THORNS
Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 12-13
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Smyrna was the second city to receive a letter from the Apostle John in the book of Revelation. Acts 19:10 suggests that the church there was founded during Paul’s third missionary journey. Scholars believe the city grew to about 100,000 by the time of the Apostles Paul and John. That’s my eldest son and photographer Reynold in the picture.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
The smaller we are in our own eyes, the bigger we see Christ to be. There’s more room for Jesus who lives in the believer when the believer does not have a large opinion of himself. We start next week in 1st Samuel where we will find King Saul. Samuel said of him, “When you were little in your eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel?” (1 Samuel 15:17). Saul became so big that he thought he no longer had to obey God. This resulted in his loss of the throne. The Apostle Paul, before his conversion, was a “Mr. Big.” He went directly to the High Priest and received the authority to persecute the Christians. We don’t know what the “thorn in the flesh” was, but we do know God gave it to him to keep him from becoming “Mr. Big” again. When Paul was “Mr. Small,” God could be “Big” in his life and ministry. Paul, a most powerful man, was blinded and confused on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). For God to be strong in Paul, he had to become weak in himself, not depending on his own abilities, but in the strength of Christ, Himself.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, Your servant Paul prayed three times for deliverance from the “thorn.” Each time You answered, “No.” Please help me to learn this difficult lesson. You said that “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). I bow at Your feet, and I exalt You above all in praise and worship. Use me, O Lord, in any way You desire. In Your exalted Name I pray, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
There is a big man (physically) who is one of my heroes in the Christian ministry. He’s also a humble man. He would never claim any exalted status for himself, but God exalted him. Many years ago, he was elected by those of us who are his peers as our District Superintendent for Western Ontario for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. He was over 90 when he passed into the immediate presence of Christ. I’m sure that if he were to write here, he would speak of weakness, and most of all he would testify to God’s strength in him. I’m referring to Rev. Homer Cantelon. His son, Jim, who hosted the 100 Huntley Street telecast for years and founded Visionledd, a mission to the AIDS sufferers of Africa, said on one occasion, “When I grow up, I want to be like Homer.” I feel the same way. I used to remind Homer from time to time that years ago he agreed to preach my funeral service. We had a good laugh. Here is a video of Jim interviewing his dad Homer a few years back on 100 Huntley Street (part one click here…part two click here). Throughout the years, I’ve found humble people who may be leaders or may be every-day people. I’ve sat at their feet and learned from them. I’m still learning!
Yours for growing bigger in Christ and smaller in self,
David
At last it is beginning to feel a bit like spring. I thank God for the different seasons of our lives. Pastor David it is such a joy to read this blog every morning. You may not like me to boast of you, However, I must say you are such an amazing spirit filled man, your words are so inspiring and I do learn from them as you explain God!s Word. Have a wonderful day dear friends. Eleanot M.
Thank you David for sharing that interview with the Cantelons. It was very heart warming. I’ve always appreciated listening to elders as they have “lived it”…
When Jim went to Bible College he was astounded that in many cases he knew much more about the Bible than his fellow classmates. This was of course because of the Bible stories he heard from his father in his childhood years.
I feel similar to Jim with the reading of this daily bread as you bring personal hands on meaning each and every day. Thank God for your commitment and discipline in this endeavor…
Blessings blog friends
Love the pic of Reynold with arms outstretched.
Everyone recognizes a true Christian. Mr. Big can’t hide very well. People are very wise and perceptive….even the ones we may think aren’t. I pray your prayer for today Rev. M. God bless you.
“Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles, it takes away today’s peace .”
Blessings dear saints.
My prayer today is”MORE of You Lord and less of me”
Thank you for today’s blog. Blessings to all.
May I ask for prayer for our son Neil, who has had a relapse in mental illness, as he is having flashbacks of PTSD. He has been hospitalized but loves The Lord.
I pray for The Peace of Jesus to fill him and calm him. Thank you.
dearest Catherine:
I pray your son Neil will recover and I pray he will be able to connect with a support group! They are very helpful!
The following words were spoken over me 20 years ago and changed my life: “We have the Holy Spirit that enables us to do more than we ever dreamt”
At the moment those words were spoken I threw smokes away and realized later the alcohol was gone also! Praise and thank God that Neil has Jesus Christ as his Saviour. I encourage Neil to keep communication open regarding his PTSD. Keep talking about it, each time a little more is released! I also know that every person on this blog will pray for Neil and for his family. God bless you for asking for prayer! I see a vision over the earth where gzillions of lights are going upward and I believe these are the prayers of the people praying to our Heavenly Father. Bless you
That is good advice David; to be small in our own eyes so we can be big in God. I so appreciate your teaching every morning. Thank you Janina for your words of comfort. I am glad that I had the privilege of meeting Brother Cantelon; on African soil. Am pondering the truth today that God can meet all our needs. Love you all.
Catherine I had just posted my comments before I saw your prayer request for your son Neil. Lord we claim that truth that you can meet all our needs for Neil today and let him rest in You. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Thank you Get blessings to you.
Sorry oops. Ger
Amen!! Ger.
Thank you David for the link of the Cantelon men of God!!! I miss Jim Cantelon’s ministry on 100 Huntley Street, but I know he is being used of God ministering in other areas as God has led him. Thank you again!
You too are a man of God used for His Glory, thank you for your faithfulness in sharing your life and expounding on the scriptures in this daily blog.
What a spectacular picture Reynold…I especially like the cloud formation over the structure!!! and you standing and praising God in the midst of it all!!! Thank you!
we all need to praying for the men in our communities that God will speak good direction to them, that they will seek the Lord God Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour…I mentioned before that GOd took my broken leg and turend it into me learning to swim!
OOPS! pressed wrong key……
I go to the pool alot and one time a young boy said “I sure would like my dad to come swimming with me” because other dads were there..
dads are very important to their children we need to pray for all the dads and for the young men to grow up with a respect for God, for each other, to allow God to give them guidance and wisdom. I ask parents if their children go to Sunday school (they don’t feel threathened by that question), some say yes, some say no and I mention that in the summer some churches have Vacation Biblle School for maybe one-two weeks…that is all I can do is mention it…
it is interesting but sitting in the hot tub many conversations have happened regarding God and Christianity! I love it! and sometimes I don’t say a word, I just listen..Again I will say God planned this swimmng for me….I enjoy it, and it is so helpful for a chemical imbalance. ..all I can is thank you Lord, thank you…..amen
I appreciate today’s picture for a personal reason. My brother, Michael, took it! He traveled with Reynold to the seven churches’ sites a few years ago.