Saturday, December 24, 2016

PROLONG YOUR DAYS

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 17-18

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).

 

A young man studies Scripture in a Jewish library situated against the ancient Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This blog is designed to help us do likewise!

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

 

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 17:19

And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes…

 

Moses predicted that one day Israel would have a king. The first three were Saul, David and Solomon. It may be that they failed to read the Word of God every day, and the direct result was that they multiplied wives, silver and gold for themselves, and more and more power for themselves. Early in their lives, they served God faithfully and from that time of faithfully fearing the Lord, we have many Psalms and Proverbs. God made one of His “exceeding great and precious promises” (read 2 Peter 1:3-14). Peter writes, “be even more diligent.” Diligence in reading the Word, fearing the Lord, and being obedient to Him will have results… “He may prolong his days….he and his children” (Deuteronomy 17:20).

Then there are the orders to stone certain offenders. We should be glad that Jesus changed the stoning procedure. He said, “Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone” (John 8:7). Stephen was killed by stoning, and Saul, later Paul, supervised the stoning (Acts 7:58). Paul was, himself, stoned in Lystra (Acts 14:19), but survived. In Heaven, Stephen and Paul have likely discussed their experiences of being stoned. They are, I’m sure, rejoicing that Jesus changed things concerning stoning.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Thank You, Jesus, for Your pure love for the woman who was about to be stoned. You gave her a new beginning in her life. You gave me a new beginning too. Please help me to reaffirm again my commitment to Your instructions to us all, and in particular to leaders. I ask You to give me the grace of faithfulness in reading Your Word, as highlighted in our key verse. Amen!!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Frankly, I’m looking forward to getting into our next book, Romans. We’ll arrive there, God willing, on January 6th. The writer, Paul, was a highly educated intellectual. He took all those things we are reading in the Torah and presented the Law in the Jesus way. Hallelujah!

Concerning the temptations of leadership, I did not multiply wives. Thank You Jesus! Nor did I multiply gold and silver. However, I did multiply horses! At one point, the ministry of Crossroads had over 400 horses at 11 Circle Square Ranches, where horsemanship was the main activity. Crossroads has donated most of the Ranches to Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, where they are being carried on today, along with their existing Pioneer Camps. I would encourage my “100 Words” readers to send children and teens to camp this Summer. Christmas Day is tomorrow. What a great idea for a gift. Check out Inter-Varsity’s camps here.

Yours for “prolonged” days for each of us and for our children,

David

P.S. Here is a link to one of a series of fascinating Christmas videos from 100 Huntley Street programs. Moira Brown recorded these on location in Israel with renowned New Testament scholar, Dr. Craig Evans. The series is called “Unwrapping the Christmas Story” (click HERE for an example recorded at the Church of the Nativity).

15 thoughts on “Saturday, December 24, 2016

  1. Joshua 1:8 This book of law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate In day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written in it. For then you will make your ways prosperous and have good success. NKJV. This is one of my memory verses (I hope I have quoted it correctly) a number of years ago, Jack a dear friend of mine was leading a senior Bible Study this is the verse he kept coming back too. He would ask us to repeat it over and over, he and his lovely wife now live in NF and he is well in his eighties. I think this verse fits in well with the key one today.
    Thank you Pastor David for leading us daily through the Bible in 2016, I am looking forward to the daily manna in 2017.
    May you and your family have a Blessed Christmas and I wish the same to all Blog friends. Thinking especially of those who have lost dear ones recently, may you find strength in our Lord Jesus Christ . With sincere love, Eleanor M

  2. Merry Christmas David, Norma Jean and family as well as all my blog friends.
    May the joy and peace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ fill every heart and home. We are a blest people, praise God for His Amazing Love. Let our love for Him shine though for others to see. There’s nothing that compares to our
    Saviours Love. God bless you all.

  3. The truly wonderful news is the real meaning of Christmas– Immanuel doesn’t depend on any particular circumstance or feeling. God is with us in our joys, in our blessings, in our merriment, but He is also with us in our sorrows, tears, and pain. God is with us in our churches, but He is also with us in our hospital rooms, prison cells or on the streets. God is with us in our families whether they be large or small, loving or not. God is with those who are alone and those who are lonely. God is with us in our abundance and God is with us in our need—

    So despite the secular message that Christmas is about a particular attitude and rituals that have to be adhered to– or worse they try to say Christmas is about fantasy and magic– nothing to do with reality– they are wrong– Christmas is Immanuel– God is with us— and not just for one day or season, but for always– Christmas is just a wonderful reminder of that profound truth.

