Friday, January 1, 2021

THE POWER OF WORDS

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 29-30

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).

 

At Timna Park, 20 miles north of Eilat, a life-sized replica of the biblical Tabernacle has been constructed. While no original materials (e.g. gold, silver, bronze) have been used, the model is accurate in every other way based upon the biblical description. This “Holy Place” of the Tabernacle housed the golden lampstand, the altar of incense and table of showbread. The lampstand (menorah) was beaten and fashioned out of a single block of gold and had three branches coming out of each side of the central shaft. The seven lamps on top of the branches were likely round saucers with pinched rims which held the wick and olive oil.

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

 

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 30:14-15

But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil…

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR to my blog friends…May God bless you in amazing ways in this New Year!!!

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). When God first called Moses to lead the Children of Israel out of slavery, Moses tried to avoid the task by telling God that he had problems speaking (check out Exodus 4:10-16). In our readings over the past few days, it’s obvious that after 40 years of leadership, Moses no longer had a problem speaking. Four times in today’s reading Moses stresses, “Keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do” (Deuteronomy 29:9).

The Apostle Paul quotes our key verse in Romans 10:8 and then gives us some powerful words of assurance of our eternal salvation. Romans 10:8-15 tells us that when we speak our faith in Jesus, who is Himself “the Word of God,” we truly have “life and good.” Amen!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, thank You for the gift of speaking. Please grant that we will never speak “death and evil” by gossip, slander, half truths, and other destructive words. May my words always speak life and good in this New Year. I pray In the Name of the One whose words are most powerful, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

In Grade 10 high school I was given a book of words. The title on the cover was “WORDS ARE IMPORTANT.” The student sitting next to me changed the title to read, “WORDS AREN’T IMPORTANT.” Learning new words every day was truly important, I discovered. When God made it clear to me that my vocation (calling) was to become an ordained minister of Christ, I realized that a large part of carrying out my responsibilities was my use of words. Words are my trade, my means of communicating God’s message to precious people. One of the greatest communicators during the 20th century was Malcolm Muggeridge. On the BBC, he debated such people as Bertrand Russell, the noted agnostic. In my opinion, Muggeridge won the debates. He and his wife Kitty appeared on 100 Huntley Street to give their witness for Christ. He also was our narrator for The Scroll, a musical masterpiece composed by Bruce Stacey, which was the centrepiece of our Crossroads sponsored pavilions at several World Expos. The epitaph on Muggeridge’s tombstone reads, “HE USED WORDS WELL.”

David

P.S.

“WOW! It’s a New Year! On New Years eve I was presented with Superman pyjamas. Ron took my picture and his son Adam doctored it. God promises that if we wait on Him, among other things, we will mount up on wings as eagles.

Having fun with a Christmas gift from Norma-Jean…Superman onesie PJ’s!

 

12 thoughts on “Friday, January 1, 2021

  1. JANUARY & HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021

    Lord, Speak To Me, That I May Speak
    Frances Ridley Havergal, 1872

    Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
    In living echoes of Thy tone;
    As Thou hast sought, so let me seek
    Thy erring children lost and lone.

    O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
    The wandering and the wavering feet;
    O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
    Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

    O strengthen me, that while I stand
    Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
    I may stretch out a loving hand
    To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

    O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
    The precious things Thou dost impart;
    And wing my words, that they may reach
    The hidden depths of many a heart.

    O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
    That I may speak with soothing power
    A word in season, as from Thee
    To weary ones in needful hour.

    O fill me with Thy fulness, Lord,
    Until my very heart o’erflow
    In kindling thought and glowing word,
    Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.

    O use me, Lord, use even me,
    Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
    Until Thy blessed face I see,
    Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share!

    Lord, Speak To Me, That I May Speak
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvYSoGP7pwM

    • Please let the music link run on; it goes into other lovely hymns

      Frances Ridley Havergal
      Born 14 December 1836
      Astley, Worcestershire, England
      Died June 3, 1879 (aged 42)
      near Caswell Bay, Gower Peninsula, Wales
      Resting place churchyard, St Peter’s parish church, Astley

      Frances Ridley Havergal was an English religious poet and hymnwriter. Take My Life and Let it Be and Thy Life for Me (also known as I Gave My Life for Thee) are two of her best known hymns. She also wrote hymn melodies, religious tracts, and works for children. She did not occupy, and did not claim for herself, a prominent place as a poet, but she carved out a niche for herself.

      Early life and education
      Frances Ridley Havergal was born into an Anglican family, at Astley in Worcestershire, 14 December 1836. Her father, William Henry Havergal (1793–1870), was a clergyman, writer, composer, and hymnwriter. Her brother, Henry East Havergal, was a priest in the Church of England and an organist.

      When she was five, her father removed to the Rectory of St. Nicholas, Worcester. In August, 1850, she entered Mrs. Teed’s school, who had a strong influence on her. In the following year she says, “I committed my soul to the Saviour, and earth and heaven seemed brighter from that moment.” A short sojourn in Germany followed. In 1852/3, she studied in the Louisenschule, Düsseldorf, and at Oberkassel. Havergal’s scholastic acquirements were extensive, embracing several modern languages, together with Greek and Hebrew.

