DARK NIGHT, GLORIOUS MORNING
Today’s Reading: Genesis 32-33
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A jewish man prays with Torah in hand at the the “Wailing Wall”– The Western Wall of the Temple Mount. Just over half the wall, including its 17 layers of stones located below street level, dates from the end of the Second Temple period: 516 BC – 70 AD. Papers jammed in the cracks of the wall contain the prayers of many sincere hearts.
To view the location of today’s photo on Google Maps, click here.
Key Verse: Genesis 32:28
And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
The vertical and the horizontal directions of life are both important. Think of a cross and you have the God/man relationships. Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man. In Him we can get it right both ways. Before Jacob could handle the fear of meeting his brother, he had a much more important meeting. An encounter with God is absolutely essential before a truly successful, God-blessed encounter with man. Because of his refusal to let go of God, Jacob’s “dark night of the soul” became a glorious morning of forgivness for past wrongs Jacob had done. The horizontal relationship with his brother was restored directly as a result of the vertical struggle with God. Jacob now becomes Israel, a “Prince of God.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You are King of kings and I believe that I am Your child. By faith I know that as a result of the Cross, my relationship with You is in place. Now I will approach my human relationships with the confidence that You have gone before me to prepare the way, because of Jesus Christ. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
It was over 50 years ago that I heard Rev. Laurie Price tell a story of two daughters. One said, “You wouldn’t give me 25 cents would you?” Dad said, “You’re right, I wouldn’t.” The other jumped up on his lap, kissed him and said, “Would you give me 25 cents?” Dad said, “Yes,” and produced the money. This story is probably a parable, useful to make a point. I’ve never forgotten the truth I learned that day. I make sure I’m in a fresh loving relationship with God before I ask God for His provision. I remember my two young sons, Reynold and Ron, when we went to an ice cream stand, waiting patiently for me to order. They would order exactly what I ordered. My Heavenly Father is the Provider. I want what He wants, no more, no less. His choice is always the best!
Yours truly for right relationships vertically and horizontally,
David
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Here I am at the Crossroads Centre Chapel. My wife, Norma-Jean, is at the piano. We had an all night of prayer here a few weeks ago. We prayed particularly for our Crossroads Board of Directors. Shortly after, there was a unanimous decision to invite my former co-host (1994-2002) to take on the responsibility of President and CEO of Crossroads (the charity) and CTS, “YES TV”. I did not know Lorna was being considered, but when I was told, I approved 200 percent. Thank You, Lord!!!
WOW!
Looking forward to Lorna’s leadership.
Shalom,
Graham.
Amen through prayer all is possible through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Look forward to the wonderful messages from this and the other resources. And the leadership of the new CEO Lorna.
The struggle is always worth the prize. In today’s reading we see a struggling Jacob as he wrestles with the Lord as he expunges past wrongdoings or sins. As a result, relationships were restored, most importantly His relationship with God. If we are going to walk a walk worthy of the Lord, sometimes it’s a good thing to take stock of our selves, our very souls, for any wrong-doing we may have done to others, or perhaps things we ought to have done but didn’t do. The word “righteousness” is often repeated in God’s Word, He wants us to live lives worthy of Him and His Kingdom and not just to live for our own selves and life’s pleasures. Mt. 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” To struggle with the Lord may sound like an odd concept, but as the Bible proves out time and time again … the struggle is always worth the prize … knowing the Lord is paramount in life.
Dear David:
Reg and I have been to your place several times and remember Lorna – I have seen her being the moderator at Salt & Light here in Toronto. God bless you all for all that you do. We with our other p.g. members from St John Fisher Charismatic p.g. hope to visit you some time in the near future. Pls. pray for us
Hi David. Thank you for the reminder to have our relationship with our Father in 1st place in our lives. The intimacy we share with the Lord will always make room for our requests! It’s great when we grasp hold of the keys of the kingdom. If God be for us, who can be against?! How jubilant Lorna is on the induction video! She will no doubt make a wonderful leader for Crossroads! Way to Go!…Hurray! We must all hold her up in our Prayers…….
A co-worker of mine shared a short story with me yesterday. She has had a rough life and found Christ a few years back…
She was feeling guilty about not attending her Church on Sunday, but instead went to her daughter’s place to wash her car. When she arrived there, she found that her daughter’s car wouldn’t start and that she needed a ride to work. So she gave her daughter a ride to work. In thanks for the ride her daughter wanted to give her 5 dollars for taking her to work. After some discussion my friend graciously accepted it while saying that she will carry this $5.00 forward.
Later that day, my friend came across a woman washing her hair. She looked beaten with life… My friend had an opportunity to share her faith in Christ Jesus with this woman and gave her the $5.00. Just before leaving she asked the woman if she had a comb and she didn’t. My friend then gave her, her hairbrush…
Here she was feeling guilty that morning about missing Church, when God had other plans…
Have a wonderful day blog friends in Christ and God Bless…
For the first time do I really understand that struggle Jacob had with God. Thanks to God, as the light came to me even before reading about the two girls.
I appreciated yesterday,s many examples of covenants and its meaning, and the inclusion of ‘rock ‘ signs.
A while back, we went to a Billy Burke healing service in Toronto. He paused from his work for a moment to say; It looks like there is one line of people here, but really there are two lines. One line has people who are are ready and are going to be healed of their infirmities. The other line is of people who’ve come, hoping they might be healed. Jesus told a man’ according to your faith, you are healed’ – It’s all in your attitude how god is able to bless you
How true, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…!!