UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES
Today’s Reading: Mark 8
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
This is the traditional location where Jesus fed the 4000, on the east side of the Galilee just below the Golan Heights. This was primarily a Gentile crowd. It is thought that the large crowd may have gathered as a result of the demoniac who was delivered and likely witnessed to his entire village, returning with thousands to meet Jesus. The rock pictured on the left has an inscription, "Here Gentiles gave glory to the God of Israel." - Matthew 15:32
GOOGLE MAPS – See where Reynold took the photo Click HERE.
Key Verse: Mark 8:6
So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.
Again the disciples faced circumstances over which they had no control. As Reynold pointed out in his photo caption, the region where this miracle took place was a non-Jewish area. Jesus reached out to all people everywhere, including the mainly Gentile population. Notice that Jesus “gave thanks.” He thanked His Father even before any miracle had been performed. He knew that He could trust His Father, and His Father would never fail Him. There was no desperation with Jesus when He addressed the Father. I don’t read that He begged, cried loudly or took out the prayer book. We need not panic. Instead, in every circumstance, GIVE THANKS!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, please be honoured today by my trust in You. I “GIVE THANKS” now for Your grace given to me to trust You in all things. I want to live above the circumstances and not under them. I thank You that with Your presence, all things are possible. I pray this through the Person of Your Son and my Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My brother-in-law, Ralph Rutledge, heard me say on one occasion, “under these circumstances,” and he said, “David, what are you doing under there?” I’ve never forgotten that question. Faith and obedience lift me up, and I see the challenges from a higher place. God’s Word changes my perspective completely. In the reading for today, the story is told of the blind man that Jesus took by the hand and led out of the village where Jesus laid hands on him twice for healing. With Jesus, once would’ve been sufficient, I’m sure. I’ve had to pray for the same person three or more times, and eventually I’ve seen miracles of healing from time to time. Over this two-year daily journey through the Bible, I may share with you stories of miracles I’ve seen. I hesitate to do this because it may point to me instead of to Jesus. I want to be very careful that He alone is seen as the Source of the miracle. On the 100 Huntley Street telecast, there is a policy that no miracles are claimed without ample documentation, medical records, etc.
Yours for living above the circumstances,
David
My prayer today is the same as yours David its not always easy to be thankful
in every situation . I hope all my blog buddies have a good day today
Lianne Hogg
Thank you Lianne May God Grant You Floods of His Favor and to everyone that reads these daily blogs and I agree with you David in your prayer to Our Heavenly Father that ee give Yhanks in every circumstances in our lives for He is working all things together for Good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose Amen
I love you all and God Bless all of you ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Amen Lily
Thank you for these encouraging words JESUS is still our healer He bore the stripes for our healing
Great message today, and everyday! Happiness is in the heart, not in our circumstances. Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Stand strong in His guidance and peace this day.
AMEN! Christ is our Healer and I accept the challenge to give thanks in all circumstances as all things are possible with God! Enjoying your trip on 100 Huntley St. David. Thank you for that song,”Great is Thy Faithfulness,” Beverlee, one of my favorites of many years. Blessings friends!
It is so important to give all the glory to God. Thanks Rev. DM. What a great servant He has in you.
Hope everyone will enjoy this beautifully sung song and blessings this lovely summer day.
It Is Well With My Soul [Live]
by GaitherVEVO
It Is Well With My Soul [Live]
If unable to click on this, just go to Youtube and type in the above.
Blessings.
Thank you blog friends for your faithful prayers for my brother. They are monitoring him closely for a few days. He still has 90% functionality with his kidneys and none of his other organs show any severe damage. This is truly amazing. At this time however, doctors are still saying that he will have to take insulin shots for the rest of his life… Your prayers are being answered.
Interesting how today’s bible reading mentions Christ healing the blind person and that he prayed twice for complete eyesight restoration. Praise the Holy Name of GOD! Amen!
May our Lord Jesus through The Holy Spirit lead us, guide us, and bless us this day. Amen!
saw this wonderful song and video on godvine.com this morning:
http://www.godvine.com/This-Grieving-Daughter-Felt-Lost-Until-Her-Father-s-Secret-Helped-Her-Find-Her-Way-So-Powerful–5742.html?fb_action_ids=10202559875414366&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582
Thanks DL.
A powerful message, David! Good timing, thanks for sharing!
Sometimes when we are going through difficult circumstances and we are suffering pain, either emotionally, physically or mentally, sometimes it is almost impossible to “feel” thankful at that moment. In those times we need to remember we don’t have to feel thankful for the circumstances, but be thankful that God is Who He Is; that He keeps His promises, that His Word can be trusted. Of course in time we might feel thankful for the circumstances as well and see them as a blessing in our lives, but in the thick of it– if the only thing you can be thankful for is the knowledge God never changes, but circumstances can, that is enough.
Also, I find during those times the Scripture to focus on is when Jesus dying on the cross cried out ” My God, my God why have You abandon me?”
It has always been a great comfort to me knowing when His suffering reached a breaking point, our Lord, like us, doubted God was with Him. But yet, despite this doubt, moments later, trusting God to Be Who Is rather than what our Lord’s experience was saying to him, He still yielded His spirit to His Father and took His last breath, trusting God and His promises to Him. And it is that hope we can always be thankful for, that we can always surrender it all to God, trusting His Character rather than our perceptions.
I will not have daily access to the internet in August, so I will do my best to keep up with all of you.
Did not have time to comment this morning.
Pastor David I do not believe any of us would ever think you were pointing to yourself as you shared miracles with us. Do not hesitate, we know all the glory would go to Jesus. We appreciate your humbleness and as I watched you with Will Graham I felt like I could consider you dear sir, as our Billy Graham. We love to hear your stories and a few miracles thrown in would be a bonus. Thanks for sharing with us a life living well for Jesus.
To HIM who us ABLE.
Dear Rev. David M.
What a previlige it was to ride along with you through the beautiful scenery and green pastures imagining your grand father riding in the buggy with a full load of horses…
Very touching to see you visiting your sister and nephew.
todays scripture reminds us once more that there is no limit to what our Saviour can do , it all comes back to surrendering , giving Him thanks for The God in the mountain is still God in the Valley. So Heavenly Father we give you thanks , we give You praise in the name of The One and Only Jesus Christ. Amen…
Thank you so much D.L. for the you tube posting.
Have a blessed day everyone.
xoxoxo Carole
Thank you Donna M for what you wrote it helps me understand.
God Bless you sister in Christ
Lianne Hogg
I am glad you found it helpful– sharing understanding is one of the best parts of this blog, I’ve learned so much for all of you as well– God bless you too.
My prayer is in agreement with yours…thank God we are not “under the circumstances”…yes, we give thanks in the circumstances…Jesus is with us in them all…Praise Him, He takes us through the all the circumstances.
in the picture I recognize the fish and the loaves…but what are those five items that look like “ice cream cones”?
Using the zoom feature on my computer I enlarged the image and they look like baskets
Irene, there are 7, not five and I believe they must represent the 7 baskets of food left over after the crowd ate.
Thanks Donna M and Betty …yes, Betty, there are seven, and probably are the 7 baskets of food left over