A HARD HEART (PHARAOH)
Today’s Reading: Exodus 9
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
The Temple of Kom Ombo stands on the east bank of the Nile, right next to the river. It was dedicated to two gods, Horus and Sobek.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.
Key Verse: Exodus 9:7b
But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.
From the pictures of the Egypt of the Pharaohs, we get an idea of the pride and splendour of what was the most impressive empire for hundreds of years. The temples show that “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4), whose original sin was pride and who sought to overturn the rule of the God of the universe, was still seeking to oppose the will of the great Creator, Almighty God (Rev. 12:7-9). The war goes on, even today. The “god of this age” still takes advantage of hearts that are hard toward the rule of the true Sovereign God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our response for hard hearts must be “repentance;” not as a temporary fix like Pharaoh, but true “repentance” is turning away totally from our disobedience and doing what the Eternal God tells us to do.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Almighty God, grant me the gift of a soft heart so that I will do Your will and not my own. Please give me the grace of obedience to You in all things, and the gift of true repentance so that, having turned away from my own way, I will continue consistently in Your way. Through Jesus Christ, who dwells within me. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Today is Norma-Jean’s birthday. (Thanks to all who sent us birthday greetings on my blog yesterday!). When we were married, September 19, 1958, I was 22 and she was 19. I love her and wanted to make her my wife. I also wanted God’s will more than anything. I was hard headed (not hard hearted) enough to pray on the way to the church, “Lord, one final time, if this marriage is not Your perfect will, You can still cause something to happen so that either Norma-Jean or I are stopped from getting to the altar.” God didn’t stop either of us, and now we’ve been married almost 58 years and have 4 children and their spouses, 16 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. The second letter Norma-Jean wrote to me had printed on it, 1st Thes. 5:18, which says it all, “This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I agreed!
Yours for God’s will in everything,
David
P.S. Ron found an outstanding documentary video with scientific proof of the “Exodus” story. For example, it shows video from the bottom of the Red Sea, revealing coral-encrusted Egyptian chariot wheels scattered across the sea bottom. Online last week the Egyptian department of antiquities announced a confirmation of these findings. Reputable scientists used the same equipment that photographed the Titanic on the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. A recent survey showed that a majority of Canadians said that the Bible was not reliable. If you know anyone who feels that way, show them this video!!! Of course the old saying is, “Convince a man against his will, he stays the same opinion still.” This amazing documentary is 90 minutes long. There are pauses about every 15 or 20 minutes. You may want to spread out your viewing over the next few days as we continue our Exodus readings. Please, please don’t miss this, and also share it with others. To watch it click HERE.
Happy Birthday to Norma -Jean!
Happy Birthday, Norma Jean. Isn’t God wonderful? He has blessed you and David with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who all love our Lord. Enjoy your blessings today and everyday.
Happy 77th Birthday, Norma Jean. May you have a wonderful day.
David, I watched the inspiring birthday celebration for you online yesterday and was blessed. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear and see Trenta celebrating with you. I met her at a Christian writing conference in Guelph many years ago. Thank you for the YouTube link this morning which I shared on Facebook. And every morning, I share your vlog on FB. I only tell you this to encourage you and the fabulous work you do for the Lord. Have a splendid day.
Praise God from whom all blessing flow,praise Him all creatures here below.
Pastor Maines and Mrs Maines, I praise God for you and the work you are doing. I wish you both many more Happy Birthdays.
Blessings!
,
Reg & I would like to wish you and Norma Jean a Very Happy Birthday . – You for yesterday, and your beautiful Norma Jean for today. Congrats. on your 58th this year. We too will be celebrating our 58 yrs. on Oct. 19th. We got married in Bombay in the beautiful Bascillica of Mt. Mary’s above the ocean on a hill in Bandra, a suburb of Bombay. We wish you God’s choicest blessings and May “God give you the desires of your hearts and fulfill all your plans.” (Psalm 20:4)
Happy 77th Norma-Jean.
I agree with David that seven is the number of perfection and that you are DOUBLE perfection.
Shalom,
Graham.
PS You looked pleased when David accepted Lorna’s latest challenge to help her with the ministry.
PPS We enjoyed dinner with you both in Tiberias in November 2012.
Happy Birthday Norma-Jean. You are still beautiful inside and out! Praise the Lord!
“Show me Your ways Lord, that I may walk with You. Show me Your ways, I put my hope in You.
The cry of my heart is to love You more, to live with the touch of Your Hand, Stronger each day; Show me Your way.”
Extra special birthday blessings to you both Rev. Mainse & Mrs. Mainse. Wishing you both God’s uncommon favour consistently manifested in your lives as you continue to stay in His way. May He bless you both with extra length of years & good health!!!!
This blog has been such a blessing since my Aunt Denise Sills shared it with me > 2 years ago. Since then I have shared it with my Joel, & we use it for our Devotion Time together each morning.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you & your family for your dedication and comittment in choosing to share God’s Daily Bread of Life with us!!
May God bless Norma Jean pouring over His favour for another year of powerful Godly witness through her beauty and wisdom…as Christine says…inside and out! Happy Birthday and best returns on your very special day!
