HEALING AND LOVE
Today’s Reading: Hosea 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).
This olive tree may be 2,000 years old. It is located near the vicinity of the ancient capital of Israel, Samaria, in the West Bank. This photo was taken in the Palestinian village of Sebastia, which today has a population of almost 5,000. This was the heartland of the northern tribes to which the prophet, Hosea, delivered God’s messages. Throughout the Bible, the olive tree is the symbol of the spiritual life of Israel. It is said that once rooted, the olive tree never dies. It may be cut down when it is not producing fruit anymore, but it grows again from the roots.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Hosea 14:4, 9
“I will heal their backsliding,
I will love them freely,
For My anger has turned away from him.”
…”Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent?
Let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them.”
It’s amazing!!! After being rejected, and after God’s great heart has been broken by the sins of His people, the words “ransom,” “redeem,” “return,” “heal,” “love,” “grow,” “beauty,” “help,” and “revived,” stand out in today’s reading. Yes, we bring judgment upon ourselves, and in this life we reap what we have sown for good or evil. And yes, we may need reminding that the most often-repeated sentence in the Bible is “His mercy endures forever!!!” God always responds to our sincere prayers. His answers may be “Slow” (circumstances must change first), “Grow” (He has a work to do in us first), “No” (it’s not best for us), or “Go” (YES!) Here’s one prayer to which He always says “Yes.” (Let’s pray this together)… “Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned and cannot save myself. Please forgive me. I believe You died on the cross for my sins. I thank You for that. And I believe that You rose from the dead and that You live forever. I truly desire that You come into my life. Right now I open the door of my life and ask You to come and live in me. I receive You now, Jesus, as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for answering my prayer. Help me to live for You. Make me the person You want me to be. Amen.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that by Your grace I will be “on fire” for You! May I burn with a passion to do Your will on earth as it is done in Heaven. May I give light in dark places, illuminating Your loving eternal purposes for having created me. In the Name of “The Light of the World,” Jesus Christ, I ask these blessings. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
From the olive tree, oil is produced which fed the flames rising from the menorah, a seven-branched candelabra, which provided the only light in the Holy Place in the Tabernacle of Moses, and later in the Temple. The fires burning from the oil-drenched wicks and the offering of the smoke of the incense symbolized the prayers of the people. I’ve read a great book on prayer, and I’m challenged as never before to consistently spend quality time in prayer. The book is called, Pivotal Praying! By John Hull. The subtitle is, Connecting with God in Times of Great Need. Be prepared to have your prayer life and God’s answers to your prayers become all that God would desire. Amen!!! (click here to order the book).
Yours for listening to God (reading His Word) and then having confidence that God listens to us as we pray!!!
David
Rev. Rick Heibert, portraying the High Priest, prays in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. He stands between the Golden Lampstand and the Altar of Incense. Olive oil feeds the flames which symbolize prayer which ascends to God and light which comes from God.
Good morning to all. I have not posted in sometime. I have to confess I have not been reading David’s devotion a lot. Been hit and miss. I have missed it so. I pray I will get back into daily reading again. We are home from the south and hopefully I pick up on my daily northern routine. I never strayed from my faith . Life is different in Florida . I’m glad to be home in Canada again, we are blessed to live in rural area. God is good and has blessed us abundantly.
So glad to see Beverly still posting songs to on u tube, thank you ,I look forward to them.
To Sah, I had the same prayer, that my youngest son would be closer with us. Well things have changed and are looking up. Praises to our wonderful God. We have a lovely supper with our son and his wife the other night and they are coming up to the farm on the long weekend in May. So Sah I pray for a reconciliation with your daughter.
God is good, all the time. Blessings.
Glad you are back reading to reading the blog Nan. I know what it is like when you are not home to be able to keep up your routine.
I also enjoy Beverlee Kay,s posting of songs it alway leads me to other songs which I enjoy so much.
Sah we are all praying for you and your daughter to be reconciled it will be done in God,s time just leave it him?
Back in May or June last year I asked for prayer for my friend Cynthia who was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had surgery and all her treatments. She is doing good and awaiting the results from her recent test.
She has accepted the Lord as her Saviour and was baptized last week Sunday.
Thanks for all your prayers and we are praying that she has beaten this cancer.
Have a Holy and Blessed Easter weekend all.
Thelma
WOW CYNTHIA WHAT A CELEBRATION IN BEING BAPTIZED PRAISE THE LORD, GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS…….
THE SONG ” AIN’T IT JUST LIKE THE LORD ” COME TO MIND!
LORD WE THANK YOU FOR REMOVING ALL THE CANCER FROM THIS PP
WE THANK YOU THAT SHE KNOWS YOU AND WILL LEARN EVERY DAY HOW ‘GREAT THOU ART’
TY JESUS, TY AMEN
Thank Wilma for your testimony of God’s goodness with us!!
oops …sorry, I meant “Thelma”
Yesterday we had
a nice family time
at the cementary
in memory of my
father. 1yr.
What an encouraging reading again from David and from God’s word, and what an appropriate message for this Easter weekend!
May there be some who read this and take this opportunity to connect with Jesus as their Saviour. May we all draw near to Him!
Ron, it was good to see and hear you on TV this morning reading the comments in the blog!
Incredible photo of the olive tree and David’s prayer; enjoyed everyone’s comments, this morning. Yesterday, posted lyrics to O Glorious Day; here it is again for you, Luisa. Wishing all saints a blessed day in the Lord.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
O Glorious Day ( Living He Loved Me) – Casting Crowns (Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtO2fVWDUdU
Thank you, Beverlee!
God bless you!
TY to all who are praying for my daughter to phone me! I ask God for wisdom, what do I do next…..I know what I want to say to her……please continue to pray TY again, I am overwhelmed……
Joe Amerall was on 100 Huntley; he has written a book explaining how God’s Plan for Man’s Salvation is recorded in the sky through the sun, moon and stars!
Genesis 1:14 speaks of God giving lights in the firmament of the heavens to separate the day from the night;and let them be for sings and for seasons and for days and years……
Joe went on to explain about the constellations and how they tie in with God’s plan….it is astronomy……very interesting….
Praying for your daughter to call you Sah! Yes it was so nice to see and hear Joe Amarall again on 100 Huntley St. Also loved the music this past week . Love all the hosts! Wishing everyone a blessed Easter !
Amen Sah, I too heard Joe’s interview on TV yesterday!
Amazing olive trees!! I found Davids’ comments about the use of the oil from the olive trees very interesting. Prayed with David’s powerful prayer.
Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him (Job 13:15)
Because I know whom I have believed. 2 Timothy 1:12
“Jesus Christ is not m y security against the storms of life, but He is my perfect security in the storms. He has never promised me an easy passage, only a safe landing.”
Oh, set your sail to the heavenly gale,
And then, no matter what winds prevail,
No reef can wreck you, no cal delay;
No mist will hinder, no storm will stay;
Though far you wander and long you roam
Though salt sea sprays and oi’er white sea foam,
No wind can blow but that will speed you Home.
Annie Johnson Flint .. (Streams in the Desert)
Have a Happy Easter Mainse family, Blessed of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!