas carol, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” I may even dig out my trumpet today, if I can find it, and play at least the first few notes (my lips will give out because I confess I’ve not been practising). So…while I may trudge sometimes today, I also plan to dance a bit. I spoke last evening to a group of Christian business people at a Christmas banquet. I’m sure they trudge throughout most of the year, as I do. They also know how to pray and they did so by gathering around my chair and praying for my healing and for the visions for the future I have. I feel so blessed! In the story Jesus told of the son who returned home, He said there was, “music and dancing.” God’s Son has returned home to His Father, having completed His work for our salvation. Surely we have the greatest of all reasons to celebrate.

I suggest a New Testament reading which I have just read, Luke 15:11-32. Let’s pray for all our loved ones to come home to Father God. Christmas would be a great time for that to happen. Also, here’s a great rendition of “Joy to the World” (click here).

Yours for joy in the journey and for grace in those trudging times,

David

P.S. Below is a photo of my son Ron and his wife Ann who visited Petra in Jordan earlier this year, leading a Crossroads tour group. The city is carved into the solid rock! This was the area inhabited by the descendants of Esau, as mentioned in today’s reading (Deut. 2:4). You can click on the picture to enlarge it.

GOD SPEAKS

Suggested Reading: Deuteronomy 1

(click scripture link to read online)

This photo is taken from Israel looking towards Jordan. This is the Gulf of Aqaba (some call it the Gulf of Elat). It is located at the northern tip of the Red Sea.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 1:21

Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.

This book is essentially a reminder for the Children of Israel of events and laws already covered in Moses’ first four volumes (Genesis through Numbers). Moses’ final book is called the Deutero-Nomos, the second law. It restates God’s laws and purposes in order to impress the message on hearts and minds.

Moses tells the people in verse 6, “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain” (it looked just like the mountain in Reynold’s picture above). It’s a fact that we are often comfortable where we are and don’t want to confront the mountain. God has delivered us from the past, and now He wants us to move forward into the land flowing with milk and honey which He has promised us. But there is this mountain. Jesus said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed (enough faith to obey), you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20b).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, give me the courage to speak to (not about) this difficulty facing me. I do so now in Your Presence. MOVE!!! Now, I need the grace to move forward. Thank You for the grace You are giving me to obey Your instructions. Here we go Lord! Hallelujah! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

One of the great people God sent to work with me in ministry is Fred Vanstone. He first introduced me to these words in business matters, “moving forward.” He was the son of a miller in Bowmanville, Ontario. He became the #2 man in the bank of British Columbia, then CFO for the Pattison Group. He took on the administration of a University, owned a Vancouver business, and then as we traveled together down a mountain side in the Rocky Mountains, we both knew God had spoken to us that we were to work together as a full-time team. Tears come to my eyes as I think of the amazing administrative gifts Fred brought to Crossroads. The mountain of debt on our 143,000 square foot TV production centre disappeared. The “promised land” of the CTS network of several over-the-air TV stations was licensed by the federal government. Fred now runs a company based in Philadelphia with several thousand employees. Thank you, my friend Fred, and thank you Jim Pattison for sending Fred to us initially. “Moving forward,” the mountain moved out of the way. What God has done on the business side of Crossroads, He is doing constantly in my personal day to day life.

Yours for “moving forward”,

David

ROME

Suggested Reading: Acts 28

(click scripture link to read online)

"But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand...But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm." Acts 28:3,5

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Acts 28:8

And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.

Throughout the centuries, divine healings have been instrumental in turning people’s attention toward Jesus. Firstly, in today’s reading, God’s physical protection for Paul from an always fatal snake bite, and secondly, the immediate recovery of Publius. We should never hesitate in praying, according to the Scriptures, for people’s healings. Then, share Jesus as Saviour and Lord!

