Tuesday, July 7, 2015

EARLY

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 29

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Looking up to the western side of the southwest containment wall of the Temple Mount, you can see protruding from the wall what is now called Robinson’s Arch. This was once a magnificent staircase that led up to the Temple Mount. The two pictures below are from inside a ritual bath just beneath Robinson’s Arch, where pilgrims had to cleanse themselves before entering the Temple Mount.

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

 

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 29:20

Then King Hezekiah rose EARLY, gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.

 

Consider the word, “EARLY.” Hezekiah had his priorities in order. Abraham, the friend of God, began “EARLY” (recorded 4 times). Moses and the word “EARLY” connect 6 times. Joshua, 5 times, and in the Psalms and Proverbs we are encouraged to be “EARLY” 11 times. In the Gospels (NKJV) the word “EARLY” shows up 9 times. To get to my motivating verse for my 4 a.m. rising time to prepare my heart and mind for the daily blog, I quote to myself frequently from the New International Version, Mark 1:35, “Very EARLY in the morning, while it was yet dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went to a solitary place, where He prayed.” Jesus always lived His life as “Son of man,” not using the fact that He was 100% God to help Himself. I’m convinced that the EARLY time with His Father was the reason He could say, “The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29). Like Jesus, we need to wait on God EARLY, if possible, in order to get our instructions for the day. Making notes or journaling as we pray is a very effective way to check up on ourselves. I’ve just given 3 cheers for Hezekiah!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for consistency in my appointments with You every morning. Jesus shows me the way to learn how to please You every day. I give myself to You as fully as I know how. I’m listening for Your voice within my spirit just now, then I expect to receive the grace to obey. In the Name of the One who always pleased You, Lord God, Jesus, Himself, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My son Ron asked if he could write the “100 Personal Words” today with a story of his own. I said Yes:

Hi…Ron here. This is one of my favourite “EARLY” stories about Dad…

When I was a teenager, I was part of our high school basketball team. I remember having to wake up extremely early one morning in order to attend a practice, which our overly zealous coach had scheduled well before the school day began. My teammates and I were far from enthusiastic about having to get our bodies out of bed that early, but that was the only time the gymnasium was available before our big championship game. So I set my alarm for “dark and early.” When the dreaded beeping noise hit my ears, I reluctantly rolled out of bed, got dressed, and tiptoed my way through the dark hallway and down the stairs, being careful not to wake anyone else in the family. However, when I got to the living room, I was surprised to see the lights on and hear someone speaking. When I looked to my left, I saw my Dad kneeling next to the couch with dozens of pieces of paper spread out all over the furniture. I paused long enough to figure out what was going on. Dad was in prayer, weeping and interceding before God on behalf of the many who had written to him as a result of the recently launched 100 Huntley Street daily TV program. He never saw me as I continued tiptoeing out the door and off to my practice. That experience deeply impacted me. It strongly reinforced to my heart the truth of Dad’s genuine passion for God and passion for people. He wasn’t on television because of any ego trip or because he needed a job. He was called by God to share the love of Jesus to a lost and hurting world. He often says, “One soul is worth more than the whole world!” …and he has always lived what he believes. After that, I could think of nothing else I wanted to do with my life than work with my Dad. — Ron Mainse

Looking up from the Mikvot (ritual bath), you can see Robinson’s Arch, which was one of the ancient entrances to the Temple Mount. You can see the divider in the stairway to separate those who were unclean from those who came up purified.

20 thoughts on “Tuesday, July 7, 2015

  1. thanks Ron for sharing this morning about your Dad. He has certainly touched many peoples lives with his sincere and devotions early morning rising to prepare his blog with your help. I am so grateful and thankful for his inspiring energy to share with us every morning. God is good and we praise God every morning. Thank you Irene

  2. Thankyou Ron for this inspirational story.
    We as blog readers are all recipients as well of your Dad’s encouragement to put first things first and devote the first fruits of our time in reading the word. What an important spiritual discipline.
    I too am an early riser and I so enjoy reading thru the Bible with the aid of this blog.
    My farm roots of getting up early to help with chores and seeing my Mother already up with her bible on her lap and eyes closed in prayer certainly had an impact on me and this habit of early rising. I too, credit my parents for this legacy they left. I pray God will help me to be faithful to this discipline.

    Thankyou again for your commitment David and Ron to your faithfulness to the call to seeing souls saved – one by one by one!

  3. A wonderful story of your dad’s devotion Ron thank you for sharing.
    It was uplifting to read of Hezekiah restoring the temple. Gives courage to continue each day in The Word and know as we cry out to God for renewal in our spirit HE is always ready to meet us. Blessings on on and thanks Pastor David once again for your great devotion.

  4. Until very recently I was an early riser but now I have a hard time waking up. This is frustrating. I don’t understand why the change. I was just thinking that today I might shop for some powerful vitamins! I am widowed for 6 months now and I am doing quite well. I do wonder if widowhood has anything to do with my tiredness. I do hope I can overcome this problem. As always, appreciate the blog. Thanks all who contribute.

