SPEAKING PEACE
Today’s Reading: Esther 9-10
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Yad Lashiryon Memorial at Latrun is the Armored Corps’ Memorial Site. The memorial is surrounded by tanks used and captured in Israeli wars. The centrepiece of the Armored Corps is the Wall of Names on which are inscribed the names of all 4,965 fallen soldiers of the Armored Corps from all of Israel’s wars. This location is also the site of the Biblical battles of Joshua Bin-Nun against the Amorite kings; in the book of Joshua it says: “Sun, stand still upon Giv’on; and moon, in the valley of Ayalon” (Joshua 10:12).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Esther 10:3
For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
Mordecai was a man who had peace within himself. His confidence in God enabled him to stand up straight when others bowed. That security, based in the knowledge of who he was, enabled him to develop a bold plan to save his Jewish people from an impending holocaust. Twice in today’s reading Mordecai is recorded as speaking “peace.” Some Jews took revenge on their would-be killers. Even Esther wanted revenge, but there is no record of Mordecai seeking revenge. Rather, he promoted days of feasting, joy and gladness. Esther 9:30 tells us that Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in all 127 provinces of the Persian Empire in which he wrote words of “peace and truth.” We don’t have a copy of any of his letters, but if we did, we would probably find that the “truth” he shared was about the God of his fathers. Our key verse reads, “…seeking the good of his people…” Let us speak, write, and model “peace, and truth.” This is how we seek the good of all. Amen!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord, even in exile in a foreign land, You found a man of sterling character named Mordecai. I pray that by Your grace I will become such a person. A person whom You can trust to serve You faithfully…a person who will speak “peace and truth”…a person who will seek the good of all. In the name of the One who did that very thing consistently, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
People who speak “truth and peace” are amongst us today. Some have a louder voice than others because of the advantage of their prominence. I’m thinking of three such people. Two of them are political leaders and one a spiritual leader.
(1) President Jimmy Carter – He brokered peace between Egypt and Israel known as “The Camp David Accords.” SUCCESS! I had the opportunity of experiencing this up close as an accredited journalist in Israel during the final breakthrough (pages 47-49 in my recent book, This Far by Faith. Click here to get your copy).
(2) Former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Barak – When he initiated “The Oslo Accords” with Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, I had high hopes for a lasting peace. Barak had brought blankets to poorly clothed Syrian soldiers during a blinding snow storm on the sides of Mt. Hermon. If anyone could succeed, I thought it would be him. But the effort failed (see pages 68-69 in my book).
(3) Dr. David (Mohsen) Damien, a founder of “Watchmen for the Nations” – He spoke “peace” to the survivors of the St. Louis ship by initiating a gathering in Ottawa where we (representatives of Canada) repented before God for the action of our political leaders back in the 1930s in turning away the ship on which they were travelling as children, seeking refuge in Canada. After being turned away from our shores, most of their parents perished in the death camps of Europe. David, by his words of “peace and truth,” brought a beautiful reconciliation between these hurting Jews and Canadians. This is one of the many stories through which I’ve learned much, which is not in my recent book. As God gives me strength, I may write another book.
I am more determined than ever to speak “peace and truth!” Jesus is my Mentor. He said, “My PEACE I give you” (John14:26) and “I am…TRUTH…” (John 14:6). In Hebrew the word for “TRUTH” is “HEMETH.” This word means the experience of “TRUTH,” not just a list of doctrines which we say we believe. I suggest we all read John 14:5-31 and experience Jesus by the working of the Holy Spirit in us through meditating on Jesus’ Words.
Yours for “PEACE” and “TRUTH,”
David
P.S. Over the years, 100 Huntley Street has produced several series on “Science and Faith,” featuring several very prominent scientists who are also followers of Jesus. One such person is Dr. James Tour, a Jewish man who found Christ as his Messiah. Click here for a video clip of his story from a documentary produced by Crossroads.
The Yad Lashiryon Memorial at Latrun (description under photo above).
What a wonderful video of an amazing person.
Such a devout man. Sent this video out to many of my friends/family. Thanks for sharing Rev. M.
Love your guests on 100 Huntley St. programming.
Have a blessed day.
Would You please sign me up to 100 words by David Maines. i did receive it but for some reason it Just stopper and i cannot find out where or how to subscribe again thankyou and GOD BLESS
great video on Christian faith in action and cutting edge technology…
I posted it on my facebook page…
blessings blog friends
Amen
Great to see how the Bible played such a role in Dr. James Tour’s testimony. We need the Word of God!
I agree Dr. David Damien is an amazing man
Let “PEACE” and “TRUTH” reign in our hearts and minds exceedingly abundantly to the point of overflowing to others!
I very much enjoyed the video and you blog today David. Was fascinating hearinghearing him talk about nano-technology and how we’ll be able to construct buildings from the bottom up like a blade of grass!
Thank you for the reference link to John 14. It’s great meditation material.
Blessings of Wisdom and Guidance to all on this blog!
Jesus’ words from John 14:30 are guidance beyond measure: “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.”
Wonderful example by Dr. James Tour of living life with God first and foremost–and his family following in his footsteps–amen! Blessings fellow saints!
Amen!
Check out “Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here” by Kim Walker Smith. You won’t be disappointed! It’s a perfect song to begin a prayer session with!!
I am always out of step (time wise) with everyone on this blog however here goes;
please pray for healing for Tanya with her brain cancer, I believe God will heal her completely and she will live many long years to see her 2 boys grow up and be productive people on earth;
pray for total healing of my Pastor’s wife who also has cancer, her name is Carol! A different treatment is being taken, not chemo, let us pray for complete healing,
prayer of thankfulness for my Pastor’s surgery, everything went very well
prayer for a friend Barb who is in her 80’s, pray that the Holy Spirit will fill her heart with kindness for others,
Pray for Rebecca who got an interview and the Job! however, she would like something like 6 hours a day so she can be with her children instead of them going to daycare;
prayer of thankfulness for the highly trained lifeguards at our pool and for their involment in the community in many areas around water safety; they are great mentors;
Pray for a little girl who is abused at home; she is acting out in the community, which is her way of asking for help, pray that God will send someone into her life who can get her into counselling and heal the inner child;
Pray for the youth in our country;
Pray for the leaders in our country,
A Senator in 2013 commmented on a TV program Context with Lorna Dueck that seniors do not get enough in their pensions and he repeated this 2 more times;
please pray that the powers to be will realize this fact and increase the pensions
Bless all who pray for each other, bless David Mainse and his dedication to declaring the Gospel throughout the world,
in Jesus Name we Pray AMEN AMEN AMEN
And AMEN Sah!!!
Thanks Kathie it means so much that someone has prayed
I am thankful for everything in my life even this disruption of my sleep pattern
I pray you have a great day, that the Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ will shine through you to all people you meet!
God bless you Kathie!
God Bless you Sah and all those around you!!