LOOK UP
Today’s Reading: Genesis 11-13
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 a self portrait…well at least those are my feet. I (Reynold Mainse) am looking southeast toward the morning sun. In front is the famous mountain of Masada, and beyond is the Dead Sea. At the bottom left of Masada you can see 2,000-year-old Roman Army encampment sites. The protective walls the soldiers built are in the shape of rectangles.
Key Verse: Genesis 13:14b-15
Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are — northward, southward, eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendents forever.
Abram (his name changed later to Abraham – father of nations) showed himself to be a generous man. His heart was being changed over time so that he now could give his nephew, Lot, first choice in land. God honoured Abram by promising him all the land for his descendants…eventually. Abram is father to both the Arabs and the Jews; his offspring have taken over the entire Middle East. Notice what happened before God made such a promise. Abram obeyed God! He left his home. Abram honoured God! He built altars with which to worship God and to make fresh commitments to God. Note the word, “ALTAR” (12:7,12:8,13:4,13:18). He “pitched” his tent, but he BUILT altars. The tent represents the temporal, but the ALTARS represent the ETERNAL! We need to ask this question, “Am I putting up and taking down eternal things and building only the temporary, or am I building that which will be permanent, forever?” Let us search our hearts, asking hard questions such as, “What are my priorities? Is God in first place?” Abram’s actions brought God’s blessings during his life here on earth and will continue to do so throughout eternity!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You responded directly in proportion to Abram’s obedience and faithfulness. Please give me the grace to learn from Abram. Amen & Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I think it’s time to introduce my eldest son, David Reynold Mainse. Reynold spent over three months in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Italy, Greece, and Turkey (lands of the Bible) photographing pictures for this daily blog. He is a professional photographer & video producer. Thank you, Reynold, for your time and for sharing your gifts with us. His full time work is as a missionary in Africa. He is an ordained minister who has given his life to world missions. His wife, Kathy, his children, Rachelle, Elizabeth (and her husband David Lee), and his son David Peter (and his wife Tawny), share his passion to reach the world for Jesus. Check out www.worldembrace.org for more about their missions.
Building an altar for eternity,
David
P.S. Remember to watch my daily 100 Words “vlog” (video blog), which corresponds to this daily blog. HERE is a link to my vlogs, arranged by date, on the 100 Huntley Street website. You may want to watch the one from yesterday, July 1st, Canada’s birthday! All this month, the vlogs are originating from Braeside Camp in Paris, Ontario.
I wonder if Abraham would have known all of his offspring while he lived?It’s noteworthy that man’s lifespan dropped by about half over those generations yet I’ve never remembered reading any reason why.I guess the population had grown enough to impose a shorter lifespan because we don’t listen to God?
Canada day is being celebrated in Pugwash today with the Gathering of the Clans and other events.
The vlogs won’t play on my laptop now although they used to.I suspect it is because my OS is Win 7 and is becoming obsolete?
Can’t Be Bought
May happiness be yours to share
And joy be your constant kin,
So you have peace beyond compare
As He cleanses the temple within
And as the world sees your face,
Will be seen what they have not,
For this gift is an unearned grace
From a Love that can’t be bought.
GW(Bill) Marshall 24 Aug, 2015
Philippians 1:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
I have Win 7 too, and I found the same thing– a black screen that has twirling circle that never loads– but I discover if you click on the two parallel lines in the bottom left corner, they will turn into the play symbol, then I clicked that and the vlog started– give that a shot and see if that works for you.
Blessings on one and all
Bruised and battered by self-inflicted wounds, but please, Lord God, heal our land. We need to return to You…
Also, please, Father, help Your people in Nigeria. Please comfort those who have lost family members, friends, and leaders; protect all Your own with Your mighty strength and shelter; let them know You are there; help them to forgive their enemies; and be glorified so many will come to know, follow, and serve You. In Jesus’s name, amen
Because of obedience…God blesses Abram!!
Be blessed today all you saints. We are so blessed in this beautiful land of Canada!!
Love your prayer Rob…I join in on this a bruised and broken follower of Jesus who cleans us, heals us and sets our feet on the solid Rock Christ Jesus our wonderful Little Lord!!
My apologies to my Lord and to you dear readers for my inadvertent inclusion of the word “Little” before Lord. That is very very unfortunate. NOTHING LITTLE about our Big and Mighty God!!
Thank you Reynold for that photo: seeing just your feet, at rest in the Lord, viewing God’s beautiful creation..
Amen!