TURN! TURN!
Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 32-33
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A flock of sheep on a hillside in Israel. After reading of all the violence happening in Israel, Egypt, and elsewhere, it’s good to know that God has promised “green pastures” and His comforting Presence with us. For our encouragement it might be a good suggestion to read, quote or even sing Psalm 23 once again.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Ezekiel 32:11, 33:12
For thus says the Lord God: “The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you”…Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: “The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.”
Ezekiel dates his prophecies after the first Jews, including Daniel, were taken to Babylon, in order to show that his prophecies are accurate (i.e. year/month/day — 12/12/1, Ezekiel 32:1; and 12/10/5, Ezekiel 33:21). The final destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and his invasion of Egypt is still three to five years away. When the people see these things come to pass, it stands to reason that the reality of God’s foreknowledge should produce faith and repentance. God expresses His deep grief over what’s about to happen when He tells Ezekiel, “Son of man, wail [a cry of grief] over the multitude of Egypt.” Our key verses point out that neither righteousness nor wickedness can change the course of events. What did change was the long-term behaviour of Israel. The Jews made a 180-degree turn. Never again, after the 70 years of Babylonian captivity, did Israel turn back to worshipping idols and practising gross debauchery, as had been the case before. During this time, Israel paid attention to God’s call for repentance. Ezekiel 33:14b reveals God’s heart when He urgently says, “Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel.” Satan and all those whom he rules have done their best to destroy the Jews. No people on earth have ever been subjected to the hatred of hell like the Jewish people. Israel today, the Jewish state, is thriving beyond any reasonable expectation! Amazing!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, as I read Ezekiel I think over and over, “Jesus changed everything for me!” I pray that You’ll keep on changing me, and at every crossroads in my life, help me to turn, turn Your way. I ask You to make Your way my way. I pray this in the Name of the One who said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Jesus, Himself. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When I read Ezekiel 32:27, “They have laid their swords under their heads,” I thought of one of my partners in ministry for several years, Anglican priest, Rev. Al Reimers. Al is a most gentle person, and I find it hard to conceive of the fact that, as a counter-intelligence agent in the US Army in Germany following the end of WW2, Al slept with a loaded lugar pistol under his pillow. Viewers of 100 Huntley Street will remember Al from the 1970’s and 1980’s. He’s still active! The internet is an amazing way to keep informed about people who may have gone in different directions. Al moved east to Prince Edward county from Toronto, and I moved west to Burlington. I found Al in a “virtual” newspaper article where he was making a presentation to the Minister of Health on “wait times” for hospital care. Way to go my friend! You are still “salt.” Jesus taught us that if we are not salty in society, the good will be discarded.
Yours for the implementation in our lives of what we’re learning daily through 100words.ca,
David
P.S. Here’s the song I was inspired to sing while thinking about Reynold’s picture above and about our Scripture reading (click here for “The Lord is My Shepherd” hymn and sing along with the congregation of the Verdun LaSalle Baptist Church, Montreal).
Very clear message today. Being born again truly and then turning back to sinful living is not without consequences. Likewise, a sinner who repents sincerely and turns from evil has great reward. I remember Rev Al Reimers way back in the 80s and he sat with us at a table for a special occasion. A very gentle person. It would be great to see him as a guest on 100 Huntley Street. Blessings all.
Dear Father, how we need You! Thank You for Your Word and for being with us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Please help all Your people to be faithful to You and to the work You have given us. Help us love those around us; we know You do. Please put Your heart in us and Your words in our mouth. Backbone, too. In Jesus’s great name amen
Amen!
Amen
What a beautiful poem! Thank you for sharing it.
Jesus, You changed everything in our lives and we are forever grateful as Your servants. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen. Stay safe and warm, fellow saints.
And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:16 ESV
Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd, Ingrid DuMosch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-qLa_2GPcM
Amen
God makes it plain:if we sin then we will reap eternal death but those who (truly) repent will find (true ) life as our reward.He will judge us with our own scales found within our hearts.The attached note explains this poem,one of my very first:
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 trod.
