Friday, October 25, 2013

“PRAISE THE LORD!” (the last words of today’s reading)

Suggested Reading: Psalms 105

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

 

The Giza necropolis, situated in the immediate vicinity of the southwestern suburbs of Cairo, is home to the most famous ancient Egyptian monuments. The Great Pyramid of Khufu (on the right) is the oldest and sole remnant of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Over 2 million blocks of stone were used to construct the pyramid during a 20-year period, concluding around 2560 BC, at about the same time period in which Chinese became the world's first written language (don't miss the amazing message from a Chinese Pastor in Singapore attached to yesterday's blog). The pyramid is awe-inspiring, rising 139 metres (455 feet) high, making it the largest pyramid in Egypt. Abraham would have passed by this pyramid on his way into Egypt, and the Hebrew slaves on their way out of Egypt.

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

 

Key Verses: Psalm 105:1-3

Oh, give thanks to the Lord!

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

Glory in His holy name;

 

Those first three verses of today’s reading sum up what we should do daily. (1) Give thanks! (2) Pray! (3) Communicate! (4) Sing! (5) Testify! These are the five essential elements of the mission of Crossroads Christian Communications Incorpotated in all Crossroads Ministry efforts around the world. Today is the final day of the membership drive for Fall, 2013! In about 3 1/2 hours from the time this blog is posted, Ron, Moira, and our Global Chief Executive Officer, Dr. John Hull, will go to air live on the Global Television Network’s land-based transmitters, as well as several satellite television channels across the continent. Later today this telecast will be repeated several times on our CTS network, as well as around the world as a part of the seven television channels which make up Crossroads 360 on the internet. This blog is also an outreach of Crossroads. All of us who do this devotional are urged to call the toll-free telephone number today or tonight (1-888-288-0003) to pledge support which enables Crossroads to continue doing what those five points listed above call us to do! How long are we to do this? Psalm 105:8 lets us know the answer, “For a thousand generations!” Our responsibilities are not over yet! God remembers “His holy promise.” He promised Abraham that in his seed (105:6) all nations would be blessed! Together we will help make the blessing of the “Seed of Abraham,” Jesus, known to the whole world! Read Genesis 22:1-18. God spared Abraham’s son but did not spare His own Son. God provided the final and complete sacrifice for the sins of the entire human family. Our job is to make this known to all generations!!! HELP!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I pray with thanksgiving for Ron, Moira, John, and the entire Crossroads team as they go live to air. I ask for Your Holy Spirit to communicate through them in a powerful way, persuading people who are able to help carry the responsibility throughout the next twelve months to join them, along with Norma-Jean and me, in monthly giving. I ask dear Lord that You will suggest a monthly amount to pledge. Lord God, please encourage the Crossroads team by our calls (Norma-Jean and I are calling in a monthly increase later this morning). Thus we, all of us together, will enable the leadership and the Board to establish the budget for the next year as to what extent we can follow God’s instructions given in our key verses! In the Name of the “Seed” (singular) of Abraham, Jesus, I pray! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As founders of the Crossroads Family of Ministries, Norma-Jean and I have experienced such “joy” and “gladness.” We read those words in verse 43 of today’s reading! We’re now in our 52nd year of soul-winning television productions for children, teens, families, and people of all ages, as our Crossroads Board Chairman, Don Simmonds, says, “For all ages and stages along peoples’ spiritual journeys.” A quarter of a million children and teens have spent at least a week each at our Circle Square Ranches, approximately 60% of whom came from homes where they don’t attend Church. About 100,000 of these have made first-time decisions to give their lives to Jesus! We have graduates from our School of Broadcasting and Communications in over 80 countries of the world, and many of them are reaching their own people on television with the message of Jesus! I could give more examples of what has been accomplished (“remember” as Psalm 105 tells us), but the reason I’m telling this story again is that I know what it is to carry the heavy burden of leadership. It is a huge responsibility before God to make sure sufficient funds are on hand to do all that God expects of us! My heart is heavy for John Hull and our team as they conclude this Fall’s fundraising effort. Ron tells me that they haven’t yet reached the needed goal in order to carry on without cutting back on ministry. Norma-Jean and I, at our ages, 77 & 74, are pressed financially in various ways, but we are cutting back on other things in order to pledge a monthly increase. Our offerings are automatically taken out of our account each month. It saves stamps and the time to write a cheque, tuck it into an envelope and mail it in to Crossroads. We’ve been moved this week to encourage our new leader, John Hull, by giving this increase. This former Pastor of the great missions church, “The People’s Church,” Toronto, has taken on this heavy load. I get the picture in my mind of lifting a piano. Every hand, giving a lift, makes the move possible. Here’s John with a statement he made on the 100 Huntley Street telecast earlier this week (click here).

