Sunday, October 11, 2015

YOU AND I

Today’s Reading: Psalm 77

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

 

Caesarea Maritima is a national park on the Israeli coastline, near the modern city of Caesarea. The ancient Caesarea Maritima city and harbor was built by Herod the Great about 25-13 BC. The city was populated through the late Roman and Byzantine eras. A good place to start meditating on God’s work, as our key verse suggests, is by observing nature. This sea scape proclaims the greatness of our Creator God!

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

Key Verse: Psalms 77:12-13

I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great as our God?

 

Dr. John Hull, our Crossroads global leader, earned his doctorate from one of the most highly respected theological colleges in the world, Gordon Conwell Seminary of South Hamilton, Massachusetts (click here to learn more about this excellent centre of learning). John shares his insights with us on Psalm 77 here on today’s blog. Here’s John…

God is not embarrassed by the transparency of our prayers. In Psalm 77, the writer is transparent and authentic in his desperate need for God — and in his own inability to live godly apart from holy God. The writer’s humanity asks the same kind of questions we often ask: Will the Lord accept me or reject me? Will I ever expect His favor again when things seem so hard? Is He withholding His compassion because He’s angry at me? Amazing isn’t it? The transparent thoughts of ancient and modern man seem to have little variance.The Psalmist presses on though, beyond the questions, the doubts and the insecurities, toward peace and victory! His process? He doesn’t focus on life’s challenges nor upon his own fallen state. Instead, he finds peace and comfort by focusing on the very character of God. He recharges his spirit by focusing on God as holy, powerful, and purposeful. The take-away of Psalm 77 is when one is overwhelmed by life and/or fear, focus on the perfection of God, the wisdom of God and the inability of God to ever do wrong. It’s within the character of God that we find peace within the character of our lives. – John

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord, I thank You for the privilege of praying daily with all who share prayer needs in response to this blog. I ask for blessings and “Yes” or “No” or “Wait” answers to prayer for each person. In Jesus’ Name I come before Your throne of mercy. I pray Your blessing upon Your servant, John Hull. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I want all our blog partners to get to know John Hull better. This is why I’ve asked him to participate in the blogs of yesterday and today. John hosts the daily 100 Huntley Street telecasts. My son, Ron, reports on TV from the telephone ministry centre on a regular basis. He and Ann will be taking on a new ministry challenge. You’ll hear about it here shortly. In the meantime, check out some info about a special upcoming edition of 100 Huntley Street HERE.

I also want to make an observation about yesterday’s reading. In Psalm 76 Asaph focuses on God and repeats the word “You” (God) several times. Then Asaph switches to the word, “I,” and repeats it a dozen times in the first 12 verses of Psalm 77. No wonder he is discouraged! He is focusing on himself. But he finally gets it right! Our key verse is the turning point. Eleven times in the last 10 verses of Asaph’s hymn he focuses back on God with the words “You” or “Your.” No wonder he is optimistic about life once again! I needed the encouragement from John Hull today, plus my own meditations on the Psalms.

Yours with thankfulness, meditating on God, and joining our prayers together,

David

20 thoughts on “Sunday, October 11, 2015

  1. Happy Thanksgiving,David and “Thanks” for giving us this blog.God bless

    Salvation

    Sweet Jesus I owe everything to you and to you alone,
    You have shown me my home,you are my anchorstone,
    You have saved me always when stormy winds have blown,
    You have always been my rock,the truest friend I’ve known,
    So why do you think me worthy as a seed you have sown
    What can I ever do to earn all the love you’ve shown .

    Ch:
    Let me know sweet Jesus, let me know beyond my days
    Let me know my savior,when I bow down to you in praise,
    When my time here is drawing short and coming to a close,
    As they carry me away after leading the life I chose,
    I pray that I will leave not sorrow for those that I love,
    But instead to know the joy that waits for us above.

