WHIRLWIND
Suggested Reading: Hosea 7-8
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A field on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee is ready for harvest. Galilee is over 600 feet below sea level with a bowl like topography. Strong south-west winds are drawn into this 5 mile by 8 mile rift in the earth's surface and can create strong whirlwinds which destroy the crops, and as we read in the Gospels, turn the peaceful seascape we see here into violent storms.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Hosea 7:2 and 8:7a
They do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness; now their own deeds have surrounded them; they are before my face…They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.
Five times in today’s reading we see the name of the largest tribe in Israel, Ephraim. Ephraim was farthest away geographically from the Temple in Jerusalem, and it seems that they were also furthest away from God during the time of Hosea’s ministry. Ephraim represents all ten northern tribes of Israel. To try to communicate to them their need to repent, Hosea uses word pictures like “band of robbers,” “an oven neglected by a sleeping baker,” “a silly dove caught in a net,” and farmers who “sow to the wind and reap a whirlwind.” In the first verse of our reading, God speaks through Hosea and says, “I would have healed Israel!” God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (read 2 Peter 3:9-11). But just like Hosea preaching in his day that “Israel has forgotten his Maker!” (Hosea 8:14a), God also wants to bring us close to Himself and not reject us, but our sin and our foolish pride create a wall between God and us that stops reconciliation. Jesus broke down that wall for all who repent of their sins and trust in Him. Through another prophet, the Lord says of a future time, “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34b).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I repent of my sin. I pray with the man whose prayer has become so well known, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” By Your forgiveness You erase my sin from Your records. According to Your promise, You don’t even remember my past sin. Thank You!!! I ask for Your grace for this new day so that I will be kept pure in thought, word and deed. I ask this through the only One who had no need to repent, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
A few days ago I mentioned Shauna Jenkins, daughter of our Crossroads Board Chairman, Don Simmonds, and her campaign called “MAKE YOU THINK!” Now I want to make my partners in the blogosphere aware of the son of Dr. Jerry Johnston. We see Jerry from time to time on the 100 Huntley Street TV show. Jerry’s son is Dr. Jeremiah Johnston, Ph.D. God birthed a vision called the “Christian Thinker’s Society” while Jeremiah was studying in the Griffith Papyrology Lab of Oxford University, England, in December, 2010. Now Jeremiah has rolled out the vision for implementation. I’m praying that I can in some way encourage professors and students at Southeastern University, next door to us here in the seniors mobile home park in Lakeland, Florida, to join Jeremiah in his vision. Our 21st century Jeremiah says,
“In an age of acute Biblical illiteracy, the vision of the Christian Thinkers Society is to lead the vanguard of a new movement that will have a notable impact on the shape of contemporary Christianity by providing the essential training to transform and enrich believers, Christian leaders, and Pastors who will be characterized by a thinking faith, capable to communicate confidently, and committed to escape the tendency to offer trite answers to a sceptical world.”
I’m asking my blog readers to pray for Jeremiah and share Jeremiah’s vision with others. Check out some of his videos on the internet HERE. I like Jeremiah’s slogan, “Teaching Pastors and Christians to Become Thinkers, and Thinkers to Become Christians”…and a big “AMEN” to that!!!
Yours for a greater understanding of the heart and mind of our “Maker!”
David
God bless you David , Wow Wow so encouraging to hear, a movement of thinkers, is up and going. It seams, for so long, that people have just been blindly led along with no thought, of what we are doing, or where we are going. Don’t ask questions just do as I say, attitude. When we start to think, God answers our questions. Praise God you answer are prayers. When we get serious, you can work with us.
Jeremiah clearly presents our existance and relationship with God and of good and evil, using sound logic to extend several points and references. Lots to think about and apply! To sit at their dinner table would be quite an experience as thoughts and views are expressed! Have a good day!
I will pray for Jeremiah Vision ” The Christian Thinkers” it is what we need
as well I ask Father God for forgiving all my sins to
Lianne Hogg
Drastic changes are certainly needed. Many churches today are void of young people. When I pray that the Lord send labourers into the fields, I often mention into the entertainment fields (video games, etc). Young people everywhere seem to be connected to some sort of electronic device. We live close to McMaster Uni and they walk right across roads without even looking! We have 5 or 6 grands in uni right now. They need to be thinking in a Godly way, especially in their communities. Looking forward to future helps for students. (Great picture of Ron, Ann, and, David and Norma Jean yesterday)
Amen to our Maker, David! Thanks for the link–listened to a great part of Jeremiah Johnston’s lecture on ‘I Used to be a Christian Until….’. Takes me back to my grad theology days. I was at a lecture last night in Kingston given by bio-physicist/theologian, Kirk Durston (Power to Change Ministries), who picked apart the atheist view, ‘Does God Exist’.