    So whoever you are, whatever your circumstance– I wish you the peace and comfort of knowing God is with you— you are loved—and if you need someone to speak more about the real meaning of Christmas– give Crossroads prayer line a call–24/7 1-866-273-4444

  4. I am so grateful for those horses that Crossroads owned. It was at a Circle Square Ranch 28 years that I gave my life wholly to Jesus. It was the first summer that camp was open too and I’m still friends with one of my wagon mates and our sheriff and deputy kept in touch throughout my tumultuous years and well into my married life! Was so glad my children got to experience that camp too!

  5. Merry Christmas (happy birthday,Jesus.) to you all and have a Happy New Year too.God bless
    They Call Me St.Nick

    They call me ‘St Nick’ in my land,
    Because I practiced love to all,
    But then it quickly got out of hand;
    The lie became my life’s downfall.

    I am not Christmas,nor a saint,
    But am promoted only to sell,
    I detest that they made me quaint,
    Trying to send me to hell..

    If you love Christmas,give it back,
    To the true King,Lord of all lands,
    Only He can replace what we lack,
    You’re right beside where He stands.

    So if you truly love Jesus,the Lord,
    Welcome Him into your humble abode
    He is the Gift we can all afford,
    He keeps giving but is never owed.
    G W (Bill) Marshall / Dec 2,2012

  6. Mary of Nazareth

    Have you ever thought of Mary, at this special time of year.
    And thought how much she wanted her delivery to draw near?
    Or have you thought that Mary had, by God, been left alone?
    As He fulfilled His prophesy and brought forth His Son.

    Scripture has been recorded of the girl who became the mum,
    Of the Sovereigh Lord of the universe, God’s Incarnate Son.
    The scripture was God breathed, yet recorded by human hand,
    And tells how Gabriel came to Mary in that far off Jewish land.

    The angle told the virgin something quite profound,
    “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and with child you will be found,
    You will be over shadowed by the power of the Most High.”
    Don’t you think Mary remembered as her time drew nigh?

    Would you remember an angel and the miracle that took place?
    Would you have been conscious that of God you had found grace?
    Or do you think she worried, as her time drew near,
    That God had abandoned Messiah and left her alone to bear?

    No, Mary knew Him and rejoiced, giving glory to the Lord,
    For she was bound to Him by loves strong cord,
    She tells of the great things the Mighty One had done.
    And hoe He favoured her to be the mother of His Son.

    I believe that Mary had found rest in her Sovereign King,
    And knew He would be with her and provide everything,
    The time, the place, the clothing, and especially for the birth,
    For she, alone, felt the ‘quickening’ of the Lord of Heaven and Earth.

    Written in the early 1990’s.
    Wishing everyone God’s richest blessings for Christmas and for 2017.

    Please pray for our family, things are getting worse, health wise. We need your prayers to be able to get through. Thank you all.
    I will send an extra donation, David.

  7. Christmas blessings we can share all through the year; with those that we tell and who have ears to hear.

    Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS to the Mainse families; blessings from all the world and from our little hearts on the Saskatchewan prairies

  8. Christmas Eve…they followed the star…and found the the one they were looking for. His name is Counselor, Mighty God, the Ever Lasting Father, the Prince of Peace!! Our Savour, Jesus Christ Our Lord.
    I pray many will find Him this day!!!

  9. Merry Christmas, To all the Mainse family and all the bloggers
    and avery happy New Year… to all God bless you all…Rosemarie…

  10. Merry Christmas to Norma Jean and David Mainse and to all of the Mainse Family as well as to the people at Crossroads/100 Huntley Street, you are needed so very much and also a very peaceful , healthy and joyous Christmas to all bloggers .

  11. TY Lord for all the blessings of this day! TY for swimming!
    Lord there is a wife named Beth whose husband Marc is in need of a liver transplant! Lord we pray that You will guide the right medical people, all the transplant team, all the assisting medical staff to be in the right place when this liver arrives to be transplanted into Marc! We thank YOU Lord for this wonderful gift, we thank YOU for the healing that will follow the transplant, we thank YOU for helping Marc to get back to his normal life, praising and thank YOU for this wonderful miracle! We praise and thank YOU dear Lord for YOUR continued love and mercy and grace and unconditionally forgiveness of all our sins! We thank YOU Lord, there is nothing else we can say but THANK YOU DEAR LORD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

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