LOYAL HEARTS AND WILLING MINDS
Suggested Reading: 1 Chronicles 28
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Zedekiah's Cave, an extension of Solomon's Quarries, is a 5-acre underground meleke limestone quarry that runs the length of five city blocks under the Old City of Jerusalem. It was carved over a period of several thousand years and is a remnant of the largest quarry in Jerusalem. Here is the path that leads down into the depths of the quarry.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 1 Chronicles 28:20
And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God — my God — will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord…”
Young Solomon must have been overwhelmed by the challenge facing him. God had called him to follow his father as king. His first task was to oversee the building of the Temple in Jerusalem on Mt. Moriah. But, along with the calling, God gave Solomon instructions and a promise.
First, Solomon was to know the God of his father and to “serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind” (28:9).
Second, Solomon was encouraged to “Be strong and of good courage and do it” (28:20a).
Third, his father assured him that God would be with him and that God would not leave him or forsake him (28:20b).
When God calls us to do His work we must do it without fear, knowing that He will accomplish His purpose through us.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I need Your provision in order to accomplish Your purpose. Here I am, Lord, at Your service. Please grant me a loyal heart and a willing mind. With heart and mind focused on doing Your will, I know I will succeed. In the Name of Jesus, the One who did Your will 100% of the time, I pray, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When I saw the number “100” on the front of the building on Huntley Street downtown Toronto, I knew without a doubt that God wanted Crossroads to renovate and occupy that building. Last Friday I walked down that Street and marvelled at God’s provision back in 1977. The building where the 100 Huntley Street telecast originated is gone now and the head office of the cable TV and telecommunications giant, Rogers Communications, is now there. Our lease on the building at 100 Huntley Street ended and, like Solomon might have been with the Temple, I was almost overwhelmed at the building challenge that faced us. I marvel at God’s call and His provisions! In the spring of ’92, we dedicated to God the new 143,000 square foot building known as the “Crossroads Centre” in Burlington, Ontario. God has done amazing things through the faithful support of His loyal people, our partners in ministry. If you have not had the opportunity to visit the Crossroads Centre, we would love to see you there some time (here is some visitor info). It’s now 5:45 a.m., and I must complete this edition of our two-year journey through the Bible.
Yours because of God’s gift of loyal hearts and willing minds,
David
Another view inside Zedekiah's Cave/Solomon's Quarries.
You can see the walls of Jerusalem above the bedrock of the Quarry. Here is one of the entrances to Zedekiah's cave. Just to the south is the area where the Temple was built, and to the north on the other side of the quarry is the rock wall considered by many as the Place of the Skull. This is Mt. Moriah where Abraham was about to offer Isaac as a sacrifice when God said that He would provide the sacrifice. Jesus, the Son of God, was that Sacrifice offered on this mountain (Genesis 22:1-18).
Today’s study reveals the need for us to act when God calls. Solomon had the daunting task of overseeing the building of the Temple. I can only imagine how overwhelmed he felt with the task at hand, something on this grand a scale had never been done before. Yet Solomon listened and obeyed. David, you knew that God had called you to this task of completing this state-of-the-art complex in Burlington, Ontario years ago. The task must have seemed daunting, and I’m sure it was. But you listened and obeyed and God blessed. Seek and pray as to what God may be calling each of us to do, He may not be asking us to build a building (or, maybe He is), but I do know He wants to work in and through us to bring the lost, suffering and disenfranchised unto Himself. Be it big or small, let’s not put limits on God’s ability to do a mighty work through us, all we need do is to trust and obey.
I’m praying that God places a healing hand upon you tomorrow Ger as you go into surgery. I know He is the master surgeon and that He will see you through! We will be praying for you tomorrow as well Ger. God Bless!
Amen, Scott!
God is so remarkable! Listening to I and II Chronicles, this morning, and reading my daily books, brought the same message to me, which was astonishingly clear, and pierced my ears. When God calls us to do His work, we must do it without fear, or trembling; knowing that He will accomplish His purpose, through us–undeniably. No words could sum up more perfectly, the feeling of everything I have been praying for and reading about, this morning. Praise God!
“Thou art worthy, oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou has created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Rev 4:11
“You are held in the Hand that holds the world. You are kept by the Power that rules the universe. I have said, ‘None can pluck you from My hand.’ It is not your feelings that keep you. It is not even your faith–for I know that waxes and wanes quickly under different circumstances. No, it is My hand that holds you, My child, and protects you when you are least aware of it.
“When your eyes are open and you are able to see this reality, give thanks and offer praise. When you cannot see or feel the reality, still give thanks and offer praise. That is an act of faith with which I am pleased. And by the exercise of your faith, it will grow stronger and steadier.” Echoes of Eternity, Hal H. Helms, June 19th, p. 129
In today’s reading, the same message is given to Solomon–one that is upholding and encouraging and reaffirming that God is with him. “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” (9-10)
Let us all be reassured we are working for the Lord, and that He is speaking these same words to us. We each know, personally within our own hearts, what God is calling us to do. Praise God for the strength He affords us, and to Him be all the honour and glory! In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen, amen, and amen!
Blessings, today, fellow saints!
Praying for you, Ger. Fear not, for the Lord is with you. He will not leave you, nor forsake you. God bless you, sister!
Praying for your successful surgery today as well, Ger. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Amen Beverlee. How was your visit with your dear friend Heather?
