GOD’S CHAMPIONS
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:2), where David picked up five smooth stones from the brook, one of which he used in his sling to kill Goliath.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 1 Samuel 17:45
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, You have defeated the last human enemy, death! Therefore, I have complete confidence that with You living in me I can win over every giant that I face. I pray for boldness to take that which I know You’ve done in the past, apply that knowledge to the present, and move forward into future battles with the secure knowledge of Your presence. In Your strong Name I pray, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When God gave us Canada’s first professionally equipped Christian television production studio back in 1977, I could not stand to see God’s resources sitting empty for much of the day after we went live to air with the daily 100 Huntley Street telecast. Therefore, we began producing telecasts in many languages other than English. We also did shows for children and teens. Nite Lite, an open-line show which ran live five nights a week from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. was what one of our hosts, Rev. Ken Campbell, called “the best fishing hole in Canada.” In one staff chapel service in the early 1990’s, I shared that the challenge of the middle-of-the-night ministry needed a Champion who would assume full responsibility for its future. Later that day, Jim Cantelon, who had been one of my co-hosts on 100 Huntley Street after returning from Jerusalem where he established a great Christian congregation, approached me with these words: “David, I want to be that Champion for the middle of the night.” He covered not only Canada but the U.S.A. as well for some time. I’m excited to rise every morning to Champion the ministry of this blog!
Yours, praying Jesus’ prayer request: “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers [champions] into the harvest field” (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2),
David
P.S. In the God Rocks children’s animated TV series produced by a Champion, Bruce Stacey, the actor Mickey Rooney, certainly not a “giant” in stature, is the voice of “Bullseye”…the little rock that bopped Goliath. It’s a creative re-telling of today’s reading. Below is a poster from that episode (signed by Mickey). The episode is called “Splat Ball Square Off” and here’s a link to a trailer for it. Some of the GodRocks “Bible Toons” are available HERE. you might want to buy some and share it with the children for whom you can be a Champion for Christ.
the photography is wonderful! the God Rocks poster is very eye catching!
yesterday Mr. Mainse you shared that Norma-Jean and you have opposite sleep patterns, so do I, I’m thankful that you shared.
Many. many people have a sleep disorder but many feel they can’t talk about it! My sleep disrupted last November, I go to bed when many are getting up! However, I can’t change the situation, I thank God that I can sleep regardless of how late I go to bed! I don’t attend church because it starts at 10 a.m….however, I have this blog which I am thankful for and it provides the opportunity to read Scripture and read the blog AND I am so thankful for all who post their blogs! I mentioned that I go swimming alot and I have met many Christians at the pool! I find that very amazing! God bless everyone and may your day be filled with miracles, and more miracles in Jesus Christ.
You are a champion David as well as Norma-Jean and this blog is a blessing to me. So sorry to hear about dear Carole Pony Meunier’s passing. She is a loving Christian and loved life and I always enjoyed her comments. The Lord comfort her family. We will miss our friend. Thank you Rose for informing us. The Lord bless all of you today.
So very sorry to hear about Carole Pony Meunier’s passing. My prayers are for her family at this time. She was such a blessing to our blog and always such an encouragement. Knowing you are smiling in heaven with Jesus, Carole! God bless your soul, dearest saint!
David, I am just catching up on your blog and reading your personal words from March 15. I would encourage you that in this blog and your continued presence on 100 Huntley Street you are doing a mighty work just with your few words. I find this passage in 1 Samuel about Saul losing favour with God very troubling. It is easy when life is not going your way to start to believe that you have lost favour with God. Three things that are not being modelled well in the church today are humility before God, in Christ, repentance and prayer. In reading Psalm 18 yesterday I discovered that there are two things that open the heart’s gate to the Spirit. First of all, repentance, as in falling on my face and naming the misconception, recognizing that I have aligned myself with that misconception and declaring, “In the name of the LORD, I cut you off!” Secondly, thanksgiving: as the psalmist says, “Give thanks to the LORD; this is the gate of the LORD.” David, you are fulfilling for so many of us guidance in how to find our way back to God when we are floundering. Saul never did find his way back to God (did he?). Does that mean that once God’s Spirit departs from you that you cannot be restored to his favour? David, you model for us, as an elder and father, that God always welcomes us back, and how to free ourselves of encumbrances in turning back to Him, through your prayerful practise of humbly seeking to rest in God’s favour. Your witness to people who don’t yet know Christ, through your encouraging and upholding of those who do, speaks more powerfully than many testimonies and sermons. By your gentle reverence you are guiding a whole nation, maybe the whole world, to live in the light of what it means to revere the One True and Holy God, who is perfect in Goodness. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Carole Pony Meunier now has more than 90 Minutes in Heaven.
