Friday, March 17, 2017

CONTENTMENT

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 7-8

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheatre in Bet Guvrin at the Maresha National Park in Israel.

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

 

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 8:5

…and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

Throughout history there seems to be a pattern that repeats itself over and over. We don’t learn well from history. There were the sons of Eli, and now the sons of Samuel. In each case the next generation failed to serve the God of their fathers faithfully. Surely they knew the consequences of their actions; nevertheless they failed. There is a strong tendency in us all to act as the popular song says, “I did it my way.” We’ve all heard little children say, “No! Me do!” It is my fervent desire that this daily blog will help us all say, “Yes! God’s way!”
God’s way did not satisfy the majority of the Israelites. He wanted to be their King, and it seemed to work very well for the people. They were prosperous. They were safe from oppression by their enemies all the days when Samuel functioned as their judge, before they had a king. But they were not content. The Scripture says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, may I be given grace every day to be content. You are my King, my absolute Monarch. I want to obey You in all things. I receive my instructions from You. I pray that I will steadfastly resist the pressures to conform to the world around me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

For my personal devotions I’ve just read Romans 8:26-30 and also Romans 11:25-36/ Romans 12:1-2. The answer to the human problem of being faithful to God is here. It takes a positive and a negative charge to release electrical power. So it is with the release of the power of God in my life. Positive – “Be conformed to the image of His Son.” Negative – “Do not be conformed to this world.” Again I think of the electrical analogy. We have a built-in transformer. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Not long ago, as I drove along Burnt Hills Road just north of Kingston, an electrical storm was raging. Lightening hit a transformer and it exploded in front of me. Of course, everyone’s lights went out in the area. There is a storm raging all around, a storm that can knock out my connection to God’s power. I count on God’s power crew, the Word and the Spirit, to be on hand constantly to keep me in complete union with Him.

Yours for a constant flow, without interruption, of God’s power,

David

P.S. Five years ago I was given a life expiry date of two years (Mayo Clinic and Juravinski Clinic). My “best before” month was March, 2014. I often told my family, “I’m indestructible until God is finished with me in this life.”  Thanks for your prayers!

The view from walking in the tunnels of the amphitheatre ruins in Bet Guvrin at the Maresha National Park in Israel.

27 thoughts on “Friday, March 17, 2017

  1. I’m thankful God has allowed you, David, to spend more time here on earth with us and pray He will give you many, many more days of health and gladness

    • Amen Eleanor C. In agreement with you.
      Happy St. Patrick’s Day, it is said that he used the three leaf shamrock as the Trinity to spread the Gospel.
      Blessings to all from this Irish lady.
      PS.. Pastor David I am sure The Lord has more for you to do. Bless you and your family. Eleanor M.

  2. Praise God He has increased your days Pastor David and we are blessed every day as you faithfully, with your family, nourish us with God Word. Thank you.
    Praying you with gain much strength and mount up on eagle wings to continue serving A Holy God and give us fresh manna even on the third time through The Word. God bless everyone on this St, Patrick’s day.

    Praying for others needs too.????????????????????????

  3. Amen Eleanor M. Prayed your good prayer Pastor David and read your scripture links. Just finished Pastor Michael Youssef’s recent book and indeed there is a storm all around us, especially for the church of God. I pray the Lord keeps you here as we need people with the Word and sound doctrine. Been reading 1 & 2 Timothy where the Apostle Paul talks a lot about sound doctrine and its importance. Blessings saints of God!

  4. Good Morning David
    We are so blessed to read your blog everyday as we continue through the Bible in two years. Grateful also for the input of Ron and Ann and Reynold’s beautiful pics.
    . We are so thankful that God has answered our prayers and chosen to keep touching your body and restoring you from this horrible disease.. Your words are so encouraging…. “I’m indestructible until God is finished with me in this life.” We rejoice that you still have the desire and drive to do something for God’s kingdom!

    On Wednesday you invited comments from readers on what you should be doing with your spare time right now. The following has been playing on my mind and I offer it prayerfully to you.

    You have been such an incredible Ambassador for Canada ! Thankyou for your undying loyalty to the cause of knowing Christ and making Him known across the air-waves in this country and around the world.

    I believe you have something special to say to Canadian’s on Canada’s 150th birthday year. You have earned Canadian’s respect and your integrity has given you a platform like few others.You also love and accept people without conditions.

    It would be so great to have you give birthday greetings and call this country back to prayer for revival, renewal, and repentance as in (2 Chron 7:14) and to our country’s foundations.

    Not sure what the platform is, but that would be the essence of the message.

    Samuel’s challenge in today’s reading was “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods… and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out… I believe our country needs to hear this challenge especially in these days where “truth” is questioned, intolerance to a conservative biblical social morality abounds and Christians have become silent out of fear.

    Eldon and I continue to uphold you and Norma Jean in prayer as you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness knowing that He will direct your paths .

    much love and our continued prayers for your restoration and Norma Jean’s wonderful care giving

    Eldon and Janet

    • wonderful ideas! I agree that David Mainse is a great Ambassador for Canada, for the Gospel around the world! Yes, give words of encouragement during Canada’s 150 birthday! Yes, I also agree, call the country back to prayer! I would like to see all communities have a prayer night once a week in different Christian churches!
      I would like to see Church groups hold prayer meetings in a park, maybe down at the beach, lots of places to hold prayer meetings! Sure would be good!

