HEALING AND LOVE
Today’s Reading: Hosea 13-14
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This olive tree may be 2,000 years old. It is located near the vicinity of the ancient capital of Israel, Samaria, in the West Bank. This photo was taken in the Palestinian village of Sebastia, which today has a population of almost 5,000. This was the heartland of the northern tribes to which the prophet, Hosea, delivered God’s messages. Throughout the Bible, the olive tree is the symbol of the spiritual life of Israel. It is said that once rooted, the olive tree never dies. It may be cut down when it is not producing fruit anymore, but it grows again from the roots.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Hosea 14:4, 9
“I will heal their backsliding,
I will love them freely,
For My anger has turned away from him.”
…”Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent?
Let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them.”
It’s amazing!!! After being rejected, and after God’s great heart has been broken by the sins of His people, the words “ransom,” “redeem,” “return,” “heal,” “love,” “grow,” “beauty,” “help,” and “revived,” stand out in today’s reading. Yes, we bring judgment upon ourselves, and in this life we reap what we have sown for good or evil. And yes, we may need reminding that the most often-repeated sentence in the Bible is “His mercy endures forever!!!” God always responds to our sincere prayers. His answers may be “Wait,” (circumstances must change first) “Grow,” (He has a work to do in us first) “No,” (it’s not best for us), or “Yes.” Here’s one prayer to which He always says “Yes.” This prayer is taken from Dr. John Hull’s book on prayer, Pivotal Praying (page 217, the closing words in his book). Let’s pray this together, “Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned and cannot save myself. Please forgive me. I believe You died on the cross for my sins. I thank You for that. And I believe that You rose from the dead and that You live forever. I truly desire that You come into my life. Right now I open the door of my life and ask You to come and live in me. I receive You now, Jesus, as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for answering my prayer. Help me to live for You. Make me the person You want me to be. Amen.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that by Your grace I will be “on fire” for You! May I burn with a passion to do Your will on earth as it is done in Heaven. May I give light in dark places, illuminating Your loving eternal purposes for having created me. In the Name of “The Light of the World,” Jesus Christ, I ask these blessings. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
From the olive tree, oil is produced which fed the flames rising from the menorah, a seven-branched candelabra, which provided the only light in the Holy Place in the Tabernacle of Moses, and later in the Temple. The fires burning from the oil-drenched wicks and the offering of the smoke of the incense symbolized the prayers of the people. I’ve read a great book on prayer, and I’m challenged as never before to consistently spend quality time in prayer. The book is called, Pivotal Praying! The subtitle is, Connecting with God in Times of Great Need. Be prepared to have your prayer life and God’s answers to your prayers become all that God would desire. Amen!!! (click here for John Hull’s book).
Yours for listening to God (reading His Word) and then having confidence that God listens to us as we pray!!!
David
Rev. Rick Heibert, portraying the High Priest, prays in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. He stands between the Golden Lampstand and the Altar of Incense. Olive oil feeds the flames which symbolize prayer which ascends to God and light which comes from God.
Oh amen, David! Wonderful message and prayer, this morning. The scripture is alive with God’s wisdom. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them. Amen. Wishing all saints a blessed last day of March, in the Lord.
“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12 ESV
Praise You In This Storm, Casting Crowns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5bLvVjJ4MA
“Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it.” Mt 14:24 NET
“Jesus Christ is no security against storms, but He is perfect security in storms. He has never promised you an easy passage, only a safe landing.”
“Oh, set your sail to the heavenly gale,
And then, no matter what winds prevail,
No reef can wreck you, no calm delay;
No mist shall hinder, no storm shall stay;
Though far you wander and long you roam
Through salt sea sprays and o’er white sea foam,
No wind that can blow but shall speed you Home.”
Annie Johnson Flint
From Streams in the Desert, March 31st
Amen Beverlee “Jesus is perfect security in the storm”
Great poem! how true!
