HEAR! RETURN!
Today’s Reading: Amos 3-4
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
There are many spectacular mountain views as you explore Petra in Jordan. In our key verse, God is called, “He Who forms mountains.”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Amos 3:7, 4:13
Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
…For behold,
He who forms mountains,
And creates the wind,
Who declares to man what his thought is,
And makes the morning darkness,
Who treads the high places of the earth–
The Lord God of hosts is His name.
Some believe that God as the Creator has abandoned His creation, hanging the world on nothing (Job 26:7), and then He proceeded to move to another part of the cosmos. Amos makes it clear that God has been involved in the past, is involved in the present, and will be involved in the future! There is a movie currently in the theatres called, “God’s Not Dead 2″ that makes the point of God’s continued presence! Our first key verse states that the Lord is constantly communicating with us. He wants us to listen! Amos feels compelled to “Prophesy” (speak out what he has had revealed to him), “The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy!” (3:8b).
Our second key verse is not only stating the fact of God’s creation, but it shows that Amos is worshipping God for Who He is! The exercise of prophesying is not just foretelling but “forthtelling,” speaking of God’s greatness as we worship Him. Both chapters, Amos 3 & 4, begin with the word, “Hear!” Are we listening carefully, and are we, for example, doing the opposite to Amos 4:1? Are we doing our best to lift up the poor and needy? God cares intensely! During the entirety of these blogs we have paid attention to “repetition”…God’s way of making His point strongly. There are five repetitions of the words, “Yet you have not returned to Me, says the LORD!!!” This reveals the heart of God longing for closeness with His people.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I return to YOU! I run into Your open arms as Your wayward child! I pray that I will continually remain 24/7 in Your loving, strong embrace, hearing Your voice as I read Your Word, and doing that which pleases You. I pray this through the Person Who always pleased You, Father, Your Son and my Saviour, Jesus! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m here in Red Deer, Alberta, just now. I’m scheduled to speak at the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast this morning. Ever since I passed the two-year life expectancy mark (the doctor diagnosed me with a terminal illness, MDS acute leukaemia, in March of 2012). I’ve been somewhat frustrated, because I don’t have a clear understanding of the reason why God has extended my life. I’ve read again the story of Hezekiah, whose life was extended 15 years by God and by the application of a poultice over the area infected. During those extra years he did something really stupid which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem. I ask for the prayers of all my blog family! I would appreciate any counsel I can get.
Yours for finishing well,
David
Thank you David for your faithfulness to our Lord. We are the same age. I admit I have not been as faithful as I should, Your example has encouraged me. God is faithful and may He Bless you today at he Prayer Breakfast…….Norm
As I read this blog the second time around, I feel blessed the man who writes it, and has shared so much wisdom, is alive. Your 100 Words blog has taken on a new meaning “Beyond Words”. May Our Lord continue to inspire you all the days of your life, David !!
Amen!
Well if you’re speaking at a conference in Alberta today, it is proof that God is still using you. We are expecting to have a revival before the Lord returns and you are helping to spread God’s word across this nation. I am very proud of what you and your t.v. program has done over the years. I have watched for almost 30 years!
Amen, me too!
Amen!
Amen! David N.
Amen!
God also said not to worry.I feel he has given you an extended warranty to travel the same path as always.
Dear David, it troubles me to know that you are frustrated not knowing why The Father extended your life. Every morning after reading your blog, I thank The Father that you are part of my life and I ask that He commands His angels to take charge over you and your household. The world needs David Mainze, I need you. Blessings
Yes I feel the same way, you are such a blessing to us all that it surprised me that you feel this way…you have already done so much for God! I have struggled too over my purpose here now that i am getting older (late 50’s!). I have been serving the Lord since childhood and not done anything really outstanding.
One day it occurred to me that my purpose here may be already finished (because the little things we do may have far-reaching effects we never see until heaven) and yet God still gives grace for me to stay…because He loves me as a Father does his child, and it makes him happy to see me live and love and be loved by others.
The idea my purpose may be finished kind of scared me, but at the same time it was such a relief to know I can quit striving to do something great, and that God says my life has meaning even if I acheive little!
Never think you are not fulfilling God’s purpose right now, you are a great blessing to so many! Thank you, David, for your willingness to love and serve and spend your heart in prayer for all of us <3
Continue to be a strong pillar in the Christian community as God will take you where He wants you to lead, dear David. Enjoy the prayer breakfast–they will be blessed to have you! Yes, surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken—who can but prophesy. Amen, dearest saints, in the Lord!
We Will Not Be Shaken – Brian Johnson (feat. Amanda Cook) – Bethel Music Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7makXGxKl1g
Sorry about that last link. Here is a clearer sounding version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F7ErmvGV4o
Hello David. It means so much to me to read this blog every morning. You continually inspire and encourage me! I often marvel at how much you accomplish, every day, through this blog, speaking engagements, loving and mentoring your grandchildren and great -grandchildren, and wonder “what can I do?” Thanks for everything you do!