    • Yes, yes, yes and yes…..!
      Prayerfully agreeing with you Janet.
      I have always thought of David as Canada’s own
      Billy Graham. Addressing our country in its 150th year with Samuel’s challenge and a call to repentance is much needed. I agree that you David have earned the respect of Canadians to address us with this challenge. 2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us much hope. God forgive us for our rebellion!

  5. David, thank you for your ministries! Your total dedication to the Lord is an on-going inspiration — you are God’s gift to us!
    I always look forward to seeing you in A Living Witness to Amazing Grace, and often wish you had another program with the older music — you and Norma Jean, Reynold and Cathy, the Rutledges, etc. To some of us seniors, the older stuff is simpler, more heart-felt, just more beautiful.
    God bless, anoint, and continue to use you, dear brother David!

  6. Thank you once again David for faithfully passing on to us your beautiful gift of pointing to, and explaining the scriptures. What an encourager you are and a great example to us all…we must not sit on our gifts from our Lord, but like you ,find ways to pass them on to the church as we are led by the Holy Spirit. We are all so blessed to have you, our valiant Pastors too…what more could God do for us! Most importantly, he gave us Jesus our ultimate gift! …..Amazing God!

  7. Thank you,David.You have always proven your willingness to obey.Shortly after I began 100 Words,I wrote this.I ‘felt’ it was meant to be an encouragement to you,a message.I have posted it before and I guess I should assume I have done all I can to get it to you.(No,I am not delusional.)
    Your guidance and perspective have helped me much to grow.Thanks again.I was ‘led’ to a ministry in grieving sites where I was given ‘poems of comfort’ that helped many to cope with their loss.The holy Spirit would lift me each time I reached the point of tears and then a poem would come about as fast as I could type,always as if written by a grieving mother.(That is the reason for my faith.)This happened almost daily for about 1 1/2 yr and began when I was a baby Christian about 6 yr ago.I say this so that you will take the poem seriously.I hope it brings you comfort,David.God bless

    Catch The Fire (4 David Mainse)

    Though you have walked many oceans
    And spread My word to many nations,
    I saw in you and your devotions
    A servant of joyous exhalations.

    You have not asked for earthly wealth,
    But just to be my most humble voice
    And when adversity was kept in stealth
    You still worshiped Me out of free choice.

    So out of free choice I give you
    More time upon the stage of learning,
    Whereby My word you show to be true
    And catch the fire that’s forever burning.
    G W(Bill) Marshall / 01 February, 2014

    PS:I did not sign nor date ‘my’ poems for over
    a year until Facebook showed a professional
    authour/poet in Ct with the same name,thus I
    had to add my initials too.

  8. I am 88 and find time each day to read your post. So thankful David that God sees fit to keep you amongst us. In these latter days it is so important to have you continue with what you are doing . God is providing your strength ,praise God.
    We will continue to follow you and pray for your guidance.

  9. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.
    I came home from hospital yesterday, but had the privitage of being by my husband’s side in the same hospital, when he went to be with the Lord, which is far better. He died at 6:25 a.m. March 16th 2017.

    My hip surgery went well, but I have been left with nerve pain. Medication helps a little, I am trusting that it will heal and I will be able to walk without pain.
    Thank you for your prayers, and I know I will have your continued prayers, in the days ahead.

    • Dearest Mary, my deepest condolences. I know the Lord will be a source of comfort and strength during the road ahead. You will most definitively be in my prayers–but most importantly you are in our Lord’s heart– He will never leave you — you might feel alone some days, but He will is always with you.

    • God bless you Mary! I pray you will begin some form of rehab for your hip, something very soft but pertinent to your recovery! Lord we thank you that Mary had a husband who loved her and cared for her during their marriage! Walk with Mary as she grieves and remembers the memories and we thank You Lord for all that You have done in Mary;’s life! We thank You because we know You will continue to bless her…..In Jesus Name we Pray AMEN

    • Holding you in my heart and with prayer, Mary. May God ease your pain and rest the nerves that are being pressed. May your husband be dancing in heaven with the fellowship of angels. May you be strengthened and restored in the coming months with Jesus’ love reassurance and grace.

  10. Praying for you, Mary, that the Lord will comfort your physical pain & your grief. I am a widow of 2 years & the Lord has been amazing. You are special to Him. May He show you more of His Loving Care for you.

  11. Crystal found me a car in another town: it is 2 1/2 hours away! The car needs to be picked up this Saturday, I am thankful, The Lord provided me with 2 gals from my swim class who have offered to drive me to the next town (2 1/2 hours) to bring the car back. May God bless Crystal!
    I am truly thankful.
    Please pray that the trip goes well, I am so thankful to have help in this way! May God bless them abundantly!
    The car is a 2005 Toyota Corolla, has had some work done it; please pray that it will do me well for many years to come!
    Praise and thank the Lord for this car…..
    I only need to pay the taxes and registration, Praise the Lord!

    .

  12. thank you for everyone’s comments regarding my news about a car!
    I pray all goes well as we travel the 2 1/2 hours both ways! I am SO
    thankful for the 2 gals who offered to do this for me!
    attended a Community dinner at the United Church, celebrating St. Patrick Day,
    it was good, the food was delicious! They had a silent auction, I bid on 2 baskets and bought them and I believe I will give them to the 2 gals that are taking me
    to get the car!
    I praise and thank God for a good trip, a good day, a good sleep, blessings to all!
    In Jesus Name I pray amen

  13. Mary, my prayers are with you too concerning the loss of your husband. May the Lord Jesus give you peace, comfort and strength at this time. Also rejoice with you that the Lord has provided you with a car Sah.

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