SEARCH!!!
Suggested Reading: Jeremiah 29-30
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Here is the tel Herodian. It is located just southeast of Bethlehem. Excavations have revealed Herod's Fortress Palace. Perhaps he was in this stronghold when he ordered the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Our key verse is true for all people at all times, a good verse to memorize! It’s a guarantee of strength when one feels under pressure and vulnerable!
David Reynold’s photograph above speaks to the practice of empire builders of appointing puppet kings in the conquered regions. Everything was O.K. as long as the king ensured that taxes were paid to overlords (in Herod’s time, the Romans, and in Zedekiah’s time, the Babylonians).
Most of us do this blog for inspiration, but here’s some information. King Josiah, a king who did right before God, had sons who were corrupt and did evil in God’s eyes. The ones that ascended to the throne were Johannan, Shallum, Jehoiakim (his son Jeconiah), and Zedekiah (1 Chronicles 3:15). All reigned for very short periods of time. Jeconiah was taken to Babylon in the first captivity with others, including Ezekiel and Daniel. These displaced persons were treated rather well. The Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar obviously believed that Zedekiah would be content to be a puppet ruler and submit to every order from Babylon. That was not the case and when Zedekiah asserted Judah’s sovereignty, Nebuchadnezzar invaded again (11 years later) and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple of Solomon. He took Zedekiah and the people as slaves to Babylon (modern-day Iraq).
Words worth noting are “diminished” and “increased” (Jeremiah 29:6b). It’s our choice.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray fervently that I will, 24/7, do as Jeremiah’s letter exhorts me, search for You with all my heart. You are not hiding! I see You clearly in the Life and Words of my Saviour and Lord, Jesus, Messiah, in Whose Name I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Just over two months ago I walked to the top of Herodian (pictured above) and meditated on the life of a king who, like Zedekiah, owed his throne to a foreign emperor. King Herod was totally spooked by the possibility of rebellion of his own family members and the people of Jerusalem. He murdered family members and anyone suspected of disloyalty, but he never rebelled against Rome. He constantly pandered to Caesar and with brutality collected the tribute from the Jews, sending great amounts of money to Rome.
I must not pass up the opportunity here on today’s blog to testify to the fact that the promise of our key verse is so very true. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) The week I turned 17, at the altar in the tabernacle at Lakeshore Pentecostal Youth Camp in Cobourg, Ontario, I believe that I did seek God with all my heart. He found me, and I found Him in such a life-changing new direction that I’ve never been the same! He gave me a “FUTURE” such as I could have never imagined, and a “HOPE” which has been a constant throughout 60 years since that pivotal moment!
Yours for our “search” for God with the help of daily Scripture readings, daily prayer and this daily blog!!!
David
On top of Herodian recording a Christmas Special, November 2013. Bethlehem is in the distance behind me.
This is a model of Herod's fortress palace. Herod's fears were not of the Roman overlords, but of his own people.
Fascinating, how rulers without reverence to almighty God, are driven. Much of the motivation appears to be fear based, including acquiring wealth and power as defences for their survival. Jeremiah 29:11-13 are good to remember and recollect by heart. Enjoy this day, wherever you are!
This is one of my favorite verses. Have done that search many times and found the Lord there in good times and bad times and especially in 1967 when I gave my heart to Him. God bless you everyone.
I’m so glad Jeremiah got to prophesize by mail making that mode of communication safer.
Herod was such an abomination and I can’t help but feel some comfort in the knowledge that he lived in fear.
Blessings on everyone today.
How I needed to hear the key verses for today. Just returned from being with family who are going through deep waters!! Would covet your prayers for my family, and for us as we minister to those dear ones.
Wishing you all Gods blessings and care over you.
Heavenly Father, we bring Wilma and her family before you and ask that you bring peace and strength to overcome what they are facing. Help Wilma and those who will minister to the others to be led by your Holy Spirit and to share the love of Jesus. Amen
Lifting up your family, dear Wilma. Dear God, you know the trials and tribulations they are facing. Please wrap Your loving arms around them, give them protection and strength and a reassurance of comfort and grace. For we know where two or more are gathered in prayer, that You will answer, dear Lord. We give You thanks and praise, for all the glory in every circumstance, in Jesus precious name. Amen, amen, and amen!
Dear Wilma
I thank God for you and put you before Him asking Him to extend His hand of mercy towards you and your family and grant you His peace. Father God be with Wilma and her family in Jesus Name. Amen
I will pray for you Wilma
Lianne Hogg
How blessed we are to know Our Lord has great plans for us as we stay close to Him.
Thank you for this blog Pastor David and to my fellow bloggers for encouragement each day, as we search the scriptures together.
Thank you FATHER for your love of life. Praise your HOLY NAME!