Dear Pastor David, you have bring such an inspiration to me over all these many years, especially since you moved to Crossroads Centre. I also miss you and Norma Jean and your family being on the program. I know it is hard for us older folk to accept change however, we must trust The Holy Spirit to guide those in charge to make the right decisions. I know we have had to do that at Church, so that the young folk will come and stay. It has taken awhile but I actually enjoy most of the new songs now and Praise God we have a lot of young families attending. Philippians 4:6&7 Says, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Blessings to all, Eleanor M.
I agree with you Beverlee
Sometimes we might never know the why on earth, so instead of focusing on why you are alive just focus on how you live your life in any and all circumstances and trust God that there is meaning and purpose for it even if you don’t what it is
Amen!
Amen!!
Your family prayed for you and their prayers were answered. Live Love and Enjoy. Have Fun.
Dear David, did you ever think that your family still needs you? Norma Jean and your children and grand-children? They all love you. God made you unique, you do not come twice. There is still ministry for you. Perhaps it takes on a different slant in a quieter way, like Billy Graham who feels that the deep fellowship just with God alone, just to bathe in His presence and communication, was not there the same way in his younger years like it is now. We all love you!
Good morning David. Your blog is an amazing gift from God… We who follow it daily are truly blessed each day. Perhaps it is time to expand your followers, where English is not their first language. I have noticed on some internet sights, the option to view it in another language… is this a possibility worth considering?
God Bless,
david
Praying for the Lord to give you insight and wisdom at the prayer breakfast this morning. God Bless.
Good morning David,
Maybe the doctors were wrong, if you have changed your diet and your lifestyle to more relaxed and less stressful days, your body will heal itself, that’s the way it was designed!
Good Morning David, Thank you for your transparency. l thought about how wonderful the Lord is to keep you around, yes for your family and the family of God. We need people like you to intercede for the world and our great country of Canada,and of course our neighbours in U.S.A.l’m sure your prayers are very powerful. l’ll always remember a young father in our church who got up in front of the church and wept, as his father had died and he said he felt the difference in those missing prayers and meetings with his dad. He had to adjust and step into his place too as leader of his family. We all agree that our Abba Father knows best our times and seasons……Blessings to everyone!
Let the frustration be gone, David! You will never know until we get to heaven what a blessing your daily blog has been to so many people. Many times I have deeply appreciated your humanness and transparency which made me realize all over again that we are all broken people who have found redemption through our precious Lord and Saviour. Your daily blog alone makes your life so worthwhile! You are such a blessing to your blog readers. God knows that we need you to stay with us! I do agree with one comment about Huntley Street……its just not the same. You and your family are missed……but things do change and we must change with the times. BLESSINGS!
What a blessing your blog is every morning. I was praying for you this morning before I was even out of bed. I’m sure God brings to mind those he want’s us to pray for. Have a good day. Thank you David for all you do.
David, not only am I thankful that this blog has consistently kept me in the word daily for the last 3 plus years and increased my understanding, but also seeing that our prayers were answered in regards to your health continues to give me hope that other miracles I am praying for are just around the corner! Thankful for your humility, obedience, and willingness to serve and grow closer to the Father daily until the end of your race. You are a gift!!
Pastor David…I am very thankful for all you are and do and also to your family and ministry….am enjoying the blogs from the beginning and look forward daily …writing a journal along the way :)….adding to it at various times in the day….tonight it will include our Teen group needs/activities…
….I Thank HIM for this special time each morning!….also you have mentioned recently the book co-authored by John Hull…”Pivotal Praying” as The Lord is changing my prayers with HIM and this book has been helpful…
Thank-you so much David!!!
I have a request for you to pray for a friend of mine. She is going in for a biopsy for a lump on her breast on Friday. Please Lord let it be benign.
Amen to everything that has been said! Asking for your prayers as we fly home tomorrow. Canada our home and native land!
Wow. We also want to thank you for showing us how to live our life in closer relationship to God…and to repeat the many wonderful things already shared in these many comments. Pastor David you are helping to change our lives every day .
You show us your heart and love for God and people. Wow. Wow. Wow.
Our prayer is that somehow this blog may be shared by more people for ever. It is your living faith testimony in digital format. In many ways it is an autobiography of your personal prayer life. We are part of a radio ministry in Prince Albert. We need content like this to share with our listeners.
