TAKE HEED, OBSERVE, POSSESS
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 4
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
A father walks his child from a time of studying holy books in a Jewish library located in Jerusalem at the foot of the Temple Mount, beside the Western Wall. This Jewish father is obviously taking heed to Moses’ instructions.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 4:9
Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and grandchildren.
Words repeated in a chapter stand out to me. “TAKE HEED” (3 times), “OBSERVE” (3 times), and “POSSESS” (4 times). I believe God wants us to pay attention to Him, carefully scrutinize His Word and our response, and then assimilate (make part of our being) what we are learning. This will equip us to pass on our stories to the next generations, and for us personally, “That you may live” (vs 1)…also, “Lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life” (vs 9). Another reason to TAKE HEED, OBSERVE, AND POSSESS is…”Lest you act corruptly” (vs 16). How about “Lest you forget?” (vs 23). The result of our diligence is found in verses 29-31. This is so important that I’m going to type those verses here for extra emphasis, “BUT FROM THERE YOU WILL SEEK THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND YOU WILL FIND HIM IF YOU SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL. WHEN YOU ARE IN DISTRESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS COME UPON YOU IN THE LATTER DAYS, WHEN YOU TURN TO THE LORD YOUR GOD AND OBEY HIS VOICE (FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS A MERCIFUL GOD), HE WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU NOR DESTROY YOU, NOR FORGET THE COVENANT WHICH HE SWORE TO THEM.” Amen!!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I can’t do this on my own, nevertheless I’ll give it my best. My best won’t be enough Lord. Therefore, I ask you for sufficient grace to fully “Take Heed,” “Observe,” and “Possess.” Through the Person and work of Jesus, the One who did it right, I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Telling my stories to my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren is a joy for me (I’ve written a book containing some of my stories. Interested? – click here to order a copy). Besides, when I do this I’m being obedient to God’s instructions given to us through Moses. As I ponder what story I should tell here, in my mind’s eye I see a framed front page picture from the National Post that I have at home. It’s of Stephen Harper in 2006 (who would be elected Prime Minister in 3 days’ time) holding my great-granddaughter, Noelle Neilson (I’ll put a copy of that picture below). His campaign bus stopped right in front of Noelle’s townhome in Waterdown, Ontario. Meanwhile, I had a book of photographs from the 1948 Stanley Cup Champions, the Toronto Maple Leafs, that I thought Stephen Harper would enjoy, knowing that he’s a BIG hockey fan and was working on a book about hockey. I had prayed, “Lord, I have no idea how to get these historic pictures into Stephen’s hands; can You help me?” Now back to that surprise street visit…Mr. Harper asked Noelle’s Mom, my granddaughter Sheryl, “Who is this child.” She answered, “This is David Mainse’s great-granddaughter.” He responded, “Tell David I’m going to call him next week.” The day after the election, as I was walking into a nursing home to get the “okay” from the elderly couple who had given me the hockey photographs, my cell phone rang. Guess what? It was our new P.M. I travelled to Ottawa and presented him these amazing photos on Thursday that week. No one could tell me that God does not have a hand in even small events if we ask Him to. Hebrews 11:6 says, “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” So that’s another story for my great-grandchildren. Noelle is now eleven and more great-grandchildren have arrived since!.
Yours for passing on stories of God’s love and grace,
David
Here is the photo from the National Post which I referred to above. It was from January 20, 2006. You can click on the photo to enlarge it.
Love this morning’s story of PM Stephen Harper and David’s great-grand-daughter, Noelle Neilson, who I had the pleasure of playing with this summer at Smitty’s at Wesley Acres. We love you in heaven, dear David, and thank you for your legacy, which allows us to study this Word of God together and delve deeper into its meaning. Where are we but without God’s Hand in our lives? Wishing all saints a blessed day–stay safe and warm.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.” Micah 5:2 NKJV
Andrea Bocelli, David Foster – The Christmas Song ft. Natalie Cole–beautiful!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV25_n3aBJA
Beverley, Loved the Andrew & David Foster (with Natalie Cole beautiful piece. I wanted to save it! I can’t find the underscore line on my cell. Do you know how to locate that?? Funny. I hadn’t noticed that before.
