MY SON! MY SON!
Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 18
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A tree, such as this one near Ein Gedi, may have caught Absalom’s head by entangling his long hair in the branches, his mule galloping on without a rider.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 2 Samuel 18:33
Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom — my son, my son Absalom — if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, please enlarge my heart so that I may enter more deeply into Your heart, loving with as much of Your love as I have the maturity to experience. I love You Jesus, and I mourn that my sins caused Your death. I realize that the future for David’s family could’ve been so different if he had been obedient to You. Please give me grace and spiritual growth, learning the lessons of the tragedy of David’s family. In Your Name I pray. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As Norma-Jean and I welcomed our children into our family, we made a decision which I shared with the congregations that I had the honour to serve. As a Father, I was directly responsible to God for my children. It was taken for granted that Norma-Jean’s role was to the children before anyone else. There were some who thought that my calling as a minister and a pastor should take #1 priority. Not so, I let it be known. God was first, my family second, and my congregation third. I never heard from a member of any of the four congregations I served that they felt neglected in any way. I believe that the translation of the word love into all languages is time. Time with God early in the morning, when Norma-Jean and the children were sleeping, and time with Norma-Jean and the children at breakfast, dinner and most evenings. After those priorities came time with the members of the church, on call 24/7 when absolutely necessary, in hospital visitation, often in the homes, and in my study during work/school hours. As an evangelist, the longest I ever spent away from the family was three weeks. I grieved for the last 2 weeks of that separation. I vowed “never again,” unless circumstances made it impossible to get home sooner. When I did arrive home, they couldn’t get me back to work right away, except for the times Norma-Jean and the children were not at home. God willing, I’ll continue this theme tomorrow.
Yours for establishing firmly the priorities that please God,
David
P.S. Whenever I lead a tour to Israel, one monument I always point out to our pilgrimage friends is “The Pillar of Absalom” standing tall in what is called “The Kings’s Valley.” Below is a photo of that pillar.
Absalom’s Tomb or “The Pillar of Absalom,” located in the Kidron Valley between the Mount of Olives and the Old City of Jerusalem.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Not sure your family unit and King David’s can be compared Rev. M. Absalom was hunting his father.
Love hearing these bible stories but don’t always understand them……maybe in time.
Blessings.
Thank you
I just prayed with ‘Jimmy’ on the prayer line in agreement of Gods provision and commitment to each of us, the refusal of fear and confidence we have in asking and receiving His fullness (John 14 and Phil 4)
I went to this page to find the number to sew seed $100 toward Jimmy/the prayer ministry
I found another 100 – your link to 100 words
You spoke to part of the challenge encouraging me as I put God first then family then administration
God built this homeschool!
God will continue to perfect it and Jack
God loves me and that faith and love flows through me to my husband as I stand with my eyes on the Father
Love dissolves conflict and even in the midst of anything God,! Family and His ministry in my life is honoured
Thank you David
I pray my husband and father to Jack receives your revelation
Fathers and husbands truly a heart of God a father and husband – the Father /Husband to us all has raised men everywhere and the women, wives, mothers and children with them. This is my confession
In Jesus’ name Amen
Elisabeth
Once again thank you for the excellent photo’s and the explanation of them…how special for you Rev. David for the love relationship within your family. That did not come by happenstance…but by the Divine order within your home!!! Thank you for sharing.
King David missed the mark as a father…ending up with a broken heart concerning his children. But God was with him in all this…the Faithfulness and Love of God for His anointed!!!
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 29:12 “Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”
My prayer and my desire also is that His Love grow deeper within my heart in order that I may love others as He loves me. Yielded to Your way and Your thoughts Lord. Your Name be praised!!!
Such violence, tragedy, and despair in today’s reading! But very happy to read in the Crossroads Newsletter, today, about our upcoming award, David Mainse!!!! Amen oh good and faithful servant!!!
P.S. Thanks Reynold, for the amazing photo of The Pillar of Absalom–outstanding to go hand in hand with today’s reading!
typo: “your” upcoming Lifetime Global Impact Award
Earlier this week, Empowered21 announced that they will give the first Lifetime Global Impact Awards at the upcoming Global Congress to be held May 20-25, 2015. These awards will honour Christian men and women who have made a significant impact on the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Crossroads’ Founder, David Mainse, is among the six individuals to be honoured.
Bev,will this be a televised event? Would love to be a part of it.