A SURE FOUNDATION
Suggested Reading: Isaiah 28-29
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A couple of tourists enjoy the ruins that Josephus called a "most magnificent Palace." Herod the Great built it on a promontory jutting out into the waters of Caesarea. The pool in the centre was nearly Olympic in size and was filled with fresh water. A statue once stood in the centre. Paul would have been imprisoned on the grounds of this Palace (Acts 23:35). Caesarea Maritima is a national park on the Israeli coastline, near modern Caesarea. In today's reading God says, "Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation!" (Isaiah 28:16a). Herod's buildings have crumbled, but God is constructing a forever building!!!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Isaiah 29:18
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
There’s bad news on the way to the good news of our key verse. Six times Isaiah declares that “intoxicating drink” and drunkenness are bad news! Like this blog, hopefully, “precept upon precept [repeated], line upon line [repeated], here a little, there a little” (28:10) will cause us to understand the message! God will then use the people who speak other languages, the Assyrians and the Babylonians, to speak to His people, because they don’t listen well! It’s almost as if they had a pastor with a serious stammer trying his best to communicate. In 28:13 the people responded to Isaiah’s words with mockery, considering them unworthy of a hearing, repetitive, and boring. This resulted in backsliding, brokenness, and being caught in the snare of their own making. They brought it on themselves! Isaiah 28:16 tells us of the foundation upon which we should build our lives. A helpful New Testament reading is 1 Peter 2:4-8.
Isaiah 29 mentions “Ariel” several times. “Ariel” means in Hebrew, “Hearth of God,” and probably refers to the altar of burning coals in the Temple at Jerusalem. The people who offered their sacrifices were going through the motions of their religion but were not repenting for their sins! Therefore, they were bringing more judgement upon themselves. But God does not give up on His people. It turns around and our key verses kick in! Hallelujah!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that I will have Your grace to continue building my life on Your “sure foundation,” the measuring line (horizontal) and the plummet (vertical) being 100% governed by the position of Jesus Christ in my life, the “Precious Cornerstone!” I ask this in His Name! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’ve been impressed by the repetition of “black cummin” and “cumin” in today’s reading. My daughter, Ellen Shaheen, has become an expert cook in middle-eastern foods. She tells me that “black cummin” is caraway seed, and cummin is the spice that makes much of her food so delicious. In preparation for use the seeds are “beaten out with a stick” (28:27) in order to remove the casings and to bring out the flavour of the spices. The “beating” Judah had by the Babylonians served to bring out the best in the people of God! Never again did the Jews turn to wholesale idolatry.
The Apostle Paul writes of the necessity of disciplining our bodies (the stick, maybe!). Norma-Jean and I are joining Ron, Moira, Jerry, and our CEO John Hull in an amazing plan developed by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California called “The Daniel Plan.” It’s important, as Paul teaches us, to make sure the building in which God dwells, our bodies, are in good shape. Check it out by watching Jerry Johnston and Rick Warren from the New Year’s Day 100 Huntley Street show (click here). If you join us in this program (dare I call it a “stick”), I want to hear from you. We’ll design a format for you to report to me with ease and for me to report to you. Norma-Jean and I plan to start on Monday, January 20th! God willing I’ll keep reminding us all regularly.
Yours for building in an excellent way the “temple” in which God desires to live and in which we live! (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
David
P.S. Yesterday afternoon I visited my daughter Ellen Shaheen who often cooks for her family using common middle eastern spices. I asked her for samples of “cummin” and “black cumin” which are mentioned in today’s reading. She told me that the “cumin has been ground into a fine powder and the “black cumin” or “caraway” is beaten to remove a shell. Isaiah gives us a word picture of what the Assyrians and Babylonians will do to Israel and Judah! I know from personal experience that the end result makes certain foods taste very good! (Isaiah 28:25-27)
Most interesting message, this morning, David. Excellent health benefits of cumin and caraway seeds; not at all surprised to read mention of it in Isaiah, along with wheat, barley and spelt. Also to read the disgust of the leaders’ drunkenness from wine and beer. Strong warning about respecting the body and spirit that is bestowed upon us by God. For life is not about us, but rather Him. This is one of the greatest realizations as a Christian, when we finally get that our life is about serving and glorifying our God and bringing others to know Him; it isn’t about us.
And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer.
Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine;
They reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.
All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.
Isa 28:7-8
Indeed, “All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.” Isa 28:29
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Cor 6:19-20
Blessings, fellow saints. Keep warm on this wretchedly cold day.
Sometimes, our greatest strengths can be found while trusting God through our greatest obstacles. Maintaining our health and fitness is important to maintaining a sound mind and, as such, is intricately connected spiritually. This is my challenge. Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” As the saying goes, “Just Do It!” May we all be as healthy as we CAN BE in 2014 and beyond !
Yes, a meaningful message today, David. Looking forward to joining the Daniel Plan.
Good morning David.
I just requested the Daniel Plan. Waiting to hear from you.