My SAVIOR JESUS has seen me through different trials, but none come close to those of the first Christians or in yesterday’s “personal words” – imprisonment of the Russian Priest…
FATHER many of us are going through tough times today, not only spiritually but physically as well… Thank you for your healing power that it is as strong today as it was yesterday and “is” tomorrow, and forever…
We pray for your healing power to touch those who are ailing – to comfort them in this time of grief or loss of loved ones… We call upon your son Jesus to reach out and heal those who are suffering through mental anguish and addiction…
May the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD be with everyone today…
Have a blessed one…
In Jesus precious and HOLY name – AMEN!
Oh, I have missed so much these past few days! I especially loved the photo and caption on February 4th–the cross in the window of the Church of Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. Thank you for the explanation of Moses and Elijah being there to encourage Jesus, David Mainse I & II! Praise God for you, David Mainse III, and future generations to follow in the path of your incredible grandfather!
No words can describe the inspiration of yesterday’s video of Richard Wurmbrand!!! Thank you, for the link!! I look forward to studying this man more and watching further videos. His testimony and presence reminded me so much of Paul. Yes, it brought Galatians 2:20 to mind: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Yet more proof that constant prayer and meditation on memorized scripture brings us right into the Bible and connects us with the loving Spirit of God, especially in dire circumstances. It feeds and rekindles our souls! Oh Jesus, how we adore Thee!!
The comments over the past few days have been wonderfully uplifting. Thank you, especially, Pastor Samuel Fame, for sharing about your life, wife, and grandson, Jacob–you are in my prayers! God’s continued blessings to you, David Loewen and your wife, as you enjoy your retreat on the Oregon coast! To all saints who expressed prayer requests, please know you are being upheld. We are a strong body of believers!!
‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” Jer 29:11-13 Gideon Bible. Thank you, dear saints, for your continued prayers for my mother, Jean. Have a wonderful day, in the Lord!
LOL– I quoted today’s key verse this morning just before I went out to shovel out from yesterday’s storm, without know it would be the key verse today. I quoted it to remind myself that although I do not enjoy cleaning up after a snow storm– snow itself is good; it was created by a good God for a good and useful purpose, not to harm us, but to benefit us. It just goes to show you that Scripture can be applied in any of life’s situation from the serious to the not so serious side of things— God’s Word can speak to us.
Well my computer is up and running again. I won’t have to go to the library to read the blog – so thankful for that. I am facing cataract surgery in March and in April and I do hope I will be able to still read the blog. Thanks for today’s blog. It is eye opening.
Im thankful for the plans God had for me when I went to midale bible camp at 12-14 yrs of age.
Coming from a brady bunch family that was extremely dysfunctional I will never forget really really falling in love with jesus and tho I strayed many times throughout my life I had those beautiful seeds planted!
And its strange I remember going to some evangelical event in Estevan ( like a Billy Graham crusade) and I don’t think I was more than 5 or 6 but I had tears for an hour and I knew what I was experiencing was real and true…cool hey !
Well the pictures on this website are really making me want to tavel there.Lol praying for your requests today…thx for continuing your prayer for Brad in the west and Brad in the east…may they both have a paul conversion !!
Blessings all.
David,
You are an inspiration to many. You have glorified our Lord God.
God’s spirit is upon you, may your family and offspring’s offspring be blessed.
Ben Robinson
Dear Rev. Mainse and fellow bloggers:
Thank Rev Mainse for this wonderful blog that I find so uplifting and encouraging. I am so blessed to be among such wonderful followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I have to share with you how the Holy Spirit moved in my prayer life this morning. In the midst of praying around 6 this morning as I am thanking the Lord for this new day and all the favors past, asking forgiveness for all the booboos of the day before even going into a discussion about the possibility of my cat that passed away last year at 21 years and seeing her when I get to heaven. My reasoning with the Lord was if Noah was asked to fill the ark with a pair of animals I am sure it included domestic cats and I literally laughed to myself having such a childish moment with my Lord, Suddenly the Lord brought Ephesians 3: 1 – 5 to me. From 6 am to 8 am even falling back asleep I remembered the passage and was shocked because I usually have problems retaining numbers. I would have forgotten within a short period of time as per my norm. As soon as my caregiver arrived at 8 a m some of you know her name is Aischan who of course is Muslim, doing the daily blog with me from Monday to Friday. Here I have her searching my bible for the above passage to read it to me that the Lord put in my heart, Eph 3: 1 – 5 1- For this reason I Paul the prisioner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles 2-Surely you have heard about the administration of Gods grace that was given to me for you. 3- That is the mystery made know to me by revelation as I have already written briefly. 4-In reading this then you will be able to understand my insight in the mystery of Christ. 5- Which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to Gods holy apostles and prophets.
PS: Do note that I am unable to hold a book or turn pages on my own. And my sight is not that much better either but I am great adapted sailor in the summer time. No complaining heard here. Greteful to be alive and serving my Lord.
Keeping you all in prayers God is good all the time and all the time God is good. Thank you fellow bloggers for your prayers and encouragements.
xxxCarole
Thank co-bloggers and David for beginning this blog ! God bless you all !