REMEMBER
Suggested Reading: Nehemiah 13
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This olive tree is just outside the ancient city walls of the City of David in Jerusalem. Science has determined that olive trees can live and produce olives well over 2,000 years. Perhaps Jesus picked an olive from this tree's branches.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Nehemiah 13:2b, 13:31b
Our God turned the curse into a blessing….Remember me, O my God, for good!
God takes any bad situation and turns it into good as we pray fervently about it, trust Him, and then make a full commitment to His will being done! He turns a curse into a blessing!
God does remember, but He does not remember our sins which we have confessed and for which we have been forgiven (Hebrews 8:10-13). A few days ago we were reminded that “a book of remembrance” is kept by God. Malachi was there in Nehemiah’s time and he wrote about that book. We can be sure God heard and answered Nehemiah’s prayer (Malachi 3:16-18).
Things were very different under the first covenant. Under the New Covenant (read Jeremiah 31:31-34) there are big changes. We start tomorrow, God willing, in the book of Colossians. We’ll learn that this church was coming under bondage to the rules and regulations of the Old Covenant, over-emphasis on the observance of sacred days, and religious forms and regulations. Let us not miss the next three days, and then we expect to begin our consideration of the book of Esther.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Thank You, Lord, that You have not shut the gates to any person any where at any time in these days of the New Covenant. You have invited me to come “boldly to Your throne of grace.” There I receive mercy and help in my time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). I pray for grace to do this without fail every day. Lord Jesus, You are the Door by which we enter, and I pray these things in Your name, Amen! (John 10:7-10).
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m aware from the records that this blog has new readers. Therefore, I want to tell again about the most important thing that ever happened to me. I found that God did not shut the gates on me as Nehemiah did on the non-Jews during the Sabbath. I was 16 when I went forward at the invitation of an evangelist who was preaching in the Glebe Collegiate Auditorium in Ottawa. There, an elderly man gave me the sentence spoken by Jesus which turned my life around. He opened his Bible to John 6:37 and asked me to read it out loud to him. I read, “The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” He said, “Now David (he had asked my name already), you have come to Jesus, right?” “Yes” I said. Then he asked me, “What does Jesus do?” I answered, “He receives me.” Immediately, the light in my spirit turned on. I knew that I was not rejected by God but accepted by Him. I believed this fact. The next day, in order to confirm what had happened to me, I walked down to the stream behind my sister’s house, where I was staying, and repeated that promise of Jesus over and over. I’ve never doubted since that time that this most unworthy sinner had been accepted by God into His eternal family.
Yours for assurance that in the New Covenant God does not shut the gates on anyone who comes to Him,
David
As we witnessed a yearning to do right by God in Nehemiah’s time, we who are Christians strive to please our Lord in our day. This striving is not for any legalistic, ritual or pious purposes, but out of a sincere love for Jesus our Saviour. We are His children and He is our heavenly Redeemer who fully saved us when we believed upon Him. It is an eternal relationship, not based on our works as though we could save ourselves, but based on love. It is a secure relationship which cannot be broken, once you believe upon the Lord and receive Him as your Saviour you are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life in Heaven forever. God has an eternal love, nobody can snatch this eternal relationship away, not even Satan. It’s God’s desire that we all come to a personal knowledge of Him and rejoice in this love-relationship today; it’s through this love that we try and please our Lord and do what is right in His sight.
Amen Scott
have good day today every blogger buddies
Lianne Hogg
Wonder of wonders! God really does work through you, David. He knew what I needed today and He provided it to me in your 100 words. Your faith and dedication is so inspiring. Maybe there’s hope for me, yet. God Bless you and thank you for being you!