Happy Birthday Norma-Jean. You are a wonderful child of God and I thank you for your faithfulness to HIM. You have been and are a wonderful helpmate to our precious David – God’s richest blessings to you
May Gods richest blessings descend upon you. Happy birthday Norma Jean
Happy Birthday to you Norma Jean!
Happy Birthday Norma Jean, blessings to you today and always.
Happy Happy Birthday Norma Jean you are an amazing example of a loving, Godly wife and Mother. God Bless you and your whole family..
Love and prayers.. Gladys
Happy Birthday David and Norma-Jean!! I praise God on a daily basis for the blessings in my life and you are part of those blessings. It has been over two years now that I have been doing the daily blog with David and it has changed my life. I just want to say thank you and I pray for continued blessings in your life as you touch others with your ministry. In Christian love, Bea
Happy birthday Norma Jean! May God continue to bless you today and always!
Happy birthday Norma-Jean!! And belated happy birthday to you David M for yesterday.
I live in Victoria on Vancouver Island, B.C. and it is baffling how in this day when one can pretty much ‘reach out and touch someone’ anywhere in the world, that fact does not apply to our fine and beautiful Island!! There are many areas here where there is no availability to use a laptop or cell phone unless one has Satellite, which I do not, and I happened to be in such an area, camping, so unable to send you greetings until today! Many blessing to you both on these, your special days, and may there be many more to come! 🙂
Happy Birthday Norma Jean! May the Lord continue to bless you in your ministry.
Happy Birthday Norma Jean I agree as Gladys says you are amazing example of a
loving, Godly wife and mother have a wonderful day.
Lianne
Happy birthday David and Norma Jean. May the Lord bless you with health and strength and bless your family as they learn and grow in His love. Thank you for your faithfulness to God’s Word and for your willingness to proclaim His truth throughout your life. You have been and remain a blessing to so many as the honors paid to you on your birthday celebration show.
Praise the Lord!!
Happy Birth Norma Jean. You are a beautiful woman of God. God has richly blessed you and David with your amazing family.
Happy Birthday Norma-Jean. You are a great example inside and out; such a good mate, mother and grandmother. I am so glad to have taken the trip with you, David, Ron and Ann to Israel and remember your kind words. God bless you on your special day and always. Sorry for the delay in my posting.
Happiest of birthdays Norma Jean. It’s wonderful to be part of God’s family and rejoice with you all that God has done through you and David. May the blessings of GOD overtake you.
Happy Birthday to you Norma-Jean. May GOD continue to bless you, David & the entire family. Thank GOD for the many years HE has given your ministry to all of us over the years.
Happy Birthday, Norma-Jean! Agreeing with Christine — You are beautiful inside and out! Have a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday, Norma-Jean! Wonderful to see you and David, this morning, at Wesley Acres!! Look forward to the evening service with Oliver!! God’s continued blessings dearest saints, in the Lord!
You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. Proverbs 23:18
Hillsong United – Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBJJJkiRukY
Happy Birthday David & Norma Jean ! May our dear Lord bless you both throughout your year ahead. Thank you for your years of ministry! It was good to see you both on Friday’s 100 Huntley St. & for your Celebration ! Congratulations on your new great grandson
David and Ron, the video on the Red Sea, was inspiring, we have passed it on to our Pastor to show the congregation in Brighton Evangel and others out there, some that believe and others that don’ t believe in Jesus (you have to be bold). It is so sad to think that most Canadians do not believe in the Bible but my take on this is most people have seen the movie the TEN COMMANDMENT where the Lord parted the Red Sea, this video will inspire Christians, insight, to talk to Non- Christians about how the Bible is real. Keep on sending them my friends in the Christ.
The 80th birthday was so heart warming and is now saved on our PVR under protection so we can watch it again and again, it was wonderful seeing Kathy and Reynold in Uganda.
We love you and Norma-Jean and pray for many more birthdays.
Blessings C & W
Happy birthday Norma Jean um it’s really interesting that you and David would have your birthday’s back-to-back how unique and how Divine Design so happy happy happy birthday Norma Jean God bless you amen
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NORMA-JEAN MAINSE…I pray that the LORD continue to BLESS YOU and STRENGTHEN YOU in all you do!!!
Today is one of my grandson’s 25th Birthday and it was a pleasure to sing Happy Birthday to him this morning and extend the Lord’s blessing on him and his life. He lives in London, Ontario.
Praise God for your ministry in the past and present – enjoy your blog, David. Keep up the good work and are grateful that your 100 Huntley St. programme is going on daily, as well as the 24/7 prayer lines!! What a ministry for us! Enjoy it. Happy Birthday David & Norma-Jean!!!!
A Blessed Birthday celebration to you Norma Jean today and for you David yesterday. May our dear Lord bless you both with good health for the coming year ahead.
Happy Birthday Norma Jean! Hope you and David had a wonderful celebration with family and friends this weekend. You both are a Blessing to so many!! May God continue to Bless you richly!!!
Happy Birthday to you, Norma Jean!
You are such a blessing to all you know and those of us, like us, who do not know you yet feel we do!! Keep on being the Godly example of a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother . . . we need more examples like you in this world!
With Love and Prayers,
John and Lesa Prins
Best Wishes on your birthday Norma Jean! I have never met you but I admire you as a strong woman of God and a great blessing to David and your family. God bless your year!