LESSONS LEARNED?
Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 13-14
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is located on one of the roof portions of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. Here, you can see two Ethiopian nuns in front of their home in the courtyard of the church.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 14:11
And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”
Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, had forsaken the counsel of his father and that of the elders, and the nation was split in two. Jeroboam, who had returned from exile in Egypt after the death of Solomon, ruled the north and Rehoboam the south. When Rehoboam humbled himself and prayed, things would go well. But he sought the Lord only when he was in trouble.
Jeroboam also forsook the Lord and appointed false priests and established the religion of Egypt, the worship of golden calf gods. War between the north and the south was fairly constant. What a tragedy!
Rehoboam died. His son Abijah ruled in the south. War continued. Then came King Asa, great-grandson of King David. Our key verse says it all! Can we learn from these stories, or must we repeat over and over the poor decisions of former generations?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, help me to learn the lessons of history, I pray. Like Asa, I cry out to You for Your help. May I receive the grace from You to rest on You. I ask this, not only when I’m in trouble, but every day! In the Name of the One who cried out to You again and again as recorded in the Gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!!! (Luke 22:39-46).
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Information on excellent, educational, and informational reading is important for me. A great read is a book called, “The Blessing.” It’s all about experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit. The authors, Trask and Goodall, begin the book with these words about their country, “The decadence and darkness of our nation is more profound than it has been since the founding of this nation more than two centuries ago. The only power that can cleanse and restore this nation is the power of Christ.” I have read parts of this book before, but this time I’m reading it all carefully. My wife bought copies for each of our grandchildren. We gave them out at a gathering of our family when we had the opportunity for a serious devotional exercise. Click here for ordering information on “The Blessing.”
Like King Asa, I recognize that only God can help me, my family and all with whom I’m in contact.
Yours for the most powerful blessing, the intervention of the Holy Spirit in our lives,
David
The entrance to one of the rooms at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.
Centuries old Christian symbols in the walls of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church courtyard.
I just ordered a second-hand copy of ‘The Blessing’ from Amazon as recommended in David’s study / blog today
Thank you Robin and please let us know your take on it upon completion.
Blessings.
It does seem that we repeat tragedies in history and in present day over and over again. Maybe because of our eternal mindset that it can happen to other people, but we’re exempt.
I was mortified by the recent article about a newborn being found alive in a plastic grocery bag in the woods in Georgia. Please pray for the baby and all concerned with the child, including the mother. With the blessing of DNA these days, she may be able to reach out to her mother in years to come. Pray she will be adopted into a loving Christian home.
Dr. Jim Denison:
The One who laid his hands on children and prayed for them (Matthew 19:13–15) now considers us his hands. He calls us to pray passionately for their welfare and future.
What Chuck Swindoll said to parents is true of us all: “Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.”
Blessings dear saints.
What a terrible thing Lynda and will pray for this child. It’s a miracle that the child survived. I watch a couple sparrows caring so attentively to their babies under my awning and what lessons can be learned from the animal and bird species. Remember attending that Ethiopian church and how a black member was so kind to me as I was so sick from being in the Dead Sea salt. God has His servants everywhere. Praise Him! Is a good book Robin!
Thank you Ger and God bless you. Very interesting about the Dead Sea salt incident you suffered. I always thought it was a healing sea.
The mother of this abandoned baby may have delivered her all alone and was possibly terrified.It is a tragedy and may not have happened if God was allowed back in our society.I see a picture of a Gay Pride parade which shows the wide acceptance of what God abhors.I have a gay friend but he does not flaunt it or speak of his lifestyle.We should ‘accept them’ but not bow to them.”Love the sinner but not the sin”.
The Harbinger is also about how history has,is and will repeat itself in a big way.I also just ordered The Blessing.God bless
So many scenarios come to mind for this poor destitute woman. Praying for the baby for sure. It’s a tough battle in today’s society to try and be a Christian but worth the fight I believe and am so heartened by this and all bible studies.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
Blessings William and love the poems.
Thank you for praying. I’ve been MUCH better & more comfortable today! Praise God. Praying for the fires in South Israel that has damaged much farmland & is endangering people.
Thank you Jesus for your feeling better Doreen. Prayer really does work! God’s continued blessings upon you.