NO SHEPHERD (COACH)
Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 18
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Sheep feeding on the lush winter grass of the Jordan Valley while three sheep dogs keep a close eye…especially on the photographer, our son Reynold, who is now serving the Lord in Uganda.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 18:4 &16 – And Jehoshaphat said to the King of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”
Then he (the prophet of the true God) said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.'”
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, was a man of God. However, there is no record that he prayed about the decision to join King Ahab of the northern tribes of Israel. Big mistake! Jehoshaphat understood the seriousness of the war that Ahab was about to wage, and he asked whether Ahab had inquired of the Lord. Ahab immediately sought the word of the prophets which had been chosen to serve the golden calf worship. Elijah had destroyed Baal worship. Finally, at Jehoshaphat’s insistence, a prophet of the true God was summoned. His word from God was one of judgment, and for this he was put into prison.
Can we learn from Jehoshaphat’s poor decisions? He rejected God’s counsel and went along with the bad advice of ungodly people. The result was a disaster. King David had written in Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.” Jehoshaphat failed to pay attention to the very first sentence of the Psalms of his great-great-great-grandfather, King David. Surely Jehoshaphat knew this verse of his Bible.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, as a result of reading Your Word, I want what You want. Now and always, grant me, I pray, the grace of moving Your Word from my head to my heart and then to my will power, in obedience to You! In the name of the One who always did Your will, Father, Your Son and my Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Love sports? Norma-Jean and I are fans! Our grandson-in-law, David Lee, husband of our granddaughter, Elizabeth (her Dad, Reynold does the photography for my blog), played for the Toronto Argonauts football team in 2012 when they won the Grey Cup! I sometimes think that our competition between cities and countries in sports takes the place of the constant wars of ancient times between city states and neighbouring countries. In fact, in the Canada/Soviet Union hockey series of 1972, Canadian Phil Esposito of Sault Ste. Marie declared, “This is war!” Canada won! We’ve produced a documentary featuring Paul Henderson, who scored the Goal of the Century (click here to view part one of my interview with Paul about the documentary and here for part two). Like the coach, God will sometimes order a particular strategy or play. All decisions are based on the playbook. So it is with our book of instructions, the Bible. David Lee, our grandson-in-law, was constantly reading and memorizing his playbook. At one game Norma-Jean and I attended, we noticed that after a great play, the coach patted David on the helmet, probably saying, “Good job!” Someday, I hope my Coach, the Lord Jesus, will say to me, “Well done, David!” After the game, a large number of the players on both teams gathered in the middle of the field to pray (see photo below). I’ve never seen so many players kneel together before God at one time. I’m encouraged!
Yours for following the instructions from our heavenly Coach,
David
Many players from both teams gathered at centre field after the game to pray.
My grandson-in-law, David Lee (#91), rushing the quarterback.
Norma-Jean and I enjoying the football game with our son Ron and his wife Ann.
Love the photos, today. God is in control. Let us seek Him in all things. Amen. Holding you in prayer, dear David. Blessings, fellow saints in the Lord. Enjoy this Friday and week-end, ahead.
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
Lamentations 3:25 ESV
For the Lamb with Lyrics by Elevation Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVYvOWK-MGE
Beautiful song indeed!
Thank you for sharing Beverlee Kay.
Amen Beverlee, and bless you for the powerful song!
Your prayer Pastor David is exactly what I want for my life.
Hope you, your family and everyone who reads this blog has a very Happy Canada Day tomorrow. Or in case your are reading this from America Happy 4th of July for next Tuesday.
Love and Blessings to all. Ps. I loved the pictures.
Amen! Eleanor M.
me too, Eleanor..Amen!!
Thanking God for keeping good Christian minded people in the various spheres of our society and lives.
Today’s pictures are indeed beautiful as always. Particularly beautiful is the picture of the football team bowed in prayer. Thank you for these pictures Rev. Mainse & Sir Reynold.
Oh Father God, I pray that You will raise up Your children who are called by Your Name in the various spheres of our society and ultimately across the globe; to demonstrate and reflect Jesus Christ through the decisions and actions we take.
Cause Oh Lord that our Leaders here in Canada will be the ones who learn to seek You first as the way to move forward.
As You’ve equipped Rev. Mainse and his family to make a consistent, positive impact; I pray Father God that You will use me, my family & my fellow blog readers to have a positive impact in our various communities and circles. All for Your Honour and Your Glory, In Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen & Amen!
“I give myself away so You can use me” William McDowell
https://youtu.be/O7ofQmeao9I
Amen, and thank you.
Amen Marti.
Loved today’s reading. Loved the prayer that says I need to get what is in my head, into my heart, and then into my willpower. That spoke to me today. Have a blessed Canada Day!
Amen Coleen!
Amen ,thank you.Blessings to all.
Yes..Amen..Let it be so Lord!
Enjoyed your photos of you and the family, in particular that of the player kneeling in prayer. The one of the sheep, always gives me a sense of peace!
Agreeing in prayer Pastor David.
So often, like Jehoshaphate, we run ahead without thinking of asking the Lord if that is what we should do: ending up with a mess…like a little child we say
“I do it myself” Lord,. Help!!
that should read “we say; I do it myself”
Lord..Help!!! help us/me to call on you in all my ways!
Amen Irene!!!!
Amen.
its all very nice and informative and excellent advice especially when it comes from the lord me to i liked to see the players following suit and doing whats correct i dont believe in canada DAY its mainly selfish people WHO LITTER NOT EVERYONE OF COURSE when we learn to praise and appreciate the GOD ALMIGHTY NISSI ABBA I AM THAT IAM JEHOVAH JIREH THEN IT WILL BE AN AWESOME CANADA DAY THEN AND WORTH IT AMEN LOVE YOU LORD TAKE CARE PEEPS
God is Great
My husband and I are at Harrison Hot Springs in B.C.to celebrate or 46th wedding Anniversary.We are enjoying Gods beauty in our wonderful free land of Canada.????Val