FEASTS
Today’s Reading: Leviticus 23
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).
All along the Old City walls of Jerusalem you will see bricked-in windows which gave a good defensive vantage point for soldiers. This window is at the walk-in entrance at the Jaffa Gate.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.
Key Verse: Leviticus 23:5
On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover.
We who live in the so-called, “new world” have trouble imagining anything really old. The walls pictured above are old, but really old are the establishment of the seven feasts of the Lord. 3500 years ago they began, and they continue in the lives and homes of observant Jews today. The early Christians were all Jews, at least until the conversion of the Roman army officer, Cornelius (Acts 10). They continued faithfully celebrating these annual feasts, and in the past year, thousands of believers in Jesus who are Jewish are still celebrating. Many of us who are Gentiles have joined them from time to time (the Feast of Tabernacles is currently being celebrated, October 8 -16). Jews who believe that Jesus is their Lord and Saviour describe for us with great joy how Jesus is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Some who read “100 words” are Jewish! Here’s an assignment for the rest of us. How do we see Jesus in all seven feasts?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, as a Jewish man, You celebrated the feasts. What a joy it would’ve been to live in a booth made of branches for a week with You during the Feast of Tabernacles! May I celebrate who You are for 52 weeks every year. I rejoice in Your constant Presence. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
On Norma-Jean’s night table for several weeks I noticed a book she was reading. It’s “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence. Her book mark was in his “5th Letter.” I read there, “This King, who is full of goodness and mercy, doesn’t punish me. Rather, He embraces me lovingly and invites me to eat at His table. He serves me Himself and gives me the keys to His treasury, treating me as His favourite…This is what being in His holy presence is like.” You can find this classic book online in a variety of versions here or you can read it online for free here. Recently I read again a timely book published by our Crossroads Ministry on the current epidemic of teen suicide by Dr. Jerry Johnston and our former Crossroads CEO, Don Simmonds, entitled, “Why They Die: Curing the Death Wish in Our Kids.” Please, please get this book. It will motivate you to loving action on behalf of our teens. Every parent or grandparent needs to understand what is going on in the minds of today’s youth. You can request your copy here, and if you are able, include an offering in support of Crossroads and the new media initiatives that will reach out with God’s love to all ages.
Yours for celebrating His Presence, and for ministering as His representative,
David
For Canadians it’s the Thanksgiving holiday! So celebrate with thanks to God for our country and its freedoms (proclaiming the Good News of Jesus without restriction), our families, our friends and our churches!!!
Thanks for the link, David. I look forward to reading the new book. Blessings to all saints! Let us rejoice in this day the Lord hath made! Amen!
Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=136Qqxn_m1E
Thanks for that link Beverlee, that was really cool.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and their friends and family.
That assignment the padre asked us to do, “How do we see Jesus in all seven feasts?”
Is it that we can see Jesus in all seven feasts because he’s actually replaced the sacrifices mentioned with himself?
Cheers and God Bless
It’s been a different Thanksgiving for us this year with my husband being so ill. I have difficulty eating so I bought him a Jimmy The Greek chicken dinner. We went to church & came home & slept. I have double duty – my sister in nursing home (very disabled) & this shock of my husband’s very recent, difficult, diagnosis. We have had many, many, good years. The road is quite bumpy now.
Doreen, may you find comfort as you recall the many good years you’ve shared together, and hope and strength as you travel forward in Christ’s loving arms.
I don’t want to say the wrong thing to you Doreen and I apologize in advance if I do. This can be the hardest and scariest thing in the world to go through when you have watch powerless as this happens to someone you love and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone
I’ll pray tonight for you and your husband..
Blessings and hugs to you and your husband Doreen. Cast all your cares on Jesus. For He cares for you.
Dear, Lord, be with Doreen, her husband and her sister, who need Your strength to overcome the battles they face. Bless them with Your healing powers, comfort and grace. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Dearest Doreen, as you go through this time of trial with your dearest husband’s illness and your sister, please know that you are not alone, Our God is always right there and knows all about your journey. Also He has placed beside you, in your blog buddies, those who will pray for you fervently.
