Friday, December 19, 2014

1,000 GENERATIONS

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 7-8

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).

 

A mother and daughter share a meaningful moment at Nazareth Village in Nazareth. My son-in-law, Rev. Nizar Shaheen, ordained 30 years ago in the Nazareth Baptist Church, was one of the visionaries who helped create this re-creation of Nazareth at the time of Christ. Many have come to know Jesus as Saviour and Lord in this place.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 7:9

Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments…

 

What are the emphasis words? Twenty-three times the phrase, “the Lord your God” is repeated. It’s a good idea to check whether or not Jesus quoted from His Hebrew Bible. He did! In Matthew 4:3 Jesus gave us a Moses quote: “Man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3b). Particularly because of Jesus’ quote, we who believe in Him have every right to claim God’s promise to His people. In today’s reading, Moses reviews all God has done for the people, and then takes the very long view which reaches far beyond our present generation. The Apostle Peter picks up on Deuteronomy 7:6 from his Bible and tells us that we, too, are God’s special treasure. We might want to read now 1 Peter 2:9-17. There are serious obligations, as well as exciting blessings, to being God’s people. Think about it and click here to read Peter’s words.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, Your “little rock,” Peter, has challenged me to live my life in a way that will cause other people to glorify You. Please bestow on me grace and power to good works. I know that people will observe me today. May I represent You well. In Your strong Name I pray. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

It’s still dark outside as I write. The first thing I did this morning was to plug in the Christmas tree lights. The tree is visible over my laptop computer. I’ve just counted 100 little LED lights on the tree and prayed that this blog will light up the lives of at least 100 precious people.

Two years ago today, I was in the Canadian Space Centre in Montreal to join the Canadian Governor General and others to celebrate the lift off of he Soyuz rocket carrying Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield to the International Space Station. After his return, he told me of the send-off blessing by a Russian Orthodox Priest. With joy he said that the priest, as he prayed for each astronaut, hit them with some force on the forehead with a large metal cross. We reflected on the amazing turnaround in Russia from the communist government which declared, “There is no God,” to this remarkable very public official prayer broadcast across Russia and made available to news organizations around the world. As far as I know, the Canadian News Media ignored that part of the story, but not 100 Huntley Street and YES TV. The light of Christ is shining through thousands of TV sets, computer screens, iPhones and iPads because those who support these ministry opportunities make it possible. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I encourage us all to make a special year-end gift to Crossroads (click here for easy ways to help keep the lights on!).

Yours for the good of God’s people for 1,000 generations,

David

P.S. On yesterday’s blog, I put pictures of four of my great-grandchildren (four generations of that “1,000”). I must treat all of my great-grandchildren without favouritism. So below are photos of the others. Three are the grandchildren of our daughter Ellen and her husband Nizar Shaheen. Their parents are Sarah, their oldest daughter, and her husband Jordan. Aliyah, James, and Kaylin, ages 8, 5, and 2, are my treasures. Then there is Jadice, who is the granddaughter of our son Ron Mainse and his wife Ann. Her parents are their daughter Andrea and her husband Jason Patterson. Jadice turns 2 on New Year’s Eve. Frankie Norma-Jean lives in California and is just 1 year old. She is the granddaughter of Elaine and Bruce Stacey and daughter of Christopher and Diane. Chris is our oldest grandson. Please forgive me for going far beyond 100 words, but Norma-Jean and I, our children, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren represent 4 of those 1,000 generations God promises to bless!!! And besides, it’s Christmas time!!!  There is one more scheduled to make her debut on Valentines day. We don’t have a name yet, but God already knows her (the ultrasound picture is below). Her Mom and Dad are Elena and Justin Gilmour. Elena is the youngest daughter of Bruce and Elaine Stacey. Merry Christmas EVERY ONE!!!

James, Aliyah and Kaylin Stowell

Jadice Patterson as a "flower girl."

Frankie Norma-Jean Stacey

Ultrasound of Elena and Justin's baby at 20 weeks.

 

 

 

14 thoughts on “Friday, December 19, 2014

  1. May God bless your family, 4 generations! Praise God! Lovely pictures! Speaking or Russia, I praise God for the relationship with Cuba! I praise God for the release of prisoners! Just imagine! A baby brought the world to it’s knees! MERRY CHRISTMAS! It’s 3 a.m and now I am off to bed!

  2. You are blessed you have beautiful grandchildren and more to come.

    Sah I understand what you feel and are going through many in Fitzroy Centre club
    house are going through the same hang in there, and pray we will keep you in prayer as well . Your are never alone
    Lianne Hogg

    • thank you very much Lianne. There is no club here, God led me to the pool and swimming and last night I met people whom I have known a long time and they uplifeted me because we were able to share and support each other. Blessings.

  3. Wonderful blog today It is so good to start the day in His word Beautiful pictures Iam anxiously waiting for the birth of my second great grandson in March How precious are these little ones We must cover them in prayers each day

  4. You certainly have been blessed in so many ways Rev. and Norma Jean. Thank you for sharing the beautiful pics. of your great grandchildren. Today is our son’s birthday so must make him a big gluten-free cake:-)
    The history of the bible is so violent at times I find it difficult to read. It is so obvious and stated so clearly by God’s word that trying to live our lives in any other way other than by God’s rules and regulations is fruitless, and history has proven that. May many, many people come to realize that this blessed Christmas season.
    Merry Christmas fellow saints!

  5. The love of my grandson towards me and my love for him, makes me understand a little more how much The Lord love all his children. Sometimes I weep with joy at some of Logan comment on how much he loves me.
    The Lord, oh how He Loves you and me. MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE.
    Thank you David for the joy of seeing your great grandchildren.

  6. Beautiful children! We are a 4 generation family also. It’s our son, Mark’s birthday today too. He met Chris Hadfield at his workplace. Mark had a big responsiblity for the Canada Arm on the space station. I was thankful that he didn’t have to go into space. Thank you, Lord, for Your goodness and for Who You are.

  7. I love seeing these precious little ones, thanks for sharing these little blessings with those of us who read your blog daily.
    May this Christmas be rich with God’s amazing love for us all.
    Have a joyful Christmas.

  8. I so enjoyed seeing the pictures of all your great grandchildren. For those of us who have been following Huntley Street (and your family) for many many years, it is particularly interesting!! Wishing you all many blessings at Chtistmas time and in 2015. Love the blog as well.

  9. Thank you for sharing Your family and pictures with us Pastor David.

    We have 8 precious grandchildren who are being taught the love of Jesus, and it is so wonderful to hear them bring up how they love Him and that is the most important thing about Christmas. We always sing HappyBirthday to Jesus before praying for dinner.

    I wish everyone God’s special blessings at this Holy Season.

    Blessings to you and yours Pastor David andNorma-Jean and thank you for your faithfulness each day to bring us manna from His Word.

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