TRUDGING INTO JOY
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 2
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).
A rock formation in the wilderness located in the Jordan Vally near the Dead Sea in Israel. During the desert wilderness wandering of the Children of Israel, the landscape would have looked much like this.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 2:7
For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.
“Trudging”…a word that describes most of the days of our lives. When God brought His people through the Red Sea, there was dancing. They started off toward the Promised Land with excitement, then came the trudge. Our key verse was spoken to people who repeatedly failed the Lord. God had provided for them to move within a short time into the Promised Land. They refused to go in. God provided food and water in the wilderness. They grumbled. While there were some awful consequences along the way, God continued to care for them and to guide them. His presence remained among them. God was ready to restore them and give them success whenever they were ready to believe His promises and move into His plan for their lives. Guidance from Scripture is important for us moving forward! Did you know that Deuteronomy is quoted at least eighty times in 17 of the New Testament books?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I seem to be trudging a lot. In these times, please help me to keep putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward and not backward. Thank You for those times when I walk with a determined stride, and even run and dance. I ask for grace from Your Spirit in the trudging times. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Norma-Jean and I are staying home today hoping and praying that we will finally overcome the tail end of a nasty flu. So…while I may trudge sometimes today, I also plan to dance a bit (try it when you’re alone if it embarrasses you) this evening, whether I feel like it physically or not! I am so blessed! I’m already dancing in my spirit this morning!!! In the story Jesus told of the son who returned home, He said there was, “music and dancing.” God’s Son has returned home to His Father, having completed His work for our salvation. Surely we have the greatest of all reasons to celebrate.
I suggest a New Testament reading which I have just read, Luke 15:11-32. Let’s pray for all our loved ones to come home to Father God. Christmas would be a great time for that to happen. Also, here’s a great rendition of “Joy to the World” (click here).
Yours for joy in the journey and for grace in those trudging times,
David
P.S. Below is a photo of my son Ron and his wife Ann (Ann checks my blog for punctuation, etc. and Ron makes sure it’s posted properly daily at 6 a.m.). They visited Petra in Jordan a couple years ago, leading a Crossroads tour group. The city is carved into the solid rock! This was the area inhabited by “The descendants of Esau who live in Seir,” as mentioned in today’s reading (Deut. 2:4). You can click on the picture to enlarge it.
Beautiful pics today. Thanks Reynold.
Wonder why God rode rough shod over some people in the Israelites way. They must have been heathens or something although I thought God loved us all, regardless. Guess those were different times and He was on a mission.
Praying for Rev. Mainse and his dear wife to recover fully from the flu.
Blessings dear saints in this wonderful season.,
Amen!
Talking about dancing, David, I did a little yesterday morning before church when I heard Sid Roth say that 525 Jewish people stood to receive Yeshua in a meeting he was holding last fall in Israel. He also quoted the verse in Romans 11:25-26. “that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved…” Prayed your prayer, David to keep trudging and not give up. Amen. Appreciate this blog and remembering you and husband Ross, Doreen. Blessings all saints!
Saw Sid Roth also! That’s one good thing about being housebound – you can watch incredible Christian programs on TV! Amazing how the Jewish people are accepting Jesus as Messiah. Another sign that Jesus will be coming back soon. Thank you for prayers for Ross.
I do believe God is talking to me! I’ve heard the word “dance” 3 times in three days. I told the Lord I would do a dance at the Bank when my prosperity arrives! I also heard the word “surrender” least 6 times in a week, so, I pray to the Lord and surrender my life to Him In Jesus Name I pray AMEN
Read before but never took in that God would not give Israel any land of Edom(Esau’s), Moab or Ammon( descendants of Lot) for they were kinsmen and God had given them their land for an inheritance.
Have a very blessed day everyone!
Dear David, I do enjoy your warm, daily comments on the Word! God bless you!
May I pass along some most helpful info given by my Christian doctor? I called him one night when I felt I was coming down with a very severe ‘flu; he told me to take 10 vitamin D3 capsules 3 times a day for 3 days.! And it really, truly worked! Now I take 1 capsule 4 times a day as a preventive. That works, too. Again, precious brother in Christ, may God richly bless you!
Dear David and Norma-Jean: I am so sorry that you both have the flu, especially at this very busy time of year. Thanks for getting up so early to keep us going with the help of your super daily blog, inspite of the flu. I am praying that you will finally overcome the nasty flu.
Love the photo of the Jordan Valley (there is a typo in the caption) near the Dead Sea in Israel. Bless you David and Norma-Jean as you overcome the flu; rest well in the Spirit. Amen. Bless you dear saints!
Preparing to leave to visit my son in Mountain View, CA Wed….packing to go, I find, is not the best part. Jesus, help!! in the “trudging” today.
What a spectacular cloud formation in your photo Reynold, thank you!
How special the picture of Ron and Anne…Thank you Ron and Anne for your part in me receiving this blog daily.
Thank your Rev. David for your faithfulness in putting this blog together daily…I extend to you and Norma-Jean and all your family: A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and A JOYOUS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!
To all your bloggers: A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and
A JOYOUS AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!!
Enjoy your trip to see your family, Irene! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Dear Rev. David M. and Norma-Jean,
Once more your prayer is so appropriate for what I am facing today. After trying my lifter today it came to realization that my muscle tear will keep me in bed a while longer, but what a marvellous time I am spending with my Sweet Jesus and instructed by THE HOLY SPIRIT whom to help, whom to pray for including all the fellow bloggers.
And last but not least what to be grateful for.
Heavenly Father, as we approach celeberating the birth of Your only Begotten Son , Jesus, Our Messiah, Our Saviour, Our King of Kings, may each of us as christian through the power of the Holy Spirit touch the heart and soul of every human being that we will come across in days to come, Amen.
PS: Doreen.
Dear sister Doreen , keeping you and Ross in prayer.
God bless you all.
xoxoxo Carole.
I had a wonderful Holy Spirit filled night last night at a music program of Christmas carols put on by the guitar club! It was wonderful! today someone is trying to steal my joy and I will not let that happen. There was a sign at the church “FIND YOUR JOY” Please pray that the Lord will provide me with JOY and a financial miracle! The “joy” of the Lord is my strength……..”
Yes, Sah “The Joy of the Lord is your strength” no one can take that from you as it comes from Our Lord Jesus Christ to you.
I wish you a “VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS” and “A JOYOUS NEW YEAR”