A LAMP AND A LIGHT
Today’s Reading: Proverbs 6
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
On display at the Convent of the Sisters of Zion in the Old City of Jerusalem on the Via Delarosa are several oil lamps from ancient times. During my last trip to Nazareth, every member of our group of 100 was given a lamp like the ones above by the people at the Nazareth Village. A wick came with the lamps, but we must fill the lamps with olive oil and light our lamps. Olive oil is the symbol of spiritual life! The Spirit of God is symbolized by fire. Let’s be energetic in shining our lights in the darkness of this world!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Proverbs 6:6, 9
Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise…
How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
Solomon encourages industry and hard work! He mocks the “sluggard” and tells us to learn from the “ant.” Discipline, diligence, perseverance and co-operation are all evident in the energetic work of an ant. The next person Solomon describes is one who is not slothful, but even worse. He devises evil. He busies himself with stirring up dissension and deception. Everything he does with his mouth, eyes, feet, and fingers (possibly referring to rude gestures) reflect the perversity of his heart. He sows discord and will reap calamity upon himself. God loves the sinner but hates sinful ways. Solomon lists these ways in the form of a numerical proverb. The six that are listed are a background for the seventh which is: “He sows discord!” The opposite of this is the prayer of Jesus found in John 17:20-26.
The oil and fire are a “Lamp” and a “Light” (Proverbs 6:23a)! God’s Spirit and His Word will keep us from the totally destructive activities of the last twelve verses of Proverbs chapter 6! Amen!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that by Your Spirit and by Your Word I will learn to not be slothful in the way I use my brief time here on earth. Grant the grace to me sufficient to keep me trusting You and obeying your Word! I pray for these mercies in the Name of the One who always obeyed You throughout eternity past, during His earthly life, and who will continue to obey You, Father God, throughout all eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!!! (Hebrews 5:7-9).
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m at our daughter Elaine Stacey’s home just now. The spare room bed is exceptionally comfortable. It was a challenging decision this morning to “Rise from your [my] sleep.” The question is asked, “How long will you slumber?” In my final years as the daily host of the 100 Huntley Street daily live telecast, I would rise at 3:30 a.m. to prepare my heart and mind for the new day. It is said that it takes two weeks of constant repetition to form a habit, good or bad, and less than that to break a habit. I confess that now in my 80th year, I’m rising a little later. Nevertheless, the principles are the same. Discipline and regularity are vital to spiritual health.
In his autobiography, our new Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, tells the story of taking the Alpha course at a church in his area. The 100 Huntley Street telecast introduced Alpha to Canada some years ago. Click here for a look back at an interview I did in 1995 with the Alpha Course Founder, Nicky Gumbel. Whether or not we voted for Mr. Trudeau’s political party, let’s remember to pray for him daily. “Pray for those in authority” is the clear instruction from the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Yours to help us all “RISE and SHINE!”
David
P.S. The photo below is at the Nazareth Village in front of a 430 year old olive tree which we visited with friends. The Nazareth Village is an effort to recreate life as it may have been at the time when Jesus was a Child, a Teenager, and a working Man until He was 30 years old and began His public ministry.
In Nazareth Village with a shepherd.
Thanks again, David, and all involved in this ministry. I always was convicted by those ‘sluggard’ verses – my natural inclination is to be lazy. I prayed along with you, Pastor, and thank God for his grace. Please help us, dear Lord God, to be more like Jesus every day.
Blessings to all my brothers and sisters, too.
Thank you David I to rise later perhaps its because of the medications my
doctor has perscibed for me to take every day I do try my best though.
I was talking with my friend Kay the other day she told me about the olive tree
this tree keeps on growing even if you were to cut it down nothing would stop
it from growing .I thought this was that was interesting to hear.
God bless you and your families
Lianne Hogg
In the video,Nicky Gumbel’s closing pray sounds very much like my Poem “Surrender”,written about a year after the fact.I believe I have crossed the 2 yr mark in 100 Words.Thank you very much.God bless
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)
Very beautiful Bill. How could God not respond to those words.
Blessings
Rising and shining at our WMC at our church today. Read all the discussions from yesterday. Thank you everyone. Has anyone seen the new tv program called, “Dare to love a Muslim?” I didn’t take note on what station I saw it. Enjoyed the interview with Nicky Gumbel, David.
