I AM THERE
Today’s Reading: Matthew 18
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A young boy holds onto the family donkey in the Nazareth Village, a wonderful reminder showing what Nazareth may have been like when Jesus was a boy.
Key Verse: Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
Were you in church on Sunday? Were there two or more people there? Then He who cannot lie was in the midst of the worship in a special, unique way. Norma-Jean sang a song for me from the piano recently “He is here! Listen closely! He is calling out your name! He is here! You can touch Him! You will never be the same!” Just the two of us were worshipping, and we experienced the presence of Jesus. When we confront problems and difficulties we are not alone. He is here! It’s a fact! Minister to someone today. You can assure that person that HE IS HERE!!! Just as certain as Jesus was present to heal in Galilee, He is with you as you minister in His Name!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, please send Your Holy Spirit upon me so that I will be totally confident of Your presence, particularly as I meet with others. Your Word declares that You inhabit the praises of Your people. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Two years ago, Nik Walenda walked over Niagara Falls on a tight rope. If you watched it on TV you would have heard this Spirit-filled believer worshipping. He was heard all over the world saying,”Thank You Jesus! – Thank You Lord! – Praise You Lord! – I worship You Jesus!” Over and over, when the sound of the broadcast took his words, he was worshipping. A great congregation, including Norma-Jean, our two grandsons, David and Adam, and I, were praising God with him. More recently, he did the same kind of high-wire worshipping as he crossed the Grand Canyon! (here is a link to a secular report about it). Like Nik, when I need to experience the presence of God, I begin to worship. I’ve had the honour to know the Walenda family personally as they have appeared several times on the 100 Huntley Street telecasts. They stretched a high wire above the back parking lot of the Crossroads Centre, walked across, did acrobatics, and witnessed for Jesus on live television across the continent (you can watch our report on Nik’s Niagara Falls crossing here).
Yours for walking in challenging circumstances,
David
P.S. Throughout this 730 day trip through the Bible, I will point out the repetitions that emphasize the truths contained in our readings. In today’s reading, Jesus is recorded speaking of His Father four times. I read these four statements of Jesus about His Father this past Sunday as my Father’s Day texts at the Church on the Queensway where I was the guest preacher (18:10, 14, 19, & 35).
The church I attended as a child had a representation of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit at the front. The Father was simply depicted with an eye. We do not know what Our Father looks like, but we know he sees all and is here. We know He is all Powerful and Devine. Raising children today requires an understanding that our children will follow our example, not necessarily our advise. Christ set forth words and actions which clearly show us how to live. May we too be an example to others of our love and devotion to Our Heavenly Father. Amen.
You’re absolutely right. We don’t know what God looks like. He’s a spirit, and spirits don’t look the way we do. We know that our heavenly father took an earthy form for approximately 33 years, but his appearance didn’t matter, because, like us, the real him was within a shell of a human body, so to speak. When we pass on, the only thing we are taking with us is our spirit, which is who we truly are.
You mentioned that there was only an eye. I would have found that fascinating as a child, and possibly quite frightening. My grandfather and grandmother had moved from the Ottawa area to southern Ontario in the mid 70’s. The home they purchased was a huge, old victorian home. The previous owner’s children had painted all sorts of weird images on the walls in the basement, aliens, poems, and various bizarre scenes. There was also a set of realistic looking eyes painted on a bulk head, so they appeared to watch you as you descended down the entire set of stairs. It frightened me as a child.
I watched his crossing of Niagra Falls! What a testimony of faith for him to attempt something so bold and dangerous in God’s name. His is a unique outreach.
Good Morning David. Would you explain what verse18 means ? Does this verse apply to us ? When I pray can I ask God to bind sickness and loose health in someone’s life ? Thank you so much for your blog each day ! God bless you !!!
Thank you David for reminding me that where 2 or more are gathered in His name….He is there.
I was praising God for the protection He gave my son and family in the tornado area near Barrie. He said it was the closest he has ever been to a tornado. Praise God and thank you, Lord. I did see the Wallenda family when they set up in the back of the Crossroads Centre. It was thrilling to watch but scary. God is worthy of Praise. How can we not praise Him?
Awesome 100 Huntley Street segment, David Mainse!!! Thank you!!! And thank You, God, for blessing our David with health and wellness!! Amen!!!
From the book of John chapter 14 beginning in verse 10:
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Have a joy filled day everyone…
Uplift my heart! Thank You, Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit! Amen, David!
Thank you Pastor David and fellow bloggers for your comments.
‘I am blessed each day as I read them and thank my Saviour Jesus for the example He has given us.
Sometimes it is difficult to find forgiveness especially for one who hurts your family deeply, but I know in the strength of my Lord, they can be loved through me. We have gone through this in the past, and my prayer is for that person to find Jesus and be blessed. I find it easier to forgive as I turn it over to Him. Praise His Name!!!
Blessings fellow saints.
Forgiveness is a choice, when we choose to forgive our emotions will eventually change. It doesn’t change overnight, but it does change.
We will experience being able to remember the hurt without the pain.
I know this from the past hurts of my childhood. Feeling rejected, unloved, and inferior. These feeling were not reality, but it’s the way I saw the situation.
God healed me, so I do not have the pain when looking back. I can now apply this principal to any other hurts I may have.
The book by Kay Arthur, “Lord Heal My Hurts” was what God used to bring healing to me.
Early on in my Christian life, I did see an eye. It appeared right in the middle of my bible page. I remember feeling the love of the Father at that time. That experience has never left me. I take consolation in knowing that we can’t see Him, He is always there. Probably at that time, I needed assurance of who He was.
God is so good to us all. Bless His holy name.have a great day everyone!
Thank you David for, once again, sharing your heart with us…and thank you for the Walenda video’s …How Great God is, with Him all things are possible:)
The Pastor’s message was on Fathers; The Father’s present were honored in our church on Sunday.
In our ladies’ bible study this morning when praying we affirmed the scripture in Matthew 18:19…and we were more than two…thank you Jesus for the Power of your Name!!!!
I love the song “He is Here” and sang it this morning too…thank you for sharing.
It was nice seeing you David Mainse on 100 Huntley St. this morning with your motorcycle looking healthy, ready and eager to continue with Gods works. Keeping all the people affected by the tornadao in Angus in my thoughts and prayers and thanking God nobody was hurt considering the devestation of it all.
Thank you David for your continued inspiration and insight into the Word. That picture of you hugging your Bible is so moving! My computer has been out for two days and I have just read your request for prayer for your back, Beverlee and for the Kenyan people in Lamu County. I pray for your deliverance and healing Beverlee and for the Kenyan people. I will always appreciate you faithfulness in praying for me and yesterday got a good report from my heart specialist. Praise God for helping you accomplish your dreams David and enjoyed your reporting on 100 Huntley St. today. God bless and keep you fellow saints!
Praising God Ger for your good report and that you will continue in good health. Love because of Jesus.
When I am swimming I am praising the Lord also. I can’t believe that I can swim. 20 years ago I broke my leg and God turned that into learning how to swim and now, I swim almost everyday and I praise the Lord. I also praise the Lord when I remember how He took smoking/alcohol away from me 10 days before I broke my leg. so that is also 20 years ago. I praise His Name whenever I see someone smoking or when I see ads for alcohol. Praise His Name that God would do that for me! That is a real miracle! Yes, Praise the Name ofJesus in everyway, all day, forever and ever. Amen