Tuesday, August 11, 2020

GOD SPEAKS

Today’s Reading: Exodus 5-6

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).

The Temple of Edfu is located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu. It is the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak and one of the best preserved. The temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus, was built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BC. The statue in the foreground is known as “The Lord of Darkness.” Satan desired all to worship him. He is known in Scripture as “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4). We recognize that this statue is just a chunk of stone. We worship the LORD GOD, THE GREAT I AM, THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verse: Exodus 6:2

And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord.”

 

In yesterday’s reading, Exodus 3 & 4, God said His Name is “I Am.” Now He adds greater insight into His Eternal Being. He is “the Lord.” The original Hebrew, in its English form, is “Jehovah.” This means “self existent or eternal.” Translated as “Lord,” this word is found over 10,000 times in the Bible. I have in front of me Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, a book about three inches thick. In this computer savvy generation, you can click here and access an online concordance to find where every word that comes to mind appears in the Bible. The Bible is the “Word of God.” That does not indicate that God spoke every word. It does inform us that God supervised the writing of every word in the original languages over a 1,500-year period of time by various people so that what God wanted written was done as He wanted it done. God speaks and introduces Himself to us. Isn’t that great!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I worship You, and as Jesus said, I am to love You with “all my heart, my soul, and my mind” (Matthew 22:37-38). You would not have commanded me to do this without giving the grace to me so that I could obey You. I pray and believe for that grace now, Lord God. In the Name of the One who loved You completely, Father God, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I am at a loss to express adequately with my heart, soul and mind the infinite greatness of the Lord God. The magnificent anthem, “How Great Thou Art” is a wonderful expression of awe toward God. When this blog is posted, I plan to look up the words of that song and sing them. My son-in-law, Bruce Stacey, came close to expressing fully how I feel in his composition called, The Scroll. This work has been the centrepiece of “The Pavilion of Promise” at three World Expos, Vancouver ’86, Brisbane ’88 and Seville ’92.  I’m asking Ron to add to this a link to the great words and music to which I’ve referred and also the simplest way for you to support Crossroads. Together we can make that “Name” known in a greater way than ever.

Yours for the Glory of the Lord God Jehovah, the Great, “I am,”

David

P.S. I could go on at length about the ways God has used The Scroll. Here’s just one mighty occasion: When the city of Leningrad, Russia, changed its name from honouring the atheist Lenin back to its original Christian name, “St. Petersburg,” they wanted a modern musical work as part of their celebration to be performed in their most famous theatre. You guessed it, they chose a Russian translation of The Scroll for repeated performances. The “Great I Am” was glorified! O.K. Ron, how will you connect our readers to those anthems?…

From Ron: OK, Dad, I’m on it!… First, let me give you the simplest ways to respond with a donation to help the ongoing mission of Crossroads…you can call 1-800-265-3100 (during business hours) or you can give online by clicking here.

Dad referred to the hymn, “How Great Thou Art,” so here’s a link to the words for you (and Dad)…click here to read them. And let me also include a link to an old video from 1961 of George Beverly Shea singing “How Great Thou Art” at a Billy Graham Crusade…click here to watch it.

Also, below are the lyrics to one of the songs from The Scroll musical by Bruce W. Stacey, referring to “The Great I Am”…

Worthy Is The Son

NARRATION: “A great quiet fell upon all of heaven and earth as the Son returned and appeared at the right hand of the Father. Taking the scroll from the Great I Am, He held it out for all to see. Holding it high above the throne, He broke the seven seals, releasing the Great I Am’s final judgment on all evil and wickedness. All of heaven and earth fell upon their knees and worshipped the King and the Son…the Great I Am.”

SONG: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because You were slain

And with Your blood You purchased men for God

From every tribe and nation

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God

And they will reign on the earth

Worthy, worthy is the Son who was slain, who was slain

Worthy, worthy is the Son who was slain, who was slain

To receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength,

honor and glory and praise

Alleluia! We praise the King, the Great I Am

We worship You

Alleluia, we worship You, Most High

Bruce W. Stacey, The Scroll, 1981

25 thoughts on “Tuesday, August 11, 2020

  1. God Moves in a Mysterious Way
    by William Cowper (1731–1800)

    God moves in a mysterious way,
    His wonders to perform;
    He plants his footsteps in the sea,
    And rides upon the storm.

    Deep in unfathomable mines
    Of never failing skill;
    He treasures up his bright designs,
    And works His sovereign will.

    Ye fearful saints fresh courage take,
    The clouds ye so much dread
    Are big with mercy, and shall break
    In blessings on your head.

    Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
    But trust him for his grace;
    Behind a frowning providence,
    He hides a smiling face.

    His purposes will ripen fast,
    Unfolding ev’ry hour;
    The bud may have a bitter taste,
    But sweet will be the flow’r.

    Blind unbelief is sure to err,
    And scan his work in vain;
    God is his own interpreter,
    And he will make it plain.

    This hymn draws on the message of Romans 11:33, which says, Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! We can trust in God even when we don’t understand his ways because we know he is love and he is good.

    God Moves in a Mysterious Way sung by Graham Kendrick
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5-DQmhKPY4

  2. Thank You, Lord God, for You are great in every way. Even when everything was going wrong for the Israelites in Egypt, You were working behind the scenes, and it was Your plans that ultimately prevailed. So in our times; even when everything looks like it is going to hell, Your plans and Your Word will prevail.
    We commit our families, our selves, our government, our schools, our justice system, our children and our teachers to You, Lord, and ask that Your Word and Your will is worked out in all areas. We ask for Your grace to live as good ambassadors for You, Lord, in Jesus’s great name, amen

  3. Skilful usage of words in that masterful poem,Beverlee,a level I will never achieve.The colours the words paint in our minds lends a melody only the soul can see and its message the heart understands.Thank you again.God bless

    • 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

    • William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry.

      Born: November 26, 1731, Berkhamsted, United Kingdom
      Died: April 25, 1800, Dereham, United Kingdom
      Education: Westminster School
      Parents: John Cowper, Ann Donne Cowper

  4. Am moved by all posts today and as I look out onto the grain fields just now, they are more golden than ever. Praying for all who has been a part of this blog.

  5. Irene I have been praying for your two sisters, I was so sad to hear what happened to Ollie, I hope your niece was able to speak on her behalf. I am glad that Stella and you are in the same building and you can see I expect.
    May God confort you as your thoughts are with these two precious sisters.
    Eleanor M.🙏💕

      • Thank you Eleanor for your prayer for my sisters.
        Yes I see Stella daily; we have our evening meal together and I am able to point out her food to her when she doesn’t see where things are on her plate,
        I often visit her. When she can’t find things. I’m able to find them for her. Her son is now able to visit her: this is very uplifting for Stella.

        Ollie’s daughter is a physician and also her caregiver. She is able to visit Ollie and has reported to the authorities, on Ollie’s behalf regarding what happened to Ollie.

  6. Amen! Visited one of my brothers today and ended up having a good talk about the Lord. This brother next younger to me had a stroke 8 years ago and is in a wheelchair. The enemy tried to take over the conversation at first and discourage me but I held fast and the Lord had His way in the end. Also learned one of my high school classmates passed on but thank God he knew the Lord. Thank you for your prayers!

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