What wonderful pics. today again Rev. Mainse. Thank you…….
Upon our recent visit to Italy we saw so many olive trees. They are really loved there and given special care. Whenever they dig up ruins from previous years they make sure the existing soil around the trees remains untouched while the surrounding area is lowered for inspection.
So enjoyed the video of Nicky Gumbel. I often wish that it would be mentioned to Christians and non-believers that when we ask God to forgive us our sins and truly mean it, He will. Not only will He forgive us our sins but he doesn’t even remember what they were, Isaiah 43:25. God doesn’t remember our sins. People need to know that so when a mortal starts to bring up our past to us or the world, we can be at peace and joyful. Dr. Ben Carson gets it.
My thoughts on the refugee problem out of Syria or any other part of the troubled world are……why doesn’t the UN help these people? Why doesn’t NATO help this country? I can’t imagine being harassed in my own country and driven to flee it. God is control of this mess but still wants us to pray to him about it. He will make it turn out for all good and His glory. May God continue to bless Canada.
Blessings.
Psalm 119:105 “The Word is a “Lamp” unto my feet, and a “Light” unto my path”
Interesting, as I look at those lamps in the photo to me they look like Dutch shoes.
Praise and thank You Lord for WORD and Your Holy Spirit the “OIL” and “FIRE” that will keep us from the “totally destructive activities of the last 12 verses of Prov. 6”.
Lord keep me in the Palm of Your hand and guide me on paths of righteousness for Your Names Sake I pray in Your Holy Mighty Name Jesus.
by Your mercies that are new every morning, thank you Jesus.
I also want to give thanks for God’s Word and the Fire of His Holy Spirit. I love the Living Bible Paraphrase of this verse. It says, “Your Words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me, and keep me from stumbling”. I remember living on a farm in my youth in the middle of the wilderness, very dark and scary, no lights at all except for a flashlight that gave you just enough light to see the path a head of you. I truly thank God for His Word the gives us enough light for whatever our circumstances are. Thank you David for your faithfulness. The ‘light’ of your testimony and the ‘light’ you cast on the Word of God. Also, may God of all grace and comfort bless all the bloggers – strengthening – encouraging and blessing each one in the Name of our Lord. Samuel
I want to clarify that the Paraphrase is of Psalm 119:105 SF
that should say “for Your WORD”
I have been on your mailing for years -for some reason I have not been receiving the blogs. Thanks for caring
I regularly watch 100 Huntley Street. Hardly ever miss it. Also I support it on a monthly basis. A question has come to me though. Why do I not see Moira Brown anymore?Did I miss something which would answer this question?
She was much loved. Her interviews were done so well. Can someone fill me in as to why she is no longer see on 100 Huntley Strret. Thank You.
Amen?
I too miss Moira and have followed Huntley St. since the beginning and support it. I would like to know why she is not on. She is an excellent interviewer.
Amen to that!
Yes, I was just thinking the same thing, after having watched 100 Huntley Street, just now. Where is Moira Brown?
yes I agree NATO should be invovled with helping people who need safety in their own country!
saw a very disturbing piece that ISIS are mainly women!
I keep saying “Lord You can deal with this whole situation in Syria” I have to keep saying that over and over because it is very disturbing!
There has been a big change to 100 Huntley Street, it is now 360 Crossroads or ?????? John Hull leads the program, maybe Moira Brown retired!
It has been difficult for me when my sleep pattern changed! It has been difficult when people say “oh come on, just get up and get going!” or “well, that lasts for only a short time, dosen’t it?” and these comments are from Christians, well, it has happened, I certainly prayed about it, I have been able to work things out as best as I can but the time change really put a big CRINK in my life, so, I am praying and have been in dialogue with various people to try and have this time change to stop in British Columbia…..we will see what will happen next year….
URGENT PRAYER REQUIRED FOR A MALE CHAPERONE FROM THE AFRICIAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR WHO LAST WAS SEEN NOVEMBER 13, 2015 at 10:30 p.m. in BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA. HIS NAME IS EDDIE, HE IS 32, a teacher in Africia and his visa expires November 25, 2015. PLEASE PRAY THAT HE WILL BE FOUND IN GOOD HEALTH, AND THE GROUP CAN BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY BACK TO AFRICIA BY THE END OF THIS MONTH!