Blessings
Shantha
Since the “ice storm” I have not received 100 words automatically…I did not “unsubscribe” but somehow cannot “subscribe” …I have called Crossroads but they were unable to help…is there a blog buddy who can please help, I love receiving it every am in my email .
Hi Janie,
Have you checked your blocked senders list? Or checked your Junk Folder? If so, which are you using for your emails? (Outlook, g-mail, Yahoo). If you are not certain where to look I might be able to help.
I have placed http://www.100words.ca to my favorites bar (windows explorer is my browser), and click on it each morning for the new daily blog.
You can save 100 words in your favorites and CUT and PASTE it onto your desktop for easy access.
Hope this helpful.
Blessings to all.
Diane 🙂
Janie…mine always comes into my ‘deleted’ box…never my ‘inbox’ so maybe check there.?
Janie,
You just have to sign in again. On the http://www.100words.ca page, click to make a comment; then go to the top of the page, to the right hand side; sign back in with your name and email address; then it will allow you to put your comment in. That will also put you back on the email list.
Hope this helps.
~Beverlee~
To get the foods that Daniel ate not from the kings table was fruit veggiies and honey and milk figs no meat I ve lost 35 lbs in 3 months just by eating veggies soups like butternut soup and fruit and honey pomagranetes and dates figs and I feel better I asked God to help me keep away from cookies cakes candy bread and any packaged food
God wants our temple to be healthy
Pleae pray for my brother in law Gaetan hes having surgery today to remove an anurism in his other leg he had anurism s removed in his other leg 2 years ago pray that he will come through it hes 68 living in New Hampshire
God bless all of you Amen
Something good is going to happen to you and me today
God bless you, Brenda. Praying for your brother-in-law, Gaetan; that God will uphold him and guide the hands of his surgeons to remove the aneurism and completely heal it. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen, amen, and amen!
Dear Brenda
Will be keeping your brother in law Gaeten in prayer may our Great Physician Jesus have all the Glory. Amen.
Have a blessed day keep warm .
xxxx Carole.
will be in prayer for Gaetan that The Lord will bring him through this surgery and all will be successful. Praying he will rest in the arms of Jesus and feel His presence as he recovers.
Blessings to you too Brenda
Happy New year to everyone! I just wanted to get some additional information about the Daniel Plan. I don’t have cable by choice, so I only see your program online. I admit that I get very busy and often don’t view the program until much later in the week. I just checked in and saw about the Daniel Plan, but, I can’t find any information about the video where this plan would have been discussed by Ron , Moira and possibly others. Also, if the book takes 2-3 weeks to receive, why would these people start this Plan on January 6, when most of us would not have received the book yet?
I noticed the link in this blog, but, it doesn’t give any information about participating as a community . Please help!
Here is the video, Alexandra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN53t-ZER2A
Great study today David. I pray God works his wonders on your illness this new year not only for you but your beautiful family and yes, my own selfishness. Your daily blogs are a Godsend.
It must be very costly to get God’s word out to masses of souls, so here’s praying your Daniel’s Plan book sells like hot cakes as well as all the other helpful books for sale through your e-store etc.
I have a testimony!
In my dream today ( felt real enough to be a revelation), I was surrounded by a house full of the devils agents after they had already taken over everyone in our family home, I was the last man standing and to be honest I was scared. I decided to step out for a bit and go across the street, they gave me a bodyguard (an agent) to go with me. On our way out, he started playing with my head, saying, they have already defeated me, they are only waiting for the right time to take me. I refused to be manipulated, and told him, the only reason why they are following me around is because they know I have JESUS and they can’t touch me. Calling the name of JESUS was enough to make him stumble… So as I was trying to cross over the street, he tried manipulating veachles to crash me, but In the Name of JESUS, I was saved and he flee from me!!!! Hallelujah !!! I crossed over successfully and was continuously saying ” I don’t belong to you, leave me alone!! I am tired of you tormenting me, I don’t belong to you !!” . I woke up rejoycing, knowing I am victorious through HIM who called me HIS OWN!! Help me praise Him fellow bloggers, for HE has done me well! Thank You Father, thank You Lord:)
AGENT PRAYER REQUEST MY BODY IS UNDER SPIRITUAL / PHYSICAL SATANIC ATTACK [BACKPAIN , FLU/ COLD BUG ] , l have been dealing with many physical issue , l am dealing with back problems and the flu and cold bu
AGENT PRAYER REQUEST MY BODY IS UNDER A PHYISICAL ATTACK OF THE ENEMY [ BACKPAIN AND FLU AND COLD ].
Lord, we pray that you lift Marilyn up, and cover her with your blood, that she may be washed clean and be healed. In the precious and mighty name of Jesus, we pray; amen, amen, and amen. God bless you, Marilyn!
In agreement with Bev! Amen and amen
thank-you Bev and Patricia your prayers mean a lot to me at this time.
MARYLYN BUSSE….BE HEALED!!! IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!!! AND ACCEPT YOUR HEALING…IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!!!