Yours to help Crossroads not only to survive but to thrive in the saving of precious souls for time and for eternity!

David

P.S. I’ve just watched that clip of John on Crossroads 360. It’s true he smiled once when he acknowledged saying the pledge line telephone number incorrectly, but his body language says that he’s feeling the big burden of his new leadership responsibilities. Let’s all respond so that when he co-hosts with Moira from November 12 to 26, his body language, as well as his words, will show, as in today’s reading, “joy” and “gladness.” You could send an e-mail to John welcoming him to his new calling (johnhull@crossroads.ca). I sense that he needs our uplifting encouragement. Please everybody, please do this! Thank You!!!

The Luxor Temple is located on the east bank of the River Nile in the ancient city of Thebes and was founded in 1400 BC during the New Kingdom, about 100 years after the Hebrew slaves had escaped their bondage in Egypt. Today's reading tells us that, "Egypt was glad when they departed for the fear of them had fallen upon them" (Psalm 105:38). Let us consider the impact of these visual temple scenes on the people! Today's visual support for our message is television!!! Imagine the cost and sacrifice involved in building the pyramids and temples. To fulfill the Crossroads mission, it requires all who will to give sacrificially so that the "Glory" of His holy Name will be seen and heard all over the world!!! Together we are building, not a temple of stone, or a memorial to a dead Pharoah, but a worldwide communications network potentially reaching every person with the saving message of Christ.

12 thoughts on “Friday, October 25, 2013

  1. I would not compare your work to the Babelish pyramids but you remind me a bit of Moses asking people to make an offering to help raise the tabernacle. I think it is good that God’s Word has a presence on television and on the internet because these are what this crazy world live in. However, your live ministries are the most pure.

  2. Dear Lord speak to your children to give their financial support to meet every need for the next twelve months on evrry thing they do to help our world and beyond our borders , God Help Us to be obiefient to your voice
    Because you said Give and it shall be given unto you pressed down shaken together and running over shall men give unto your lap
    We believe that you will give great floods of favor and bless your children in Jesus name AMEN !!!!?:)

  3. Philippians 4:6
    ‘”Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
    So thankful Father for this ministry, that you are in control and that you will provide. Thanking you Father on knees, hands lifted high for support that is in your will. In the MIGHTY name of JESUS! Amen!

  4. Thanks David
    Your 100words blog has been a huge blessing to me. I need that Living Bread every day. “Jesus is the answer for the world today. Love Him – there’s no other; Jesus is the way.”

  5. David,
    I don’t think that email address you gave for John Hull is correct. I keep getting it back marked Undeliverable (from the postmaster at CTS?)

  6. Wow! Just watched, “God in Ancient China” and am amazed. I enjoyed working with the Chinese Christians and was impressed by their humility, a godly trait.

  7. My heart is filled with praise & thanksgiving. Thank you David M for your words today. I sense the burden of the Lord upon you. God is faithful. Totally love Ps105, love the 1st five verses. Love the re-telling of the story of God’s Chosen. What lessons! Loved your suggestion, read the scripture portion at night and re-read in A.M. Also, 1st time I actually listened to the Scripture being read and following it in the Bible. So much going on in my life. I am filled with praise. “O that we give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love”. Read ahead to Psalm 107, Saw verse 22 “Let them sacrafice ‘thank offerings’ and tell of His works ‘with songs of joy’! Then read your comments, prayers, and felt the burden for finances. Already I deduct X number automaticly each month. However, after your messages today, I am giving a “thank offering”! phoning in a minute to increase the monthly deduction. The Word says don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. I am mindful of this as it is truly between the Lord and me whatever I do or give. But I am sharing how the scripture and yours words affected me today (amidst all that is swirling around my life today – God knows) …it led me to make a ‘thanks offering” today… I am only telling you this for these reasons: (1) to Encourage David M, Mr. Hall & the total team of Crossroads and (2) that it might encourage others to lift up the phone “and make a sacrifice ‘thank’ offering. Blessings in the Name of the Lord – All for his honour and glory! Here is a chorus of a great song:

    “Storm the forts of darkness, Bring them down, bring them down!
    Storm the forts of darkness, Bring them down, bring them down!
    Pull down the devil’s kingdom, Where’er he holds dominion;
    storm th forts of darkness, bring them down!
    GLORY, HONOR TO THE LAMB, PRAISE AND POWER TO THE LAMB,
    GLORY, HONOR, PRAISE AND POWER, BE FOREVER TO THE LAMB!”
    We are all on the victory side – all because of Jesus. Praise you Jesus! Samuel

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