      On her return to England, she was confirmed in Worcester Cathedral, 17 July 1853.

      Career
      In 1860, she left Worcester upon her father resigning the Rectory of St. Nicholas, and resided at different periods in Leamington, and at Caswell Bay, Swansea, broken by visits to Switzerland, Scotland, and North Wales. It was during this time—1873—that she read J. T. Renford’s little booklet All For Jesus, which “lifted her whole life into sunshine, of which all she had previously experienced was but as pale and passing April gleams, compared with the fullness of summer glory.” She led a quiet life, not enjoying consistent good health. She supported the Church Missionary Society.

      Havergal’s hymns were frequently printed by J. & R. Parlane as leaflets, and in Caswall & Co. as ornamental cards. They were gathered together from time to time and published in her works as follows:— (1) Ministry of Song, 1869; (2) Twelve Sacred Songs for Little Singers, 1870; (3) Under the Surface, 1874; (4) Loyal Responses, 1878; (5) Life Mosaic, 1879; (6) Life Chords, 1880; and (7) Life Echoes, 1883.

      About fifteen of the more important of Havergal’s hymns, including “Golden harps are sounding,” “I gave my life for thee,” “Jesus, Master, Whose I am,” “Lord, speak to me,” “O Master, at Thy feet,” “Take my life and let it be,” “Tell it out among the heathen,” &c., are annotated under their respective first lines. The rest, which are in collections, number nearly fifty. These are noted here, together with dates and places of composition, from the Havergal manuscripts and the works in which they were published. Those which were printed in Parlane’s Series of Leaflets are distinguished as (P., 1872, &c.) and those in Caswall’s series (C., 1873, &c).[3]

      Most of these hymns are given in Snepp’s Songs of Grace and Glory, 1872 and 1876, his †. 1874, and the Musical ed., 1880, and many of them are also in several other hymn-books, including H. A. & M., Thring, Church Hys., Hy. Comp., &c., and some of the leading American collections.

      Death and Legacy
      Memorial plaque situated near Caswell Bay
      Astley, Worcestershire, St Peter’s Church: grave of Frances Ridley Havergal and of her father William Henry Havergal
      Havergal died of peritonitis near Caswell Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Wales at age 42. She is buried in the far western corner of the churchyard at St Peter’s parish church, Astley, together with her father and near her sister, Maria Vernon Graham Havergal.

      Her sisters saw much of her work published posthumously. Havergal College, a private girls’ school in Toronto, is named after her. The composer Havergal Brian adopted the name as a tribute to the Havergal family.

      Style and Themes
      Her hymns praised the love of God, and His way of salvation to this end, and for this object, her whole life and all her powers were consecrated. She lived and spoke in every line of her poetry.

      Her religious views and theological bias were distinctly set forth in her poems, and may be described as mildly Calvinistic, without the severe dogmatic tenet of reprobation. The burden of her writings was a free and full salvation, through the Redeemer’s merits, for every sinner who will receive it, and her life was devoted to the proclamation of this truth by personal labours, literary efforts, and earnest interest in Foreign Missions.

      The link below is a remarkable find; 121 pages of poems and hymns, but scroll down to page 5, where it actually starts:

      By Father and Daughter
      The Christmas Poetry
      of William Henry Havergal
      and Frances Ridley Havergal

      http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Poetry/The_Christmas_Poems_of_Havergal.pdf

  2. Father God, what an appropriate message for us today at the start of this New Year! I pray that all who read Your Word today, and even those who don’t, will hear You calling them to choose Your Way today – Your Way of Life and Truth and Purpose. Help all Your children to be, like You dear Jesus, about Your Father’s business. Today and every day You give us. Help all Your children in whatever circumstance they are. May Your Word go out more freely than ever in this Year of our Lord 2021, in Jesus’s name, amen

  3. Lovely music. I almost attended Havergal College in Toronto. A friend of mine, Mary Johnston, did graduate from there. I think it might have been too pricey for my parents and, unless you lived in residence, traveling from my home would have been difficult. I really didn’t know the history and I’m surprised that she died so young. Thanks Beverlee. Very nice. Blessings on this first day of 2021!

    • That is amazing, Doreen, you being directly linked to the Havergal info; so happy to have posted it. God had other plans for you. Amen. Praise our God!! ❦

  4. Thank you for the interesting information on Frances Ridley Havergal. She accomplished much during her short life. My maternal grandparents come from Essex and Norfolk, England and I see that as of last night England is officially out of EU. I pray God will send a revival in the land. Saying Amen to your good prayer as well Rob! Happy New Year of 2021 to all blogging friends!

    • Amen Ger. Praying for the protection of England as they have left the EU. More change to come. God bless you, Ger.

  5. Your posting have been very encouraging and a blessing.
    Happy New Year to all Blogging Friends and the Mainse Family.
    God Bless you all and 2021!!!
    Come Lord Jesus. The Best Is Yet To Come!!!

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