I have no idea what your cell is like and I use an older flip cell because it is easier (my _ is under the * key). It is best just to copy and paste the entire address line, Doreen. Click and hold the cursor and it turns blue; scroll over the entire adress, hold ctrl and c together, then go to where you want to copy it, hold ctrl p to paste it there. Hope this helps. God bless you.
Amen Beverlee!
Andrea Bocelli is one of my favorites
Beverlee Kay, Yes Praise and Thank the Lord for freedom of speech in Canada! Let us give thanks to God and give thanks to our Government for fighting for many other freedoms….God bless you Beverlee Kay
How very humble of Moses to accept that he wasn’t allowed to go to the promised land. He knew he had God’s blessings regardless.
Found another great quote:
“Frederick Buechner: “No matter how deep [the fish] dove and no matter how dark the inside of its belly, no depth or darkness was enough to drown out the sound of Jonah’s prayer. . . . the intractable and waterlogged old man called out from sixty fathoms, and Yahweh heard him, and answered him.” (Then Buechner notes with his typical humor that “Jonah’s relief at being delivered from the whale can hardly have been any greater than the whale’s at being delivered of Jonah.”)”
https://youtu.be/AXjAO4ILoGQ
Such a great pic of Stephen Harper and baby Noelle.
Great quote, Lynda!
Again, interesting anecdote from David ! ????
I have an urgent prayer request I think I’m coming down with the flu and Christmas is next week so I really need a lot of prayer so I won’t be sick for Christmas thank you everybody and God bless I have already rebuked the sickness so I won’t be sick for Christmas so I just thank you all for praying for me thank you
Agreeing in prayer with you Marilyn, no flu in Jesus Name!
Marilyn I am also agreeing in prayer for your healing,. That you would be healthy and able to enjoy celebrating the birth of our dear Lord Jesus. Eleanor M.
Ps Edward had his third radiation today 27 more to come.
Thank you Eleanor for your for your prayers God bless from the bottom of my heart God bless
Marilyn Busse we lift you up to our Lord God Almighty for complete healing of your body, no flu cells anywhere, lungs are healthy,kidneys,bowels,all are healthy, Lord God we know that You have healed this precious pp, we Thank You for doing this for her and for loving ALL OF US WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, tHANK yOU lORD THANK YOU….
No unfortunately I did not get the flu shot and I can’t get it now because I think I’m coming down with the flu but I I hope not so yeah thanks again
Lord God, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Jireh, God of healing and protection, cover Marilyn with Your precious Blood to keep her well for the Christmas holidays. We rebuke the flu bug in you, Marilyn and pray for God’s touch upon you. I believe you are healed, dear sister-in-Christ. Wash your hands lots and gargle some salt water just to be sure.
Always enjoy David’s stories. and scripture lesson!
What a special keepsake for Noel to have.
Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.
Agreeing in prayer for you Marilyn.
Thank you for your prayers in men
Thank you once again Irene and Beverly Kaye for your response that’s what I like about this blog that there are people who are really concerned when you post request that there are people who respond so thank you very much from the bottom of my heart and right no flu bug for Christmas thank you again and God bless
And another thing thank you Irene and Beverly your response means the world to me and I know I can depend on people on on this blog to pray for me when there is an urgent need no matter what it is so God bless and Satan will not take the merry out of Merry Christmas God bless amen
I just cam from a concert where our 4 tenors sang, WOW WOW WOW all dressed in tuxcedos, beautiful music, such a wonderful way to worship our Lord God.;;;;they shared the story that waiters wear black tuxes and have a towel over their arm, they are serving the customers, servants, just as the music of this group were singing praises to our King of Kings, it was a very nice evening. thank you Lord amen amen
Yes I am thankful to the Lord for this website, for all who pray for one another, my heart is overflowing……..amen amen amen