A MERRY HEART
Today’s Reading: Proverbs 15
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
While in the Holy Land, one can enjoy a wonderful meal in Nazareth at this first century re-enactment location called Nazareth Village.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Proverbs 15:16
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.
Before we consider our key verse, let’s highlight three other statements from today’s reading: (1) “A soft answer turns away wrath.” Let’s try this. It works! (2) “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance.” This works too! In fact this is very enjoyable for everybody! (3) “A wise son makes a father glad.” We have the help of two Mainse sons in creating this blog. Rev. David Reynold Mainse, a professional photographer as well as an ordained minister, has spent almost three months in Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Egypt taking the photos which appear daily as our first blog item. Rev. Ronald Wesley Mainse, also an ordained minister, sets up the blog format daily, prepares the links which appear in blue for our convenience, takes pictures from time to time which appear at the end of the blog, and then posts the blog for 6 a.m. daily. “Thank You” to my wise and helpful sons!
The key verse can be illustrated by clicking on Luke 16:19-31. The world says that the more wealth we have, the happier we will be. Anyone who suggests that a poor man could be better off than a rich man is looked at as a fool. But to the rich man in Jesus’ story God says, “You fool.” “Wisdom” motivates us to lay up treasure in Heaven!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that I will use the material possessions with which You bless me in those things that please You and which have eternal consequences and rewards. You have promised to supply all my needs (Philippians 4:10-19), and over and above that, enough to bless my family, as well as others! I pray this in the Name of the One who daily gives and gives and gives, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I was born in the minister’s house provided by a congregation at the height of the Great Depression during the 1930’s. From two to eight years old, I lived on the farm owned by my mother’s sister and her husband, Mina and Harvey Lindsay. My father was overseas for the duration of World War II. Then, upon his return, we began living in Church-owned residences. My parents never took a vow of poverty as far as I know, but by today’s Canadian standards we were poor. However, money never seemed to be a problem. We always had food to eat and a roof over our heads. We experienced our key verse: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure with trouble.” We did not have “great treasure” in terms of money, but then we did not have the kind of trouble referred to in our reading either. I look back on those days with a “merry heart.” I think it shows on my countenance as Proverbs 15:13 says.
Yours for “a merry heart.” Is it too early to say MERRY Christmas?
David
P.S. Below is a picture of me in 2013 standing at the “Wailing Wall” in Jerusalem… the prayer wall for Jews and for us too. I am placing there written prayer requests sent to me by blog partners for this purpose. The little hat is worn as a courtesy to our Jewish friends.
Wonderful scripture, message, prayer and photos, today. Thank you Ron and Reynold for your work on the blog. “Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
and humility comes before honor” (vs. 33). Blessings to all saints, today.
And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.”
Isaiah 12:4 ESV
Unredeemed by Selah with lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9kMYkYcT6w
Father God, thank You for this day. May we truly be glad and rejoice in it. Please help all your people to rejoice in You, our Saviour, Redeemer, and Deliverer. Please comfort and strengthen all your children, and help us to share your wonderful gospel every day until You return. In Jesus’s great name, amen
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
Amen!
Blessed Assurance is one of my favourite hymns.
Thanks for sharing, Rob.
Mine too.I came back to share this,Psalm 23,Shane and Shane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxLlpViTcic
Mine too thank you Rob and agreeing with your prayer
Amen….as well as Nan…Blessed Assurance is also one of my favourite hymns and is sung every time we have Sing Along.
Amen,Beverlee and Ron.Thank you.I had just inserted the bottom benediction when this poem ‘flashed in my head’,about an hr ago.It took no more than 10-15 min to write but I had an awful time formatting it in my files.It seems unfinished but the words stopped there.Yall have a great day….Christmas is sneaking up on us.God bless
Came to me while posting in 100 Words today.
Find All The Lost
You have found me and set me free
And I know now Your love for me,
Hence I will always live for Thee
And shine your light eternally.
Let not me e’er let You down,
For I owe my whole life to You
And You have promised me a crown
When my life down here is all through.
So,Lord Jesus,find all the lost
And set them free from chains of sin,
Then they will know You paid the cost
And are cleansing them from within.
GW(Bill) Marshall /26 Nov,2019
Can’t Be Bought
May happiness be yours to share
And joy be your constant kin,
So you have peace beyond compare
As He cleanses the temple within
And as the world sees your face,
Will be seen what they have not,
For this gift is an unearned grace
From a Love that can’t be bought.
GW(Bill) Marshall /24 Aug, 2015
Amen Bill!
Amen
Yes, wonderful scripture, message and prayer. Can identify with Pastor David’s message about growing up poor. There were 13 children in this family but we never went hungry. My parents were hard workers too as well as the Lord’s provision as is mentioned in the psalms today. Thank you for the poems and posts today saints.
Amen Ger!
Amen
Please pray for my niece Samantha.
She is in the hospital with depression and mental problems.
God Bless
I can guess how you feel and will pray for this lady – I have a daughter in hospital as well with mental problems I include Samantha in my prayers for my duaghter and know in my heart GOD will work things out in HIS way for in HIS time – GOD bless
Teresa I am praying for your niece Samantha and for your daughter Gloria.
Dear Lord I bring them before Your Thorne of Grace and ask you to heal them physically and spiritually. You said if we ask anything believing we will receive . I believe that you can touch these two young woman and completely make them whole. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus Amen and Amen.
I should have said Gloria’s daughter. Sorry
Agreeing with your prayer Eieanor, Amen
Agreeing with you in prayer , Eleanor !