Thursday, August 14, 2014

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A HARD HEART (PHARAOH)

Today’s Reading: Exodus 9

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).

The Temple of Kom Ombo stands on the east bank of the Nile, right next to the river. It was dedicated to two gods, Horus and Sobek.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verse: Exodus 9:7b

But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

 

From the pictures of the Egypt of the Pharaohs, we get an idea of the pride and splendour of what was the most impressive empire for hundreds of years. The temples show that “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4), whose original sin was pride and who sought to overturn the rule of the God of the universe, was still seeking to oppose the will of the great Creator, Almighty God (Rev. 12:7-9). The war goes on, even today. The “god of this age” still takes advantage of hearts that are hard toward the rule of the true Sovereign God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our response for hard hearts must be “repentance;” not as a temporary fix like Pharaoh, but true “repentance” is turning away totally from our disobedience and doing what the Eternal God tells us to do.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Almighty God, grant me the gift of a soft heart so that I will do Your will and not my own. Please give me the grace of obedience to You in all things, and the gift of true repentance so that, having turned away from my own way, I will continue consistently in Your way. Through Jesus Christ, who dwells within me. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Today is Norma-Jean’s birthday. Just over 5 hours ago at 12:01 a.m. I was awake sufficiently to sing “Happy Birthday” to her. (Thanks to all who sent us birthday greetings on my blog yesterday!). When we were married, September 19, 1958, I was 22 and she was 19. I love her and wanted to make her my wife. I also wanted God’s will more than anything. I was hard headed (not hard hearted) enough to pray on the way to the church, “Lord, one final time, if this marriage is not Your perfect will, You can still cause something to happen so that either Norma-Jean or I are stopped from getting to the altar.” God didn’t stop either of us, and now we’ve been married almost 56 years and have 4 children and their spouses, 16 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren with 1 more to arrive soon. The second letter Norma-Jean wrote to me had printed on it, 1st Thes. 5:18, which says it all, “This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I agreed!

Yours for God’s will in everything,

David

P.S. Ron found an outstanding documentary video with scientific proof of the “Exodus” story. For example, it shows video from the bottom of the Red Sea, revealing coral-encrusted Egyptian chariot wheels scattered across the sea bottom. Reputable scientists used the same equipment that photographed the Titanic on the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. A recent survey showed that a majority of Canadians said that the Bible was not reliable. If you know anyone who feels that way, show them this video!!! Of course the old saying is, “Convince a man against his will, he stays the same opinion still.” This amazing documentary is 90 minutes long. There are pauses about every 15 or 20 minutes. You may want to spread out your viewing over the next few days as we continue our Exodus readings. Please, please don’t miss this, and also share it with others. To watch it click HERE.

 

61 thoughts on “Thursday, August 14, 2014”

  1. A special “Happy Birthday!” to you, Norma-Jean, today. I have been reading David’s blog for a while now and it is obvious from any and all times he mentions you that he greatly admires and loves you.

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    • Happy Birthday Norma Jean, you are such a sweetheart. We pray God’s Blessings on you for the coming year. Love you.

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  3. I read the blog early in the morning so I’m always reading the previous day but want to wish you a belated happy birhday David and a happy birthday Norma Jean. May God bless you richly as you have blessed us with your faithfulness in serving Him.

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  6. Happy Birthday Norma Jean !! May God’s richest blessings be yours today and always ! “The joy of the Lord is your strength”.

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  7. Happy Birthday Norma-Jean! May God our Father richly bless you this year!
    PS Thanks for the video link, looking forward to viewing it:)

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  8. Happy Birthday Norma-Jean. Greetings to you from the West Coast (White Rock/Langley Area). Abundant blessings to you and David as you continue to stand with and along side of each other in your partnership in the Gospel. May God continue to use you and David as you pursue greater ‘Exploits” in the Name of the Lord and the encourgement of others. “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised for His greatness is unsearchable”. Have a great birthday! Samuel

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  9. Happy birthday Norma-Jean! May God continue to bless you and your lovely family. Thank you for the link to that movie Reverend Mainse. I will surely watch it.