  5. WOW!
    To my mind Ron’s PS today ties in exactly with Robert Morgan’s comments this morning on 100 Huntley Street that, as the 12 year-old Jesus said, we all should daily be about the “family business”!
    Shalom,
    Graham.
    2012 Holy Land Yellow Bus.

  6. What a beautiful memory to share with us, and wonderful sentiment about your dad–thank you Ron. I can picture you praying, David–your love for God and his people, so evident. Thank you for teaching us the power of prayer, for God so wants us to commune with and be in constant relationship with him. Amen for Hezekiah setting things back into place by living the right example of sanctification. Blessings fellow saints.

    “Since God knows what niche we are to fill, let us trust Him to shape us to it. Since He knows what work we are to do, let us trust Him to drill us to the proper preparation.”

    “O blows that smite! O hurts that pierce
    This shrinking heart of mine!
    What are ye bu the Master’s tools
    Forming a work Divine?”

    Streams in the Desert, Cowman, July 7, p. 216.

    “Whispering Hope (2006 Remastered Version)” by The Forester Sisters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x59qpvULQi8

    • You have a wonderful family. I’m so glad I got to read your blog today as I’m not always able to do so. You have really shown what Christian living is all about and have made a real impact on so many lives,both
      of you.
      God bless you as you continue to serve Him.

  7. Wonderful blogs this morning David and Ron. When I really have a heavy burden I rise early and I always see results and sometimes I seem to be kept awake to pray late at night. Always appreciate your admonition to rise early as it is really worth striving for. Drove my grand-niece to a church camp today in the States. Am dealing with animals again now. Please pray for deliverance. Thanks!

  8. Thanks to both of you for inspiring me to wake up earlier to pray in the quietness of the morning. This blog touches my heart every day and I am so thankful that I am part of this very educational daily routine. Please pray for me as I am dealing with a very sick man in my life and I fear for what is ahead. I am encouraging him to put his life in God’s hands (his name is Richard and he is not only a great friend but has been the contractor who has rebuilt my house). Now he can no longer work and that alone is very hard to deal with. Thank you for your prayers as he goes into surgery tomorrow.

    • Bea, I prayed for your friend Richard regarding his surgery tomorrow. I pray that both of you will feel God’s peace and His Presence. May God’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven and may Jesus Christ be glorified. Amen.

  9. Thanks Ron for sharing about your Dad. He is a wonderful sincere man, and has touched many peoples lives. God is good and we praise Him every day as we read your comments on the portion of the Bible.

  10. Lord God be with Bea as she looks after and minisers to Richard and Lord I pray the Holy Spirit will call, gather, enlighten and sanctify Richard in the One True Faith and bless the team of doctors and nurses that will be doing the surgery and caring for Richard! I pray for total healing and that Richard will enjoy a long, prosperous healthy life AMEN

    in regarding rising “early” I will share:

    last November my sleep pattern changed completely, it changed overnight, I went to bed when others are waking up, I tried to fight it and change it BUT nothing worked so I just prayed and told the Lord that with His help I will have to figure out a sleep pattern for me that will work and be happy with.
    It is called SASD which means “seasonal affected sleep disorder”
    thousands of individuals have this issue but not many wish to talk about it because others seem to think “that we are just lazy” well, that is not true, I can’t get to chuirch in the mornings, so, I am looking for a service in the evening, I still swim almost daily, I feel terrific after 3 p.m. but I have had to change a few things, let a few things go, like I won’t be able to can fruit this fall, I have about 1 1/2 hours a day (sometimes) to do anything so, as I said, I ask the Lord daily for the energy to do what need to do, you can see by the time that I have been up for about an hour already, so, embrace whatever your situation is!
    it is interesting that about 30 members of my church have the same issue!
    I encourage people to talk about it! I truly believe that helps and when we can share information I areally appreciate that aspect!
    sometimes I get up and go down to the local 7/11 at 2 a.m. it is very interesting to see who else is dealing with this disorder.
    God know what is going on, and I do lean on Him for all my energy, I would encourage anyone not to feel guilty but share…..God bless

  11. What a wonderful memory to have of your Dad on his knees praying!!! What a legacy to leave for your son David. Thank you Ron for sharing!!!

    So good to read about Hezekiah’s doing what is right in the sight of the Lord…and how it pleases the Lord when we look to Him and acknowledge Him in all our ways.

    Thank you Jesus for your Great love for us, loving us “Just where we are” in our life with You Lord!! But mostly thank You Lord for not leaving us there, but changing us from Glory to Glory!!! I Love You Lord Jesus!!!

  12. What a fortunate young man you are, Ron, to have such a legacy! Oh that my sons and many more would have had such an example! It is truly sad when the only Christian example many of our sons have are mothers who try to teach them to be a godly man. What a different country we would have if more men would be that example to their sons.

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