Blessings , George and Marilyn
To tell the truth Pastor David, I am wondering the same thing as I am going through a transition time right now. I am glad that you are still doing this blog as your teaching of the Scriptures, wisdom, counsel and personal sharing as well as all the photography have been priceless and I am passing it on to my family and friends. I am not looking forward to the day when it finishes. Out of this time with you and this blog has come a new ministry of sharing the Word with my family and friends for which I am grateful. As the enemy presses in on us, hopefuly there will come a greater move toward united prayer meetings across this land out of which will come revival and harvest of souls. Is this too visionary? God still has a plan for this time and we must find out what it is and fit into it. God bless you brother, I’m glad you are still with us.
Thank you for your daily blog! I have been following for the last few years and have been so blessed by reading your words every morning. I praise God for giving you your healing and more time, it has helped me tremendously and I have often thought to tell you so, I am not too computer literate but decided to send a comment today. God bless you and your precious family and give you wisdom and continued good health.
The past 2 years have made a huge difference in my life and I’m sure many others as I continue with your daily blog. He has extended your life so you may still reach people like me, someone who was troubled and searching. Thank you David and good luck in Red Deer today.
Same here! I’m coming up to 1 year in this blog next month and it’s made ALL the difference in my life!! I don’t even recognize myself from a year ago- neither do my friends and family. God led me to your blog and thru it, has led me in many amazing new directions- I could write a book! I thank God for you David and pray for you every day!!!
Thankyou Lord Jesus for Pastor David Mainse faithfully blessing us
with this daily blog.
May he continue to spread Your Word to all the world, so that Your Will
may be done, in Jesus Name we pray, Amen!!
Amen and Amen!!
The gift of extra years of life is fabulous ! Just that miracle alone is a wonderful testimony to healing prayer for such a godly leader as yourself, David !
Most of the world’s people lives lives that may never be known but by God Himself, and He sees everything and every inter-relationship, every word and deed. Many of us will never know how one word or deed can and may even have changed history.
Until God reveals a special new ministry for you, rest easy ! And remember The Butterfly Effect–a proven scientific principle.( If you’ve not heard of it just google it..’tis amazing !)
Your blog reaches untold number of people you will never meet. We can also forward it ! ( I do, regularly. )
Maybe there is a specific way you can encourage seniors to more strongly be serving Him.
Well guess my time here’s gone…we all love an respect you so very much !
.
Dear David,
I was just telling my mentor just last week I am sure God had preserved you waiting for me to get on board with a daily walk in the word. The Lord truly has used your daily blog to refresh my whole walk with our Lord. It will be my first 2 years through with out missing! I cling to the word now and weep over the scriptures and can’t get enough, I crave that daily bread! Now I am able to encourage others and speak of the changes spending time with the Father and knowing His word has made in me. My sincerest thanks for your ministering and servants’ heart. I praise Him for it.
It’s not in doctors hands to define the length of any of our lives.
That’s witchcraft.
GOD is YAHWEH RAPHA, the Lord who heals. HE alone knows the time of your homecoming.
Meanwhile there is special grace on Canada as long as you live, as is there special grace on America as long as Billy Graham lives.
Til 120, dear David and shalom, shalom!
I too was praying for you David in my personal time of prayer before joining with this blog.
I’m in agreement with all the prayer within this blog; your guidance and wisdom as you share your heart and thoughts, are needful and so are you.
I pray a special anointing on your ministry and fellowship during your time in Red. Deer. AB.
Be encouraged, the Lord has ministered through you and your family these many years, and in this NEW DAY in your life, He will continue to do so; for He says You are Mine I have chosen you my child, “Be still and know that I Am God, I will sustain you I will hold you up with My righteous right hand”, in quietness, rest in the Palm of My Hand.
David – May God bless you and all with you. All of us following you as you follow our living Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ thank God for you. You are following in the footsteps of the great in the great commission, being a disciple and making disciples. May we in turn be as faithful as you and those who go before us, and may those who come after us see more and more clearly the great Light of Christ. in Jesus’ great and mighty Name, amen.
We love and respect you greatly.
God is with you pastor, David. You are being used greatly thru you 100 words. Blog. I am so thankful for the example you’ve made in your ministry. May God continue to lead you one step at a time. Perhaps your life was extended to feed us daily from you blog as well as ministering as you are this morning in Red Deer.
One thing I am sure of: God’s hand is still on you and he is using you in ways that you do not fully comprehend. But we the people who read your blog each day are feed and blessed from it.
Dear David, I think it is because you are a beacon of hope to all of us! I do not believe you and Norma Jean will be still having a Manassah, anyway, to screw it all up after you??? Anne
Dear Pastor David, I too am blessed by this blog, and I’m
sure God is blessing us through it …..God bless you….as you
work for Him ….R…..
