FIVE PROMISES / GRACE AND MICKEY ROONEY

Today’s Reading: Amos 9

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

A boat trip down Egypt’s Nile River is one of the best ways to see Egypt. Today’s reading mentions “The river of Egypt.”

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

Key Verses: Amos 9:9

For surely I will command,

And will sift the house of Israel among all nations,

As grain is sifted in a sieve;

Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.

God pays attention to “the smallest grain.” Nothing escapes His attention! It is impossible that God could be untrue to His pure and holy character. God has provided a substitutionary payment for the sin of the entire human race…past, present and future…by the death of His sinless Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Sin violates God’s holiness, but His justice has been satisfied through Jesus, and we are made right before God when we repent and ask for His forgiveness.

Amos ends his book with five promises from God! God heals sick people and nations. God will (1) “Raise up,” (2) “Repair,” (3) “Rebuild,” (4) give the right to “Possess,” and (5) “Bring back the captives.” We all love happy endings! Thank You God, and thank you, Amos!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I confess my 24/7 need for a constant attitude of repentance. As John wrote, “If we [ I ] say that we [ I ] have [present tense] no sin, we [ I ] deceive ourselves [myself] and the truth is not in us [me]” (1 John 1:8). Yes, Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your promise of salvation. I pray that prayer that You, Lord Jesus, guaranteed would justify me in Your holy Presence, “God be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:9-14). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The famous actor, Mickey Rooney, died at 93. I want to watch some old movies of Mickey from the late 1930’s and 1940’s, because I think he’ll look like that now in Heaven, and I want to recognize him when, by God’s grace, I join him. The last time I saw Mickey was in Lakeland, Florida. He was in his late eighties then. He was singing, playing the piano, and even dancing a two step. I purchased a memento picture album, and Norma-Jean and I got in the lineup for his signature. Just before he signed, he looked up and peered intently at me through eyes which were failing, and said, “Is that you, David?” We had a happy reunion. Back in the late 1970’s Mickey was performing live on stage at a Toronto theatre. In the wee hours of the night he could not sleep. He turned on TV, watched a 100 Huntley Street rerun show, called our prayer line, and one of our prayer partners led him to Christ. I found out the next day when he was being interviewed on a live talk show, and he told this story. He said…

“There was this guy, Mainse, brains, or something, talking about Jesus. His guest was an Indian Chief [Bruce Thum], who held up his five fingers on his right hand and explained the word grace with an acrostic. The Chief said, [here Mickey held up his right hand with his thumb and 4 fingers extended] ‘GRACE means God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense!’ I prayed the prayer, and I know God has given me His grace.”

That afternoon I found out where Mickey was staying and called him, asking if I could come to see him. He joyfully welcomed me and we became friends. Every time he was anywhere near Toronto, we would get together for prayer and a great visit. Mickey had been married and divorced at least seven times when I met him. His first 40 years in showbiz were the hardest. The last 30-35 years of his life were difficult at times, but God continued to give Mickey G-R-A-C-E!!! I’ll see you soon my friend!

Yours as a participant in God’s wonderful, marvellous, matchless GRACE,

David

P.S. I suggest showing one of Mickey’s old movies to children and grandchildren. Then open the blog and click here for a preview of one of our animated productions, produced by Bruce Stacey, where Mickey Rooney (his personality, input and voice) portrayed the character of “Bullseye: The Rock that Bopped Goliath.” The episode is called “Splat Ball Square Off.”

Mickey Rooney…now with the Lord!