WHIRLWIND
Today’s Reading: Hosea 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).
A field on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee is ready for harvest. Galilee is over 600 feet below Sea Level with a bowl-like topography. Strong south-west winds are drawn into this 5 mile by 8 mile rift in the earth’s surface and can create strong whirlwinds which destroy the crops, and as we read in the Gospels, turn the peaceful seascape we see here into violent storms.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Hosea 7:2 and 8:7a
They do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness; now their own deeds have surrounded them; they are before my face…They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.
Five times in today’s reading we see the name of the largest tribe in Israel, Ephraim. Ephraim was farthest away geographically from the Temple in Jerusalem, and it seems that they were also furthest away from God during the time of Hosea’s ministry. Ephraim represents all ten northern tribes of Israel. To try to communicate to them their need to repent, Hosea uses word pictures like “band of robbers,” “an oven neglected by a sleeping baker,” “a silly dove caught in a net,” and farmers who “sow to the wind and reap a whirlwind.” In the first verse of our reading, God speaks through Hosea and says, “I would have healed Israel!” God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (read 2 Peter 3:9-11). But just like Hosea preaching in his day that “Israel has forgotten his Maker!” (Hosea 8:14a), God also wants to bring us close to Himself and not reject us, but our sin and our foolish pride create a wall between God and us that stops reconciliation. Jesus broke down that wall for all who repent of their sins and trust in Him. Through another prophet, the Lord says of a future time, “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34b).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I repent of my sin. I pray with the man whose prayer has become so well known, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). By Your forgiveness You erase my sin from Your records. According to Your promise, You don’t even remember my past sin. Thank You!!! I ask for Your grace for this new day so that I will be kept pure in thought, word and deed. I ask this through the only One who had no need to repent, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
We have a 21st century Jeremiah (Johnston) who says,
“In an age of acute Biblical illiteracy, the vision of the Christian Thinkers Society is to lead the vanguard of a new movement that will have a notable impact on the shape of contemporary Christianity by providing the essential training to transform and enrich believers, Christian leaders, and Pastors who will be characterized by a thinking faith, capable to communicate confidently, and committed to escape the tendency to offer trite answers to a sceptical world.”
I’m asking my blog readers to pray for Jeremiah and share Jeremiah’s vision with others. Check out his website HERE. I like Jeremiah’s slogan, “Teaching Christians to Become Thinkers, and Thinkers to Become Christians”…and a big “AMEN” to that!!!
Yours for a greater understanding of the heart and mind of our “Maker!”
David
Blessings to all on this prayer site!
prayed David’s prayer also, exactly what I needed, TY Lord
pray for Larry G, he is in hospice, very young man, has Christian friends who are praying for him…
Pray for Kim R. to stop smoking; bless his children & grand-children.
prayers of thankfulness for the choir that will sing Good Friday and share Gospel music with the community; and thank the Lord for a very gifted director who is a Pastor also,
thankful to be able to post prayers in Jesus Name we pray amen
Amen Sah.
Agreeing in prayer, Sah!
Yes, prayers for Larry G who is in the hospice that you Lord will reach down and touch him and renew him body, soul and spirit. Also for Kim R. to stop smoking, as well as my brother Vinal and wife Sharon. They have tried before, quit and taken it up again. Lord give them all supernatural determination and strength in Jesus Name. Amen. Would appreciate your prayers saints. One of my brothers has died already from smoking. Thanks for the link to Fanny Crosby Rob. Like the writing on her tombstone; “She has done what she could.” Has written over 8,000 hymns. What a gift from God! Blessings on your day saints!
Agreeing with you in prayer Ger, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Thanks for sharing.
Agreeing with you in prayer Ger, for all your requests.
Amen, Ger1
Ger I am so sorry about losing a brother to smoking|!
Lord God I ask that You would remove smoking from Vinal and Sharon; Lord these words were spoken over me; WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT ENABLES US TO DO MORE THAN WE EVER DREAMT!
with those words the Holy Spirit removed smoking-alcohol from me IMMEDIATELY on April 16th, l995. Lord if you could do that for me, You can do the same for Ger`s brother and his wife! Lord I ask that You would cause them both to smell a very DIRTY smell from smoke and this would cause them to quit IMMEDIATELY!
TY Lord for all the blessings you have given Ger in her lifetime! TY for removing addictions from her family.TY Lord in Jesus Name we Pray amen
A quick update, my sister-in-law is home from the hospital, her oxygen levels are back to normal. She needs to rest to recover but so far it looks like she will get better. Thank you for all your prayers, our Lord is so gracious in His mercy.
Amen Donna, that is very good news.
Amen, Donna!
PRAISE THE LORD DONNA! let us celebrate total restoration for your sister-in-law, let us celebrate all the blessings the Lord has bestowed on you Donna and your family.
Let us rejoice in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His unconditionally love for ALL MAN KIND….
PRAISE THE LORD in Jesus Name we pray amen
the above blog is from me sah……..will celebrate the goodness of our Lord God amen amen amen
Jesus is our guide
when life is a whirl wind.
ALWAYS our guide, whirl wind or not! for me I get into a real `pickle`and think OH NO, WHERE DID GOD GO…..He didn`t, He is in the whirl wind with me…..blessings…….
Come by here, my Lord, come by here.
Come by here, my Lord, come by here.
Come by here, my Lord, come by here.
Oh Lord, come by here.
In every situation, Lord, come by here.
How we need You Lord.
We commit our lives, our families, our past, present, & future into Your hands, Lord.
Our government, our leaders, our countries, our pastors, brothers & sisters, gospel workers, missionaries, teachers, preachers, mothers, fathers, children, whole familes – we commit them all to You, dear Lord.
Have Your way in all this world, Lord God, & be exalted throughout all the universe, we ask & thank You for being faithful.
In Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen, Rob and Amen!!
Amen ,Rob !
TY Rob! powerful prayer! TY
Thank you Joy and Eleanor for your prayers. God bless you. Good news Donna. Like your song and prayed your prayer, Rob. Thanks!
What a peaceful scene in today’s picture…and yet it can become just the opposite very quickly!!
Lord together with David I pray “God be merciful to me a sinner”.
Thank you Lord when we confess our sin, You are faithful to forgive us!!