Believers in Jesus came to meet Paul. They may have been secret believers because of persecution. The main Jewish community seemed to know little of Paul’s message. Oral history, after two years in Rome, tells us that Paul went to Spain, and some suggest that he may have gone to Britain. His final arrest back in Rome brought his death under Nero. After Paul’s first visit to Rome, Luke, our historian, disappears from the scene. His work was done and done very well.

Tomorrow, back to Deuteronomy. Let us not give up on this systematic tour of the Scriptures. Amen!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, grant that I may bring people to You, regardless of the cost, as Jesus and Paul did. I’m trusting You for the grace necessary to be true to Your calling. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I spent a great deal of time in Spain before and during World Expo ’92 in Seville. Crossroads sponsored a pavilion there where more than 1,000,000 people visited our pavilion, and at least 53,000 made first time decisions to give their lives fully to Jesus. While there I visited places where Paul first preached the Good News of Jesus. Even though the Bible does not share this, you could never tell the Spanish people that Paul was not there. Monuments testify to this fact. We first started with our Expo witnessing because Vancouver business man, Jim Pattison, encouraged us to participate in Expo ’86. He was Chairman and CEO of the Expo. On one occasion he said to me, “I believe the reason I have this job is to help bring the message of the Gospel here.” When Mr. Pattison was a teen, he played his trumpet on the streets of Vancouver, drawing a crowd so that his Dad could preach the Good News of Jesus.

I asked for the picture of the serpent seen above. In our reading, the venom could not destroy Paul. Revelation 12:9 speaks of “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.” You may want to read that entire section (click here). Satan has been defeated through the Cross of Christ. As Paul did literally, we do spiritually. Shake the serpent off and into the fires of Hell. He cannot hurt those who put their trust in Jesus. Check out again the first verses of today’s reading, and do to the serpent as Paul did.

Yours for effectively winning people to Jesus,

David

TAKE HEART

Suggested Reading: Acts 27

(click scripture link to read online)

Kavala is the site of ancient Neapolis where Paul's boat landed on his way to Philippi.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Acts 27:22 & 24b

And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship…….God has granted you all those who sail with you.

From time to time throughout 35 years of the daily 100 Huntley Street television ministry, we have featured “household salvation” based on Paul’s statement to the Philippian prison warden, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). As people began to pray with greater fervency for their loved ones, miracles have taken place. We have received reports of entire families accepting Jesus as their Saviour, and others where every week a new family member has come into Christ’s Kingdom. Now, in today’s reading, we see people being saved in a physical way. The same God who keeps His promises is at work. In a very real sense, “God has granted you all those who sail with you” (27:24b). It is our responsibility to live a Christ-like life, to speak to our family members with wisdom and love, and to pray continually for them. We must never, never give up. We can expect God to protect and save each one.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I pray for the protection and salvation of each of my family members by name… “_________”, and also for those I’ve spiritually adopted (names). I also pray for all others who “sail” with me. Keep each one in Your love and by Your power. Save each one. In Your name I pray, Lord Jesus. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

At the close of thousands of letters I have written, I would have these words, “May the Lord keep you in His love and by His power. In Christ’s love and service, David Mainse.” I still do that because I believe with all my heart that there is a personal loving God who is “Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). When I knew Norma-Jean was expecting, I began to pray fervently for the salvation of each precious little one. These prayers continue to this day. It would be the greatest tragedy, having been responsible for helping to bring my children into this world, for them to be lost eternally. How I rejoiced when they were still small, to hear them pray to receive Jesus into their hearts. I know that their names were written in “the book of life” (Rev. 21:27). As I type this, I’ve taken the time to read, for additional scriptural input, the entire last chapter in the Bible, Revelation 22. Also, several times, as I’ve prayed this morning, the old hymn “Rescue the Perishing” has come from my lips. Ron knows how to find these old hymns on the Internet. I’ll ask him to do this before this is posted (OK Dad, the link is HERE -Ron).

Yours for the salvation of our families and other loved ones,

David