“THE BEAUTY OF ISRAEL”
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 1
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Barren mountains rise above the ruins of Delphi in central Greece.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 2 Samuel 1:19
The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, on this Good Friday, please grant that I may respond, as Jesus did, to those who have wronged me. Jesus said, as He hung on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” David’s response to the death of Saul, the man who sought to kill him, is a challenge to me. I pray for grace and power to be more gracious in my words. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The talk shows have had people sounding off on the “Killing Jesus” movie or on “The Bible” series, some from a point of view formed from their faith and some from their ignorance of the faith of practising Christians and Jews.
As I read today of David’s order to kill the Amalekite who brought Saul’s crown to David and lied about his role in Saul’s death, a story that no doubt he thought would curry favour for himself with David, I thought of the tribal societies in parts of Africa today. For example, the brutal, bloody terror of the regime of Idi Amin in Uganda was overturned by the present leader, Museveni. His strong rule has reduced the incidence of AIDS more than in any other country in Africa. The story is told that in his first cabinet meeting, Museveni took out his revolver, pointed it at each of his cabinet members, and said, “If any of you are unfaithful to your wives, I will personally shoot you dead.” He took other measures also, but the point I want to make is that in our culture here in most of the rest of the world, this kind of action is so foreign that I find it hard to understand that the cabinet members actually believed that they would be shot if they were unfaithful. I try to think back 3000 years and the culture and practises are far more foreign to me than that of modern Uganda. Our son David Reynold (blog photographer) and his wife Kathy are missionaries there. I know that I cannot do anything to help change the ancient cultures, but I’m working in my small way on the modern cultures. I must do my part to share the grace and mercy revealed in Jesus. God willing, tomorrow I’ll share more about the Ugandan leader.
Yours, trying my best to communicate information that is helpful,
David
P.S. Rev. Robert H. Schuller went home to be with the Lord yesterday at age 88. He had a tremendous impact during his many years of broadcasting the “Hour of Power” weekly church service. HERE is a link to the full interview he did with us on 100 Huntley Street in 2000.
This Ugandan grandmother would have lived through the brutal regime of Idi Amin. The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) ravaged Northern Uganda for the last 20 years, causing the population of the north to live in IDP (internally displaced persons) Camps. In the last few years, people have begun returning to their villages.
Reverend Robert Schuller has been an inspiration for years. His way of sharing Christ was honest, sincere and practical. His life leaves a legacy of faith, hope and honour. He will be sadly missed, yet we can rejoice in his presence with Our Lord throughout eternity.
Amen.
Dr Robert Schuller and his TV program “The Hour of Power” was an important part of my early Christian walk. The power of positive thinking was a great motivator to me and as I just heard from my son, Dr Schuller was also a great motivator to him. Praise God!
Yes, he will be deeply missed here on planet earth by those who respected his ministry and teaching methods. But, now he is with our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus for ever more… Amen!
Amen.
Amen.
WOW!
My Robert Schuller devotional for today reads:
“Faith is Talking Positive Talk – “Anxiety in the heart….causes depression. But a good word makes it glad” Proverbs 12:25″.
It is encouraging to think that Robert is now reunited with his wife and that his grandson continues his legacy in California as the grandfather predicted on your programme with Lorna.
I loved his quote that sin is lack of faith!
Shalom,
Graham.
2012 Holy Land Yellow Bus.
Amen!
It is a great quote… paraphrased – the biggest sin of all is lack of faith in Jesus and the Holy Trinity… Amen.
May God continue to use and strengthen you Rev. David as you so faithfully and with much wisdom expound on the scriptures and your experiences in this blog each morning. Thank you!!
What a blessing it is to me and I believe each person who reads this blog.
I pray a special blessing on you and your family as you celebrate this week-end. TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE, SO LOVED HE THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE US HIS SON!!!
Bobby Schuller is a great preacher also. May the family be comforted knowing that Dr. Schuller is in the presence of God now. He was a wonderful blessing over the years.
Bless your soul in heaven, Robert Schuller. I enjoyed your ministry in the Hour of Power and watch your grandson, Bobby, when I have the opportunity. He is truly gifted and follows in your footsteps to encourage and motivate–amen.
Went to another church for a special Good Friday service, this morning, and it was totally uplifting. Worshipping and praising God with 1,000 other Christians. The presence of the Holy Spirit was there!! Blessings dear saints on the day our Jesus died on the cross for us!
Thank you David.
We watch some of the same services, the father, son and now the grandson in the Schuller family. Rev. Robert Schuller has always been an inspiriation. Am going out to a Good Friday service tonight and take communion. Appreciate all that you do in teaching us Rev. David. Have a good Easter weekend saints!
David, I Praise the Lord for your faithfulness in writing this blog, which is a blessing to countless numbers of people including myself.
I have a question for you based on a concern of a member of the Church, I am serving during their vacancy after the death of their founding Pastor a year ago.
This lady’s granddaughter is going to Nazareth with Nazareth Trust. Their website is http://www.nazarethtrust.org/SERVE I have gone on the website and read most of the info, which leaves me with many questions. The trustees are all from Scotland and their office is in Heton-le-hole in county Tyne and Weir, England. Most of their website talks about running a hospital, but the home page is looking for young people to spend a few months doing what could be legitimate ministry evangelism and that they would be assigned a church to spend some time with in Nazareth. They however, give no indication of any association with any other Christian ministry or who provides support and oversight. Since this is the area your daughter and son-in-law minister, I was wondering if you could shed any light that would help me reassure this grandmother who is very concerned about her granddaughter going to Nazareth.
Thank you and God Bless,
Pastor Brian