Wednesday, December 28, 2016

DON’T DELAY!

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 23-24

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).

 

A mill stone found in Capernaum. Today’s reading points out the absolute essential nature of the top and bottom stones in the preparation of food for survival.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 23:21

When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you.

 

Family life, societal life, personal and corporate health practices, financial matters, justice issues, and care for the poor are all covered in our reading. We might do well to follow some of these instructions today. For example, as the photograph illustrates, there are upper and lower millstones needed to grind wheat, corn, etc. The creditor is not to deprive the miller of his means of income (Deuteronomy 24:6). What if we followed the instructions here for a honeymoon lasting a full year (Deuteronomy 24:5)? This practice is recommended to bring happiness to a new wife. Interest-free loans and not entering someone’s home to repossess borrowed items are all good ideas. And our key verse is so important. An unpaid pledge is serious business. It is a betrayal of our word. The old saying is, “Our word is our bond.” Then there is the last verse of our reading and the word “remember.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, please bring to my remembrance those experiences from the past that I need to think about. May I have grace to learn from my mistakes and from my successes also. May I also learn from the experiences of the Children of Israel. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I well remember the occasion when Norma-Jean and I made a pledge to the building fund of Bethel Church in Hamilton, Ontario. I had been Pastor there several years before, and when I went full time as an itinerant Evangelist, Norma-Jean and the children continued to participate in the life of that congregation. It was time, by vote of the people and the leadership of the Pastor, to build a new church building. Our pledge was a significant amount. Our date for paying up, Dec. 31, 1976, came and went and I had not paid the pledge. At the same time, our house was for sale, as we knew we must move to Toronto in order to facilitate the move from the weekly Crossroads and Circle Square telecasts to daily live television. But it was not selling. Finally, in desperation, my wife and I went to the bank, borrowed the money, and made an appointment to visit the Pastor to present our cheque, almost two months late. As far as we can calculate, unknown to us, at the very time I laid the cheque on the Pastor’s desk, Ray Edwards, our realtor, closed the deal to sell our house. I don’t believe the timing was accidental. I learned that God takes pledges very seriously.

Yours for financial integrity,

David

P.S. A year end is here again, and while Norma-Jean and I don’t have any unpaid pledges, we want to give sacrificially to help Crossroads Christian Communications with a serious year end financial need. Here’s my question to all my blog partners. Will you join Norma-Jean and me in giving a much-needed extra year end gift to Crossroads? Your cheque must be dated and your envelope post marked before midnight December 31st or you can give online by clicking HERE…or call toll free 1-800-265-3100 with credit card in hand. God bless you with His loving care. David and Norma-Jean.

11 thoughts on “Wednesday, December 28, 2016

  1. Great reminder, “That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.” Thank you for the prayer and message, today, dear David. God bless you, Norma-Jean, and fellow saints of the living blog.

    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
    Phil 4:4 ESV

    This song has been playing in my head all morning
    Selah – How Deep The Father’s Love For Us [with lyrics]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKDujmtyAVk

    Be blessed beautiful saints!

  2. Christmas time – a time for giving… This is the first year that I gave a yr end gift to Crossroads. I plan to make that a new practice each and every yr.

    To all blog friends and faithful blog followers, I challenge you to do the same.

    God Bless

  3. With Graham and David, having phoned in a donation; challenging all saints to phone or mail in. We are so blessed by this daily bible study and blog. Amen.

  4. I have just called in a donation to Crossroads, and want to thank Rev. David Norma Jean , family and staff for their continued guidance in God`s Word. May you all have God`s Richest Blessings for Good Health & Happiness for 2017 and many years to come.

  5. a big THANK YOU to Beverlee Kay and May for your words of encouragement!

    I went swimming tonight and I praise and thank God for swimming as He took my broken leg and gave me swimming! It was fun,, met a gal from the coast and her 2 boys, it was just a wonderful evening, thank you Lord for all the blessings of this day. in Jesus Name I Pray amen

  6. Praise God…my nephew and son Emil…got my computer back on track!!
    as of today Dec. 31, \I’m trying to catch-up

    bless all you saints!!!

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