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  10. Happy Birthday Norma Jean!! You and David make such a great team.
    God is truly Great. Thank you for all the lives you have touched and continue to touch.

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  11. Happy birthday Norma Jean! Wishing you a God blessed birthday filled with love and laughter and healthfor the coming year!

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  15. Happy Birthday Norma Jean!
    God’s richest blessing on you, and your family!
    Today, tomorrow and always!!!
    Love your sister in Christ

    L

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  16. Many happy returns Norma-Jean. We have many fond memories of our Holy Land trip with you both in 2012. Praying for peace in Jerusalem and your 2014 safe travels to the many holy sites.
    Shalom,
    Graham.
    2012 Holy Land Yellow Bus.

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  18. Happy Blessed Birthday Norma Jean. May our Holy Father continue to bless you and your family as you faithfully do His Will.

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  19. Happy Birthday Norma-Jean!

    May The Lord continue to bless you for being obedient to His will and being a faithful Proverbs 31 wife.

    Have a wonderful day!

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  20. Loving the Blog.
    I look forward to it each morning!
    I am honoured to be reading through the Bible with David Mainse and with the help of his son.
    Mr. Mainse you are a spiritual statesman and Father to this Great Nation Canada and beyond its borders.
    I am a Senior who honours and highly esteems both you and Norma-Jean Mainse.
    I thank God that He has extended and blessed your days together with miracle restoring health.
    I thank God you have each other to celebrate birthdays with together for another year.
    You are loved by many. Continue to live a spirit filled life with health and longevity in bringing and flowing ‘so it shall be on earth as it is in Heaven’. Loving you both into eternity, a sister in the lord ……..

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  21. Happy belated Birthday to David and Happy Birthday to Norma-Jean
    Thanks so much for the daily blog that I look forward to every morning

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  23. Happy Birthday, Norma-Jean! You have blessed me in word and song over the years. And another belated birthday greeting to you, David! You are greatly appreciated and this blog still ministers and inspires me every morning, except yesterday I postponed reading it until the evening then weariness overtook me as I was out all day. God bless you both and give you strength as you continue to minister to so, so many.

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  25. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Norma-Jean Mainse!!! May your day be as truly wonderful as you are!! God’s most gracious continued blessings upon you!! I think of all the times I watched you on 100 Huntley Street playing the piano and hearing your beautiful singing–praising the Lord! I remember David commenting and writing on the blog that you always remind him, “This might be the day we see Jesus!” Thank you for the wonderful family you have brought into the world to lead Christian ministry in Canada and around the globe. What a true blessing you are to us all, Norma-Jean! Happy Birthday dear saint in the Lord!!!

    Here is a duet of you singing Bring Back the Springtime Duet
    Norma Jean Mainse with George Beverley Shea
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo61nXogGRM

    ”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
    James 1:17

    For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

    “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7

    Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
    Psalm 105:2

    Amen!!

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  28. Happy Birthday to a beautiful and gracious child of God’s. I will never forget meeting you in a Hotel elevator in Israel (we were not with your tour group) when you asked us where we were from, and we said “Sudbury” you through your arms around me and my husband and said, “God Bless You”

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  29. Happy birthday to you both and many more to come. We have similarities – same years of marriage, same ages (well almost – husband 3 yrs old than you David), same # of kids in the beginning (but one more 16 yrs later)! Did not request that God put a stop to the wedding though if it was not His will. Took the advise of my Sunday School teacher (age 12, girls) to pray for a good husband. I always did and I went back and told the teacher many years later that the prayer worked! (Sept 6, 56 yrs).

