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Suggested Reading: Jude
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
From En Gedi, Israel, looking north along the shore of the Dead Sea, the waves, heavy with minerals, roll slowly toward the shore. Today's reading tells about people who are like "waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame."
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Jude 24-25
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
This short but powerful letter gives us a huge challenge, as well as great encouragement. After praying that “mercy, peace and love” would be multiplied, Jude then challenges us to “Contend earnestly for the faith!” The word “contend” means “to assert,” “to affirm,” “to grapple with,” and “to go head to head”! Just think! Jude uses that word “contend” again in describing the confrontation of Michael, the Archangel, with Satan! (verse 9). This gives us some idea as to how we are to engage in the battle for Truth! Jude says that we can do this by (1) Building yourselves up, (2) Praying in the Holy Spirit, (3) Keeping yourselves in the love of God, and (4) Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Let’s read two or three times verses 22 & 23 and decide firmly to “contend” with “compassion!” Finally Jude gives us a most beautiful and powerful benediction, our key verse. Amen!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Yes! I pray Jude’s benediction. Lord God, keep me from “stumbling,” and to be filled with “exceeding joy!” In the Name of Jesus, “God, our Saviour!” Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When I was 12 years of age my mother died. I was angry at God but loved my minister Dad who, at that time, had taken on two country churches in the Ottawa Valley. I listened to sermons and knew that he truly practiced what he preached. But it was not until after he had left for his mission to Egypt when I was 15 that I came to “grapple” with whether to believe in God or not. It was when I was 16 that the owner of the Chrysler dealership, where I worked part time, took me on, not just as an employee, but as a lost soul who needed Jesus. Syd Healey truly contended for my salvation by incessantly quoting Scripture, arranging for me to drive his 1952 Chrysler New Yorker to church (what 16-year-old could resist that!), and the result was that I made a lifetime decision to believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him forever.
By the time I was 18, I was a public school teacher in the village of Chalk River, Ontario. I remember clearly struggling with the challenge of conducting myself as a follower of Jesus should. I memorized Jude 24 & 25 and would quote it often. Later in my life as a Pastor, I would often say those words as the benediction at the close of a Sunday service. To this day, those words fill me with joy and confidence!
Yours for the wisdom that comes from “God our Saviour, Who alone is wise!”
David
I love hearing your stories about your dad and more so about a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and a religious leader at the same time. As we go into the Easter season, I am always amazed that the “religious” leaders of Jesus’s time could put anyone to death. I am a New Testament, new covenant kind of guy, I guess.
It is funny that you mention your father’s faithfulness. Back when all the negative times about the various TV evangelists hit, I would always say in response to someone who would generalize that all TV evangelists seem corrupt, that, “I know one who is not and that is David Maines.” Thank you for being such a good role model. It has made a difference in so many lives, including mine.
Amen> I too would agree with you. David is a pearl on the sea shore.
Hi David,
How I remember well your coming to Chalk River. As well as being at the public school, you started Sunday School classes at the Orange Lodge. I really felt a part of something special and later accepted the Lord into my life. Along with my wife Judy, we have been missionaries for over 30 years in the prison system and doing a lot of follow-up with those released that we worked with. What a blessing it’s been to see countless come to know the Lord and to help disciple them. You were and still are someone we look up to and are blessed to know you. To God be the glory!
Jude seems to realize how he alone is unable to contend with both physical and spiritual forces which oppose the love of Christ. But, with Christ’s Spirit within him, and the power of the heavenly host of angels led by the archangel Michael, he can contend with that which would otherwise be uncontendable. Amen to such authority available to us as Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Lord, be our strength in times where we need to grapple with the realities of life so that we may be a source of comfort and strength to others in need. His strength and blessings, to all!
Amen!
AMEN
The days of evil is upon us now. God be with those dear people who are going through such devastation, unspeakable misery. Holy Spirit comfort the families. Turn their tragedy into triumph, as only you can do. Use us Lord to be your Body here on earth to minister your LOVE to the hurting people.
Amen, bless you David.
David Mainse, yesterday after doing our blog (which by the way, I have a funny feeling, using that word (blog). Anybody know where it came from?
Anyway back to yesterday. I went on line, found the story of Charles Weihle, took the time to read it through, which was spread out over the day, due to the thousand “watch me Grandma’s ” from my little Grandson, Hunter. Grandpa and I are so blessed to have him with us!
Again back to the point I started out to make, (I am a little long winded today.)
Through reading Weigle’s Life Story, I found some of the same qualities there that I see in you David. It (makes me happy) that there are those qualities of the old time preachers, still with us today. Your Father as well. Like Father like son. I often say to my husband about our children, ” The apples don’t fall very far from the tree.” We love you David and are blessed for having known you. Now double blessed to have you do this blog for us. Thank you so much.
The word blog is short for web log. The web being the internet, and a log is a book where daily entries are made, like the ship log on sailing vessels. When web logs became popular the term was shorten to blog– and it stuck. It sounds funny, but it is just a faster way to web log. Hope that helps.
IT does! Thank you Donna! I thought it was something like that, but it still sounds funny. I guess I should be thankful for the little things that are funny.
Hey Pat,
Below is a copy and paste from Wikipedia’s history portion for the word, blog.
The term weblog was coined by Jorn Barger on 17 December 1997. The short form, blog, was coined by Peter Merholz, who jokingly broke the word weblog into the phrase we blog in the sidebar of his blog Peterme.com in April or May 1999. Shortly thereafter, Evan Williams at Pyra Labs used “blog” as both a noun and verb (to blog, meaning to edit one’s weblog or to post to one’s weblog) and devised the term blogger in connection with Pyra Labs’ Blogger product, leading to the popularization of the terms.
Wow! Thanks Diane.
Amen!
My brother worked for Healey Motors many moons ago also.
A boy would never get over the loss of his mother. Praise the Lord you had a friend in Jesus and earthling friends to help you cope with your sorrows DM. Mr. Healey being one of those friends.
Dear fellow bloggers, there is a lovely song on YouTube worth listening to called “Who Am I”.
Blessings on all.
Dear Rev. David M.
Thank you again for your great generosity of sharing with us your personal and outstanding journey of giving yourself to Christ all for His Glory. How previlidged all of us are to do the daily blog and be nourished in such a way , so Heavenly Father , let us not weaver , but stand strong following in the steps of the One and Only Leader, Teacher, Saviour, Messiah, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Strength and blessings to everyone.
XXXX. Carole.
I love reading your stories and your families too
Lianne Hogg
http://youtu.be/eyL1xha_1aU
Found an inspiring speech by the Duck Commander.
A few moments while Hunter is napping ,going back to yesterdays weblog (funny) blog. What led to the search of Charles Weigly was the song that David you sang at the age of 17, (Down Deep In The See). Some of the words used , that reminded me of you David — An intense conviction of a present and abiding God. A consecrated preacher and dignified gentleman. Real pulpit eloquence, and not superficial. All these remind me of you David Mainse, and we need your leadership as much now a-days as they needed the Profits of old. You can go to the Leaders as well as the public, all the while being in the presence of God himself. You carry Jesus inside of you. God bless you David (and your family)