Rest in His every loving arms and be at peace. We love you and uphold you before His great throne of mercy and love. Catherine
Thanks David for your exhortation to enjoy Thanksgiving with our family and with a grateful heart. I enjoyed dinner with two of my brothers and wives yesterday and we had a good time viewing photos of my trip. One of these brothers is scheduled for radiation for cancer soon. Please pray for all of them. Also my best friend April fell Friday night and broke her hip. The Lord bless you and your husband Doreen. Have a good Thanksgiving day everyone.
Lord God, be with Ger’s brother and her best friend, April. Strengthen them to overcome the battles they face and bless them with Your healing powers, comfort and grace. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Father come along side Ger, as she ministers to her brother who starts radiation soon and to her friend April who as broken her hip. Meet their needs and give comfort and ease of pain as they go through their different procedures. Blessings to you Ger.
Praying in the mighty name of Jesus.
Catherine
Do Jews sacrifice live animals yet in their worship of Jesus? So much I just don’t know about these special people and their customs. So many books I want to read.
I pray for all blog friends and their woes. May the knowledge of God’s love and concern for us all be a comfort.
I think they stopped after the Romans sacked the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD but I could be wrong.
Thanksgiving is a time for reflection. We have so much to be thankful for here in Canada… Thank you Lord Jesus that You are a loving Father. As in the 23rd Psalm, you comfort us. Where ever we might be, whatever our trials… you are there bringing us through triumphantly… Praise Your Holy Name! Amen!
Happy Thanksgiving blog friends!
We sure do have so much to be thankful for in Canada! Happy Thanksgiving!
Doreen I wil pray for you and your husband , sister also Ger for your brother
and best friend April.
Lianne Hogg
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Here’s to keeping our Canadian freedoms, Muslims seem to be trying to take over!!!
Nancy xoxoxo
Dear David and Norma-Jean: On this Thanksgiving Day, I give God thanks for you two very special people. David, I thank you for sacrificing your very early morning time to give me your blog every day. It makes my day. I also thank your son, Reynold, for the wonderful photographs that I enjoy in your blog. HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Dear Rev David M and all my fellow bloggers,
We have so much to be thankful for. Living in a country like Canada which is so bountiful. We have a tendency to forget all those who are struggling around the world, physically, financially, spiritually.
So Heavenly Father, on this last day of Canadian Thanksgiving, let us not forget that only through your Son, our Messiah, the perfect lamb, the final lamb, have we been given salvation and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, each of us can be the door to Heaven for our Maker, our Creator, our Abba. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
I’m giving you a link to a very good book and DVD that explains the feast of tabernacle and every Jewish festivity that links us clearly to Jesus himself.
https://secure.crossroads.ca/donate/premium?sku=OA22&amt=*15-20-25&minamt=10
http://www.firstcenturyfoundations.com/understandingjesus.html
I’ll be keeping each of my fellow bloggers in prayer.
May the peace of the Lord carry the burdens and trials of each of you in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
xxxCarole
yes, Doreen I join with David’s prayer “that you may find comfort in the many happy years you and your husband have had together”; and I also prayer that you be strengthened in the knowing that The Lord Jesus Christ is with you in and through this difficult time. May the “Joy of the Lord that only comes in Him, strengthen you, and encourage your heart.
Pastor David thank you, the excerpt you included from the pages “The Practice of the Presence of God” the page Norma-Jean had been reading, were a blessing to me. I also read the “first letter” in the link you included. Thank you.
Thank you folks for your prayers. Where would we be without the Lord? Makes all the difference in the world (and the next). Praying for others mentioned on the blog. Blessings all.
yes we have much to be thankful for here in Canada! I would ask everyone to pray for our leaders! At one time (not that long ago) parliament started with singing the National Anthem ( O Canada) and ended with the Lord’s Prayer. Now I understand that Christian lawyers join the Bar different than other lawyers???? Yes we have much to be thankful but we should be very attentive as to what is happening in all levels of government. At school we used to sing the National Anthem. A lot of things are slipping away. We have a duty to keep a watch on issues and to let our leaders know that we do care and that we pray for them. These are just my thoughts! I love Canada but things have changed alot and its concerning…….Blessings to everyone. Praying for everyone.