I second that Beverley Kay, so sorry to read of Carole”s passing.
May God be her family’s comfort at this time.
Praying for everyone on the blog. God Bless.
Psam 118, that is.
Sorry I mis-spelled your name Beverlee Kay.
Fellow saints– since I didn’t start this blog right when it first started I often go back and read the comments for the reading on the same date two years ago. I found this one yesterday written by Carole, on March 23, 2013. Knowing she passed away on the same day two years later made it all the more meaningful and so I like to post it again in honor of her memory.
“Dear David, Bless you and all precious fellow bloggers, I prayed when I first got saved like David I would seek the Lord hearth ready to fight the good fight and that I would make all those I come across feel God’s tremendous Love, so now years later thank you Jesus for choosing me such a sinner and boldly with full armour filled with the Holy Spirit let this little light of mine shine until His Glorious Return. Amen”
Carole Pony Meunier –March 23, 2013
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Thanks so much for doing that, Donna. That is such a precious post and reminder of our dear Carole’s love for Jesus, the blog, and inspiration for all saints. Amen!
The Homecoming
The crowd had gathered and now did wait,
They had come to see Carole enter the gate.
As they stood around with Jesus, her friend,
They listened to stories of her life to the end.
They heard of her trials along the way,
And how she remained faithful day after day.
They also heard of her triumphs too,
How she touched others – perhaps one was you?
Her Saviour well remembered the day,
Carole first met Him along the way.
She had confessed her sin and committed to serve,
For Jesus had paid the penalty she deserved.
She was coming home to live in peace,
A mansion awaited her in this place.
She has never seen it, it had been prepared
By Jesus, with whom her life she had shared.
The crowd anticipated the joy they would see
On the face of this one who had been set free;
The pain and the suffering would now be passed,
As she entered the gate – home at last!
The saints were excited as they waited there,
They knew for eternity all would share
The joy of knowing their Saviour and Lord,
To be perfect – and whole – and of one accord!
As she entered through the pearly gate,
There was Jesus! She couldn’t wait
To greet this One she had loved so long,
And now she saw Him in front of the throng.
She fell at His feet and she thanked Him there,
For Jesus had saved her from the pit of despair.
You could see the love and the awe on her face,
As she greeted the One who had saved her by grace.
Yes, Carole is in heaven, home at last.
She has seen Jesus, her trials are past.
She has gone to add her praise to the throng
Who forever and ever will sing a new song.
A song of praise to Jesus, our friend,
A song of thanksgiving that will never end.
Will you be there to join in that chorus?
Will you praise the one who gave His life for us?
By Mary Stewart.
I wrote this at the passing of a dear friend, some years ago.
So sorry for Carole’s family, but so glad for Carole, home at last, no more pain, no more tears, to be with her Father, God, and her Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord for all eternity. See you in heaven!! Carole.
Beautiful Mary, thank you.
Thank you Mary Stewart for sharing this anointed poem…what a beautiful tribute to Carole and her family…and to all us who read it. God Bless you!!!
Thank you David for sharing the God Rock picture of Mickey Rooney!!
What a comfort to know that God is “Our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.” That He will never leave us or forsake us!!!
Thank you dear Jesus for this little part of your Body. May God bless each one of you and fill us all with his Spirit so we can show the world that our King defeated death, that he lives and loves each of us. I pray for that boldness and grace to be fishers of men. In Jesus’ name, amen
Just a question Edith Osbourne my sister-in-law passed away on March 9th one of the family said you mentioned or said your were going to speal about Edith in one of your Blogs. I can’t find it if you did can you tell me the date of that particular Blog Edith and Don worked for you when 100 Huntley first started. The funeral was well attended at North Douglas Church in Victoria where Don and Edith had pastored after leaving 100 Huntley.
References to Edith Osborne were made on Wed, Dec. 31, 2014 and on Mon, Dec. 31, 2012.
Thank you David for being that “Champion”
Home at last dear Carole, you joined my brother who passed into glory on March 18th. Thank you for the beautiful poem Mary. Love to all Eleanor M.
What a beautiful poem and tribute to Carole, Mary!