Sunday, October 12, 2014

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FREE WILL

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 22

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).

 

Just outside of Dan, Israel, one of the sources of the river Jordan begins to make its way from the mountains of Herman to the Galilee.

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

Key Verse: Leviticus 22:19

…you shall offer of your own free will a male without blemish from the cattle, from the sheep, or from the goats.

 

This reading begins with the requirement for the priests to separate themselves from the holy things until they were cleansed. The holy things were made from the offerings of silver and gold given by the people to God. When the gifts of God’s people are placed for service in our hands, we must be very circumspect in the way these gifts are used. We must never misuse those offerings. In the New Testament, we understand the teaching of the priesthood of the believers (1 Peter 2:4-10). We, as believers, have a unique calling within the human family to represent others before God. We need to take this responsibility most seriously. Our key verse drives home the point that we must make our own offerings unto God, not just expect others to do this for us. In fact, we are to present our bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord, thank you for Your powerful instruction found in Romans 12:1-2. As I repeat those verses before You, I ask that I will not be conformed to this world, but be transformed for this new day, by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. I pray through the Person and work of Jesus, the One who got it right 100% of the time. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Whether in a local congregation or in the ministry of Crossroads, I refused to handle the offerings myself which were given by people to God’s work. I sought strong and upright people for the various Boards of Deacons, Elders, Directors, and they, in turn, appointed treasurers or chief financial officers whose responsibility it was to administer the offerings according to the approved budgets. I was interviewed live on Canada’s national television network, the CBC, back in 1978. The interviewer threw the charge at me of being wealthy from the offerings given to the ministry. I came prepared. I drew my T4 slip (the government approved form showing income) from my pocket and handed it to him. I said, “I have the union booklet which determines what these fine camera operators here in your studio are paid. As you can see, I make less than they do.” He immediately changed the subject. I have sought, by the grace of God, to be most careful to “have a good testimony among those who are outside” (1 Timothy 3:7a). I have learned from the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 3:1-13) and from other great men and women of God in my generation.

Yours for a “good testimony” to all people everywhere,

David

 

23 thoughts on “Sunday, October 12, 2014”

  1. Beautiful painting by Reynold–thank you. Thank you, David, for today’s message and links.

    Most Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving, today. A time of happiness and gratefulness for the abundant blessings we are accustomed to. The Lord has blessed us, so! I want to share my Thanksgiving poem with you, dear saints.

    In Our Thanksgiving

    In our thanksgiving, le us be grateful for one another,
    For having shared the gift of friendship, over time.
    As we plant the seeds, of memories we have gathered,
    And place them in our garden, so sublime.

    In our thanksgiving, let us realize the greatness,
    Of the nation we are blessed, to call our home.
    Where we can walk together, freely and securely,
    As we feel the joys of living, on our own.

    In our thanksgiving, let us celebrate the pleasures,
    In the gift of life, God gave us to embrace.
    And in so doing, let us live our full potential
    To give back to all mankind, a sense of grace.

    In our thanksgiving, let us embody all the goodness,
    That is in every breath of life, to which we see.
    In the beauty of nature, and greatness of the people,
    In the peacefulness, of what the world can be.
    c. 2005 Beverlee Kay

    Happy Thanksgiving, fellow saints, as we enjoy turkey dinner with friends and family and worship our Lord on High! God bless each and everyone!!

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  5. What a beautiful pic today Reynold. Was wondering if that is a Tamarisk in bloom at the top of the stream.
    How wonderful that u were prepared for the CBC interview Rev.DM.
    So enjoying the book “The Fall and Rise of Israel” even though it is earth shattering. It truly is a knowledge of good and evil.
    Blessings.

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  7. Let us be so Thankful today for our wonderful country and the bounty we have. Thank you Lord.
    I pray all of you have a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends and any that may be alone bless you.

