Thursday, September 10, 2015

THE BLESSED PERSON

Today’s Reading: Psalms 1-3

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

 

In the northern Israel region where the tribe of Dan settled, cool streams come off snow-capped Mount Herman to join other streams and continue south as the Jordan River. Psalm 1:3 says that the blessed person will be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water…”

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

 

Key Verses: Psalm 1:2, 2:7, 3:3

His delight…in His law he meditates day and night.

The Lord has said to me, You are My Son, today I have begotten You.

But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

 

First Psalm – the choice is ours to make! Either we will be like the well-watered fruit tree or like chaff, which the wind drives away. All who are faithful daily in meditating on God’s Word will be blessed people. Is that a sufficient reason for this blog?

Second Psalm – the Son of God is revealed. As the ancient Christian creed declares of Jesus, He is “Very God of Very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.” There are those who teach that Jesus is a created being, an angel. False! They’ve probably knocked on your door at some time (Luke 1:34-38). Also, Hebrews chapter one (click here) expands on the prophetic words of Psalm 2.

Third Psalm – the shepherd boy who became king wrote these words and music for stringed instruments to accompany the singing of his words. David’s poems, for the most part, are most encouraging and have an optimistic outlook on life. His experience was that the Lord lifted up his head! Let us now look up, and away from the pessimists who say, “There is no help for him in God.” Amen!!! and Amen!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray with the shepherd king, “Arise, O Lord; save me O my God!” (Psalm 3). I pray that I will “serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2). I also pray that I will be like the tree beside the free-flowing waters, blossoming with Your beauty and then bearing good fruit! (Psalm 1). Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

This weekend I have the honour to speak four times at “Wesley Acres” Camp for the 50+ services. Now in my 80th year I REALLY need your prayers. I’m very fond of this camp. My eldest sister, Willa, and her husband, Harold Hodgins, were the first family to live and work on the grounds when the property was purchased by the Free Methodist Church. Norma-Jean, our children and I stayed with them in the old original farm house for a couple of nights. It is located in Prince Edward County, just south of Bloomfield, Ontario (pictures below of the most creative camp signs I’ve ever seen).

Recently Norma-Jean wrote out, in her beautiful handwriting, a statement which fits in with most of the Psalms. Here it is: “A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of opportunities. An optimist makes opportunities of difficulties.”

Yours for an optimistic outlook, almost always expecting something good to happen!

David

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31 thoughts on “Thursday, September 10, 2015

  1. Oh, how I love the Psalms!!! Asking for your prayers for me, fellow saints. Being optimistic a tear in the meniscus of my right knee will heal enough that I will be joining you this week-end, David and Norma-Jean. I am icing it all day, today, and tomorrow, before heading to Wesley Acres with Pastor Reynolds James and his daughter, Ann. Praise God through whom all blessings flow. For God, our great Creator, is our almighty healer, comforter and Saviour. Yes, You are a shield around us, the One who lifts our heads high. We call out to You, oh Lord, and know You will answer our prayers. You are our great Jehovah Jireh, our Redeemer, and the solid rock on which we stand. We are nothing without You, and everything with You. We live to give You all the glory, and bow down on bended knee with thanks and praise for Your loving mercy. In Jesus’ precious name, amen, amen, and amen.

  2. Thanks David! May the Lord continue to bless. When we lived in BC, our Pastor (since gone on to Glory) preached on Psalm 1 for 6 weeks!
    Thx for this daily fodder. Praying for you as you minister this wknd. Pray for Crossroads, your family, staff, etc. daily.

  3. Hi David
    My internet was down for several days so I could not get in touch with everyone
    here now it is working. I will pray for you David and Beverlee.
    Would you pray for my mom Lucille she is today in Halifax she is going for an
    assesment . Mom is going to have open heart surgery Sept 18 th , and I am worried .
    God bless you and thank you
    Lianne Hogg

    • We pray to You, our Heavenly Father, our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ, and to the sanctity of the Holy Spirit. We lift up Lianne’s mom, Lucille to You, Lord, and pray for Your healing touch upon her heart and body. We ask that You bring to light the intricacies of her heart the surgeons need be aware of, and that You work through their hands on September 18th, during the surgery, Lord. We pray that Your loving grace will abound in Lucille’s body and that she will be completely restored in Your loving name. We also bring our dear sister-in-Christ, Lianne, before You, Lord, and ask that you ease her worry, and give her strength and comfort to get through this time. May she be a light of strength for her mom to lean on as she leans on the rock of Your salvation. We give You all the thanks, and praise, and glory, in Jesus’ loving name. And all the saints said, amen, amen, and amen.