G W(Bill) Marshall (No copyright intended)
This started as a melody in my head,over and over,about
315 AM,then followed the first lines of the chorus and I had
to get up and finish the words,as if taking dictation.(This was
soon after I surrendered on my knees in my own living room,
privately,but 20 days before I was baptized at our bible camp.
Amen!
Amen…wonderful
Amen…wonderful
What a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing it, William Marshall.
Wonderful poem and timing by God, Bill. Amen!
This post is in reply to Ger’s request for prayer for Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson. I read up on this woman and situation she is asking us to pray for and I am a bit perplexed after listening to her videos and seeing the photo of her with transgender activist Jenn Smith. Here is the latest post on the situation:
“A judge has ordered the father of a transgender teen who violated several court orders not to give any further interviews about his child’s case.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Michael Tammen also ordered that a video that contains an interview with the dad that was posted online in the past few days be removed from the internet.
The move came after lawyers for the teen went to court over concerns that the dad and several of his supporters — including former People’s Party of Canada candidate Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson and political activist Jenn Smith — had violated publication bans or prior court orders in the case.
The bans prevent identification of the teen and his father and mother, and the names of the medical professionals involved in providing the youth with medical treatments to transition to being a boy.
The court orders, mandating that the dad not discuss details of the case, were issued after the B.C. Court of Appeal in January upheld a ruling allowing the medical treatments to go ahead. The dad had opposed the testosterone injection treatments while the mother supported them.
Tammen issued his orders Wednesday after submissions from the parties, including lawyer Sarah Chaster, who told him that the dad had given interviews that were posted online on multiple platforms and which had violated the bans.
Chaster, who represents the teen, said the interviews represented “wilful” breaches of the bans and included the father identifying himself and naming the doctors involved in the case.
She said an interview posted Feb. 7 was removed two days later after a request from the teen’s lawyers but that the dad then participated in a second hour-long interview, this time with Thompson. In the second video, the dad spoke about the case in detail using his own name, identifying himself as the father of the teen and referring to his child as his daughter, all in violation of the court orders, said Chaster.
The video, which was posted on Twitter and YouTube, was removed only after correspondence with the social-media companies but it still remains online elsewhere, said Chaster.
Material posted online by Smith also violated the bans by naming the father and the medical professionals, she said.
An online interview with Smith and the dad had been scheduled for Wednesday night but the judge, quoting from the prior court orders, put a stop to that.
“What it clearly means is that what you cannot do is give interviews that are likely to be broadcast in any way, in any form and that’s what has occurred here,” the judge told the dad. “You’re simply not entitled to do that, sir. Do you understand that part of it?”
Replied the dad: “I completely understand that part of it, yes.”
The judge reminded the dad of the bans on the names of the parties in the case and said he had violated the orders.
“You must not do that, sir, you are in breach of the court order,” said the judge.
“I mean the reason I do it, or did it, is because I am taking the best interests of my child at heart,” said the dad.
The judge warned the dad that if there are any further breaches of the bans and court orders, the lawyers for the teen might come back to court and seek to have him cited for contempt of court and face serious consequences.
Tammen also told Thompson and Smith not to commit any further violations of the bans and court orders.
Thompson, who argued that the issue of transgender treatments in Canada is a “living, breathing nightmare,” said she was throwing herself at the mercy of the court. There was loud applause in the public gallery after her comments, with the judge ordering people not to clap any more in the courtroom.”
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/judge-orders-father-of-transgender-teen-not-to-give-further-interviews
Thank you Beverlee for posting this. I have just read it and did not know any details about the people involved as I did not do any research. Just responded to pray for this lady and the upcoming court case yesterday about a transgender teen and parental rights. Take care saints.
Our church prayed on Sunday
Thanks Doreen and your church. Appreciate your research Beverlee.