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Today’s Reading: Psalms 137-139
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A beautiful view of the Old City of Jerusalem at night. It was here in Jerusalem that David prayed with great fervency the prayer suggested for today!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 138:2b, 139:23-24
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name.
…Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 137 is the lament of some of the Jerusalem Temple musicians who were taken as slaves to Babylon. These words are very sad at the beginning, but suddenly their tone changes to anger and thoughts of future revenge. They did not have God’s love and forgiveness in their hearts.
Psalm 138 is David’s composition. Our first key verse teaches us that God’s Word is of highest value! This should be motivation enough to be consistent in our daily readings!
Psalm 139 is a profound theological statement. God is OMNISCIENT! (all knowing). God gave new and revolutionary understanding to David, his generation, and all future generations! God is OMNIPRESENT! (present everywhere). He is here so that we can, if we are willing, experience His presence 24/7!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, the man after Your own heart, David, wrote a prayer which I intend to pray now and often: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” I pray this in the Name of the One in Whom there is no wicked way, and Who, through my faith in Him, leads me in the way of everlasting life! That’s Jesus only! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
While I don’t know the tune to which David’s chief musician sung the words of Psalm 139, I do know by heart a magnificent modern hymn which I’m going to look for on Google right now….I’ve just been worshipping God with “Carmen,” one of my favourite singers. Not only does he sing the prayer from Psalm 139, but his medley includes the hymn “I Surrender All,” and he has led me into a new commitment to God for this new day (click here for Carmen). I encourage taking time now to pray and worship!
Yours for God’s work in our lives and for our worship of God!!!
David
P.S. This past Thursday I spent much time in prayer (sometimes weeping) on behalf of my great-granddaughter River June Neilson. Blood tests revealed that her platelet count went down to 6 and she was admitted to the McMaster University Children’s Hospital. The condition is called Idiopathic thrombocytopenic nic purpura. If she fell and cut herself badly she could’ve bled to death. Bruises appeared in many places on her little body. SO!!! I want to report that the last platelet count is up to 76. She’s home today and tomorrow her parents, Todd & Sheryl (our oldest granddaughter), will take her back to the hospital for a check-up. I understand that the normal count for platelets is at least double where she is now. I believe with all my heart for her complete recovery. Here is a picture of this most precious child. She is #10 amongst our 11 greats.
I will be praying for River June and will ask some others to pray too
Stopped By Sin
Search me,oh Lord,I’m yours,
Remove the cobwebs that hide,
Find out what my heart stores,
Then put the wrong far to one side.
Search again,oh Lord,for light,
Let not darkness cloud my mind,
That I may freely do what’s right,
For I want a heart clean and kind.
Search my soul,Oh Lord,for me;
Don’t let me be vain and phony,
For such get lost and can’t see,
Then become the devil’s crony.
Search my heart,oh Lord again,
Leave no trace of greed within,
Then I can show,without pain,
The love that was stopped by sin.
G W(Bill) Marshall / 08-Nov-13
Surrender
I lay them down in front of you,
For Jesus,that is what I must do
When my burdens become too much,
I surrender them to your gentle touch.
Lord,I give all my troubles to you,
They are yours when my day is through,
Please make them smaller for me
So I am unencumbered and free.
Lord you found me and gave me hope
With new strength that I might cope,
And now I have surrendered to you,
Body and soul to be made anew.
You lifted me up so I could see,
That you were always beside me,
Now I feel grief for the lost years,
But I shall not cry any wasted tears.
So I will lay them at Your holy feet,
For You have made me more complete,
I am yours through the fires of Hell,
With love that Satan’s hordes can’t quell.
G W(Bill) Marshall/ (before Aug,2012)
In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before
You — and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 ♕
I too am praying for your precious very great grandchild.She is a ‘perfect 10’,as they all are.May God continue to bless your family.
Catch The Fire (4 David Mainse)
Though you have walked many oceans
And spread My word to many nations,
I saw in you and your devotions
A servant of joyous exhalations.
You have not asked for earthly wealth,
But just to be my most humble voice
And when adversity was kept in stealth
You still worshiped Me out of free choice.
So out of free choice I give you
More time upon the stage of learning,
Whereby My word you show to be true
And catch the fire that’s forever burning.
G W(Bill) Marshall / 01 February, 2014
Hello David
We have been praying for River as well and so encouraged to hear how the numbers have gone up , we continue to believe for full recovery! We continue to pray for you as well dear David that God’s hand of healing remains on your body.
Psalm 139 is one of my favourite Psalms and I continue to be amazed that God’s thoughts toward me outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore. I often use this verse when I pray for someone with low self esteem and lacks the confidence of God’s unconditional love! What a wonderful thought to know how much he cares for you, for me and precious little River.
Amen!
Good morning Rev. Mainse and thanks for this great study.
When I was a youngster in high school there was a boy there (not in my class) who was called a “blue baby”. If he got bumped or touched too hard he would get bruised and it could have become fatal to him. I was so afraid to even look at him when we changed classes in case he fell or got bumped by someone. In those days the medical community didn’t have the knowledge or treatments they have now. Praise the Lord for knowledge God gives us for all kinds of human afflictions today. What a precious pic. of your baby great granddaughter, River. Praying she will grow into a wonderful blessing to Christians and non-believers alike.
