Thursday, May 11, 2017

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GUIDANCE

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 1-2

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

 

In the Ancient Agora Museum in Athens Greece is a monument base commemorating the victory in a race at the Panathenaic Games from the 4th century BC. In these games a fully armed warrior jumps on and off a moving chariot. In today’s reading a chariot and horses of fire appear.

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

 

Key Verse: 2 Kings 1:6a

So they said to him, “A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?…'”‘”

The first lesson from today’s reading is that we are to have nothing to do with any aspect of the occult. It’s tempting to try to know the future through non-biblical means. Seeking such knowledge brought the curse of death on Ahaziah. Let us heed the warning of Elijah!
The second lesson is that we must avoid distractions. The word to Elisha was that if he saw Elijah ascend, he would receive a double portion (the eldest son received double what others received as an inheritance, because he took care of needy family members). If Elisha had watched the chariot and the horses, he would have missed the blessing. He focused totally on Elijah, who was not taken up in the chariot, but in a whirlwind. Let us, with laser-like focus, keep our eyes on Jesus, and not be distracted by miracles, signs and wonders.
Thirdly, consider the differences between Elijah and Elisha. Elijah, according to the Scriptures, is a type of John the Baptist (Matthew 17:10-13). Elisha reminds us of Jesus. Elijah’s ministry emphasized judgment and the Law. He lived an austere life separated from the people. Elisha lived in constant touch with ordinary people, and his ministry emphasized life and grace.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, please help me to focus on You and You alone. You hold my future in Your hands. I trust You for daily guidance. Grant me grace to keep my eyes on You, Lord Jesus, and I know that as I refuse to be distracted, I can’t go wrong. Thank You, Jesus! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have a friend named Herman. Herman was a salesman for Litton Industries, a company that, among other products, manufactured a system for aircraft called “Inertial Navigation.” One day he shared this story with me…

“I’ve just sold and installed one of our systems in the corporate jet of the President of Home Oil of Calgary, Alberta. In order to have automatic guidance to your destination, you punch into the onboard computer the co-ordinates of the latitude and longitude of your desired destination. The unit was installed in Toronto and carried the President to Calgary. Herman received a call from Calgary about four hours after departure. The President sounded angry. He said, ‘We got over Calgary air space and then trouble. It landed us one foot to the left of the centre line on the runway.’ Then he burst into laughter.”

What amazing accuracy! The lesson Herman taught me was that if I want guidance, I simply put God’s promises into effect by praying and believing, and then take off. He has promised guidance to His desired destination for my life. This removes the potential for human error. Solomon got it right when he wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Yours to help navigate our lives always to the centre line on the runway of life. God’s will is our destination, and we must not be distracted by other considerations,

David

Arrowheads displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Pella, Greece.

A warrior’s helmet displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Pella, Greece. By the time the books of Kings conclude, Greece was just beginning to rise as a world military power.

 

18 thoughts on “Thursday, May 11, 2017”

  1. I worked for Litton in the mid to late 70s on an IBM system 6 (which I was told cost as much as a house)! I now use my little IOS phone that has many (& maybe more) features then that computer system! Keeping my eyes on the Lord. Where else would I go? Listened to John Starnes & “He Came to Me”. Beautiful. Blessings all.

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  2. Thank you Ann, Irene and Sah for praying for my husband from yesterday.

    Pastor David that prayer of yours is my hearts desire., also Proverbs 3:5&6 are great verses to memorize. I have quoted them many times when certain situations rise up, and I need to be reminded that God is in control not me.
    Words cannot convey my gratitude for this blog., God is continuing to use you in a mighty way. God Bless you and keep you in His care. Eleanor M.

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    • Lord God, our Jehovah Rapha, bring Your Light to shine through and cleanse Eleanor’s husband’s body, everywhere that is needed. Renew and restore him, and bring rest comfort and peace to him and his family. In Jesus’ precious Name, we pray. Amen, amen, and amen.

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      • Wonderful prayer for Eleanor’s husband Beverlee. I prayed with you as I read your prayer for him. God Bless you. I’m so glad to read your comments along with many others who regularly make comments. They are a real blessing – all of them. I mean the regulars too.

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  3. This comment is very helpful Pastor David, “Let us, with laser-like focus, keep our eyes on Jesus, and not be distracted by miracles, signs and wonders.” The Lord Jesus said He would confirm the Word preached with signs and wonders, not replace it. Thank you David for your biblical wisdom. Thank you Sah for your prayers.

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  4. Will pray for your husband today Eleanor that his arteries will be unplugged. I am starting to drink organic apple cider vinegar to help keep my arteries cleaner.

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    • a treatment from Biblical times is the good old tried and rue acupuncture! It goes to work to clear the arteries, it gets rid of any blockages, it takes time to work but it WORKS!
      there is medication however medication is hard on the stomach, the Holistic methods were used in the Old Testament and New Testament!
      I can’t say enough about these tried and true methods, they are GREAT! Just remember it takes time, with acupuncture it takes about 4 treatments to begin to see the positive results, clearing the blood vessels is a hard job, but it is not impossible!
      Lord I ask that those who have money that they look around their own area where they can help!
      Lead the wealthy to someone who needs their student loan taken of or perhaps pay for a person to take a course..maybe pay a bill ( on the quiet)
      .Father that is my prayer daily, every hour on the hour, bless me with a financial breakthrough to clear my loan, help my family/friends/invest some and then spend time serving others…send help to those who are dealing with floods! Lord we need You to help everyone, everyday, we need You Lord and we thank You for your complete love! amen

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  5. Prayed with you Pastor David!

    Yes, to keep my eyes on the Lord and not be distracted.

    This song came to mins: “Keep your eyes upon Jesus
    Look full in His wonderful face
    And the things on earth
    will grow strangely dim
    in the light of His wonderful face”
    Thank you Pastor David for this daily manna; for your continuing on so faithfully to present it to us daily! And I pray for the Lord’s continued blessing and strength to uphold you daily in the Palm of His hand! Amen!

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    • In the last line of your course, “in the light of his wonderful face.” I like that line because it fits in with the message of that course. I alway sang that last line,”in the light of His glory and grace.” I think I line your last line the best.

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