Thanks, Catherine. Her spirits are up in the Lord. She faces five days straight of radiation for the cancer that is spread into her brain. I am going to be there with her, reading from the heaven books she likes, and scripture, before each radiation treatment. Please pray that the cancer cells are completely terminated so she doesn’t have to face the agonizing headaches that come with it when it spreads in the brain. Pray she will return home after the treatments and be at peace, there. Thanks to all the saints praying for all those in need of healing and divine intervention on this blog.
Will indeed be praying. May Heather and you Beverlee sense the glorious hand of our Lord holding you close.
It was quite a decision for King David to make, based in God’s instructions, to hand over the plans and vision of the temple to his son and future King, Solomon. Interesting that the reason David did not build was because of bloodshed and destruction under his command. The two were not a fit. It takes more than a lifetime and a legacy to come anywhere near accomplishing God’s plans, as well as the recognition to know when to let go and let God move past and forward. To stand aside, bless and encourage. The greatest peace and sense of accomplishment must have been felt by King David when he resolved his station in time and knew God was at the helm. Have a great day!
Praying for you, Ger. Also praising God for the new drug discovery for some cancers. May it prove to be very effective. (All healing comes from God). Thank you Lord.
An overwhelming task for Solomon but wise words from his father David, that as he obeyed God would not leave or forsake him. We too can out on The Lord to guide us brought everything we face, as be are obedient and carry out HIs wishes.
Thank you once again Pastor David and fellow bloggers for your wise input.
Ger I pray you will feel the peace around you for tomorrow and God holding ou tight my beloved sister in he Lord.
I also bring Frank before God’s throne as he starts his radiation today, but more than that, he find Jesus as his Saviour.
Praying for all the needs today …. Enjoy the sunshine.
Sorry a few oops!!! We too can count on The Lord to guide us through everything we face…..
Thank you, Catherine, for reminding me of the prayer request for Rosemarie Henning’s friend Steve, who deals with brain and lung cancer, and will be receiving radiation treatment to kill the cancer cells in his brain. Lord, we call upon You to cleanse Steve’s body from the attack of cancer, and cover him with the blood of Jesus. Please, Lord, bring strength and peace of mind to his wife, Connie. Bring them ever closer to you, Lord.
Thank you, dear saints, for all your prayers for my friend, Heather, yesterday. She starts radiation treatments, today, for the cancer that is spread as a secondary source, into her brain. I bring Heather before you, gracious Lord, and ask for your healing touch upon her; bring forth the cleansing and almighty power of the blood of Jesus, to end the attack on her brain, and spare my sister-in-Christ, further pain.
In Jesus Holy name, we pray: amen, amen, and amen.
When I need it I use the scripture above only I use the Living Translation bible
Joshua 1:9
“Do not be discouraged or afraid for the Lord God will be be you wherever
you go”
This scriptures I claim for you Ger and ” Do not be anxious about anything
instead , pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for
all he has done”Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your heart and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
The pictures above Renold I cannot put into words
Have a great day in the Lord everyone
Lianne Hogg
Praying for those who are facing such challenges, Ger, Steve, Heather, and so many others. Praying to the Master Physician for healing!
Blessings to you all.
Amen to all the prayer requests for the healing of these cancers. It seems that thousands are being diagnosed every day across the world. “Heavenly Father we come to you in the name of Jesus and ask that you bring a revelation to someone for the cure for all cancers, Lord you have given the answer to many other diseases, for which we are very grateful,please help us now,and we’ll give you all the praise and the glory”.Thank you Father for hearing our prayers.”
Yesterday I posted a similar prayer request regarding God guiding those doing cancer research and about 3 hours later on the news there was an announcement out of Toronto about a possible new treatment for some forms of aggressive cancers. They are about to go into clinical trails for this new drug and it proven effective it will help in the treatment of many. I don’t know if the timing of this announcement was a coincidence or God way of letting me knowing He is working behind the scenes to do as many have asked Him to do. So I add my prayer to yours, trusting God will continue guiding this research and others and providing them with the resources they need to keep making strives in this field.
Dear David M. and precious fellow bloggers
I also add my prayers for Ger , Heather and Steve and all the others knowing what an incredible and powerful Physician we have in Jesus . I am reminded of the words of a beautiful worship song of Linda Randall ” And the God of the mountain is still God in the valley…”
Dear David M . enjoying so much the wonderfull interviews with you on Canada Heart and Soul. Looking so much forward to sharing it with all my family ,friends and Church. We have so much to be thankfull for and must diligentley and bravely carry the legacy of our ancestors in Jesus name . Amen and Amen.
Have a bleesed day dear fellow saints.
xxxx Carole.
Thank you all for your prayer ,may God bless your faithfulness, as i add my prayers for Ger and her surgery ,and all those who need treatments for cancer.
God will take care of of us , He will, Praise His Holy Name…..R…
Ger: I just wanted to let remind you that I and your fellow blog-buddies will be praying for you as you undergo your surgery tomorrow.
Dear Heavenly Father: Please be with Ger as she prepares for surgery. Give her peace and rest and guide the hands of the surgeons. And may You Lord, The Great Physician give her a quick recovery. May she feel your presence and peace and may she not be afraid. Let her have a good sleep tonight and may she rest in you. In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN
Oh, wow! I never knew that Jesus sacrifice of Himself for our sins was on Mt. Moriah where Abraham was about to offer Isaac, but God intervened saying He would provide the lamb. God is so awesome! I am overwhelmed at His great love!!!
🙂