GOD AT THE CENTRE
Today’s Reading: Numbers 2
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).
At Timna Park, 20 miles north of Eilat, a life-sized replica of the Biblical Tabernacle has been constructed in the same area where the original Tabernacle may have stood. While no original materials (e.g., gold, silver, bronze) have been used in the replica, the model is accurate in every other way based upon the Biblical description.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Numbers 2:17
And the tabernacle of meeting shall move out with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps; as they camp, so they shall move out, everyone in his place, by their standards.
What could’ve been a two-week journey became a forty-year time of testing, learning, rebelling, and finally conforming to God’s plan. We find parallels in our lives. Moses kept detailed records of people and events and was careful to journal all that happened. They had prepared for this while still in Egypt. Originally, the Children of Israel and Pharaoh thought this was to be just a camping trip for several days. Even if that had been the case, the logistics of moving over one million people required organizational genius. Their tents would’ve covered several square miles. What a sight it must have been. The Ark, the Tabernacle and the spiritual leaders were always at the centre. The way in which they were to travel and camp was a constant reminder that God was to occupy the central place in their lives.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I ask for Your help in organizing my life so that You are always at the centre. I desire You to be the focal point of my attention. Please grant me the grace to be conscious of Your presence 24/7. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As long as I can remember, God was honoured daily in our family life. My mother and sisters read to me from Hurlbut’s Stories of the Bible for Children (click here for an online version). I prayed every evening before bed, “Now I lay me down to sleep…” During the years of the Second World War, when my Dad was away, Mother led in daily Bible reading and prayer at the breakfast table. Dad arrived home in time for Christmas of 1944 and took over those duties. I never questioned that God was at the centre of our lives. Mother died when I was 12, and Dad and I were home alone a lot that year. He soldiered on with the same pattern of life. He also made lumpy porridge, and I tried not to complain. I would see his Bible open at the place where he was reading for his private devotions when I arrived downstairs each morning. The importance I place on this daily blog had its roots back there, I’m sure. I told one of my grandsons recently, “David Shaheen, if you were the only one reading my blog, I would get up early every morning and do it just for you.”
Yours, for God at the centre,
David
P.S. David Shaheen’s Dad, Rev. Nizar Shaheen, covers the world with the message of Jesus Christ in the Arabic language several times each day on satellite to home dishes, over the air, and on social media. His wife, our daughter Ellen, works alongside him in the Light for All Nations ministry. HERE is their website.
Oh what a joy it is to read the scriptures early morning and be blest for the day.
Thank you David for your faithfulness, I look so forward to this time together with the Lord and you.
May all my blog family be blest as I am. God is good.
Amen sister in Christ!
…all the time. 🙂
Yes, I also agree with Eleanor!
Amen Eleanor!
I appreciate this blog so much. I only comment occasionally, but I read it every morning
Me too. I would miss this blog terribly if it weren’t here every morning. It truly does make a difference in my life to put God first before starting my day.
Thank you Father for our many blessings.
Yes, me too.
Thank you Pastor David I was also thinking how organized everything was in today’s reading. We can glean a lot from this for our own lives, sometimes we just need to let the Lord speak into our hearts when life seems to be in a clutter. He can calm us as we sit in His presence. I have just repeated the 23rd Psalm one of my favourites and so reassuring. I love to read about your strong Christian Heritage, bless you and your dear family.
Eleanor C. Blessings to you as well and all friends have a great day.
The Lord can say the same– if anyone one of else was the only person He could have saved by going to cross– He would have done it just for you.
This is my third year with you and I appreciate the time spent with you and the Lord each morning very much. If I could leave you with a suggestion, and I may be out to left field and not understand the “why,” but many times I notice the areas of the Bible (old testament) requiring us to read about tribe numbers etc. that most of us skim through are very short while John’s gospel etc. with much meaning to us are very long passages. As a teacher I know that most of us will retain much more reading a short passage rather than a longer one. thank you
Thanks again,David.God bless
From Eternal Loss
If I had been the only one,
No matter what I had done,
He would have sent His only Son,
To die before the setting sun.
I may have thought I was dirt,
But He loved me anyway,
Through all the trials and hurt
To save me for judgement day.
He broke the demon’s strangle hold
So we could be free to choose,
Either love or Satan’s earthly gold;
But choose the glitter,then you loose.
So choose the path away from wealth,
For riches bring a fool to ruin
And you will find in heaven’s stealth
That treasure there is widely strewn.
Free choice is a gift to all,
It came with Him off the cross,
And if I stumble and I fall,
He saves me from eternal loss.
G W(Bill) Marshall / 23 March, 2014
Thank you for continuing to post this blog. I am waiting eye surgery and have difficulty reading the Bible I have at home. However I am still able to read your blog and it is so helpful. Thanks again. Christy
Your blog touched my heart this morning David. What a heritage your family life is. The Bible reading this morning shows how important families and order are to God. Having God in the center keeps families together. Thank you for your dedication.
Such a simple prayer, but so profound and so important.
Thank you for your blog, for the structure it has helped my wife and me achieve in our daily Bible study.
This is the second time through for us. We are getting even more out of it this time.
The Lord has blessed you and you are a blessing to many. Thank you so much.
Dear Rev Mainse, I appreciate reading your memories of your parents’ devotion to God and His word. I, as well, have fond memories of Bible reading times in our home, before we went to school. It definitely left an imprint on my heart , and those of my brothers. As you reminded me in Florida this past spring, your new method of Bible reading is a more enjoyable way to read and study the scriptures. Blessings to you and your dear family.
Organized life is truly helpful…Yes, Lord Jesus to keep my life organized in You! Resting in the Palm of Your hand! Amen and Amen!!!
Amen, David, and fellow saints! Thank you for instilling a sincere daily devotion to God’s Word and prayer in our hearts. In Jesus’ precious Name, amen, amen, and amen!
TY Dwight Brown! I also have trouble reading long passages, if Biblegateway.com would work correctly I would not have this problem but it has never worked correctly since the VERY beginning!
I did mention this fact right at the very beginning! I don’t know why this problem can’t be fixed!!!!!!!
I was very excited when this blog started because someone would read the Scriptures but that does not happen…..so……..I don ‘t know what the problem is…..but it is frustrating……
I tried shutting everything down and just bringing up the Scripture on the search bar…well…..Biblegateway.com pops up and the same problem happens………………..I read when I can, but it was so nice to have Scripture read, it was like another person was in the room, but that was only 1 0r 2 times and then problems every since…….
I can’t afford a technician to come in and see what the problem is………
again TY Dwight Brown……
Hi,Sah.I always choose the NIV version,at the top (the arrow) and also have the parallel version set as ERV (for posting on FB)for those new to the bible to more easily understand.
The NIV version has the speaker icon at the top so you can hear it.Just click on the speaker.God bless
Sah if you look right above the picture it says “read scripture link to read online or ‘HERE’ to listen on line then (click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side)
that’s what i do. The word “HERE” is in blue colour and I click on it …then when the scripture comes up (I click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side) and the voice speaking comes on.
hope that helps…
Oops,I guess you already addressed that issue.Thanks,Irene.God bless
David, you and your family are truly the result of a wonderful Christian generational background.Would that all families would have such daily devotions.
Thank you and Crossroads for spreading the Gospel.
G.Day
I have not been receiving your blogs now for 2 days! I miss them!