    I am not a wealthy man but I am very rich by far,
    When I walk my journey you’re my guiding star
    And you know that I am honest in all the things I do,
    I have never born false witness,I only say what’s true,
    You have strengthened my soul before I even knew
    Of life’s losses with your love to see me through.

    You have always had your hand placed within my soul,
    You have shown me your light that has made me whole,
    I have never known this love that comes from your grace,
    Nor have I known compassion that shines from your face,
    For I am still a sinner and you are the son of God
    I can only meet you after I’ve slept beneath the sod.
    G W(Bill) Marshall / AM.June 6/2011
    (No copyright intended)

  2. Happy Thanksgiving,David and “Thanks” for giving us this blog.God bless

    Salvation

    Sweet Jesus I owe everything to you and to you alone,
    You have shown me my home,you are my anchorstone,
    You have saved me always when stormy winds have blown,
    You have always been my rock,the truest friend I’ve known,
    So why do you think me worthy as a seed you have sown
    What can I ever do to earn all the love you’ve shown .

    Ch:
    Let me know sweet Jesus, let me know beyond my days
    Let me know my savior,when I bow down to you in praise,
    When my time here is drawing short and coming to a close,
    As they carry me away after leading the life I chose,
    I pray that I will leave not sorrow for those that I love,
    But instead to know the joy that waits for us above.

    I am not a wealthy man but I am very rich by far,
    When I walk my journey you’re my guiding star
    And you know that I am honest in all the things I do,
    I have never born false witness,I only say what’s true,
    You have strengthened my soul before I even knew
    Of life’s losses with your love to see me through.

    You have always had your hand placed within my soul,
    You have shown me your light that has made me whole,
    I have never known this love that comes from your grace,
    Nor have I known compassion that shines from your face,
    For I am still a sinner and you are the son of God
    I can only meet you after I’ve slept beneath the sod.
    G W(Bill) Marshall / 330AM.June 6/2011
    (No copyright intended)

    • Very well said in a poem Happy Thanksgiving !
      Can everyone pray for my daughtr Shawna for her brain to heal because she doesn t sleep well and the lack of sleep and stress has stopped her body from healing her injury and also pray for her salvation to be ready for Jesus Christ s return and pray her business to grow Amen
      thank you all for your prayers

      • Father hear the prayers of this mother; Lord she is asking for healing for her daughter Shawna, Your child, her brain needs Your loving touch so that her daughter can sleep well and feel rested, all stress has been removed, can experience total healing in her body from her injury!
        Lord we come to You, Our Heavenly Father, Our Provider, Healer, Our Saviour to put Your Hands on this daughter and she will be healed in the Mightly Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, AMEN AMEN AMEN!

  3. Very nice to read John Hull’s teachings. Love the pic. today……thanks Reynold.
    Found this poem online with permission to copy and paste it. Have a joyful Sabbath.

    My Child,

    You may not know me,
    but I know everything about you.
    Psalm 139:1

    I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
    Psalm 139:2

    I am familiar with all your ways.
    Psalm 139:3

    Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
    Matthew 10:29-31

    For you were made in my image.
    Genesis 1:27

    In me you live and move and have your being.
    Acts 17:28

    For you are my offspring.
    Acts 17:28

    I knew you even before you were conceived.
    Jeremiah 1:4-5

    I chose you when I planned creation.
    Ephesians 1:11-12

    You were not a mistake,
    for all your days are written in my book.
    Psalm 139:15-16

    I determined the exact time of your birth
    and where you would live.
    Acts 17:26

    You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
    Psalm 139:14

    I knit you together in your mother’s womb.
    Psalm 139:13

    And brought you forth on the day you were born.
    Psalm 71:6

    I have been misrepresented
    by those who don’t know me.
    John 8:41-44

    I am not distant and angry,
    but am the complete expression of love.
    1 John 4:16

    And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
    1 John 3:1

    Simply because you are my child
    and I am your Father.
    1 John 3:1

    I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
    Matthew 7:11

    For I am the perfect father.
    Matthew 5:48

    Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
    James 1:17

    For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
    Matthew 6:31-33

    My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
    Jeremiah 29:11

    Because I love you with an everlasting love.
    Jeremiah 31:3

    My thoughts toward you are countless
    as the sand on the seashore.
    Psalms 139:17-18