Father God
Light the fire and hunger in my heart for you I am wandering I need you but
don’t feel you are here.
in Jesus name
amen
Dear Heavenly Father , I know that you hear Lianne crying out to you. Help her to know that you are always there for her and want her to come back into your loving arms . Put people in her way today that will be an encouragement to her. She is seeking you Lord and she will find you, because You never leave us or for save us. I pray this in the precious Name of Jesus, Amen.
Forsake us.
Oh Lord God, we hold up our dear sister-in-Christ, Lianne, to You. She is a mighty warrior, Lord. A precious saint of the blog. She has suffered so long with seizures, dear God. Her heart is downtrodden and she needs You more than ever. We bring her to the cross, Lord, and lay her down and ask that she be covered in Your precious Blood. Redeem her and heal her Lord. Restore her faith Lord and strengthen her resolve. For she knows You and adores You. Her testimony gives great strength to those who suffer in the same way as she. Give her great rest and comfort, Lord. In Jesus’ precious Name, we pray. Amen, amen, and amen.
Lianne
Such a great prayer for God “to light the fire and hunger of my heart for you”! It sounds like “the fire” and “hunger” is already in your heart – and, the reply of our Lord to you and all of us is: “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6. “O God, touch Lianne’s life today. Come in your own special way by your blessed Holy Spirit baptizing her afresh with your all encompassing love, strengthening her, encouraging her as she lifts her voice in praise and thanksgiving”.
“Touch me again, Lord, touch me again.
This moment I feel that afresh thou canst heal,
So touch me again, Lord, touch me again.”
A prayer for Lianne, for April and for all of us..who hunger for a deeper relationship with the Lord and a closer sense of His loving presence.
Sense a quietness in the storm that God is hearing and answering prayer. Checked on that book David. Thanks for the song, Beverlee. Goes along with the poem, which I had also read earlier. Would you please pray for my life long friend, April who is diabetic and is in the hospital with this severe flu and cough which she has had for over a month now. I will be visiting here today. God bless this day for all of you!
Ger I will hold April up in prayer today. Bless all my blog friends today.
same here Lord, 2 of Your precious children need You today Lord, Lianne and April, I know that You haveYour arms around them Lord, I pray they can lean back into You and feel that safety that only You can provide! You provide it unconditionally, bless all who are praying for their friends/family/those on lthis blog! Thank you Lord AMEN
Oh Lord God, we cry out to you for Ger’s friend, April. She has been suffering for so long, Lord. She desperately needs your healing touch on her life. Bring her back to restoration and cover her with Your precious Blood. And bless Ger as she ministers to and comforts her, today. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen, amen, and amen.
Thank you. All you praying people, calling on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the One who sent His Son for us, who sends His Holy Spirit to be with us, in us. Thank you, and may God bless and keep you always blameless in His sight. You are a blessing and a true help. Thank you.
Singing: “Thou art my God, and I will praise thee, Thou art my God, I will exalt thee! Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercies endureth for ever!!!
Thank you Pastor David for pointing out the “Amazing Love” after being rejected and His heart was broken by this sins of His people and His Redeeming Love, and Grace towards them.
Oh how He loves you and me! He gave His life what more can He give? Oh how He loves you, Oh how He loves you and me!!
Jesus, Jesus, Lord to me, Master Saviour, Prince of Peace, ruler of the world today, Jesus Lord to me!!
I love You Lord!!!
I meant to say God’s “Amazing Love”!!
Agreeing in prayer with you Pastor David. Your way Lord to be done in me in earth as is in Heaven!
Thank you Reynold for the picture of the Olive tree. What a picture of God’s everlasting Strength and Power!!
Also agreeing prayer for the above needs. Lord I pray for Your Highest and Best in each situation, that You be glorified! Amen!!
Oh precious Lord, You ARE the greatest strength and power we have, and we bring our loved Lianne and Ger’s friend April before you. You know their needs and You alone can meet those needs. We have the great privilege of bringing them before You and ask that you make your presence known to them in their times of distress and uncertainty. May they know and feel the love we surround them with and take comfort that they are not alone.
Suit a very special blessing on them today. Thank you for what you are going to do for these precious saints. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen
Blessings to all today. Wonderful blog and prayer Pastor David.