ASA and JEHOSHAPHAT
Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 16-17
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Here is the view from half way up the south end of the Golan Heights in Northern Israel. Looking east you can see into the north of Jordan and to the far left you can see the south end of Syria.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 16:12, 17:9
And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians…So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.
Asa started out so well, but in the last 5 years of his 40-year-long reign he changed. Because his reliance was no longer on God, God backed off and Asa made bad decisions. When we stop seeking the Lord (honouring Him, praying consistently, watching carefully for His guidance) we invariably mess up.
Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat, was watching his father make mistakes. At some point he must have decided to be different than his Dad. The key to his success may be in 17:6, “His heart took delight in the ways of the Lord.” His great-great-great-grandfather (King David) had left his writings for future generations, and I think that Jehoshaphat had access to the Psalms. He probably read them daily. There in Psalm 37:1-8, it says in verse 4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Of course, when we delight in the Lord, we want what He wants before anything else. Therefore, we will avoid the bad decisions represented by Asa. We will pray fervently for God’s will to be done in all things and we will, as Psalm 37 goes on the say, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Amen and amen!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord God, Give me grace, I pray, according to Your promises. I trust in You! I delight in You! I commit my way to You! I rest in You! Therefore, I thank You for Your faithfulness! I receive the desires of my heart! You bring to pass Your will! I do not fret! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
On June 28th, 2013 I had the opportunity to host Billy Graham’s grandson, Will Graham. He quoted the words of John the Baptist about Jesus, “He must increase and I must decrease.” He said that this was the way that George Beverly Shea, his Grandpa’s soloist, whose home as a youth was Ottawa, Canada, had lived his life. Chief Superintendent Ronald Mostrey of the RCMP, Ottawa, told of his decision to travel to North Carolina to honour that great Canadian. George Beverly Shea, who had gone to be with his Lord and Saviour at 104 years old, lived a life filled with honour and great contentment. George’s last e-mail to me was when he was 102. He said that he continued to watch 100 Huntley Street online every day and that the telecast was a great source of strength to him. I encourage everyone who reads this to do the same. You can find that telecast by clicking here.
The pictures Reynold Mainse has taken of the Syrian bunkers (below) remind me to pray fervently for the Syrian followers of Jesus. Recently I visited with two businessmen whose roots are in the Middle East. They were so very solemn as they had just viewed, on an iPhone, the scene of two Christians brutally beheaded by a Syrian mob. They refused to show it to me as they said it was too gruesome. People need Jesus as never before.
Yours for the desires of the heart of God to be fulfilled,
David
This photo and the one below are of Syrian bunkers that were built during 1948-67, when Syria controlled this area known as the Golan Heights. They used the area as a military stronghold from which its troops randomly sniped at Israeli civilians in the Hula Valley below, forcing children living on Kibbutzim to sleep in bomb shelters. Israel now controls this territory.
Thank you lord for your grace and mercy..continue to.wrap me in your loving tender arms
Your steadfast love Oh Lord never ceases;
Your mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning; Great is Your Faithfulness Father God.
Thank you Lord for your unconditional love and Grace.. …There’s none likened unto You.
Bless the Lord O my soul, bless His Holy Name, this song has been running through my head all week.
Thank you Pastor David for putting on the interview of Will Graham, although I have seen it before I loved it. So very fitting to see the clips of George Beverly Shea especially now, as we are celebrating Canada’s 150 birthday.
On another note, the pictures by Reynold are so very good and they surely tell us a sad story of what happened over 60 years ago. Also I was very upset to hear of the beheading of Christians. I know this is going on today, but I haven’t been consistent in praying for this situation, I plan to do better.
Judev34-35 NIV. To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and present you before His Glorious presence without fault and with great joy—-to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore Amen.
Blessings to all Eleanor M.
Yes, this blog saddens us and reminds us to keep praying for those Christians so persecuted and brutally murdered. Was down in that bunker on Golan Heights as our guide on my first trip was a seasoned army soldier. Thank you for your exposition of the Word today Pastor David and impressive photos Reynold. Also for the link on George Beverley Shea. Blessings!
Your love endures forever, Lord! To You do we worship and praise. Blessings dear David and fellow saints in the Lord! Wonderful photos, Reynold!
May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.
2 Tim 4:22 NLT
I Will Trust in You, Lauren Daigle (with lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv-SXz_exKE
I know we are very fortunate to live in Canada, with its great climate, land, and freedoms, but I am very disappointed in the direction this country is going; rejecting Biblical wisdom in so many ways. I thank God for those who stood up for Biblical precepts in the past, & for those who stand up today.
Please, Lord God, give our leaders wisdom, and help them to govern the country well. We bring them to You, dear God, and ask You to save them, and help Canadians to turn to You & forsake all our wicked and proud ways.
In Jesus’s name, amen
Amen Rob!
Hi David Mainse,
Eve didn’t go to the Tree of Life,
But the New Adam or Last Adam did.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written:The first man Adam became a living being ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall weg bear the image of the heavenly man.
So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.
Paul Treciokas
“Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!!”
“Oh to be His hand extended, reaching out to the oppressed, let me touch Him, let me touch Jesus so that other may know and be blessed!!”
Have a blessed day everyoine!!!
Spectacular photos, thank you Reynold. Joined with you in prayer Pastor David.
Dear David,How happy I am to read your blog daily. Your personal info is so encouraging and delightful to read. How wonderful to be reminded of Billy Graham and George Beverley Shea, such men of God. I still listen to Bev Shea’s music and it so touches me. Your blog is a blessing. Love and prayers Colleen
Amen Colleen!
Amen Colleen!!