    And I rejoice over you with singing.
    Zephaniah 3:17

    I will never stop doing good to you.
    Jeremiah 32:40

    For you are my treasured possession.
    Exodus 19:5

    I desire to establish you
    with all my heart and all my soul.
    Jeremiah 32:41

    And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
    Jeremiah 33:3

    If you seek me with all your heart,
    you will find me.
    Deuteronomy 4:29

    Delight in me and I will give you
    the desires of your heart.
    Psalm 37:4

    For it is I who gave you those desires.
    Philippians 2:13

    I am able to do more for you
    than you could possibly imagine.
    Ephesians 3:20

    For I am your greatest encourager.
    2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

    I am also the Father who comforts you
    in all your troubles.
    2 Corinthians 1:3-4

    When you are brokenhearted,
    I am close to you.
    Psalm 34:18

    As a shepherd carries a lamb,
    I have carried you close to my heart.
    Isaiah 40:11

    One day I will wipe away
    every tear from your eyes.
    Revelation 21:3-4

    And I’ll take away all the pain
    you have suffered on this earth.
    Revelation 21:3-4

    I am your Father, and I love you
    even as I love my son, Jesus.
    John 17:23

    For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
    John 17:26

    He is the exact representation of my being.
    Hebrews 1:3

    He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
    not against you.
    Romans 8:31

    And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
    2 Corinthians 5:18-19

    Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
    2 Corinthians 5:18-19

    His death was the ultimate expression
    of my love for you.
    1 John 4:10

    I gave up everything I loved
    that I might gain your love.
    Romans 8:31-32

    If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
    you receive me.
    1 John 2:23

    And nothing will ever separate you
    from my love again.
    Romans 8:38-39

    Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party
    heaven has ever seen.
    Luke 15:7

    I have always been Father,
    and will always be Father.
    Ephesians 3:14-15

    My question is…
    Will you be my child?
    John 1:12-13

    I am waiting for you.
    Luke 15:11-32

    Love, Your Dad
    Almighty God

  4. “Climb aboard the blog Blessing;
    Find a seat – we’re leaving soon.
    Join us all in sweet abandon,
    as we travel beyond the moon!

    First we contemplate creation’s grandeur,
    then we seek the Master’s hand.
    Source of life and truth and mercy;
    Source of everything that’s grand!

    Along the way there’s a conductor;
    our Lord provides our every need!
    Onward, upward, on our journey,
    Heavenbound in true Godspeed.

    We share the news of our Redeemer,
    Spreading scent of gracious love
    that took our Lord to brutal Calvary
    then Once for all to lands above!

  5. Thanks for all the blogs today. Sorry Beverlee I am late to reply today. My province is New Brunswick. Praying for your daughter, Shawna Lili May.

  6. You look very well, David. Thank the Lord. You look like you did when you were younger! Good to see you healthy. Prayers for Shawna. May God minister to her as He know her and His plan for her. May her healing be complete. Amen.

  7. please pray for a gal at church Marg who fell and injured an eye and requires surgery! I pray she will be totally and fully healed and ae able to continue in the music ministry. In Jesus Name we Pray AMEN

  8. Great Picture Reynold…thank you!!

    What a wonderful way to celebrate this Day of Worship! Thank You Rev.David!!

    Blessings to all on this Thanksgiving Week-end.

    Pray the Lord’s Highest and Best for both Shawna, also Marg. Jesus thank you that You hear us and answer even before we call.

  9. I love to read Hannah Whitall Smith’s books. In my reading today, this 18th century Quaker lady said the same thing John Hull did, that peace is only found in knowing the character of God. That as He is good, He will always do good To not just know about Him, but to know Him.

    God does love us so! Thank you for your sacrifice in doing this blog. I learn much

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