Sunday, April 17, 2016

THE LORD IS GOOD

Today’s Reading: Nahum 1-2

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

 

Looking east from the Zion Gate towards the Mount of Olives you can see Jerusalem’s City walls. Perhaps Nahum had such walls in mind when he wrote that the Lord is “A stronghold in the day of trouble.”

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

 

Key Verse: Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good,

A stronghold in the day of trouble;

And He knows those who trust in Him.

 

Anyone quickly reading today’s chapters may well assume that Nahum is only about judgment. Why? Because the theme is about the destruction of Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire, as a result of the evil of their rule. By consistent reading of the Scriptures, we would not jump to that conclusion; we would remember that 100 years before Nahum’s prophesies, Jonah preached in the streets of Nineveh, the entire city repented, and they were spared from disaster. Nineveh became the mightiest city on earth. In 1842 the city was excavated by archeologists and they found walls 100 feet high and wide enough to allow three chariots to run abreast, as well as a moat 150 feet wide and 60 feet deep. Nahum predicted Nineveh’s destruction by an “overwhelming flood,” and 18 years later the Tigris river flooded, destroying part of the wall. The Babylonians invaded through this breach and Nineveh was destroyed, and its people subjugated.

Ten times in today’s reading the word “Lord” is found. While God is merciful and patient, justice for the nations must prevail sooner or later in time, and it is guaranteed in eternity. In chapter two, notice the word “excellence” repeated twice. God promises “excellence” to His people. Here’s the challenge to find this excellence! Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray for excellence in all my ways. May I have the determination spiritually that the people of Israel were exhorted to have physically in their restoration. You are Good! You are my Stronghold in my time of trouble! You know me because I trust in You! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Here I am, 25 months past the date when it was predicted I would die of acute MDS leukemia. Sometimes I feel like a teenager again, filled with energy and positive thoughts for the future. “The Lord is GOOD!” In the days of trouble over the past four years, I quote daily that couplet I heard my father say, “Be my symptoms what they will, Jesus is my Healer still.” I’m very aware of another saying my dad said, “Man proposes, but God disposes!”

Yours for finding the reasons why God has put each one of us here on earth, and for fulfilling His purposes!!!

David

P.S. My son, Ron, showed me on his computer how you can take each day’s blog photograph location and get a 360 degree look all around the place where my other son, David Reynold, took the photos. If you haven’t tried it yet, click the “Google Maps” link under the photo and explore the area by dragging and dropping the little yellow man (located on the bottom right of the map). Then you will get the “street view,” and you can look all around by clicking the right or left arrows, which rotate the view.

15 thoughts on “Sunday, April 17, 2016

  1. Thanks Anna for your kind words!
    Yes, God is good, A stronghold in days of trouble; And He knows those who trust Him. Please continue to pray for all those who are free from all addictions and for those going on the journey! Give them courage and determination to give up the addictions! Blessings to all…….

  2. Yes, the Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. Amen! Yes, David, we man the fort, watch the road, strengthen our flanks, and fortify our power mightily in God! Amen! Praise God for your health and wellness. For all of us saints, predisposed with physical limitations, we claim, “Be my symptoms what they will, Jesus is my Healer still.” Yes, “man proposes, but God disposes!” Amen! Blessings fellow saints, in the Lord.

    And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord;
    Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. Psalm 89:5

    Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) – Hillsong United – Lyrics – Zion 2013
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBJJJkiRukY

  3. Praise God, David, I am so glad God is not done with you yet. You have been such a great peer in my walk with the Lord. The ripple effect from your works has touched my life every day. From Huntley Street to your blogs etc. I say Thank you for being here for me. God is good.
    Thank you all for remembering my brother Murray in your prayers. I am keeping Janice in mine as well.
    I look forward to seeing all your comments everyday. I’m beginning to feel like I know you all.
    God bless you all.

  4. Thank you dear Lord for sparing Pastor David so he could minister to all of us daily. I know you still have a plan for him as you do for each of us. Help us all to be willing to take up our cross and follow you. No turning back and no regrets. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

  5. Yes, thank God for your health David and the Lord’s way and will prevailed. Have found the Lord a stronghold in the time of trouble.

  6. yes “Man purposes, but God disposes”

    Proverbs 16:9: “Man makes plans, but the Lord direct his steps”

    This morning the message title was “The Ultimate Makeover”…the main scripture reading was: Jeremiah 18:1-6: “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he formed a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again, another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? said the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel”

    We sang “Refiner’s Fire” also

    “Have Thine own way Lord! Have Thine own way! You are the Potter; I am the clay; mould me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting yielded and still”.

    Yes, “Be my symptoms what they will, Jesus is my healer still”.

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