GOD’S CHAMPIONS

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:2), where David picked up five smooth stones from the brook, one of which he used in his sling to kill Goliath.

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

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 17:45

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You have defeated the last human enemy, death! Therefore, I have complete confidence that with You living in me I can win over every giant that I face. I pray for boldness to take that which I know You’ve done in the past, apply that knowledge to the present, and move forward into future battles with the secure knowledge of Your Presence. In Your strong Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

When God gave us Canada’s first professionally equipped Christian television production studio back in 1977, I could not stand to see God’s resources sitting empty for much of the day after we went live to air with the daily 100 Huntley Street telecast. Therefore, we began producing telecasts in many languages other than English. We also did shows for children and teens. Nite Lite, an open-line show which ran live 5 nights a week from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., was what one of our hosts, Rev. Ken Campbell, called “the best fishing hole in Canada.” In one staff Chapel service in the early 1990’s, I shared that the challenge of the middle-of-the-night ministry needed a champion who would assume full responsibility for its future. Later that day, Jim Cantelon, who had been one of my co-hosts on 100 Huntley Street after returning from Jerusalem where he established a great Christian congregation, approached me with these words: “David, I want to be that champion for the middle of the night.” He covered not only Canada but the U.S.A. as well for many years. I’m excited to rise every morning to champion the ministry of this blog!

Yours, praying Jesus’ prayer request: “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers [champions] into the harvest field” (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2),

David

P.S. In the God Rocks children’s animated TV series produced by a champion, Bruce Stacey, the actor Mickey Rooney, certainly not a “giant” in stature, is the voice of “Bullseye”…the little rock that bopped Goliath. It’s a creative re-telling of today’s reading. Below is a poster from that episode (signed by Mickey). The episode is called “Splat Ball Square Off” and here’s a link to a trailer for it. Some of the God Rocks “Bible Toons” are archived online HERE. You might want to share them with the children for whom you can be a champion for Christ.