1,000 GENERATIONS
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 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 on the right-hand side).
A mother and daughter share a meaningful moment at Nazareth Village in Nazareth. My son-in-law, Rev. Nizar Shaheen, ordained 32 years ago in the Nazareth Baptist Church, was one of the visionaries who helped create this re-creation of Nazareth at the time of Christ. Many have come to know Jesus as Saviour and Lord in this place.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 7:9
Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments…
What are the emphasis words? Twenty-three times the phrase, “the Lord your God” is repeated. It’s a good idea to check whether or not Jesus quoted from His Hebrew Bible. He did! In Matthew 4:3 Jesus gave us a Moses quote: “Man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3b). Particularly because of Jesus’ quote, we who believe in Him have every right to claim God’s promise to His people. In today’s reading, Moses reviews all God has done for the people, and then takes the very long view which reaches far beyond our present generation. The Apostle Peter picks up on Deuteronomy 7:6 from his Bible and tells us that we, too, are God’s special treasure. We might want to read now 1 Peter 2:9-17. There are serious obligations, as well as exciting blessings, to being God’s people. Think about it and click here to read Peter’s words.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, Your “little rock,” Peter, has challenged me to live my life in a way that will cause other people to glorify You. Please bestow on me grace and power to good works. I know that people will observe me today. May I represent You well. In Your strong Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Four years ago today, I was in the Canadian Space Centre in Montreal to join the Canadian Governor General and others to celebrate the lift off of he Soyuz rocket carrying Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield to the International Space Station. After his return, he told me of the send-off blessing by a Russian Orthodox Priest. With joy he said that the priest, as he prayed for each astronaut, hit them with some force on the forehead with a large metal cross. We reflected on the amazing turnaround in Russia from the communist government which declared, “There is no God,” to this remarkable very public official prayer broadcast across Russia and made available to news organizations around the world. As far as I know, the Canadian News Media ignored that part of the story, but not 100 Huntley Street and YES TV. The light of Christ is shining through thousands of TV sets, computer screens, iPhones and iPads because those who support these ministry opportunities make it possible. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I encourage us all to make a special year-end gift to Crossroads (click here for easy ways to help keep the lights on!).
Yours for the good of God’s people for 1,000 generations,
David
P.S. On yesterday’s blog, I put pictures of seven of my great-grandchildren (four generations of that “1,000”). I must treat all of my great-grandchildren without favouritism. So below are photos of the others. The first three are the grandchildren of our daughter Ellen and her husband Nizar Shaheen. The parents are Sarah and her husband Jordan Stowell. Their children are Aliyah, James, and Kaylin, ages 9, 7, and 4. Then in the second photo is Jadice and Declan, who are the grandchildren of our son Ron and his wife Ann. The parents are Andrea and Jason Patterson. Jadice turns 4 on New Year’s Eve and Declan is 4 1/2 months. The last picture is of 15-month old Ruby, granddaughter of Reynold and Kathy Mainse, who are missionaries in Africa. Ruby is the daughter of Elizabeth and David Lee. Please forgive me for going far beyond 100 words, but Norma-Jean and I, our children, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren represent those 1,000 generations that God promises to bless!!! And besides, it’s Christmas time!!! Merry Christmas EVERY ONE!!!
Kaylin, Aliyah and James Stowell.
Jadice and Declan Patterson.
Ruby Lee.
God’s voice in scripture sure is speaking clearly, this morning. Indeed, we are chosen and proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Having obtained His mercy, we praise Him, forevermore. Lift up your hearts, oh saints, and be blessed, this special day. For indeed, we shall not perish.
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13 NIV
Kerrie Roberts: “O Holy Night” Performance Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDUg88d9Hbw
P.S. Beautiful photos of your great-grandchildren, Norma-Jean! Merry Christmas to you!
Amen Beverlee…also thank you for “Holy Night” a blessed Holy Night indeed!
Wonderful family pictures. Great promises of God for us! Today, for some reason I started singing an old Sunday school song – “Behold, behold, I stand at the door & knock knock, knock” if anyone hears my voice & will “open, open, open, the door, I will come in.” I’m looking for the picture of Jesus knocking (the one with no doorknob on the outside), to show some special people.
I have such a pic in my clipboard ready to share.I can put it on my FB if you want to copy it,Doreen.Yes,that is the only solution I can think of because there is no link to where I got it from several years ago.God bless
Sorry,Doreen,I just now posted that pic on my FB page.I think I’ll add this to it.God bless
Salvation
Sweet Jesus I owe everything to you and to you alone,
You have shown me my home,you are my anchorstone,
You have saved me always when stormy winds have blown,
You have always been my rock,the truest friend I’ve known,
So why do you think me worthy as a seed you have sown
What can I ever do to earn all the love you’ve shown .
Ch:
Let me know sweet Jesus, let me know beyond my days
Let me know my savior,when I bow down to you in praise,
When my time here is drawing short and coming to a close,
As they carry me away after leading the life I chose,
I pray that I will leave not sorrow for those that I love,
But instead to know the joy that waits for us above.