Precious Brother David… How I thank God for you, and for the ministries he has given you. You know, your very thirst for more ministry is indication that He has more for you to do! I have long missed you on Crossroads TV! !!! Current leadership has stated that they are now geared for the younger audience — which is a bit less than half of the viewership! How I would love to see you on a regular program geared to those of us who have appreciated your ministry for decades prior to the current changes. There are a lot of seniors still around who need you back again… maybe along with some of the good old music like you and Norma Jean singing, and the Rutledges, and others like them.. We greatly rejoice with you in what the Lord has done for you physically, and for the anointing He has given your devoted heart. We will be expecting the Lord to open doors of joyful anointed ministry for you. May He pour out His blessing upon you without limit!
Dear David M. Why are you wondering ‘why’……do you not see the many lives and hearts you are touching and changing by just this blog alone…see how much it has grown since it’s onset…be encouraged by such growth, so many hearts who may have not met Jesus before this blog now have a relationship with Him…the many hearts who have been and still are being encouraged by this blog….so many learning and growing and drawing closer to the Lord…because of you and your faithfulness to doing His work….in your everyday personal interactions with others by choice or accident, you are touching hearts and souls in same way as you do in this blog. You are still very much touching others every day and that makes you very much needed. Your work is not done yet!! Bless you David. Rejoice! He needs you here doing His work. We need to hear what you teach. Continue the good work you have been doing. That work may be on a quieter scale, but you’ve earned this time of a gentler pace.
As I have read through the many postings today, I believe a lot of your answers are there. You have been faithful and inspiring these past almost four years to those of us who have been here from the beginning and I for one have been blessed and have grown so much in my faith. It has been easy to open the bog every day, view Reynold’s wonderful pictures, that go perfectly with the scriptures, join with you in your prayers, study the Word, explained so beautifully and enjoy the many postings from fellow saints and know we can always count on their prayers when we are in need.
This blog is amazing and so inspiring because of you Pastor David and your wonderful family. God has led you in the past and He will in the future. Don’t let the evil one rob you of your Joy.
May The God of all peace fill your heart and mind with only thoughts of Him. You are an amazing servant of The Living God. Blessings on you and yours.
David Mainse – i am adding my voice to the many daily followers of your wonderful blog. It is my jumping off spot for my daily Bible reading and study and not only for me. I also have forwarded segments on a number of occasions and actually am pursuing a regular time with two of my former teaching colleagues using your blog as our study guide. Thank you so very, very much. My friends and I love the format and the way you fill it up daily with so much wonderful God-inspired knowledge and encouragement to go along with the reading. The pictures add a depth and dimension that is tremendous. I’m always so amazed at your humility and how you’ve lived your life in such a credible way that your family is right there with you and for you. It is obvious that there is deep mutual respect for others. You have modelled the christian life in a remarkable way. Please be assured that your efforts are not in vain. I think too that God will show you just at the right time what your next step should be. A week or so ago you mentioned that God always answers prayer – sometimes, no, sometimes, slow etc. Right on. Now I’m drawn to Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”…and that is for me as well. Thank you for allowing us to in someway minister to you at this time, who so generously ministers not only to us, but to many, many others continually. We all care so much about you, and love the Word of God profoundly and love the Lord our God above everything else. God bless you and your family.
Dear David, I don’t know what else God has planned for you. This blog is very important to me. I expect to finally finish reading the entire Bible this year. I will have a few chapters to go back to that I have missed. I look forward to it. You are an encouragement to so many. Apart from your blog and your prayers, I am sure that your family and friends and acquaintances continue to gain inspiration and guidance from you. God’s plan for this time in your life may not be as big, but may have just as much importance. I am only one person, but you reached me! Thank You!
David,thank you so much.Has it ever occurred to you that your time was extended to show God’s hand to others.If we all had perfect faith,we would be lining up to ‘make that journey’,but our faith is weak.We tend to believe,whether we admit it or not,that this is the only life we’ll know.
And,just maybe,there are others like me,well into my 3rd year with 100 Words,who have been blessed to know God better through your very ‘inspired’ explanations in your blog.I have a testimony that would not fit here which has also left me asking ‘why?’ me.I’ve posted this poem before and felt that it,like most of my early poems,was inspired.That is why I have posted it here before.Thank you again,David.God bless
Note the date on this:
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
David just let your light shine before men the way you always have. YOU are a great witness of what only God can do.
Your sister in Christ and now 29 years past my first diagnosis of Leukemia and not being alive to celebrate Christmas in 1987 with my family. Recurrence in 2001 given 1 year. This is 15 years later. Only God knows and we live because it is His plan.
I still chair the Burlington Women’s Connection and so doing changing Women’s lives through faith in Jesus Christ. I know God called me to do what I am doing. My personal motto is to “Stay Alive every day of your life for as long as you live”.
” For to me to live is Christ “.
I have listened to you for years and my heart has been encouraged. When I read your personal note I had to send you a note, I hope of encouragement.
God Bless you!
Anne Watson