THE INVITATION
Today’s Reading: Matthew 11
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A view of the Jordan River south of the Galilee.
Key Verse: Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…“
The next two verses show how that “rest” is experienced. No doubt Jesus had fashioned perfectly fitting wooden yokes for oxen in order for them to fulfill their purpose in life. The hands of the Carpenter are still busy carefully fitting you for service. Jesus invites you now to “Learn from Me.” And the result is … “You will find rest for your souls.” The book of Isaiah is filled with personal pronouns which could only be replaced with the Name of Jesus. If you find time, read Isaiah 55. Meditate on the invitation to “Come” and on the results of coming to the Lord.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Father in Heaven, Your Son and my Saviour says “Come to Me.” Here I am. I’m Yours now and forever. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As a teenager I walked down the aisle at a “Youth for Christ” rally to give my life to Jesus. An older man stood beside me, asked me my name, and said, “David, have you come to Jesus tonight?” I answered, “Yes.” Then he opened his Bible and asked me to read John 6:37. I read out loud the words of Jesus, “The one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out.” Then the man said, “Now David, what does Jesus do?” I answered, “He receives me.” The next day I said that promise over and over. It’s a fact; I have come to Him. I am His!
One with Christ and with all who have come to Him,
David
P.S. As you read this Norma-Jean and I have been living with our eldest daughter, Elaine, and her husband Bruce Stacey. Prior to now I was in hospital, but now am a hospital outpatient. Pneumonia was the culprit. I’m doing much better now. Our son Ron made sure that the blog continued without interruption. Please keep me in your prayers. I wish only to live until my work here is done.
I couldn’t resist putting one more picture here. Two years ago now, when I was already past my predicted expiry date, I rode my 1996 motorcycle from Florida to Canada. Norma-Jean’s advice and my maturing years have caused me to trade the motorcycle for a 1998 van. Good idea at my age?
Hi David. Sorry to hear about the pneumonia, but glad you are starting to feel better. It can really take a lot out of a person, so get lots of rest!
Praying for you David !
Thanks for sharing with us your experience with pneumonia, David. You have endured much and overcome, thanks to Christ and your steadfast spirit. May Our gracious Lord continue to give you strength and endurance to fulfill your purposeful mission here on earth. Thank you!! ✝
Oh dear David, praising God for every day you are here with us. Giving thanks you are on the mend from pneumonia and with your family. OH Heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and to the sanctity of the Holy Spirit, wash the living river through the lungs of David Mainse and cover his body with the precious Blood of Jesus to protect heal and strengthen him. Let it sink into every cell of his body and keep him safe and well. For we know that by Your Stripes we are healed. In Your Holy Name, we pray, amen, amen, and amen.
Amen from me too.
Amen !
Heavenly Father, thank you for cleansing and healing David Mainse of any illness. In Jesus name we pray and thank you. GLORY TO YOU HEAVENLY FATHER !
Amen! Diane.
Amen!!
Amen from mr as well.
Amen and Amen. May the Lord continue to Bless and keep you David.
Praying for you David, God is good, thanks for sharing. You have a wonderful family that helps and cares for you.
We appreciate you and your family for the daily blog. Blessings.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
AMEN
Just yesterday I asked God not to take you home until Jesus comes to take us all home. Amazing how He puts people on our hearts to pray for them!! God Bless!!
I to have prayed that prayer. We need you David.
8 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40
Blessings & prayers, David. We overcome because He overcame.
Deborah Ryan
Read your blog everyday to Billy. We love it. So sorry to hear you were in the hospital, but David, you still have to get us thro the two yr. readings yet. Rest in the LORD, wait patiently for HIM and HE shall strengthen your heart. We are praying for you , God bless you with HIS presence and strength. Love and blessing, BIlly and Mina.
God Bless…
Thanks to Ron for keeping the blog going for our benefit.
Hope you get lots of use from the “new” van.
Shalom,
Graham,
We praise the Lord for you David and Norma-Jean, and love you dearly.
Thank you, you for the “FRESH BREAD”” today, there has been times when I was able to bring people to the Lord and other times no but JOHN 6:37 is what I intend on using from this day forward, your words of wisdom have help me.
Carole
Thank you Lord for the support system that David has to care for him and help him. I pray a blessing on David and his family. Jesus,heal David’s lungs and restore strength to his body.Father, I pray he will be able to continue with this blog; your will be done and accomplished in David’s life. In Jesus name amen.
In heaven you’ll have a Harley.
😀
God Bless.
God Bless.
Thank you David and Ron. We are following your blog for the second time around. Praying for a speedy recovery for you.
God bless you David. Thank you and your family for being so faithful in providing us with this blog daily. You are much loved.
Thank you so much for sharing your health matters. I had suspected, for some reason, that something was amiss…..anyway I thank God for you and Ron’s support and integrity…bless all concerned…you all have my earnest prayers…take care…I know God will take care of you.
David, I just read your blog. I am lifting up prayers to our Loving Lord on your behalf. Today’s verse is again the invitation of Jesus to come to Him. One translation says, “Come to me, all you who are exhausted and weighted down beneath your burdens, and I will give you rest.”(Barclay Matthew page 17). The song comes to me, “Burdens are lifted at calvary, calvary, calvary; burdens are lifted at calvary, Jesus is very near”. “Strength” and “peace” be yours. (Psalm 29:11).
Praying for full healing of you lungs!
Thank you David for who you are to the body of Christ. Multitudes of us have been blessed, encouraged, and grown in Jesus as a result of your obedience to the Master
Just read the blog now , I am agreeing in prayer with all dear bloggers for healing of your lungs, dear Pator David.
Thank you for Elaine and Bruce and all your family. Eleanor M.
Thanks for sharing about your illness David. Will continue to keep you in my prayers and trust you recover well. Your motorcycle is a beauty but believe Norma Jean gave wise advice. What tragedy in the US again. Trust the Lord will give you His promised rest David as we need you here. God bless all.
I ask the Lord to continue his healing in your whole body – but espescially in your lungs. Thank you for all you do and may the Lord bless your whole family
My heart was saddened as I read that pneumonia has set in. Lord Jesus I pray for your intervention for Pastor David for a complete restoration to health as he rests in You in the loving care of his wife Norma-Jean and their children. And for peace of mind and heart for you David, and for Norma-Jean and your children. Thank You Jesus I pray all this in Your Mighty Holy Name, AMEN and AMEN!!.
As I look into that beautiful picture Reynold…it truly portrays PEACE!!! Thank you for posting it!
Danny and myself send our love and prayers for your healing. Thank you for your tenacity to continue this blog urging everyone to read the Bible and soak it in.
sorry to hear you were sick David glad to hear you are feeling better. praying for you I read your blog everyday faithfully and enjoy it. I missed a week of reading I took a bad fall tripped and fell face down on cement black eyes and swollen unable to read Praise God I am doing fine now and back to reading without the strenght that God gave me I could not have done it.Praise His Holy Name Florence
May God’s healing touch be upon you at this moment David. He is the Great Physician and He is able. God’s blessings be upon you today and always.
I am keeping you in prayer, David.
Thanks so much for your blog.
This is my second time around.
Now I am especially liking your videos,
as you are such a gifted and spirit-filled Bible teacher.
Thank You Jesus that Your servant David is home. We do ask for complete healing of David’s lungs.
We are so thankful and blessed to have David , a teacher of Your Holy Word. He has kept myself and many others consistent in reading and learning about You Jesus . So we need him here to carry on. In Jesus name. Amen!