Sunday, April 20, 2014

SHIGIONOTH

Suggested Reading: Habakkuk 3

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

A majestic Elk stands poised in Banff Alberta. Today's reading tells us of the flock (sheep), the herd (cattle). It speaks of God making our feet like deer's feet so that we can walk on high places in Him like these elk on a plateau in the Rocky Mountains are doing. Let's go for a walk today. It's Resurrection Day. New life is everywhere!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls —

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer’s feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

 

“Shigionoth!” (Habakkuk 3:1). No respected scholar that I can find knows what that word means. The stupendous, glorious, magnificent fact of the resurrection of Jesus out from among the dead is truly so beyond our human capacity to express that we may need  words like the Apostle Paul said were the reason why he spoke in tongues more than all the Corinthian believers (1 Corinthians 14:18)… “In the spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2b). In the very next chapter Paul writes in detail about the “Resurrection!” Paul saw the resurrected Jesus! “Last of all He was seen by me also!” (1 Corinthians 15:8a). Today is “Resurrection Sunday.” Let’s take the time to read all 58 verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 (click here). Let’s also take time to worship!!!

Our key verses speak of a “Saturday” grave-type experience when nothing seems to be going the way it should, but “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18). Sunday is here! He is risen!!! Go ahead! Walk on high places! “Joy” is used as a verb here. It’s an action word! Let us express our joy to God and to all we meet today and every day. Amen!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, like the Apostle Paul I find that my mother tongue is unable to fully express what I feel inside. Paul said, “My spirit prays but my understanding in unfruitful. What is the result then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will also sing with the spirit and I will also sing with the understanding!” I pray for Your grace to pray and sing both with my spirit and with my understanding. In the Name of the risen Christ Jesus! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Sometimes I start my blog and I really don’t know where I’m going with the thoughts that spill out through my fingers onto my laptop keyboard. This is now 688 days straight that I’ve been doing this without missing even one day. I think that’s a miracle of God’s grace to me. I know that the risen-from-the-dead Jesus is interceding at the throne of God for me according to Hebrews 7:25…”Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since HE EVER LIVES to make intercession for them.” Jesus is praying for me in that great prayer meeting gathered at God’s throne. Amazing!!! True!!! The word “salvation” is found three times in today’s reading. Thank You, Lord Jesus!!!

Last week I met a master mason…not the religious cultic group in which people are called “Masons”…but a man who builds with stone, concrete blocks, plaster, etc. His name is Randy Herring. Through his trade, he and his wife finance, at great personal sacrifice, a mission to needy children and teens in Honduras. Check out the “Kid’s Ark International Youth Camp” online (click here). He showed me pictures of the camp he has built, which has already impacted thousands for Christ. Randy has built for teaching purposes exact replicas of Biblical sites. The campers are there, so to speak, in the Holy Land, experiencing the places where Bible events occurred. Here is a link to some of the amazing visual aids created by Randy for the children of Honduras. This master mason has created his replicas in exact detail, even to the cracks in the stones as seen in Jerusalem at the Garden Tomb. Just imagine the powerful impact of the Gospel message at this camp! I know that Randy could use the help of others. Let’s pray and ask the Lord how to help him by volunteering on a missions trip or by giving out of our resources as he and his wife give out of theirs.

Yours for knowing Him and “The power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10),

David

15 thoughts on “Sunday, April 20, 2014

  1. Yes this is resurrection Sunday thanks be to God and thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit indwelling us to give us the resurrection power topray for the sick and they shall recover and having Jesus living in us praise God praise God glory to His name Use us Lord for your glory and honor to bring praises to you and you alone .
    Happy Easter everyone 🙂 ♥ 🙂 ♥ 🙂 ♥ 🙂 ♥

  2. Thank you for these insightful blogs. I start my day by reading them. You truly are a present day miracle so I thank God for you. Please keep them coming! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!

  3. So grateful that from the birth of Christ Jesus to His death and resurrection, we find hope, meaning and joy in our lives. No longer is it, “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Thank God, the tomb is empty, and Christ’s life is felt in us and all creation! Thank you for your faithfulness and encouraging Easter message David, and all who make this so meaningful and possible! His blessings and strength this Easter Sunday, to all!

  4. It’s such a feeling of joy to celebrate this holy day knowing that Heaven is a Christian’s ultimate destination.
    Love the elk pic. They wander around my house eating my flowers but I love them anyway. How I pray animals, birds and fish abound in Heaven.
    I pray your mason friend gets all the help he needs to help the children of Honduras and any other area he feels called to build in. What an honour to have fellow saints such as they living here on earth at the same time as we.
    May God bless us all on this ressurection Sunday.
    What joy to hear robins once again!!
    Thanks DM for your unfailing perseverance with this blog and Christianity in general.

    • Amen, Lynda. To know that heaven is our final destination, with birds fish and animals, fills our hearts with joy!

  5. Last night I went to bed thinking about the hymn ” How deep the Father’s love for us”, and awoke this morning thinking about how God shows us His love.
    I wrote down many ways, then God, The Holy Spirit, reminded me that Jesus still has the marks of Calvary on Him.
    What does that mean to me today?
    Every day God sees the marks on His body, but also on His very soul, as Jesus became sin for us and was punished by Him ( God, His Father ).
    What that means to me today is that God cannot forget me, He has a visual reminder, before Him daily.
    Father, thank You for Your unconditional love.
    Thank You, Lord Jesus, for going to Calvary and taking my punishment, and today – alive, You are my Advocate.
    Thank You, Holy Spirit, for bring these thoughts to my mind, just as was promised. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
    Have a wonderful day praising God, that Jesus, is not dead, “He is risen”,
    ” HE IS RISEN.”

  6. Dear Rev David M and family and fellow bloggers,

    Happy Easter! Let us rejoice, walking steadfast in the resurrection power given by the one and only, Jesus Christ, our perfect lamb, our messiah, our king. Amen

    xxxxCarole

  7. What a wonderful day, in the Lord!!! Christ is risen!!! Let us rejoice!!!!!

    Don’t be afraid,
    I know you are looking for Jesus
    Who was crucified.
    He is not here!
    For He has been resurrected, just as He said.

    Matt 28

    Lots of birds and squirrels making noise in the backyard. Heading down to the lake and thinking about what a wonderful God we serve!! Happy Easter Sunday everyone! And thank you, David Mainse, for your steadfast love and faithfulness to our Lord, with this blog!!!! <3

  8. Happy Easter Sunday, everyone! Love the key verse and good one to quote often. Thank you David for sharing about our Precious Lord Jesus and mission projects and trips. Blessings always!

  9. Wrote this poem this morning after attending Easter service–

    In the stillness of a darken tomb He heard God’s whisper– breathe
    He felt God’s hand upon His heart beckoning it to beat.
    His eyes were opened by the blazing light of God’s love
    and heaven’s angel around Him stood and sang
    Arise, Arise O Favorite Son, the night is over and The Day has come.
    Arise, Arise, Transform Death to Life
    Arise, Arise, put all things right.
    And so He rose, as it was foretold and God’s Divine Plan now complete.
    The Alleluia chorus can begin
    for He has defeated death and sin.
    Never a greater morn will there be
    Man once captive –now made free
    And all creation from sky above and to the earth’s end
    with God’s people shout Amen.

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