Amen David M. and Scott. Some people cannot remember a specific time and place when they came to the Lord, saying,”I have always believed in the Lord;” but I remember in F’ton, N.B. on Argyle St. when I was going to University. I was determined to go forward and the song, “He Touched Me,” got me moving. When I cried out to the Lord to forgive and come into my heart, I can describe the experience like Jacob’s dream, “And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and said, Surely the lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”(Genesis 28: 16-17). Now some may find that scary and it was for me when I first said His Name but then the pastor’s wife comforted me and I felt love and peace. Now this is my unique experience. I have failed Him many times but He has never failed me, including my recent operation. “Underneath are the everlasting arms.”(Dt. 33:27) Have a good day everyone. I am joining the morning teaching at Campmeeting on” Mark.” Thank you, David for your dedication and teaching.
What a wonderful testimony!!! Praise God that He never fails us.
More so, day-by-day, I am realizing the brevity of our lives. This has become even more apparent as I follow this journey we are on following this wonderful blog. Today’s picture of the Olive Tree, having survived perhaps two thousand years, also measures the fleeting moments which if left unnoticed, pass away. Today, I will sit with a lady whom is palliative and provide comfort measures and prayer. Her life is nearly over here, while I question if my life can in any way be lived more wholeheartedly and purpose driven for Christ. Heavenly Father, awaken any lethargy that seeps into our lives so that we may be fully present, and in full awareness of your kindness and faithfulness, listening to your prompting by the Holy Spirit, day-by-day! Amen!
You are in my prayers David as you share your love of our Lord with this dear lady. God Bless!
Thank you, Scott.
David thank you for your prayer and I will keep you and this lady in my prayers.
David, I felt so blessed reading your blog this morning, it is good to be reminded that we are never rejected by God. Praise Him for giving you words to say each morning, when most of us senior’s are still asleep. May the Lord continue to give you strength from day to day.
The phrase the hit me this morning was ” book of remembrances”. Over the weekend a family celebrated a milestone birthday and as my gift I put together a scrapbook of photos and captions highlighting their life. They were so touched by this gift and everyone got great pleasure looking at it, remembering this person throughout the years.
And perhaps that is what God is doing for all of us. Maybe the book of remembrances isn’t a chronicle of all our sins and mistakes like some churches like to say it is, but sort of a scrapbook of all the highlights in our lives. Maybe God like any proud parent is keeping track of all the milestones– the little and big moments of our lives and will share it with us when we meet face to face.
I don’t know if that is true, but I do know from this past weekend everyone was impressed not only by the effort making this scrapbook entitled but the motivation, the love behind it. So if God is keeping a scrapbook of my life, when He shows it to me and others no doubt I will be in awe at what God put in that book and feel the depth of the love He put into making it. Amen
Hello, David Mainse, and fellow saints; have been away; so happy to be back to the blog. Hope everyone is feeling well. Heather passed away Friday night, with her family by her side. She was ready to go home and I am so happy she is with the Lord. There is a sense of melancholy that lingers this week as we await her celebration of life service Friday. As human beings, we seem to need that closure.
I could not have been more struck by today’s reading, with the message that whatever we are facing that is bad, God has the power to turn into good. I needed to be rekindled by those words that when we pray intensely to Him with complete trust and faith, that His will shall be done in our lives and everything will be done for His glory. To know that our Lord can turn any curse the devil throws our way to try to disrupt us, into a blessing, strengthens me and fills me with such hope. Please keep me in your prayers, saints, as I need the reassurance of your strength behind me. God’s continued blessings to all, today…
From one poet to another during this time of sadness
The Promise
The promise of a seed in spring to become the summer flower,
is the promise to see His face adorned by His Holy power.
The promise of the morning dew to become a cooling rain,
is the promise to experience His touch free of pain.
The promise of a newborn’s smile
to become the laughter of the aged,
is the promise to hear angels sing to Him unending praises.
And the promise that our tears have become His heart,
is the promise that one day from His side we will never part.
For the promise of His hands pierced
to become the way to redemption,
is the promise that death will one day lose its hold and dimension.
And then we, along with our dear departed ones who wait
in time’s mist,will not sleep for long,
for He will call us home,
He promised.
dmf c2008
Amen, sister Donna–thank you so much for such a beautiful and fitting poem! It touched my heart! You are a good and faithful servant and fellow saint in the Lord. May God bless you, abundantly!!
