Wednesday, January 1, 2020

PERFECT PEACE

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 26-27

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

An older woman in Nazareth Village teaches a young girl how to make a blanket from sheep wool. In our modern world where we are equipped with all kinds of supposed labour saving devices, we are too busy to take time to do such things. At least this is the case with most of us. Let us create an atmosphere of “Peace” in our homes by slowing down our frantic activities and by spending time with children and young people in order to pass on the knowledge of the good things of the past.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

 

Chapter 26 is a good example of what a “Happy New Year” should be! Our key verse speaks of “perfect peace” (literally in Hebrew, “Shalom shalom – peace peace”). A double peace to all our blog participants!!! In this New Year let us take “the way of the just!” (26:7). Let us say to the Lord, “I will seek You early!” These daily blogs posted early each morning should help make the New Year the best ever!!!

Chapter 27 tells that God will be victorious over Satan. This is symbolized by “The fleeing serpent…the twisted serpent!” (27:1). Let us determine to “Resist the Devil and he will flee!” (James 4:7 – read James 4:7-10) Jesus said to His followers, “I give you authority to trample on serpents…” (read Luke 10:17-20). Let’s trample on the fleeing serpent this New Year! The result? “Peace…peace” (27:5)

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Thank You, Lord God, for the blessings of the past year. In the New Year I ask for Your power and authority to back me up as I resist the Devil. I know he is not continuing to harass me but he’s fleeing away at full speed. I take authority and order him to stay far away! I pray in the Name of the One from Whom Satan flees, Jesus Christ! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Our eldest son, David Reynold, was featured on yesterday’s blog as he reported from Haiti. Just before he and Kathy left for Africa, they hosted Norma-Jean and me for breakfast at 7 a.m.; we had fish-shaped pancakes and read all the Scriptures where Jesus spoke of fish. At 8:30 we visited the magnificent new Toronto aquarium, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. Reyn took pictures (check out one of Norma-Jean and me below). At noon we ate at a fish diner, and then in the afternoon we went to the Ontario Science Centre with its “Under the Sea” Omnimax theatre production. Our kids said the theme of the day was inspired by our commitment to follow Jesus and to let Him make us “fishers of men!” They are now fishing for men, women, boys and girls in Uganda, Africa (click here for an update).

HAPPY NEW YEAR from me to you!!!

David

Norma-Jean and me at the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Aquarium in Toronto. This day gave me constant reminders of Jesus’ Words, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt 4:19) This may be the best New Years Resolution ever! All I have to do is follow Jesus and He’ll “make me” all I should be!!!

 

 

16 thoughts on “Wednesday, January 1, 2020

  1. Hi Ron,

    Happy New Year,
    I love to receive your fathers blog again please
    because I am not finished the 2 years and I still take your father advice to read the blog early in the morning
    so I please like to continue
    with love
    Boudewina Verkaaik

  2. Happy New Year to Ron and Anne and all the Mainse and thank you for your faithful service. And once again to all my fellow bloggers. May it be the best year ever with all your prayers answered according to the will of God.

  3. A Happy and Blessed New Year to all! May the life changing power of the Gospel message transform the hearts and lives of all those dear loved ones we have been praying for, and all those souls who are still searching for truth, in this New Year 2020!

  4. Happy New Year all dear saints. May all your wishes come true after discussing them with our Heavenly Father. Got this lovely ecard from a friend and wanted to share it with everyone. God bless you and your loved ones this 2020.

    https://biggeekdad.com/2011/01/happy-new-year/

    There’s another one I’d like to share but have to send this first as I’m not all that technology mined:-). Shalom

    • what a beautiful New Years greeting – We can see GOD’S presence in the beauty of the scenery, the birds and animals and in the voice of the lady who sang Auld Lang Syne ! GOD bless all the blog partners – the Mainse family

  5. Still enjoying this blog by David Maines. It’s always insightful and encouraging and keeps me on track with my walk through the bible. Thanks for continuing to post it.
    Blessings to everyone in the year of 2020…..that we would have clear vision for the road ahead!

  6. “Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

    We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year.

    In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.

    In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.

    In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.

    And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need. May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).

    We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them.

    Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

    As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year.

    And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come.

    Amen.”

    Billy Graham’s prayer for the new year in 2008, published in the Saturday Evening Post and posted on billygraham.org, is also my prayer for this new year. May God’s will be done everywhere. In Jesus’s great name, amen

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