Thursday, May 4, 2017

JUDGMENT

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 13-14

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

 

You can still see the enormous cut rocks that were thrown down onto the street from the upper walls of the Temple Mount by the Roman soldiers during the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

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

 

Key Verse: 1 Kings 14:22

Now Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.

“Here we go again.” This was a defining line spoken by candidate Ronald Reagan to President Jimmy Carter in an election debate in 1980. As President, Reagan used the word “evil.” The chattering class was incredulous. An American President had actually used that word to describe the relationship between North Korea and Iran. He also used that word to describe the Soviet Union, calling it “the evil empire.” As Governor of California and before that as a young actor, he had benefited from the outstanding Bible teaching of a solid evangelical by the name of Henrietta Mears, as well as one of those she mentored, Reagan’s Pastor at the Bel Air Presbyterian church, Rev. Don Moomaw. Another one she mentored well was Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ. Reagan learned to tell it like it is, as the Bible does. In our reading today the “here we go again” cycle begins. But let us not be discouraged; every once in a while we’ll read stories about kings like Asa, who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” Imagine, a man with the fortitude to remove his own grandmother from the position of Queen Mother because she had created and erected a pornographic image of a pagan goddess. We’ll keep watching for the good guys in upcoming readings.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, the wheels of justice grind our deeds, as the saying goes, “exceedingly fine.” As Job 23:10 tells me, when You have tested me, may I “come forth as gold.” Grant me the grace to obey You as Job did, and most of all as Jesus, who lives within me, did. In His all-sufficient Name I pray, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

One story in my latest book is about my last grandson, Nathaniel Shaheen. The account is longer than I have space for here. You may be interested in ordering my book by calling Crossroads at 1-800-265-3100. He was born in the Hadassah hospital on Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, in November of 2000. A serious bowel restriction almost took his life at birth, but his Dad, Nizar, and his Grandma, Norma-Jean, took a handkerchief, poured oil on it, and had our tour group, who were visiting Israel at that time, lay hands on the cloth and pray. At least one of our group touched God, because as the hanky was laid on Nathaniel, he began to improve. Five months later, his mother, Ellen, travelled to Canada to visit us, and Nathaniel was diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis. He was dying. He was rushed to McMaster Children’s Hospital for emergency surgery. As the surgeon came into the waiting room following the operation, I said, “Doctor, just before you tell us the results, take a look at the TV. There on CTS was a repeat of 100 Huntley Street which I had hosted earlier that day. The children in the studio audience were joining me in prayer for Nathaniel and his surgeon. Doctor Walton’s first words were, “Well it worked! I was able to remove the dead bowel tissue and connect perfect pink tissue. He will be fine.” Click here to see that video from 2001 (I want to thank Joan Rock of our Crossroads/CTS team for digging out the video from our archives).

Yours for knowing a personal God who cares about us all,

David

P.S. Below are photos of Nathaniel Shaheen as a baby and as a 14-year-old young man. Here, he was quarterback for his high school in Burlington, Ontario.

Nathaniel Shaheen

Nathaniel Shaheen, age 14.

 

13 thoughts on “Thursday, May 4, 2017

  1. We really, really, need to heed God’s Words. It is scary to think of purposely disobeying. Great story about Nathaniel. I remember that time. How Wonderful our God is.

    • I am crying, praise and thanks to our God for healing Nathaniel; if a person googles the song AIN’T IT JUST LIKE THE LORD, the words are so appropriate….God bless Nathaniel…….

  2. Amen to your prayer today David and thank you for sharing the story about Nathaniel! I would also like to ask for prayers of healing for my sister-in-Christ, Ionna. Her liver is failing. I’m believing our God of miracles for a miraculous healing!!! Glory be His! Blessings to all!!

  3. What a cutie you were as a baby, Nathaniel! Amen to your healing; thanks for sharing the link, dear David. Praying for you, this morning. Thank you for all the prayers you have made to God, for so many people around the world! Blessings fellow saints in the Lord!

    My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.
    Psalm 71:8 ESV

    Spirit of the Living God (worship video w/ lyrics)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BagH-zTfnsQ

  4. I recall that telecast of the children praying for Nathaniel! Thank you for your personal story of God’s intervention for Nathaniel. Thank you Jesus you did answer the children’s prayers for Nathaniel. What a precious child, and what a handsome, healthy young man. Thank you for posting the photos of Nathaniel!

    Yes, here we go again. Good to know there were those who obeyed and followed the right way of the Lord.

  5. Please note, I know being a protestant on the Pro-Life movement you are at a
    disadvantage. Maybe get together with Rod Taylor of the
    Christian Heritage Party of Canada and start a strategy
    to get a more anti-abortion law. Thanks,
    Paul

    • Paul keep speaking up! I sense your passion on this subject! I would like to have more education at boys and girls (who become men and women) on why having sex before marriage is not a good thing; having sex while you are still a teenage is not a good thing; having unprotected sex;
      My passion is the fact that males and females do not take responsibility for their actions when having sex with each other! They are in the heat of the moment; they do not realize that the female could get pregnant!
      I would like to see ads on tv showing what happens when a baby is aborted! There are all kinds of useless advertisements on tv; I would like to see some responsible ads, even the ad talking about drinking and driving and someone being killed by a drunk driver does not show the horror of this action!
      Paul keep talking, do not give up! God bless you!

Leave a Reply to Kathie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.