Dear Beverlee
So happy to have you back with us. Heather could not have had a better friend in her journey going home . May the Lord strengthen you give you His Peace Amen and Amen.
xxxx your sister in Christ
Carole.
Beverlee – Please accept my condolences. I pray that God will comfort you at this time of loss. You are in my thoughts & prayers. God bless you!!
Dearest Beverlee, just returned from the cottage and was catching up on my readings.
May the God of all comfort draw you into His Loving arms and whisper His sweet voice, reassuring you Heather is now with Him, no more pain and we are so blessed to know our loved ones are waiting for us when we are called to our heavenly home.
Heather had a wonderful friend in you Beverlee and her courage is an inspiration to all if us.
Missed you and welcome back. Catherine
Beverlee Kay I am so sorry to hear of Heather’s passing, my thoughts and prayers will be with you and Heather’s family.
So sorry to hear of your loss, Beverlee! May the Lord give you and Heather’s family, strength and peace during this difficult time!! Matthew 11:28- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV)
Thank you God!!
Nancy
Dear David M.
Reading the scripture today reminds us again of the wonderful new covenant we are under not by our doing but by the Amazing Grace of Our Saviour Our King Our Perfect LAMB Jesus .
Blessed day to all my blog buddies.
xxxx Carole.
Thank you David .M. and all you fellow blggers, I feel so blessed reading this
Bible reading and the addition of all your comments keep it up and may the
Lord bless you all….R…
The Lord bless you and comfort you, Beverlee.
Thank you once again Pastor David and I pray you are feeling better.
Blessed by the reading today and all of my fellow saints and their comments.
Our prayer list continues to grow….ISN’T THAT WONDERFUL…..I count it a privilege to bring all of you before THE LORD.
Beverley, Keep Shining for Jesus! Heather is safely home, and enjoying her eternal home with her Lord. May you be comforted by our precious Holy Spirit!
The reading to day took me back in time to the late 1980’s. I remember there was no Sunday shopping here in Ontario. I was a divorced Mother of three who owned and operated a hardware store. The only day I had to spend with my children and to rest was Sunday. I was not a Christian but I would watch 100 Huntly street and some times the 700 club . Later we would visit my Dad or other relatives. Cut the grass in summer or go roller blading .In winter go skating or tobogganing . I would make a Sunday dinner. It felt warm and fuzzy on Sundays. When the laws changed and Sunday shopping came in to law, I cried my eyes out. I was devastated. I really needed to rest on Sunday and I soon lost a closeness with my children and any friends and family I had.
Sunday shopping was a bad idea. I never prosperd one cent from it. My sales on Saturday shrunk to nearly half . The difference was made up on the Sunday.
In fact I lost money. It cost more in labour costs and added utility costs for the same amount of sales.
God is right in perscribing a day of rest for his children.
Twenty some years later I still believe Sunday shopping is a bad idea.
I believe that Satan must have leapted for joy when our government past that law.I believe that law has helped to erode our society. Now years later and now being a Christian I have to ask, where was the out cry from Christian leaders and Christians alike to speak out against Sunday shopping. Correct me if I am wrong but I don’t recall any protest to dispute Sunday shopping. The pastures and church leader of that time should have all opposed Sunday shopping. It must have eventualy have effected church attendance.
In today’s bible study I love the righteous anger displayed and the effort that was made to keep and to fallow Gods laws .
Welcome back Beverly. Sorry for your loss. May the lord a sure you that Heather is in her home in heaven. I missed your comments Beverly you are a wonderful part of this blog.
Wow! another beautiful poem by our” blog poet” Donna. May I call you that Donna?
Love and prayers , best wishes to all
M. 🙂
Well that is very sweet, but I am not the only one who posts their poems or the poems of others on this site, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking the title blog poet for myself.
God gives everyone some way to express their faith to others, some by works, some by preaching, some by teaching etc. He gave me a heart to express it through poems and I am glad everyone appreciates the gift God gave me as I appreciate all the gifts fellow bloggers share on this site- wisdom, compassion, humour, and fellowship just to name a few.