Asked Google how many Psalms there are in the Bible and I got several answers that there are 150 and 80 were written by King David. After Jesus, Google is my best friend:)
Keeping everyone in my prayers and have a blessed Sabbath on this snowy Fall day in west central Alberta.
Listened to Carman’s great song and others. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Too bad it’s blocked in Germany and Japan.
I too enjoyed Carman’s singing.
Shalom,
Graham.
Thank you for sharing the news of your great granddaughter and praise God for her recovery.I will continue to pray for her full strengthening.
Praying for little River June Neilson!!
Amen, also praying for little River June.
Amen!
Agreeing in prayer for River June for a complete recovery in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Thank you Jesus!!!
What a precious and beautiful little girl she is!! thank you Pastor David for sharing the picture and your heart with us.
Praying for River’s complete healing, and strength for parents, Todd and Sheryl, and all your family, David. She is a precious little girl. Read the psalms out loud, this morning (how divine!), and sang along with Carmen. Such beautiful music–thank you for posting the link! After I Surrender, the link rolled into other Carmen hymns and The Carmen Classic Hymn Special show; how wonderful to enjoy and praise the Lord! Yes, we surrender all to You, oh Lord. You are exalted. We praise Your Holy Name. Your love is unfailing. You restore and lift our souls. We honour adore and worship You, oh Lord! We praise You for the healing in our lives! Amen. Blessings dearest saints!
“Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.
All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
Refrain:
I surrender all,
I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!”
Amen!
Praying FERVANTLY for your great granddaughter.
Hello David, I listened to Carman today and the tune for Search Me
O God, is the same one used for “Now Is The Hour” it is from the natives of Australia and listed as ” Maori” the name of the Australian natives. I really enjoyed listening to Carman and will have to make an effort to get some of his CD’s. So sorry to hear of little Rivers’ illness, I will definitely keep her in my prayers, God is Sooo Good, He
healed you, her Great Grandpa I’m sure He will do the same for River. My son went to be with the Lord in May 2008, at the tender age of 51, I miss him, but God has blessed me with a Great Grandson this year in January,(this would be my son’s first grandchild) so my sorrow has been replaced with Joy in this Wonderful little Great Grandson.
Am praying for precious River June and for Parents Todd and Cheryl. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and those great songs by Carmen. Will be playing them again. Thanks for the other poems as well.
Praying for River that her blood and immune system will function the way the Lord designed it to. May she not be traumatized by the visits to the hospital. Beautiful music by Carman. I like the older version of the King James with “know my thoughts” instead of “anxieties”. Thoughts, I believe, cover many more ungodly possibilities and also fit the song better! Read in the Sun today that a Christian group that has been singing in the square in Toronto for years, has been denied that privilege this year. It is said they are proselytizing! Other religious groups, i.e. Hindu, Muslim, and others, have been allowed that privilege though.
Dear Rev. David, Praying for your Gr. Grandaghter, .May she be healed
in Jesus name .Amen…Rosemarie…
Doreen can you find out the name of the group of the Christian singers, perhaps they need encouragement and begin to sing “flashmob” style, where you walk along the streets or in a store and SUDDENLY someone begins to sing and PRESTO several people join in…….
that’s what a group did in a town next to me, I think it is important to pray at this time that we do not hold grudges against those in authority but rather find another way to bring glory to God!
what a beautiful name River June, I think it is amazing how God works, bringing this need for everyone to pray at this particular time in Mr, Mainse’s life! I can’t help but think how blessed we all are to have this priviledge to pray for this child!
I believe God has healed this child and He has something very interesting for her to do in her lifetime, through Jesus Christ we thank and praise our Father for this miracle! ALL PRAISES TO GOD, OUR FATHER, OUR REDEEMER, OUR HEALER, OUR SAVIOUR, THE GREAT 3/1, AMEN AMEN AMEN
I checked out hte article on the singers in Toronto, I truly believe we are all called on to pray fervently for one another and for others in authority, I like the idea of a FLASH MOB they are fun and so unexpected and give a person a lift in their spirits, Lord God Thank you for all the blessings of this day, thank you for healing sweet River June, once again Lord I believe You have somthing very special lined up for her in her life,
Lord I am asking that You would find me a Ukulele to play, thank you Lord for removing smokes/alcohol from me 20 years ago and for giving me swimming from a broken leg, Thank you dear Lord God, thank you AMEN
Amen and amen, thank ypu Jesus for that dear little girl. I have prayed for her along with all the others, Thank for this privilege dear Lord to come before your throne with our requests.
Thank you Rev. Reynold for the beautiful photo of the Old City of Jerusalem!!!
Was blessed by the two songs by Carmen Pastor David, thanks!
Praying for precious River June’s healing
I continue to pray for little River, this sweet little one, for her complete recovery from this illness and reassurance for her Mom & Dad and all the family.
Praying in agreement with everyone else for a complete recovery for little River June, your precious great granddaughter. Love the photo of you lovingly holding on to this little sweetheart David…..Bless You!
Thanks for sharing will be remembering her & parents in prayer.