BLESS THE LORD!
Today’s Reading: Psalms 103
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Heading south in the Kidron Valley you come to the Pillar of Absalom or Absolom’s Monument. 2 Samuel 18:18 tells us that, “Absalom in his life time set up a pillar for himself…..he called the pillar after his own name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s monument.” The Kidron Valley, also known as the King’s Valley, is located between the eastern walls of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 103:15-16
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
We remember Prince Absalom, son of King David, who committed treason in trying to overthrow his father’s reign in Israel. Absolom’s untimely and violent death may have been in David’s mind when he penned the words of today’s reading. David grieved so very deeply over the death of his son (read 2 Samuel 18:9-33). Paul preached in the Antioch synagogue telling all that God said, “I have found David, the son of Jessie, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” The Apostle went on to say, “From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Saviour – Jesus!” (Acts 13:22-23).
David had reason to grieve, but he ordered his soul to “BLESS THE LORD!” Six times in today’s reading these words appear. What does it mean to “BLESS”? It means that we are to make someone joyful! Let us ask ourselves this question: Does the smile of God’s approval rest upon our lives? My father often prayed at our family altar, “May the smile of Your approval be on our lives this day and always.” If we don’t have the assurance that God is blessed by our lives, we need to repent, ask forgiveness, and then look up again. Look for His joy to be revealed. Our souls will know when God is blessed!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, may the smile of Your approval be upon our lives this day and always. I pray that my soul will BLESS YOU, LORD GOD! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Bob Code, a man whom my mother led to Christ, along with his wife and daughter, would often say, “Bless the Lord!” I was about 13 years old then and I questioned how Mr. Code could bless God. I thought, “God is the One who does the blessing.” And God does bless us in awesome ways, but I’ve learned that blessing is a two-way street. God blesses us and we bless Him! Amen!
I’ve often read our key verses while standing at a graveside. I’ve just read again the verses just before, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear [respect, awe, worship] Him. For He knows our frame; that we are dust” (Psalm 103:12-14).
Yours for being blessed and for blessing God and all with whom we come into contact!
David
The view from behind Absalom’s Monument. His pillar is sculpted out of the bedrock in the valley below the city walls. Tourists don’t usually see the sculpture from this angle. Our photographer, my son, David Reynold, was determined to get the best pictures for these blogs. Thank you, my son!
May we be a blessing to You dear God, our Lord. May our souls delight in Your glory for this world here on earth and as it is in heaven. Praying David’s prayer: Lord God, may the smile of Your approval be upon our lives this day and always. We pray our souls will BLESS YOU, LORD GOD! Amen.
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Psalm 103 Of David, 1-2
Old Hymns of the Church – Hymns Beautiful , Relaxing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE5bl4EcKEg&t=596s
Amen to your prayer Beverlee.
Even though I haven’t been Catholic for many years, I have always enjoyed Father Mark Goring, Food for Life TV Ministry and his personal youtube messages:
Two Roads – Fr. Mark Goring, CC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzox6duG-uY
Thank you so much for sharing Mark Goring’s Site. I used to listen/watch him on TV, a few years ago…. His words were inspiring!
Amen,so do I..I CLAIM THAT I am a “CHRISTIAN ” , so labels do not apply.
Thank you,Beverlee.A friend (Presbyterian) is always talking about him.She loves listening to him.I don’t believe the last brick will ever be laid on the wall of any denomination for they are man made.I am Baptist and we recently brought onboard a Pentecostal lay pastor (?) as our 2nd deacon.(Nearly 200 years ago her family donated the land for our church.)She replaces an older lady who took the position after I first refused it several years ago,feeling unworthy and under qualified…until I realized our tiny church had few to choose from yada,yada,yada. Obviously David felt this way too when we observe the list of co hosts and guests he has had on !00 Huntley St.
Keep praying for whoever/whomever the Lord puts on your hearts and know that they are not the only sinners….God bless
You are right William – in Him, ‘we are all Sons of God.’
Galatians 4: 26……
David Mainse was raised in a God centered Christian home with Missionary parents. David was a Reverend, televangelist, broadcast executive, producer, evangelical Christian leader, founder of Crossroads Christian Communications and host of the longest running Christian talk show 100 Huntley Street. He studied theology at Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (now Master’s College and Seminary) in Peterborough, ON and was ordained. He pastored Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada churches in Brighton, Deep River and Hamilton over the years before starting Crossroads. He also held an honorary doctorate degree from Tyndale University. David Mainse was an incredible Canadian Christian leader who I compare with the American Evangelical leader Billy Graham. I remember as a teenager in the early 80’s, watching 100 Huntley Street on television and being reminded by David that Jesus was there for me. Besides 100 Huntley Street, they had an extra hour long program every week-end. You could phone in and speak to David Mainse and Norm McLaren, if I recall. Does anyone else remember that?
Here is one of the shows from the 80’s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWXHjtvU7Ws
“The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.”
And this:
“Praise the Lord, you angels,
you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
listening for each of his commands.”
-Psalm 103:13-14,20
Father, we are weak but You are strong. Thank You for all Your blessings. One day every tear will be wiped away – amazing and humbling to know that it will be by You.
Through it all, Lord God, help us to listen for Your commands and carry out Your plans, in Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen Rob.
Agreeing with all above comments. Amen , amen and amen.