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  31. Happy Birthday Uncle David and Aunt Norma!
    May the Lord bless you with many more years together.
    We love you both,
    Rob & Renita

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  33. Birthday bleasings to you Norma-Jean. Thank you for your wonderful “ministry of smiles” that you have shared with sooo many, and with us, and of course, with David too
    Lov yas, George & Marilyn

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  34. Dear Norma Jean,

    May the Lord bless you on your birthday and we send wishes for many happy returns of the day! We sung a little birthday song in Sunday School while growing up and it goes like this…. Birthday greetings come to you, From our hearts today, We would wish you happiness, All along life’s way.
    May the Savior guide you, keep you ever true. May His love surround you, With Blessings ever new……as I ponder these words I realize that the Lord has already done that in your lives 100 fold!!!!

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  35. Happy Birthday Norma Jean. I have enjoyed getting to know you and your family since 1977 and then in person on our Israel trip 2013.
    God Bless

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  37. Happy Birthday, Norma Jean. It is obvious to us that you have been a special instrument of God in your husband’s life, and we wish you a year full of the rich blessings of The Lord. You have a very special family- lots of love to go around!

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  39. Happy Birthday Norma-Jean and many more! May God cotinue to bless you and your husband as you serve The Lord. Enjoy your day!

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  40. Wishing you a very Happy, Happy and Memorable Birthday Norma-Jean. Enjoy it with gusto. May you have many more to enjoy.

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  41. I am so thankful for these blogs. Thank you to God and David. I also want to wish Norma-Jean a joyous happy birthday. One of my favourite songs you use to sing on the program was “We’ve Come This Far by Faith”. Through it the Lord has given me strength in times of struggles. I appreciate you both. Shalom

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  43. Happy Birthday Norma Jean and belated Birthday wishes for your husband David.

    May the Lord make you more and more to be like Jesus, be a blessing to thousands to gather in all who are called to His purposes.
    Betty

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  44. The Lord’s Blessings on your Birthday Day Norma-Jean Mainse, I pray the Joy of the Lord be your strength as you and David celebrate this special time together: And that you will have many more Joyous days together.

    Thank you Rev. David and your wonderful family for the ministry you provide us with in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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  45. Have a very happy birthday, Norma Jean! You and David having been married for 56 years, raising 4 children, having 16 grandchildren, and 9 + great-grandchildren gives hope and inspiration to us all!

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  47. Happy Birthday Norma-Jean!!! God bless you!!! Thank you for your tremendous support to your husband and children in bringing God’s Word to us each and every day!!

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  48. Happy Birthday Norma Jean ! Jean is my wife’s middle name too. Sure would love to here you sing again. What a rich, beautiful voice God gave to you as well as to your brothers. I have recently been listening to the disc of you & your brothers singing on it. It is a real blessing.

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  49. Happy, Happy Birthday Norma Jean. Wonderful Blessings each and every day. I will be raising an extra prayer on you anniversary as I will remember it, it’s also my birthday. (just the day, not the year, I believe connections are Gods way of reminding us, no matter how tenuous, that we belong to His family. Thank you Lord.

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  51. Happy Birthday Norma-Jean!!! Many more happy years to you!!

    Incredible u tube film of the Red Sea bottom!!!! Thank you!!

    Nancy Siddle xoxoxo

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  53. It is an honour to wish you a very Blessed Birthday today, Norma Jean. You are such a talented, beautiful woman filled with grace and love. Thankyou for all you are to God, your husband, family, friends and those of us in the family of God who have loved you over the years.
    I live on the West Coast but when I travelled through Burlington recently I wanted to drop in and have tea with you! Wishing you a year filled with much joy and many more treasured memories!
    Sisters in Christ,
    Lesa

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  54. Happy Birthday Norma Jean.
    Wishing you everything wonderful.
    Blessed are those who come in the
    name of the Lord.
    God Bless Always.
    Love Veronica D.

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  56. Happy Birthday Norma-Jean and David, I really appreciate this blog and thank you both for your testimonies over the years. Have a great year and may God richly bless you both and all your family. Mary

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