  4. Good counsel David and Norma-Jean. ” …Forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”(Phil.3:13-14). Enjoy yourself at Wesley Acres.

  5. thnx for posting that precious uplifting song Beverlee. May the Holy Spirit of God heal those on this blog who are in pain and sickness… We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Holy Lord and Saviour. Amen and Amen!

  6. Thank you Pastor David for this blog. I pray for continued healing and “The Joy of the Lord” which is your strength as you prepare to minister at Camp this week. I pray for total healing in your lungs and chest. Blessings on you and Norma-Jean and all your loved ones.

    Such a joy to be in the Psalms…”The Glory and the Lifter of my head”!!!

    I pray for healing for your knee Beverlee that you will be able to enjoy and be refreshed during your time at camp.

    Lianne I pray for peace of mind for you and for your Mom’s surgery to be a total success with a speedy recovery.

    I want to mention that this morning’s blog did not come through in my mail box. I trust it will come through daily, or do I need to subscribe again? Thank you for your ministry to us Pastor David.

  7. As I read the responses on our blog I like to go immediately to
    Prayer for the needs of those who ask and so I have already brought before our Lord Pastor David and Norm Jean, Beverlee, Lianne and her mom Lucille and Ger’s request from the other day. What a privilege to be able to pray for you dear saints. Our God is our strength and deliverer.
    Praise His Holy Name. Blessings to all. My eyes are getting better but still a little fuzzy. I seek your prayers.
    Love because of JESUS❤️

    • Just Letting you know that I am lifting up many who are requesting prayer. Yesterday, Mary was asking prayer for the pain she is suffering. Also, today, healing, strength and a special anointing on David asministers in the Holy Spirit bringing glory to Jesus; prayers for Beverlee to get to the Camp, Encouragement and peace for Lianne, Special prayers for her mom as she goes for an assessment re open heart surgery. I love Psalm 121, NIV, In these few verses, it tells us 5 times that God is watching over our lives. He is watching over Lianne’s mom, Lucille. Thank God, whether sick or ill, we are safe in God’s hands. “I’m in His Hands”. Prayers also for “The Cry” – Christians meeting in Montreal this weekend to pray for our Country, Revival and the need for God to intervene in human affairs around the world, the refugees, ongoing wars. Let’s also pray for Prime Minister Harper who seems to be under attack from all directions. 1 Tim.2:1-2,8 encourages us that….prayers, giving of thanks..all who are in authority…pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” Also, Blessings and encouragement from the Psalm this morning.
      Ps.1:6, “The Lord watches over the righteous”
      Ps. 2:12: “Blessed are all those who put trust in Him”
      Ps. 3:3: “My glory, and THE LIFTER of my head”
      God is lifting us up…encouraging us, healing, strengthening, blessing… let us claim these blessings and encourage ourselves in the Lord regardless of our circumstances.”Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; for His greatness is unsearchable” Ps. 145:3 KJV Blessings to all. Samuel

  8. Thankyou Beverlee for that uplifting song. I’m praying for your knee
    may the Lord give you His healing touch… and all who are sick with
    various illnesses ….R….

  9. Psalms, how great! Ready to dig in.
    Could someone please give me the info about this weekend at the camp, thinking about going down. Don’t know the schedule or cost or place for that matter.
    Mary, I had the same surgery late June. Tough times certainly, but everyday IS better!!!! The non-weight bearing bit was difficult. Jesus had my back the whole time of as yours. I became closer to God as there were many hours in bed where I chose HIM instead of anything else to get me through it. I believe that was HIS to begin with. I am back to work next week, Amen!! 100 Words kept me out of trouble. Xo

  10. It seems there was a problem at this end…for some reason all my mail did not come through, however that seems to be corrected now.

    Its good to know that your blog is still coming through okay…thanks

  11. Thank you for the peace that these Psalms have given me at the end of a tiring day. Your blog is always a bright spot in my day.

    Many thanks and I will be praying for you at the camp this weekend.

  12. TY Lord for all the blogs! Grant healing to all who are praying for healing and grant strength to those who are needing strength!
    TY Lord for a nice day today! Had to go to next city and do erreands! It was good! TY Lord for guiding me there and back! Bless my sleep tonight TY and AMEN

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