I especially like the part in today’s summary of our reading: “God also wants to bring us close to Himself and not reject us, but our sin and our foolish pride create a wall between God and us that stops reconciliation. Jesus broke down that wall for all who repent of their sins and trust in Him.” We are reminded as Christians, that we continually have to repent, let go of pride and sin that repeats it’s ugly head throughout our lives, and inter-personal relationships. Indeed, we have God to thank for His Son, and Jesus Christ, our Saviour, for His sacrifice of our salvation. It is up to us to continually be reconciled with Him.
God be merciful to me a sinner! Thank you, God, for being long suffering toward us. We cannot put into words how awestruck we are by your power! It leaves us speechless when we comprehend the magnitude of the universe you created. That you love us so much that you not want for any of us to perish but have the gift of ever-lasting life is mind-blowing!! That you have afforded us the chance to repent, claim Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour, and be saved through His loving grace and embrace, brings us down to our knees! Thank you God, our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and to the sanctity of the Holy Spirit!!! We give YOU all the praise!!! Blessings dear fellow saints!
Excellent comments today Beverlee and every day!! I enjoy so much your insight and comments into the scriptures. God bless you, Sister-in-Christ.
Yes, we give Him all the Praise, Glory and Honour!!! AMEN & AMEN!!!
God bless you dear one. Such in sight . God you are merciful to us all and I see a expanding wave of young Christians moving into the harvest fields, bold and on fire for Christ. Thank you Lord, praise you Holy Spirit. We know the end of the book and Jesus has already won the battle. AMEN
Yes I pray for Jeremiah that God will open many doors in Jesus name Amen
Please pray for my daughter Miranda she had her biopsy yesterday and the dr told her that if she doesnt hear from the dr in 2 weeks then he won t see her for 6 months so we pary the dr won t call Amen
God bless you all and we pray together that the Mighty physician has already done a great work in Miranda, praise God. AMEN
What a beautiful pic today! I can just imagine that field of wheat? being flattened by a horrendous whirlwind. We too live in a place where the view is stupendous but when God decides to change the weather, we sit up and take notice.
God’s prophets had such difficult tasks to inform people they were going in the wrong direction. I want to thank our heavenly Father continually for these people.
Thank you Rev. Mainse et al for your daily pics, editing, stories and support.
Christian Thinkers… Has anyone seen the movie currently in theaters – “Divergent”?
In our free world in the working class, we have unions and non-unions…
As Christians we have pacifists and non-pacifists, Pentecostals, Baptists, Catholics, 7th Day Adventists… etc. etc.
All are a part of the Body of Christ! Amen!
I applaud the creation of the Christian Thinkers Society. I pray that it doesn’t become a militant faction… in the name of our precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – Amen!
Thanks, David. I have not seen ‘Divergent’ but will want to see it, since you have mentioned it. Blessings to you and your family!
Will definitely check that out, David. This movie seems to flush out categorical streams of thought with a twist. Thanks for your recommendation!
Divergent doesn’t have any Christian or other religious overtones. It takes place after a global calamity… To keep the peace 5 separate classes of people are created, of which all play an intricate part for the good of all…
This show has everything to do with power and control… Saw it yesterday… I’m sure there will be sequels…
My concern and my prayer is that this new “Christian Thinkers Society” remembers that the body of Christ is multi-faceted and that it’s growth and development always remember that…
Thank you for your warm blessings Beverlee. I always look forward to hearing your insight… Blessings to you and yours and to all our bloggers today… Amen
Where has the Canadian 100 Huntley Street broadcast gone? I can’t seem to find it online anymore, just the USA version. I am a Canadian spending the winter away from home, so can’t access the program on television either. Thanks and God bless you.
Hi ET… This link should get you there:
http://ca.100huntley.com/
God Bless
Thanks Mr. Loewen, that’s the site I was looking for.