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  8. Dear Rev David M, Norma-Jean, Ron, Ann, Reynold, Kathy, and all my bloggers,

    I’m so grateful to our Heavenly Father for making it possible for all of us to worship Him to His son, Jesus, our Messiah, our King of kings.
    So precious Holy Spirit, let us follow your lead and as I roll away in my electric wheelchair on cruise control, heafding out to sing and praise You, with this beautiful sunlight on a crisp autumn day, may you be glorified! <3

    Thank You Jesus, Thank You, Lord!

    P.S.: Big thank you to our sister Beverlee for her beautiful poem.

    xxxCarole

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  9. Thank you Lord — even if this day is filled with discouragement, I know you are with me, so I am grateful Thanksgiving isn’t about a fleeing emotion like happiness, but about remembering You are who You say You are. Sometimes we don’t have circumstances we are thankful for, but we can always be thankful whatever it is we are facing it would a million times worse without you—so with your Holy Spirit I will forever be your grateful daughter Donna— Amen.

    Blessed Thanksgiving to all blog readers, and for those who like me who are facing challenges that make “feeling happy” difficult, I pray my hope in God’s faithful presence will be with you today and always.

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    • Donna, dear sister-in-Christ. Holidays are not easy times for many of us. Know that you are not alone. He will never leave you nor forsake you. May the peace of the Lord, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, fill and comfort you. May His loving arms wrap around and enfold you. May you be filled with an all encompassing love that surpasses all understanding. May His precious blood cover and protect you and the comfort of the blog be here for you. May you be blessed and know you are a blessing to others.

      Today was my first Sunday back at church in many weeks and I went with the protection of a walker. I am so thankful I went!! The sermon our Pastor gave was about dealing with worry and anxiety. In Philippians 4:4, Paul told us:
      4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
      8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

      God has blessed us. We praise Him. We cast our fears upon Him. He is with us. Amen! The benediction our Pastor gave at the end of service was 1 Jude:24: To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy; to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen!

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  10. Praying for you Donna, that you will feel God’s peace and presence today. Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Bible lovers. Thank you Lord for upright and holy men like David Mainse and his family! Thank you Lord for your many blessings which are new every day!

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! l just got some exciting news from England. Lesley, my cousin’s sister-in-law who has been wheelchair bound for 25 years, got prayer and she is not only walking again but actually climbing hills! She and every one around her are amazed! She has been getting one on one counseling and prayer for the last little while, and has sorted through some issues and our heavenly Father has given her this gift! She is going to celebrate with a party on October14th inviting all her relatives and friends! Isn’t this wonderful! Thank you Lord! God really cares!…..Blessings……Christine.

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  14. Dear Rev Mainse
    I certainly appreciate these blogs that you send to us every day, and they are a real blessing to me ,as they illumine my understanding of the scripture I would appreciate having further explanation of Romans 12 verse 1. I understand that we must present our bodies as a “living sacrifice,holy ,acceptable to God.”Is this something we do daily,or once and for all time as it states we are accepted.
    Thanks

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  15. Thank you Leah, Beverlee and Sherry for the encouragement and kind words– unfortunately what started out as difficult day got worse, but I just kept repeating over and over God is good, God is good– reminding myself that this all temporary and keeping in prayer those who dealing with bigger things than I am at this moment. It is always painful when those closest to us hurt us, but although I am hurt, with God by my side I cannot be harmed.

    Toss by tempest waves my life my be
    and the winds of change may sway and bend
    but every fix is my beating heart
    and the love that lies within
    Where mocking hate cannot reach
    nor angry words can find
    that self that belongs
    to thee my God
    my home
    my peace of mind.

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  16. Thank you to everyone for shareing. It gives me a lift to read the blogs and I feel everyone is being very honest. God bless everyone! I need guildance from the Lord and I need prayers from all the people. I just am not feeling well. I suffer with a chemical imbalance and low income and I am trying to hang in there but it is getting very hard to do so Please pray the Lord will bless me with a financial increase. Thank you

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  18. I feel that all the magnificent pictures that Reynold has taken could be put
    into a beautiful book along with bible stories and would be amazing!!
    Just a thought.
    In His Love
    Sharon I.

    Reply ↓

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