NO SHEPHERD (COACH)
Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 18
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Sheep feeding on the lush winter grass of the Jordan Valley while three sheep dogs keep a close eye…especially on the photographer, our son Reynold, who is now serving the Lord in Uganda.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 18:4 &16 – And Jehoshaphat said to the King of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”
Then he (the prophet of the true God) said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.'”
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, was a man of God. However, there is no record that he prayed about the decision to join King Ahab of the northern tribes of Israel. Big mistake! Jehoshaphat understood the seriousness of the war that Ahab was about to wage, and he asked whether Ahab had inquired of the Lord. Ahab immediately sought the word of the prophets which had been chosen to serve the golden calf worship. Elijah had destroyed Baal worship. Finally, at Jehoshaphat’s insistence, a prophet of the true God was summoned. His word from God was one of judgment, and for this he was put into prison.
Can we learn from Jehoshaphat’s poor decisions? He rejected God’s counsel and went along with the bad advice of ungodly people. The result was a disaster. King David had written in Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.” Jehoshaphat failed to pay attention to the very first sentence of the Psalms of his great-great-great-grandfather, King David. Surely Jehoshaphat knew this verse of his Bible.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, as a result of reading Your Word, I want what You want. Now and always, grant me, I pray, the grace of moving Your Word from my head to my heart and then to my will power, in obedience to You! In the name of the One who always did Your will, Father, Your Son and my Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Love sports? Norma-Jean and I are fans! Our grandson-in-law, David Lee, husband of our granddaughter, Elizabeth (her Dad, Reynold does the photography for my blog), played for the Toronto professional football team in the finals two years ago. They won the Canadian championship! I sometimes think that our competition between cities and countries in sports takes the place of the constant wars of ancient times between city states and neighbouring countries. In fact, in the Canada/Soviet Union hockey series of 1972, Canadian Phil Esposito of Sault Ste. Marie declared, “This is war!” Canada won! We’ve produced a documentary featuring Paul Henderson, who scored the Goal of the Century (click here to view part one of my interview with Paul about the documentary and here for part two). Like the coach, God will sometimes order a particular strategy or play. All decisions are based on the playbook. So it is with our book of instructions, the Bible. David Lee, our grandson-in-law, was constantly reading and memorizing his playbook. We noticed that after one great play, the coach patted David on the helmet, probably saying, “Good job!” Someday, I hope my Coach, the Lord Jesus, will say to me, “Well done, David!” After the game, a large number of the players on both teams gathered in the middle of the field to pray (see photo below). I’ve never seen so many players kneel together before God at one time. I’m encouraged!
Yours for following the instructions from our heavenly Coach,
David
Many players from both teams gathered at centre field after the game to pray.
My grandson-in-law, David Lee (#91), rushing the quarterback.
Norma-Jean and I enjoying the football game with our son Ron and his wife Ann.
Thank you Pastor David I prayed your prayer this morning, I want to constantly do God’s will but so often I fall short. Then I confess my failures and He is faithful to forgive me. 1 John I:9-10 IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE OURS SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM A LIAR, AND HIS WORD IS NOT IN US.
Thank you for the lovely pictures, hope everyone has a Blessed day. Eleanor M.
I do follow the blog with regularity, do not comment too often, but I have a prayer request to all my blog buddies:
Please pray for a family member named John, at the moment he is listed as a “missing” person. Please pray for safety, but also for addiction issues.
Thanking you all from the bottom of my heart.
Praying….
Lot of deception in this portion of scripture. Lord Jesus keep John safe wherever he is and speak to his heart about his need of you in your Name, Amen. Thank you for your prayers for my Teacher’s College class reunion. I had many opportunities to share my testimony and I got the prize for the person who taught the farthest away from New Brunswick. It was a wonderful time! Good pics David.
Haven’t heard much about Paul Henderson lately…I know he was battling cancer the last time he was on one of 100 Huntley Street programs.
Your analogy about sports being likened to country wars is has a true ring to it.
What a beautiful picture of the sheep in green pastures…I pray for Reynold and Kathy, for the Lord to keep them safe in the Palm of His Hand.
The picture of the sheep in the green pasture, reminds me of
Psalm 23…thank you Lord, You make us lie down in green pastures, You restore my soul, You anoint my head with oil. You are my Shepherd, My Lord, and King of Kings. I love You Lord Jesus, and I lift my head to worship You, for You are worthy of all praise.
As Rev. David you prayed, I too pray, “I want what You want, now and always” that my heart and will would be in tune with Your will Father, in Jesus Name I pray. Amen!
I pray for John, Wilma, like the prodigal, I pray he “come to the end of himself” and come home…to Jesus! this I pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus Our Lord and Savior!!!
Amen! Irene.
I pray for John’s safe return home and he overcomes his addiction
by the grace of God, in Jesus Name! Amen.
Remembering you in prayer Wilma, may God give you peace of mind.
Holy Spirit enter into John’s heart where ever he is! YOU KNOW HIS LOCATION! Holy Spirit You are the 3rd person in the Trinity and You call, gather and enlighten and strengthen those in the one true faith!
I pray John will have a revelation, that he will see his need to come home! He will not be jugded, he will be welcomed and then Holy Spirit lead John into a treatment program where he can get the help that he needs!
Lord God I believe You have somehting very powerful prepared for John! Perhaps Lord God, he will lead other people out of their addictions! He has had the experience so he speaks with truth and sincereity!
God gives us faith, grace and power to try again!
God changes our attitude from the inside!
Father God we pray for a GREAT DAY OF CELEBRATION WHEN JOHN RETURNS!
Joining fellow saints to pray for the safe return of your family member, John, dear Wilma. Lord, uphold John in the palm of Your hand, keep him safe and cared for, and wipe away his dependency on the drugs he has known throughout his darker years. May the angels of light return you safely home, John, and may you come to know and claim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Amen, amen and amen.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.
Wilma, I prayed for John and I prayed David’s prayer as well.
I to have held John up before The Lord , Wilma, he is a faithful God and will answer. May He strengthen you and the rest of the family circle as you await his return.
As tomorrow is “Canada Day”…I pray Lord that Canada will be
“A Nation Under God” … And return to the foundation under which Canada was birthed!!! Jesus I pray. Amen!!!
Dear David:
What a privilege and a blessing to share your daily blog. I express my full gratitude for this experience that lets me learn more and get closer to the devine knowledge of God and His Word, my daily living bread of my life.
Please, may I ask you and to my brothers and sisters in the Lord that share this blog, to join me in prayer for my youngest and very dear son Daniel Andres, who is now living a homosexual life style, that from my understanding he did not born as such and it is not according to the Word of God, in both the Old and the New Testaments. I am praying for His liberation and his boyfriend Steve’s liberation. Than you kindly.