FIRST THINGS FIRST
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 7
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This is a view that many Bible characters would have seen as they looked east toward the Mount of Olives from the southern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. On the top left in the wall you can vaguely see the blocked up Triple Gate that was one of the entrances to the Temple.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 1 Kings 7:51
So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and the furnishings. He put them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, grant me even more wisdom than You gave Solomon. I ask for enough wisdom to last me an entire lifetime, not for just the first few years. I need You 24/7! In the Name of another descendant of King David, Jesus, my Saviour and Lord, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
For some reason I’m thinking of building projects in which I have been involved in a leadership role. The first was a new roof on a little church building in Castleton, Ontario. The next was a new church building in Deep River, Ontario. Then there was the construction of another church building in Sudbury. All these projects were built under budget and paid for in short order. But then 25 years later came the necessity of building a new 143,000 square foot studio and office building for Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. I was confident that we could once again build for less than the estimated costs, but the project went considerably over cost. It took lots and lots of fervent prayer, much sacrificial giving, and the daily pressures of also paying regular operating costs in order to prevail. There was no overlay of gold, just drywall, brick, and the most reasonable materials available. Nevertheless, the former Chairman of Canada’s Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, Keith Spicer, did pronounce the Crossroads Centre in Burlington the finest TV production facility in Canada. Every day, we sought to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” And through the amazing investment of God’s people in the purchase of mortgage certificates and in giving so very generously, the charity, Crossroads, became free of debt in ten years. It may seem foolish to draw any comparison to the Temple of Solomon, but it seems to me the same principles are involved, i.e. putting God first!
Yours for God’s blessing on the new, God-called leadership at Crossroads. Greater challenges than ever face our Board, our Global CEO, John Hull, and our Chief Ministry Officer, Ron Mainse, and the entire Crossroads team,
David
P.S. This week Ron and Ann are in Oklahoma city with daughter Andrea and family, and 100 Huntley Street daily TV continues with John Hull and Michael Coren. Please click HERE for essential knowledge called “Defying Isis” and HERE to request the book by Johnnie Moore. Your brothers and sisters in Christ are being killed by the thousands because they refuse to deny their faith. (For a full episode of 100 Huntley Street from yesterday, click HERE).
Dr. John Hull on “100 Huntley Street” with this week’s co-host Michael Coren, dealing with the topic of the horrific Christian persecution at the hands of ISIS.
April 29, 2015
I enjoy following David’s daily blog and here’s the latest poem from my
Facebook page : Witness Stand. Praying that it blesses you and yours.
You’re free to share it
God Bless, Robin Aldrich, ( Witness Stand )
TWELVE YEARS
They were glad of my Offerings
when once I was rich,
but my place for these twelve years
was almost the ditch !
Don’t ask me my name,
I’ve remained quite unseen.
Every days’ loss of blood
clearly condemns me ‘Unclean ‘
My husband , a good man,
( now long in his grave )
Oft came before Jairus;
and ONE favour he’d crave ..
But the Synagogue leader
no exception would offer,
even tho’ my dear husband
constantly filled up the Coffer !
We despaired of an answer
and were shunned by the crowd.
My uncleanness did scourge me;
T’was was almost a shroud !
Many times I lay weeping
on a bed of despair,
as my blood still was seeping
most days; every year !
Now alone, with him gone,
the remains of our wealth
was poured out in fruitless
searchings for health.
I’d heard of this Jesus
who was rumoured to travel
with a doctor named Luke;
twisted lives ,they’d unravel !
Now a sole child was born
to this Synagogue Speaker,
twelve years ago now
when my own frame grew weaker.
Soon I heard a loud wailing;
hearts and robes were full torn
as his young girl lay dying…
…”It’s his payback for scorn ! “
And then this same Jesus
Whom the crowds did adore
was begged by ‘friend Jairus’
“My girl .. PLEASE RESTORE ! “
If Jairus could lay down
his pride then, so much ..
I also would beg for
‘The Carpenter’s Touch ! ‘
So I crawled on my knees
through the crowds gathered round;
My heart reaching the clouds
as my feet dragged the ground.
It was only my finger
that brushed like a flea
by His robe’s edge,
but He halted and said,
“ Who’s touched me?”
His disciples? They laughed
and said ,”Lord it’s clear
that the crowds here around us
just want to draw near”
Jesus knew that His power
had flown to my soul.
I agreed. It was true !
My body was whole !
“Go in Peace, my dear daughter
and be of good cheer.
Your faith has restored you;
don’t shed one more tear! ”
Then the friends of that father
who had caused me such strife,
said to Jairus, “She’s no more;
go comfort your wife”
I later did hear
Jesus stopped all their weeping,
and announced to them all,
“ She’s not dead; she’s just sleeping !”
They all were amazed
for they’d stood at her feet.
and they knew she had died.
Now she sat up to eat !
Jesus received no assistance
from Luke the Physician,
but relied on His Father;
… the Son’s TRUE position !
My blood flow was staunched
but Christ’s own, He soon shed.
To give every ‘dead one’
God’s New Life instead.
My story is told;
it’s every bit true.
I reached out to Jesus.
Now how about YOU?
I am amaze how similar the fate of early Israel the Christian Church took. It started small, completely devoted to the God, and as it grew, it prosper much like Israel did. Eventually instead of just God to run the church, they put one man in charge, the Pope. The church grew wealthy, had many grand buildings, influence nations, but then just like kings of Israel, the leaders in the church grew corrupt, sought their own ambitions instead of God’s will and eventually it cause the Church to be torn into half, Catholic and Protestant. I don’t know if these similarities are by design or just the natural course of what happens when as David said we stop putting God first, but the old saying those who don’t learn from history and doomed to repeat it seems apt here.
It is an amazing similarity. Thank you Donna for your observation.
Blessings.
I think you’re so right Donna, man seems to corrupt everything he touches even the church if he’s not careful and forgets who comes first. I’m grateful that God is so patient with us.
Very beautiful and thoughtful Robin. So true, so true. God bless you.
If only Solomon had carried thru with his wish to be wise. Free choice can be such a blessing or a curse.
I’ve often wondered what the church thinks of transgender problems and this article explains it beautifully:
http://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=735ea9120a&e=bd69046ae4
Blessings on this rainy day in west central Alberta…..much needed…..thank u Jesus.
Thank you, Robin, for sharing your beautiful poem. I was really touched by it. May God bless you today.
Beautiful poem Robin. Thanks.
I am a visual person so the link to what the temple might look like was awesome. Thanks Pastor Daviid
Continuing to pray for those being slaughtered by the evil of ISIS
That’s an amazingly beautiful illustration of Solomon’s Temple, thanks for including that in your blog Pastor.
Enjoyed reading about and seeing the pics of what the Temple might have looked like. I was thinking about Sah. She hasn’t been on the blog for awhile, I am praying that she us ok. Thanks for the poem Robin and all the others comments.
Have a great everyone. Eleanor M.
Afternoon fellow saints.
Wonderful poem Robin. And Donna you are so right with the comparison of today’s Christian Church. Hopefully our eyes will still seek God first and always.
Blessings.
Yes, how sad that Solomon fell so far away from following after and seeking the way of the the Lord. What a blessing he received of the Lord, and yet the lust of the flesh and the eye took his attention away from the gift and all he received from God the Father.
Thank you Rev. David for the link of how the temple may have looked!!!
Sorry I missed yesterday but my heart is grieved and I will pray for those dear Christians. Glad you included yesterday’s 100 Huntley St. program, Rev. David. Quite a poem Robin!
Thanks Robin for the beautiful poem
Always enjoy them. Blessings to all bloggers.