TRUE LOVE
Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 45-47
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This is the view from atop Mount Carmel looking west toward the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea. It was from here that a “cloud the size of a man’s hand” was reported to Elijah (1 Kings 18:44). God spoke to Elijah as He did to Jeremiah. God’s love will find a way sooner or later to bring people back to Himself, but it must be a decision of human free will. That’s what true love means. Happy Valentine’s Day!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Jeremiah 46:27
But do not fear, O My servant Jacob,
And do not be dismayed, O Israel!
For behold, I will save you from afar,
And your offspring from the land of their captivity;
Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease;
No one shall make him afraid.
Jeremiah 45 is Jeremiah’s word from God for his personal assistant and secretary (scribe), Baruch. Baruch’s prize was “Life.” He went as a guest of honour to Babylon where he was allowed to buy property and to prosper. There is an Apocryphal book called by his name. The Apocrypha is a collection of writings judged by the Jewish scholars as not inspired by God, yet somewhat valuable for study.
Jeremiah 46 tells us of Pharaoh Necho, King of Egypt. Necho had killed good King Josiah of Judah (2 Chronicles 35:20-27). After his return to Egypt, Necho deposed and deported Josiah’s son Jehoahaz, and made Jehoiakim his puppet king in Jerusalem. In 606 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated Necho and world history was forever altered. Egypt would never again be considered a world power (46:13). In the midst of all this, God’s Word to His people is stated in our key verse. Jeremiah 47 tells us of the Philistine cities which were also caught in the midst of the wars between Egypt and Babylon (Iraq).
This Valentines Day let’s contrast the message of Jesus with that of Muhammed. The Koran says, “God loves those who love him.” In contrast to this, the Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Let’s take time to read 1 John 4:7-19 as our St. Valentine’s Day meditation. Recently a man from Mecca called in to the Light For All Nations Arabic ministry and received the unconditional love of Jesus by grace through faith.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I love You because You first loved me! Not as the Koran says, in effect, that You love me because I first loved You! You are the Initiator! You courted and wooed me! You won my heart!!! Increase my capacity to be filled with more of Your love than ever before, I pray. In the Name of the One of Whom it is written, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16a), Jesus Christ! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I have asked our son Ron to write the personal words for today. He posts the blog every morning for me at 6 a.m.
Hi Friends! The Bible tells us to “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Dad embedded prayer into the DNA of Crossroads from the very beginning. I know this will take me well over the 100 words Dad asked me to write, but allow me to share a story that illustrates what I’m talking about…
When I was a teenager, I was part of our high school basketball team. I remember having to wake up extremely early one morning in order to attend a practice, which our overly zealous coach had scheduled well before the school day began. My teammates and I were far from enthusiastic about having to get our bodies out of bed that early, but that was the only time the gymnasium was available before our big championship game. So I set my alarm for “dark and early.” When the dreaded beeping noise hit my ears, I reluctantly rolled out of bed, got dressed, and tiptoed my way through the dark hallway and down the stairs, being careful not to wake anyone else in the family. However, when I got to the living room, I was surprised to see the lights on and hear someone speaking. When I looked to my left, I saw my Dad kneeling next to the couch with dozens of pieces of paper spread out all over the furniture. I paused long enough to figure out what was going on. Dad was in prayer, weeping and interceding before God on behalf of the many who had written to him as a result of the recently launched 100 Huntley Street daily TV program. He never saw me as I continued tiptoeing out the door and off to my practice. That experience deeply impacted me. It strongly reinforced to my heart the truth of Dad’s genuine passion for God and passion for people. He wasn’t on television because of any ego trip or because he needed a job. He was called by God to share the love of Jesus to a lost and hurting world. He lived what he believed about the infinite value of a soul. After that, I could think of nothing else I wanted to do with my life than work with my Dad, which I had the privilege of doing from 1985 to 2015.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone,
Ron
Stunning photo, today!! Your father was a man of great prayer on behalf of the needs of others and an incredible inspiration to us all. Happy Valentine’s Day, Norma-Jean, Ron, Ann, Kathy, Reynold, and all fellow saints in the Lord!
What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. Matthew 10:27 ESV
Kari Jobe – What Love is This (Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsgUdVDfaoM
Beautiful video. I forwarded it. Beautiful day too! Blessings to all today.
Yes a beautiful video I also shared it on FB
Ron I love that story about you seeing you dad praying and how it made you want to follow in his footsteps. O that more parents would be like that. Pastor David has left a wonderful legacy. Happy Valentines Day to all.
Eleanor M. Edward is improving slowly I had him at our ER on Friday for 7 hours, they put him on intravenous for pain and gave him a catscan which looks ok. When we go to see the surgeon on the 27th he said he will decide if Edward needs an MRI or not. Thanks again for the prayers.
TY Lord for healing Edward from inside out! TY for Eleanor as she cares for Edward very lovingly, we TY Lord for all Your mercies and grace TY Lord in Jesus Name we pray amen
Thank you Sah I really appreciate yours prayers. You are a very caring person and I pray to the Lord that you needs will be met.
Yes, beautiful song…thank you Beverlee!
Happy Valentine’s Day To the family. Thanks Ron and Ann heard your new program to start what a wonderful idea marriages today need a lift and you will be a great voice to all
Irene
happy valentines day everyone! Ron and Ann talked on 100 huntley St yesterday about the launch in April of their new TV program. It’s called “A Better Us” and it is focusing on help for marriages.
God’s love to Norma- Jean
and family Feb 14/18 .
What a beautiful picture.
Wonderful picture and story. Thank you all the Mainse family! And may God bless and strengthen and use all his people today to show his Truth and grace. In Jesus’s holy name, amen
Happy Valentine’s Day to Norma-Jean, Ron, Ann, Reynold and Kathy, 100 Huntley St. rest of the Mainse family and fellow saints. Congratulations Ron and Ann on your new program. Also love the story you added Ron. Pastor David was a great prayer warrior and appreciated his prayers for us readers as well. Good news Eleanor!
Thanks Ger.
Oh yes, love that photo Reynold. Remember standing and looking west to a similar sky from Mt. Carmel and our guide was an old war hero. When we got to the Jordan River to be baptized there was a mighty downpour of rain, I believe the first of the season.
What a descriptive photo of the doom and gloom today’s scripture portrays…thank you Reynold and thank you Ron for posting it!!
However, God also promises an escape for Jacob! His Love endures forever! Amen and Amen!!
HAPPY VALENTINE TO NORMA-JEAN AND ALL YOUR FAMILY:) Be bless in the Lord! Especially on this Valentines Day!
Thank you Ron for your testimony!!! How blessed you are to have had your Dad’s love for those many years, and the great legacy he left for you and all your family!!
HAPPY VALENTINE DAY all you bloggers…be blessed!!
Praise and Thanks to God for Ron and Ann starting a program on bettering marriages! This will help many, many people! PTL
I don’t know the name of the country, either Sweden, Norway or Denmark have a program in place that when a person is born they are assigned a counsellor for life!
The outcome is less divorce, less violence, less abuse, less poverty; less drug addictions; this program has contributed to more happy people, less stress;!!!!
I thought this is such a GREAT IDEA, the costs for such a program are very low when the cost of a broken family or a broken person is 5 times greater!
I believe that we don’t need more jails! We need counsellors to help people walk through life! This could very easily be happening in Canada & USA; it just takes Mental Health to bring this program into the lives of every person…..
Lord we pray that You will help mend broken lives, broken people, broken marriages!
Blessings to all and remember God loves and sees our hearts! TY Lord TY Lord TY Lord amen!!!!!!