I am not a wealthy man but I am very rich by far,
When I walk my journey you’re my guiding star
And you know that I am honest in all the things I do,
I have never born false witness,I only say what’s true,
You have strengthened my soul before I even knew
Of life’s losses with your love to see me through.
You have always had your hand placed within my soul,
You have shown me your light that has made me whole,
I have never known this love that comes from your grace,
Nor have I known compassion that shines from your face,
For I am still a sinner and you are the son of God
I can only meet you at the end of the road I’ve trod.
G W(Bill) Marshall (No copyright intended)
Thank you William for sharing!
Here is the link to that picture
https://goo.gl/images/BM7aXC
This was meant for Doreen
I should have scrolled down.It’s the same pic.Thanks Luisa.Blessings
Would it be right for Christians to boycott the products of TV advertisers who cause broadcasters to fear Christian content as happened with that broadcast from Russia??We can not make it an issue without it being made to look like a declaration of war on atheists…but a list of such advertisers could be made available on a personal FB page if one exists.
We all love our grandchildren so no one can fault David for loving his.God bless
So happy Christmas is approaching and praying for many more souls to come to Jesus at this time of year. Can’t help but love all children. What a blessing they are. Merry Christmas!!
One of Martin Luther’s students wrote about the joyful man:
“As Christmas approached, Luther grew increasingly cheerful: “All his words and songs and thoughts concerned the incarnation of our Lord. Then he sighed and said, ‘Oh, we poor people that we should be so cold and indifferent to this great joy that has been given us. For this is indeed the greatest gift, which far exceeds all else that God has created. Yet we believe so sluggishly, even though the angels proclaim and preach and sing, and their lovely song sums up the whole Christian faith, for ‘Glory to God in the highest’ is the very heart of worship.”
Thank you,Lynda.I love his enthusiasm.
Faith is certainty without proof.If the angels still appeared to us we would have that ‘proof ‘ of His heavenly kingdom and what would that do to faith?The proof would destroy the trust.Merry Christmas to all and may God bless
Trust Me
Trust Me,I know what I am doing,
It’s not just your heart I am wooing
But your soul is so dear to Me,
I want you with Me for eternity.
Even when your days are very bad,
I share the load that makes you sad,
So do not be angry with Me,
You must trust in Me eternally.
I love all my children most dearly,
And in life I see you clearly,
That is why you are on the Earth,
It is a school and the grave is your birth.
‘I knew you before you were born’,
I would never leave you forlorn,
I know every hair on your head,
Death is not for you to dread.
Life is through my precious Son,
A reward for when your day is done,
So know that this is my gift to you
And trust in Him your life through.
G W (Bill) Marshall/.2011
Another poem that reflects this thought from my poems of comfort:
If I Could
If I could but see,again your face,
Oh how much my heart would race,
And nothing could ever efface ,
The mem’ry of our last embrace.
If I could climb to Heaven’s gate
And just look in to watch a while,
Then I know I could joyfully wait,
If I could see your happy smile.
If I could hear the song you sing
And your laughter bless my ears,
Then grief would loose it’s sting
And a smile would dry my tears.
But faith would loose it’s esteem,
And Heaven’d loose it’s stealth,
So we must be denied this dream,
If Heaven is to keep it’s wealth.
G W (Bill) Marshall / Dec 08, 2012
So very true. Thanks Bill for your good thoughts in life and your poems to be so enjoyed and pondered. Keep up the great work!
Merry Christmas to all saints. God bless.
Amen Bill. Thank you for sharing your lovely poem. Amen.
Amen, Lynda. Thank you for sharing that great quote.
Beautiful great grandchildren of David and Norma Jean. The key verse is a good promise to claim. Producing lots of good poems William and the song you posted Beverlee is my favorite. Dug out the CD to practice. Had a big storm for two days and today was clean up day. Thanking God for a friend who came with the big tractor and snowblower this morning and I spent the pm doing the rest. Thanking God for the strength. Read all your good posts saints. God bless you.
I really enjoyed reading the blog and also picture of the grandchildren
David and Norma-Jean are blessed with the many great-grandchildren, together with their grandchildren, as well as children. Thanks for sharing! What a blessing!!!
Once again, the exposition of today’s scripture reading are special. Thank you!!
And a Merry Christmas and a Joyous and Prosperous New Year to Norma-Jean and all the Mainse family!!
Revenge belongs to the Lord! He knows,sees & hears all! I believe that when a negative pops and they do all day long, I just keep praying the Lord’s Prayer over all!
It is the BEST prayer in the whole world,it was given to us by Jesus Himself! It covers EVERYTHING!
An eye for an eye is not my choice, it was very hard to move away from that thinking; I still sin, HOWEVER I can tell God I am sorry, I also never ask the Lord
to get even with people who have done wrong or made negative statements against God or others, because He knows what is going on….God will deal with the situation….
So thankful for all the words today from everyone….going through very difficult time with shorter days….God bless